Deuteronomy 34:1-4 "Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land - from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, "I will give it to your descendents. I will let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."
Joseph and Mary might well have considered the territory Moses would have seen from the top of Mount Nebo and then talked about the Children of Israel crossing the Jordan to enter it. This was cause for great rejoicing! They may well have sung the songs their people had been singing for ages-and were still singing!
They would have recalled their people's difficult history in that land. Often under foreign occupation, during Joseph and Mary's day the Romans held sway. But the promise was not only for a land. It was for a Messiah, a descendent of David, who was to be born in Bethlehem. They approached Bethlehem as descendents of David and in Mary's womb was the great promise of the ages.
They must have wondered what this promise meant for their baby. They must have wondered what their baby might mean for the Promised Land. And, for a moment, could they have seen something of the impact this Promised One would have for the whole world!
We, too, are on our journey to Bethlehem. We know what happened to Jesus, the Promised One. We have seen the impact on the Promised Land. What still remains to be revealed is the impact on us personally. What does it mean to have Jesus, the Promised One, in our lives? And still more to be revealed is what it means to have the Promised One in our world!
THE PRAYER: O Promised One, born in the land of promise. Release Your blessings to us, and through us to Your whole world! Amen.
Luke 10:30; "Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho ..."
The journey from the Jordan to Bethlehem might well have taken Joseph and Mary through the city of Jericho. How well they would knew the story of Jericho's destruction as given in Joshua 5:13-6:20. They knew how impossible it would be to occupy the Promised Land if they could not conquer Jericho. They could relate about how impossible the task seemed to be. They would remember the strange commands given about marching around the city for six days and on the seventh day, march around it seven times. Then, when they were commanded to shout-shout-and the walls would come tumbling down. Amazing! It might well have left Joseph and Mary with chills running down their spines.
They would have lifted up the name of Joshua, who became so well respected and honored because of how the Lord blessed the Israelites through him. They knew the Israelites saw Joshua as a "savior." He led the people of Israel as they occupied the Promised Land. They knew their Son would bear a name that came from the same root. They knew the expectations for Him would be no less.
But they did not know how it would happen. They did not know that while the taking down of Jericho's walls was unusual, the taking down of sin, death, and the power of the devil would be even more unusual. It did not take an army to defeat Jericho, and it would not take an army to destroy the power of the evil forces. It would take the innocent suffering and death of one solitary individual-their Son. It would result in the walls our sins cause between us and God to come tumbling down and thus giving us access to the eternal Promised Land!
THE PRAYER: Bless us Advent Lord, as we praise You for our glorious and astonishing preparation for entering the Promised Land! Amen.
Luke 18:35-42 As Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem approaching Jericho, they would have passed by many who had significant physical needs. Among them would have been the blind. Among the blind a young man, learning what it meant to not have sight, learning how to call out for help, for mercy.
As Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem approaching Jericho, they would have passed by many with significant physical needs. Among them would have been the blind. Among the blind a young man, learning what it meant not to have sight, was learning how to call out for help-for mercy.
He also learned about the promise of the coming of the Son of David. It was the teaching of his people. The Messiah would come, the promised Son of David. He would bring healing for His people, healing for the world.
Later in life the man would hear about this one from Nazareth who had healed so many, whose words were so comforting to so many, who spoke words of hope and promise, who was fulfilling so many of the promises he had learned the Messiah would fulfill. And then he would hear the unusually large crowd pass by, call out, discover it was Jesus, and call for His attention. Nothing would stop him. He knew what Jesus could do. He had great faith! Jesus would give him sight.
As we travel to Bethlehem this Advent, we too will come upon those who have significant physical needs. They have a great need for mercy. Many of them also have great faith. The Lord, who cared for the blind man near Jericho, also cares for those with physical needs in our day. We are among those who hear their calls for mercy. We are among those who express God's continuing love.
While we express our Lord's love for those physically limited, we are even more concerned for those who are spiritually blind. We see them as we journey to Bethlehem. We pray our Lord's blessings upon them so they may see.
THE PRAYER: Lord, keep hearing the call of those who are blind. Bless their faith. May they see Jesus. Amen.
Luke 10:30-37 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two sliver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, "Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a well-traveled road. So far as we know, Mary and Joseph traveled it without incident. Jesus would tell a story about a man, however, who was not so fortunate. It would become one of His best-known parables. Jesus would tell it in response to a teacher of the Law's question: "And who is my neighbor?" The teacher knew the correct answer. It was the application that was difficult.
Jesus was about to be born into the world. He would love His Father with all His heart and with all His soul and with all His strength and with all His mind.
Jesus would love His neighbor as Himself. He does not pass by on the other side like the priest. He is the one who binds up our wounds, makes sure we're cared for, and covers the costs. It will not be convenient for Him; it will not be inexpensive for Him. To neighbor us will cost Him everything. He does so because He loves us.
