Named

15 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them.19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. 21 When eight days had passed, Jesus’ parents circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived. (Luke 2:15-21, CEB)

After all these things happened and it was time according to the Law for him to be circumcised and named, he was named Jesus as was foretold before his conception.

There are a lot of things that were foretold about Jesus. Many things happened to help prove Jesus is the Son of God.

And yet many don’t believe.

And yet his name is just one…

Why do you beleive?

Know

12 Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 13 Then the Pharisees said to him, “Because you are testifying about yourself, your testimony isn’t valid.” 14 Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, since I know where I came from and where I’m going. You don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge according to human standards, but I judge no one. 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is truthful, because I’m not alone. My judgments come from me and from the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the witness of two people is true. 18 I am one witness concerning myself, and the Father who sent me is the other.” 19 They asked him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You don’t know me and you don’t know my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” (John 8:12-19, CEB)

Do you know Jesus?

It is interesting that the powers that be are pushing back on Jesus because they are fearful of what he will do to their comfortable living. They have power and yet Jesus’ teaching is taking that power away. And so they are fearful.

And Jesus says, “In your Law it is written that the witness of two people is true.” I am one and my Father is the second. Where is your father they ask…

If you knew me you would know my father but you do not know me.

Do you know Jesus?

Slow

8 Don’t let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day. 9 The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a dreadful noise, the elements will be consumed by fire, and the earth and all the works done on it will be exposed. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be? You must live holy and godly lives, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming day of God. Because of that day, the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. (2 Peter 3:8-13, CEB)

The Lord is not slow to keep promises like we think but is patient. Time is a construct we humans have put together and sometimes it is not a good thing. We can get hung up on people being late or things not happening as we think they should in a timely manner but God is not controlled by our understanding of time.

We need to let go and allow things to happen as God allows them. And know that God is patient that all creation would be redeemed.

So always hope and know that God is always there.

Family

46 While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside trying to speak with him. 47 Someone said to him, “Look, your mother and brothers are outside wanting to speak with you.” 48 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 He stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers.50 Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50, CEB)

It wasn’t that long ago we had this same passage and maybe Todd Agnew is just stuck in my head but the topic of family makes me think of his song Family from his Better Questions album.

He says, “if we’re all under one father that makes us all brothers. We are all family.” We are all going to be together in the sweet by and by so we should act like that here.

Innocent

13 When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.”14 Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. 15 He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt 16 When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi.17 This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and much grieving. Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were no more. (Matthew 2:13-18, CEB)

Joseph took Jesus and Mary and went to Egypt because God warned him that Herrod was going to try and kill Jesus.

So Herrod had all boys 2 years old and younger killed so that the boy the Magi were looking for would be dead, because that is how long ago the Star rose and the Magi started following it. Herrod slaughtered innocent babies to keep his power. Herrod slaughtered innocent babies out of fear.

What do we do to maintain our status? Our power? Out of fear?

How do our lives show God’s love to the world?

For told…

22 When the time came for their ritual cleansing, in accordance with the Law from Moses, they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (23 It’s written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord.”) 24 They offered a sacrifice in keeping with what’s stated in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. 25 A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law.28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said, 29 “Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, 30     because my eyes have seen your salvation. 31 You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. 32 It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.” 33 His father and mother were amazed by what was said about him. 34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “This boy is assigned to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that generates opposition35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your innermost being too.” 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years. 37 She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When Mary and Joseph had completed everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to their hometown, Nazareth in Galilee. 40 The child grew up and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. (Luke 2:22-40, CEB)

The knowledge of the coming messiah was known throughout the land and many waited on the coming.

Simeon and Anna both waited many years for the coming Christ. They waited with expectation and awe. They lived their lives waiting for when God would bless them with the presence of the Christ.

And now we have Jesus as a part of our lives and how do we live?

What are we waiting for?

How does your life point to Christ and the love God has given us through Jesus?

