One of the first people to worship Jesus’ arrival to earth was an unborn baby. 

Imagine the scene that is described in Luke 1:39-56. Mary was recently visited by the angel Gabriel and was told that she would conceive the Messiah, carry him, and deliver him. This was an honor to be the mother of the Messiah, but how would she explain this to her family and to Joseph? Until this point in history, a virgin had never become pregnant – it was impossible. Mary was a virgin and explaining the theology of an immaculate conception would have been difficult. She was an engaged teenager carrying the one who would carry the sins of the world. When Mary agreed to be pregnant with Jesus she wasn’t positive that Joseph would stay with her. During those days a woman who was pregnant out of wedlock was publicly disgraced. She would have felt confused and isolated. 

In this moment of worry, anticipation, and confusion, Mary went to her relative Elizabeth’s house. Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age with her first child. As soon as Mary stepped into the presence of Elizabeth her unborn baby John leaped inside her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and understood that Mary was pregnant with the Messiah. Elizabeth and Mary followed unborn baby John’s worship and began to praise God for his mercy and favor.

I want to point out an aspect of this account that I haven’t noticed before. It is simply this: Mary needed community and encouragement. 

Since she and Joseph were alone during the delivery we can incorrectly assume that they were alone during the pregnancy. Once she found out that she was pregnant, Mary went to Elizabeth and, as Luke 1:56 tells us, stayed with Elizabeth for three months before he returned home. Mary needed someone who knew what God was doing in her life to encourage and support her during this confusing time. 

There are times in life where God is working in your life but you are not yet able to share the information publicly. Christianity is not lived in isolation but in community. You don’t have to tell everything to everyone, but there must be a few people who know everything that is going on in your life. These people will become a pillar of encouragement and support as they point you to Jesus during confusing times. 

Live It: 

• Did you view Mary’s pregnancy as being all on her own? 
• Who are the few people in your life that are your source of biblical and Godly encouragement and truth? 

Christ Chronological: Luke 1:39-56

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Do you worry about God being able to accomplish something? There are times in everyone’s life when they question the power or goodness of God as it relates to a particular situation. “Can God do this?” “Will God show up?” “How could God bring something good from this decision?”

In Luke 1 there are two miracle conceptions. The first impossible conception took place when Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist in her old age. Luke 1:7 says that she and Zechariah were unable to conceive because she was “well along in years”. God heard  their prayers and blessed them with a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah. 

The second miracle conception happened when the virgin Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. During this interaction the angel Gabriel  told Mary that she would conceive a son. Mary’s question is obvious: how? How could a virgin become pregnant? Why would God select her to deliver the Messiah? The news sounded impossible. But Gabriel revealed a truth about God that we need to remember. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

There are moments in our lives where we are faced with an impossible situation that requires us to walk by faith in God’s provisions and power. God fully provides for His plans. If God is leading you He will provide for you. 

God can do whatever God wants to do. Nothing is outside of God’s dominion. Because God is holy, every decision that He makes will be holy and good. 

You may be faced with a situation that seems impossible. The impossible could be a  physical, mental, relational, or financial issue. Regardless of the situation, the truth remains; if God is working in this situation according to His purposes then the impossible is possible. 

Live It: 

• How do you respond to situations that seem impossible? Do you have faith, questions concerns, skepticism? 
• How can you encourage someone else who is going through an impossible situation? 

Christ Chronological: Luke 1:26-38

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Why is the genealogy of Jesus important? 

As a child I wasn’t interested in family photo albums. When I would visit my grandparents I would notice the stacks of photo albums but I rarely opened them up. This past Christmas season my family traveled back to East Tennessee to spend time with my side of the family. One afternoon we went to my grandmother’s house to visit with her. In her small living room sits dozens of photo albums from Christmases past. I walked over to the bookshelf and started looking through pictures of our family. It was great to see how some things have changed and how other things haven’t changed all that much. As an adult, I realize how important it is to know your family,  remember the past, and celebrate how God has moved throughout the years.

As a teenager I was tempted to skip over the genealogies located in the Bible. The long list of names were confusing and seemed unimportant when I could flip a few pages and read about Jesus healing the blind or King David slaying Goliath. I didn’t realize the importance these passages play in reminding us about our spiritual family and causing us to celebrate God’s faithfulness throughout the generations.

Before Jesus is born we are presented with Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1. Luke lists a similar genealogy in Luke 3 after he records Jesus’ birth.

The names listed in these genealogies accomplish two purposes. First, the genealogies trace God’s faithfulness to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant. In Genesis 12:1-3 God calls Abram out of Ur and promises to make him into a great nation. Abraham’s people would be more numerous than the stars (Genesis 15:4-5) and promises that they will live in the promised land (Genesis 15:7). God establishes this covenant in Genesis 15. When God speaks to Abram for the first time he says that all people on earth will be blessed by Abram (Genesis 12:3).