He loves us, even though in so many ways we have shown ourselves to be His enemies. It would have been understandable if He had been indifferent to our plight. It would have been understandable if He had "had passed by on the other side" (Luke 10:31b). How blessed our world is by those who, when they see those who have been left for "half-dead" have not "passed by on the other side."
As Mary and Joseph continue their journey, they carry with them the One who would neighbor every sinner and show mercy to those in need. It is to us, as we travel our own road that Jesus says: "Go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37b).
THE PRAYER: O Heavenly Father, bless us so we may know Your love for us, and love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen.
Matthew 21:17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
Mary and Joseph are getting close to Bethlehem. They arrive at Bethany. It would be a place of rest for them-a place where children could play in the street. Mary prayed her baby would soon be such a happy child, playing with such good friends.
Jesus would find happy times and refreshment in Bethany. It was there that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus would be among His very best friends. He would rest there.
But Bethany would also be the place where some of Jesus' most memorable words would be spoken. They would be words about choices. While Martha was concerned she was not getting any help from her sister, Jesus affirmed, "Mary has chosen the good part" (Luke 10:42b). They would be words about the assurance of Jesus being "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25a).
Jesus would show some of His deepest human emotions here. It is here "He wept" (John 11:35).
It is here Jesus would perform the miracle that would leave His opponents no apparent choice. He would raise Lazarus from the death.
It is from here He will enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, with the crowds cheering Him on. "Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest!" Bethany was for Mary and Joseph, and later for Jesus, both a resting place and a launching place.
Perhaps you have a Bethany. You, too, are getting close to Bethlehem. I hope you have a place to rest, in the presence of good friends. For soon you will embark on the activities of the celebration of the Incarnation. Much of what you will experience will be expected and anticipated. There may well be some surprises. Pace yourself.
THE PRAYER: We are so grateful for the role Bethany played in the life of Jesus. Bless our time in our Bethanys. Amen.
While Mary and Joseph's time in Bethany on their way to Bethlehem may have been brief and uneventful, Jesus' time there would be extended and very significant. He was there often for important events. Perhaps the most noteworthy of all was the illness, death, and resurrection of Lazarus.
Jesus did not come early. His good friends were anxious and quite disappointed; His followers were confused. "If He could heal a blind man, could He not have kept this man from dying?" (John 11:37)
As the eleventh chapter of John indicates, Jesus arrived at the right time. It was the right time so His disciple would believe. It was the right time to bring comfort to Mary and Martha. It was the right time to affirm His power over death. It was the right time to challenge those who doubted Him. His time in Bethany was the right time.
Our Lord's timing is always right. It may not seem so in the Bethanys of our lives. He may appear to arrive late. He may appear to be indifferent. It may appear His critics are correct and that He is powerless.
But Jesus time remains right. His response always comes from a heart that grieves over our anxiety and sadness. He loves us no less than He loved Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. His victory over Lazarus' death is in anticipation of our experiencing His victory over our death. He continues to do amazing things! His enemies remain no less committed to discredit and dishonor Him.
But this day, in our Bethany, He assures us He loves us; He cares for us; He forgives us; He hears our prayers, and at the right time we will "see the glory of God" (John 11:40b).
THE PRAYER: O Advent Lord, come to our Bethany so we may see the glory of God. Amen.
John 18:1 "When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley."
As Mary and Joseph left Bethany, they could have passed through the Kidron Valley on their route through Bethlehem to Jerusalem. Passing through this valley would have been a familiar experience. Pilgrims coming to Jerusalem would come singing their familiar Psalms of Ascent! Even now, when one approaches Jerusalem through the Kidron Valley, one can hear pilgrims singing their songs of praise.
Passing through this valley knowing they were bearing the Savior of the world, the One promised for so long, they would have understood these words in a whole new way. Others would sing the songs filled with hope. They would hear these songs as about to be fulfilled. The cry of the pilgrims for deliverance had been heard! Their passing through the Kidron Valley must have been with eagerness and delight.
They could hardly have imagined the triumphal entry of their Son through this Valley on what would later be called "Palm Sunday." He would be welcomed into Jerusalem as the Son of David, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. Jesus would enter Jerusalem that day riding on a donkey. Mary would remember that ride into Jerusalem on a donkey more that 30 years earlier.
Jesus ride into Jerusalem was on His way to offer Himself as our Lord and Savior, to lay down His life for us, and then to take it up for us again. He came through that valley so He might assure us that He joins us in all the valleys of our lives. We may be those being cheered on, we may be cheering others on, we are always joined by the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
THE PRAYER: O Advent Lord, bless us and all who are on our way to Bethlehem through the valleys of our lives. Amen.
Luke 9:29-30 "Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about His departure, which He was about to fulfillment in Jerusalem."
Mary and Joseph would pass through Jerusalem on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Their memories of past events in the Holy City may well have overwhelmed them. They knew the temple stood on the reported spot where Abraham was to have sacrificed his son, according to Genesis 22. This was the spot where so many sacrifices had been and were still being offered. While they did not know how, this would be the spot where their Son would make a sacrifice that would change everything!