Stephen

8 Stephen, who stood out among the believers for the way God’s grace was at work in his life and for his exceptional endowment with divine power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose from some who belonged to the so-called Synagogue of Former Slaves. Members from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia entered into debate with Stephen. 10 However, they couldn’t resist the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly enticed some people to claim, “We heard him insult Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the legal experts. They caught Stephen, dragged him away, and brought him before the Jerusalem Council. 13 Before the council, they presented false witnesses who testified, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law. 14 In fact, we heard him say that this man Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and alter the customary practices Moses gave us.” 15 Everyone seated in the council stared at Stephen, and they saw that his face was radiant, just like an angel’s.

51 “You stubborn people! In your thoughts and hearing, you are like those who have had no part in God’s covenant! You continuously set yourself against the Holy Spirit, just like your ancestors did. 52 Was there a single prophet your ancestors didn’t harass? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the righteous one, and you’ve betrayed and murdered him! 53 You received the Law given by angels, but you haven’t kept it.” 54 Once the council members heard these words, they were enraged and began to grind their teeth at Stephen. 55 But Stephen, enabled by the Holy Spirit, stared into heaven and saw God’s majesty and Jesus standing at God’s right side. 56 He exclaimed, “Look! I can see heaven on display and the Human One[a] standing at God’s right side!” 57 At this, they shrieked and covered their ears. Together, they charged at him, 58 threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses placed their coats in the care of a young man named Saul. 59 As they battered him with stones, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, accept my life!” 60 Falling to his knees, he shouted, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” Then he died. (Acts 6:8-15, 7:51-60, CEB)

Stephen was put on trial because the religious powers that be secretly paid people to lie about him. They trumped up charges against him so they could get him to stop preaching the good news.

And they took him and stoned him to death. Stephen was the first martyr of the church, stoned for preaching the good news of Jesus. Yet through it all, God was with him.

So don’t worry when people speak all kinds of evil against you. God is always with you.

Tented

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being 4 through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. 6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. 8 He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light. 9 The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light. 11 The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him. 12 But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children, 13 born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14, CEB)

Here in this translation it says, “The Word became flesh and made his hime among us.” Other versions say the Word dwelt among us. The word here literally means tabernacled, or tented, Jesus came and pitched a tent to be with us. Jesus is always going to be with us because his home is mobile.

God came to be with us to help us see how to live and love those around us.

So how do we love the world, on this day when love came to stay with us?

How do you love the world?

God came to be with us, and died to set us free from our own crap.

How do you love the world?

Great Lengths!

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. 2 This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. 3 Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. 4 Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. 5 He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant.6 While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. 8 Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. 9 The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people.11 Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 14 “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” 15 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. (Luke 2:1-20, CEB)

Joseph and Mary had to make a long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it is about 157 KM which is 97.5553 Miles. An easy drive, but a little bit of a walk. According to maps.google.com it is a 33 hour walk, so a few days journey. We do not know if this was an easy journey or a harsh one, but we can imagine being pregnant and not wed and having a lot of stuff against you, it wasn’t the most pleasant trip. And when they arrived they were not even able to find a place to stay comfortably and then the baby comes.

Is this really how God would step down from the throne to enter the world? By having the couple travel 33 hours to a town they can’t find a room in and wind up being born in a stable and laid to sleep in a manger? To have the first people that visit God be shepherds, which were lowly scum of the community?

God always makes a way and with God nothing is impossible. God went to greta lengths to show us love. God understands the evil we deal with and wants us to trust and have faith in the baby, that shows us to love, dies for us and rises to always be with us.

Know that the hope this baby brings us, is the hope that will vanquish all fear and evil. Jesus is the love of God made flesh and dwelling among us!

Praise God for the miracle of a savior born to us this day, that brings hope to push all fear away!

Love the Lord, as the Lord is loving you, and share that love in everything you do!

When you are near

11 As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith.12 The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light. 13 Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. 14 Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires. (Romans 13:11-14, CEB)

Do you live in a way that shows Christ to the world?

Sometimes we are so hectic and living in a fast paced chaotic way that we loss sight of things. Our lives should show Christ in everything we do.

St. Francis is attributed with saying, “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.” Now he never actually said this, but that makes a lot of sense. We should live in such a way that our lives show people we are followers of Christ.

Does hope shine through your life, or is it fear?

Does love become apparent when you are near, or is is something else?

What do people see when they see you?

Show the world love, hope and mercy. That is what God wants you to be and do.