Category: Luke

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

John the Baptist and Jesus’ genetic genealogy are today’s subjects. Matthew’s genealogy lists the heirs of Abraham and David (an heir was called the person’s son, though not always the actual son). Luke lists the actual father/son line. Notice that Solomon is not listed, but his full brother Nathan.

SJA Notes

* God Above, Your word is life to us, Your commandments like precious gold.

“So with many other exhortations he preached the good news to the people.”

John cuts right to the chase, he is the razorblade to the stubble.

And we see that EXHORTATIONS are an important mechanic in preaching the GOOD NEWS.

John points to the One (Jesus) who has His winnowing fork in His hand to clear the threshing floor.

It is important to be reminded of what good news really is.

We are called to repentance – To put away the things the world likes (selfishness, greed, lording over people, never satisfied).

We are called to bear fruits in keeping with this repentance.

These are not easy words to hear – The good news is GOOD but it is a hard word for the world, for the things of the world, for those who refuse to let go of the world.

Remember the different soils. We must be good soil, bearing fruit one-hundred-fold for God’s kingdom.

* Almighty God,

Thank You for the pointer-sign in what John the Baptist tells us.

Thank You that He showed us Jesus, that he preached the good news to those around him.

Please help us to do the same. To point people to Jesus.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Two times a boy was brought to the Temple – for his circumcision and for his bar mitzvah at 12 years of age. Both are times when God’s purpose in His Son is revealed. Have you seen Jesus as Simeon saw him that day?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, thank You for Your word written for us today, and for Your word become flesh – Our King Jesus!

“And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

What a blessing for Simeon to see in his flesh the Lord’s Christ, Jesus.

This was a future hope that the prophet Job had, as we read in Job 19,

“And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,”

How can we say today though that we have seen Jesus, the Lord’s Christ?

The book of John gives us the answer, chapter 1,

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory …”

God’s word to us today, this written Word, is supernaturally bound together with our Lord Jesus, God in the Person of the Son – THE WORD OF GOD.

This is a hard but amazing word to us – Because we can see Jesus, even these thousands of years after He walked this earth!

How wonderful this is for us, how blessed we are!

* Father God,

You have blessed us in Your love, to see Jesus.

Not as an enemy, but as our loving Saviour, the Prince of Peace, the Righteous Son.

Thank You for Your love to us.

May You mark us as a faithful people as You are faithful, walking each day in trust and obedience.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

These are well-known words read every Christmas. Remember the marriage customs of the time – what we call engagement was considered marriage then. It was the legal part of the marriage and could be performed years before the actual wedding ceremony. Mary would not have been allowed to see Joseph before the wedding, but she was already his wife legally.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, thank You for Your word written down for us to read today.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, …”

Imagine the noise of this song, the chorus reverberating through the hills around the shepherds and their sheep.

What a moment that must have been – To hear the angels of God singing, praising God … A multitude!

And then you can imagine the hearts of the shepherds, beating fast, as they made their way to the stable, the humble place where animals slept and ate.

Here is the KING!

The shepherds burst forth with praise and glory to God; joy and praise and HALLELUJAHS ringing forth.

This is a wonderful encouragement to us that we might step forth ourselves with praise to our King.

The same King that the shepherds witnessed.

The same King that the multitude of the heavenly host praised.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* God Almighty,

You are God. We are Your creation.

Please fix within us an earnest desire to proclaim You, Your glory.

Remind us of the wonder that the shepherds felt as they heard the goodnews.

Thank You that we today can SEE JESUS through Your word read and preached and proclaimed to us.

Amen.