Jesus of Nazareth

December 20

(Luke 2:39 NIV) “When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.”

(Matthew 2:13-15 NIV) ““When they (Magi) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." {14} So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, {15} where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son.””

(Matthew 2:19-23 NIV) ““After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt {20} and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." {21} So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. {22} But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, {23} and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene.””

We learn two important things from this one verse in Luke. First, Joseph and Mary did everything required by the Law of Moses in regard to Mary’s purification, as well as Christ’s circumcision and dedication. Second, we learn that Jesus eventually ended up in Nazareth. Luke omits the Magi’s visit and the flight to Egypt to protect Christ from Herod’s wrath, but both gospels still speak the truth. Rather than contradicting one another, they supplement one another. John’s gospel notes that Scripture says the Christ would come from Bethlehem, while Matthew’s gospel notes that prophecy has the Christ coming from Nazareth. Both are correct. Christ was born in Bethlehem, but grew to manhood in Nazareth. It is a case of “both/and” not “either/or”. We must read the entire Bible to get the big picture. God gave us the Scriptures.  Merry Christmas! Use God’s great gift -- all of it. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Redemption in a Small Package

December 19

(Luke 2:38 NIV) "Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."

(Psalms 130:7-8 NIV) "O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. {8} He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins."

(Romans 3:20-24 NIV) "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. {21} But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. {22} This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, {23} for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, {24} and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

(Colossians 1:13-14 NIV) "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, {14} in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Full redemption is part of the Christmas package given to us by God with the birth of Jesus. Anna recognized that the baby Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promise to fully redeem Israel from her sins. The Messiah had come as an infant to save His people. Redemption is a great gift. Like a store coupon, a worthless piece of paper until it is redeemed, God redeems our life and makes it valuable. God’s redemption rescues us from darkness, forgives our sin, declares us righteous, justifies us freely, and brings us into the kingdom. This is a child worth looking forward to, a child worth speaking about, a child for whom we should give thanks and praise to God. This is what Anna, Simeon, the angels, the shepherds, and the Magi did. And it’s what we should do. Give thanks and praise to God for your redemption. Merry Christmas! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Daughter of the Temple

December 18

(Luke 2:36-37 NIV) "There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, {37} and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying."

(1 Kings 8:28-30 NIV) "Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. {29} May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. {30} Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive."

(1 John 2:28 NIV) "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming."

When Joseph and Mary went to the temple with the baby Jesus, a prophetess named Anna was there. She was a widow whose husband had died just seven years after their marriage. She was now eighty-four years old, and Scripture says she worshipped “night and day” at the temple, praying and fasting before God. Like Simeon, she was waiting on the Christ to come. She would not be disappointed. Anyone who worships night and day, fasting and praying, will not be disappointed, for God’s eyes are open night and day toward our temples. He will hear the supplication of our hearts, and reward us. When we worship the Lord night and day, we will not be ashamed when He comes to His temple. We will be able to approach the Lord with confidence in His grace, with no shame in our hearts, and as with Anna, our eyes will behold the King of kings. Merry Christmas! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

A Sword Pierced Soul

December 17

(Luke 2:34-35 NIV) ““Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, {35} so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.””

(John 19:32-37 NIV) ““The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. {33} But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. {34} Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. {35} The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. {36} These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," {37} and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced.””

(Revelation 1:7 NIV) “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.”

Simeon spoke profound words about Jesus. His faithful waiting, his recognition of Mary’s baby as the Christ, and his prophetic vision of Christ’s destiny, reveal a spiritual depth that is rare today. But Simeon was not finished. He looked Mary in the eye, and told her that her soul would be pierced by a sword of some kind. Many see this word as fulfilled when her Son was crucified and pierced by a Roman spear, but it probably happened more than once. When Jesus left home to preach, Mary’s soul felt the pain. When He returned to Nazareth, people took offense at Him, drove Him out of town, and tried to kill Him. Mary’s soul had to be pierced by that. There were certainly other times when Mary’s soul ached for her Son. It happens today when those we love lay down their lives for Jesus. The joy of Christmas is always mingled with the sorrow of sacrifice. Accept it. Embrace it. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day