 How will all people be blessed by Abram?

That brings us to the second purpose of the genealogies. Jesus blesses humanity by his life, death, and resurrection which brings hope and salvation to all people – not just the Jewish people. Luke’s genealogy traces Jesus all the way to Adam. This is significant because God told the serpent “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Jesus is the one who defeats sin and brings humanity back to the perfection found in the Garden of Eden. The genealogies show us that God has been faithful throughout the generations to restore humanity by sending the King of Kings to earth on a search mission. Jesus is the King who will reign forever.

Each genealogy is rich with history and hope for a savior who would undo the curse of sin.

As followers of Jesus, we have been adopted into the Family of God and share in the glory of Jesus. It is important for us to look back and to be reminded of our family roots.

Live It:

• Are you tempted to skip through genealogies in the Bible?
• Which names in Matthew 1 or Luke 3 stick out? Are there names that you are surprised to see listed?

Christ Chronological: Matthew 1:1-17 & Luke 3:23-38

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What would you do if Jesus moved into your neighborhood? 

As a new family moves into the neighborhood there is excitement and questions. Who are our new neighbors? Do they have kids? Will they mow their yard? Will their dogs bark throughout the night? 

Can you imagine if Jesus moved into the house, apartment, or dorm room next to you? Would you rush outside to clean up your yard to have a presentable house? Would you invite him over for a meal? Would you change the way that you interact with your children when they play in the front yard? Would you stay inside and never interact with him? 

The truth is that Jesus did move into the neighborhood. 2,000 years ago Jesus came to earth in the form of a human to bring us grace, truth, hope, and salvation. He came to earth for that exact aim – to have his Spirit reside with you. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The Message translation says, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14). Jesus journeyed from heaven to earth so that you would journey with Him on earth and in heaven. 

What is the correct response for Jesus coming to earth and “moving into the neighborhood”? One incorrect response is to try to impress Jesus with everything that you are doing. This is what the Pharisees did in the New Testament. They sought to show their religious devotion in an arrogant way and missed true spiritual growth. Another incorrect response is to avoid Jesus. Sadly, many people chose to reject and avoid the grace and truth that is found in Jesus. The Bible tells us that the correct response to Jesus’ arrival is to receive him and submit to his Lordship for our lives. 

Jesus came to dwell among humanity to bring grace, truth, hope, and salvation. 

His mission wasn’t condemnation but liberation. 

His mission wasn’t rejection but salvation. 

Jesus is pursuing you even when you aren’t pursuing him. 

Jesus is looking for you even when you aren’t looking for him. 

Live It: 

• How have you responded to Jesus “moving into the neighborhood” by coming into the earth? 
• Do you live to impress Jesus, avoid Jesus, or receive Jesus?

Christ Chronological: John 1:1-18, Mark 1:1, Luke 1:1-4

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Light and darkness are used through the Scriptures to describe the conflict God and evil. When we talk about the conflict between God and evil it is important to state that God is not struggling to overcome darkness. Referring to Jesus, John 1:5 tells us plainly “That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5). Jesus is not struggling against a power that is equal to his own. Satan is not all-powerful but a being created by God who rebelled against God. All the forces of evil try to extinguish the light of Jesus. But evil is incapable of overcoming God in the same way that darkness is unable to extinguish the light. 

• Jesus shines in the darkness. 
• Jesus drives back evil.
• Jesus is light. 

The conflict present between light and darkness but arises because humanity choses wandering in the darkness over walking in the light of Jesus. The world doesn’t understand the light of God or, sadly, they don’t see the need for the light. Some believe that illumination is found through intelligence or experiences. Intelligence and experiences are good bases for understanding but are not the source of illumination. Jesus is in all things, has created all things, is before all things, and all things point to Him. (Colossians 1:16-17) True illumination can only come from the source of light and light. 

There is a truth about light and darkness – your eyes will adjust to darkness. If you spend time in a dark room your eyes will adjust to help you see your surroundings. You can become familiar with the darkness around you. Even though they adjust in the darkness, you will never see a full picture until light fills the room. You are unaware of the dangers that surround you. You are unaware of the opportunities around you. 

Darkness traps and disorients but light illuminates and liberates. Walking apart from Jesus is to walk in the darkness of the world. You might be able to navigate around some obstacles every now and again when you wander in the darkness but you will never have a clear picture of the plan and purpose that God has for your life.

What you decide about Jesus will change the course of your life. Life isn’t found by wandering. Life is found through following Jesus. 

Jesus is the source of life and light in our lives. 

• Light gives vision. 
• Light gives direction. 
• Light brings liberation. 
• Light gives perspective. 
• Light overcomes darkness. 

Live It: 

• Do you follow Jesus? 
• Are you looking for a solution, direction, or understanding outside of a pursuit of Jesus? 
• What are some ways that you can submit and follow the Light of Jesus today? 

Christ Chronological: John 1:1-18

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