December 16 – He Who Is

“The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us. Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” – John 4:25-26 (NASB)

This is part of the account of Jesus’ encounter with a woman at the well of Jacob in Samaria. It is recorded in the greater passage (John 4:1-45). Jesus, when he traveled from place to place seems to always have a purpose and often an appointment to meet specific people. That is the case with this story. While not fully understanding, this woman needed Jesus desperately and Jesus knew that for He knew all about her history. Yet she believed the Messiah was coming. Here in our verse Jesus tells her that He who was talking to her is the promised Messiah. It is interesting how Jesus identifies himself by saying “I (who speak to you) am He. However the word He has been added by translators for clarity. What Jesus says to her is “I (who speak to you) AM.” Twenty-three times in all we find our Lord’s meaningful “I AM” (ego eimi, Gr.) in this gospel. In several of these, He joins His “I AM” with seven metaphors which are expressive of His saving relationship toward the world. This is the promise, that Jesus of Nazareth was and still is the Christ, sent from the Father. 

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December 24 – The Eve of Christmas

“For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NASB)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 (ESV)

What does Christmas mean to those of us who belong to the family of God? Today and always it is good to keep in mind that at Christmas we celebrate what God did to make it possible for us to join His family. Two verses, one from the Gospel of Luke and one from the Gospel of John bring to us today’s promises. The promised Messiah’s coming was fulfilled in person the day Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We read what the angel told the Bethlehem shepherds recorded in Luke. In John we read again of the light that Jesus was and brought to earth. Light which evil darkness is unable to snuff out. The world does not comprehend this light and so remains in darkness.  It was not only the shepherds who needed a Savior. We needed a Savior too, and He did come to save us. Let's remember what a great difference it has been in our lives, to have a Savior. Jesus has saved us from sin and from sin's eternal punishment. And He saves us today from uncertainty, fear, and confusion. Let's remember this promise today as we hear the words of our verse read.  

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July 1 –A Fitting New Name

“He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).  He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). – John 1:41–42-  (ESV)

The Apostle John’s account of how Peter and Andrew became followers of Jesus might sound different than the one in Mark.  However, that is not the case.  Each account is accurate.  Mark’s gospel is to the point but condensed without much detail and John’s is filled out with more detail.  Andrew had been following John the Baptizer until he sees Jesus walking by.  The Baptizer had told them who was coming would be the greater one and it was Jesus who was the Lamb of God.  Andrew did not want his brother Simon to miss out so he finds Simon and declares to him that the Messiah had been found.  Simon comes out to see what all the commotion in Andrew was about.  The result for Simon is life-changing for him. It would be a career changer as well.  Jesus tags Simon with a new name, Cephas. This name was in Aramaic which we translate into Peter.  God specialized in changing names at critical moments in a person’s life.  Just as Jacob became Israel, Peter which in its Aramaic form, Cephas, means “stone” or “rock.”  A promise of Jesus that Peter would become. Simon Peter will fulfill that promise.

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December 22 – Hanukkah Begins

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NIV)

On the very night that Jesus, the Son of God was born, an angel was sent by the Father to announce the event to shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. God chose the shepherds to be the first, other than Mary and Joseph, to know that a promise had been fulfilled.  He said “a Savior has been born to you.”  The shepherds needed a Savior and they could personally benefit from His birth. Believing the words of the angels, the shepherds went to find the newborn baby.  After seeing and marveling at the event, they returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, exactly as it was told them.  Jesus was born for you and He was born for me, to be our Savior.  Each of us needs a Savior and He came for those in need.  What a great difference this has made in our lives. The promise of His coming was made as far back as the day Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  Let us listen to the angel’s message – “He is Christ the Lord.”

*Hanukkah, also spelled 'Chanukah', is the Jewish eight-day, "festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.  The Story of Chanukah Video 2:15

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December 23 – Born to This Purpose, Born to Us

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”  Luke 2:11 (NIV)

We come back to this important announcement in the Gospel of Luke.  We've considered it once before, several days ago.  We do this to think again of the reason for His coming to earth.  The glitz and glamour that surrounds this time of the year as well as the many activities and commercial appeal can too easily cause us to lose focus on why the season is important to all.  The words the angel announced to the shepherds were important for them and they are important for us.  The shepherds response showed that they realized they needed a Savior.  The went immediately to find the baby.  They spread the news of what the angel had said, and the also praised God when they returned from seeing the baby.  Jesus came as a baby because we all needed a Savior.   As we have believed in Him He has saved us from the consequences of sin, the sin of rejecting God.  What a big difference that has made in our lives.  He has brought us to Himself by coming and becoming a human as we are.  He was born to us for this purpose.  We are His today if we have believed this Promise that He is the Messiah, the Lord.

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December 24 – The Eve of Christmas

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NIV)

What does Christmas mean to those of us who belong to the family of God? Today and always it is good to keep in mind that at Christmas we celebrate what God did to make it possible for us to join His family.  The promise of the Messiah coming was fulfilled. As part of the Christmas story we read what the angel told the Bethlehem shepherds which are the words recorded in Luke chapter 2. It was not only the shepherds who needed a Savior. We needed a Savior too, and He did come to save us. Let's remember what a great difference it has been in our lives, to have a Savior. Jesus has saved us from sin and from sin's eternal punishment. And He saves us today from uncertainty, fear, and confusion. Let's remember this promise today as we hear the words of our verse read.  

December 24 - Beginning of Hanukkah

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NIV)

On the very night that Jesus was born the angel came to tell the shepherds about the event. God chose the shepherds to be the first to hear personally. He said “a Savior has been born to you.” The shepherds needed a Savior and they could personally benefit from His birth. Believing the words of the angels, the shepherds went to find the newborn baby. After seeing and marveling at the event, they returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, exactly as it was told them. I would like to suggest that each of us can apply that message to ourselves personally. Jesus was born for you and for me, to be our Savior. Each of us needed a Savior and He came for you and for me. What a great difference this has made in our lives. Let us listen to the angel’s message – “He is Christ the Lord.”

*Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.