As they passed through the city, they might have gone the way that would later become the "Via Dolorosa"-"the way of sorrow." It would take them past the temple, past the seat of power, past the governor's judgment hall, past Herod's palace. There was so much history, so many stories.
But most poignant story was yet to come! It would be of Jesus passing that way, struggling with His cross. This was not a light, touring trip through the city. This would be the Son of God bearing the load of the sins of the world. This would be the Son of God carrying our sins!
There were a lot of people who worried because it looked like He was in a terrible spot. They grieved for Him. But He knew who was in trouble. It was those who grieved. It is us. He knew that! To free us from the certain destruction wreaked by our sins, by death, and by the power of the evil one, He bore the load. He bore it all the way through Jerusalem. He bore it Calvary.
THE PRAYER: O Advent Lord, we are so grateful for Your departure from Jerusalem, for us, and for the whole world! Amen.
Luke 2:27 "Moved by the Spirit, he (Simeon) went into the Temple Courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the laws of the court required."
Mary and Joseph could not have gone to Jerusalem without pausing at the temple. They knew they would be back with their boy to meet the requirements of the Law. As they paused at the temple, they would marvel at its massive beauty. They would be impressed by the spiritual men and women who prayed and served there.
They would also have noticed the men who had made the temple a place of business and trade-activities that had nothing to do with the purpose for which Solomon had built the temple so many years ago. It would bother them. It would greatly bother their Son years later. So much so, He would later cleanse the temple as recorded in Matthew 21:12-13.
Mary and Joseph were standing on holy ground, and they knew it. This ground had been holy for Abraham as offered a ram as the sacrifice for his son. It was holy ground as sacrifices were offered for the people's sins. Ultimately, it would become the location on which their own Son would be offered for the sins of the whole world!
On our way from Nazareth to Bethlehem, we will also gather on what for us is holy ground. It is the place where we gather to worship He who came into our world to lay down His life as the Lamb of God. We will gather in that special place soon to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus.
THE PRAYER: O Advent Lord, bless the holy place where we gather to worship You and will soon celebrate the incarnation!
Luke 2:8:"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night."
The journey for Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem is almost over. It is only a few miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. The route takes them past Rachel's Well and a time to remember when Jacob and his family passed this way.
They would continue past the Shepherd's Field, where sheep would be gently feeding under the eyes of caring shepherds. Mary and Joseph would have no reason to know that later they would meet these shepherds face to face. They would have no reason to know these shepherds would be the very first to understand what they would know-that the Savior had been born who is Christ the Lord! They would have no reason to know the message would be given to them by a whole host of angels singing, "Glory to God in the highest!" (Luke 2:14a)
Mary and Joseph also would have had no way of knowing their Son would later declare Himself "the good shepherd" (John 10:11a). He would not be a hireling that would run away when the wolf comes. He would be the Good Shepherd who "lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10:11b). And those "sheep" are you, me, and the whole world.
THE PRAYER: May our Lord bless our passing by the ordinary events of our lives on our way to Bethlehem to join the shepherds at the manger to worship the Christ Child! Amen.
Luke 2:4: "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David."
The journey for Mary and Joseph is almost complete. What began in Nazareth as a journey of a caring husband with his pregnant wife -what began as a journey from one non-descript village after another -what began with their Bethlehem destination firmly in mind-is now coming to an end. They have covered terrain packed with the history of their people. They had passed by people who would be mightily impacted by their Son. Their journey was almost complete. They were coming into Bethlehem.
Not many in Bethlehem were ready for them. The citizens were not ready. The people at the inn were not ready. The spiritual leaders in Jerusalem were not ready. The promise was a long time coming. Many looked for that day. Only Mary and Joseph knew that soon, very soon, the Savior of the world would be born into the world!
The villages we come from and where we will celebrate may be insignificant. But what we will do in those villages will be very significant. It's rather easy to excuse the residents and visitors of Bethlehem for not being prepared to receive the Savior of the world. We, however, have no such excuse. Even if everything else isn't ready-gifts, decorations, meal provisions, travel arrangements, and the like, we can still be prepared to celebrate the incarnation of the Christ, God in the flesh, who has come into our world, our lives, and the lives of those we love.
Ready or not, the Christ is coming.
THE PRAYER: O Advent Lord, bless our last-minute preparations to receive You into our world, our lives, and our hearts. Amen.
Luke 2:6: "While they were there (Bethlehem), the time came for the baby to be born."
Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem. The time had come for their baby to be born. They had hardly expected they would be in a stable. Upon reflection, it's possible they considered how appropriate it was for the Savior of the world to be born in the midst of His creation.
Jesus is born in Bethlehem-literally "house of bread" in Hebrew. How fitting Jesus would see Himself as the "bread of life" (John 6: 35a). God had delivered a bread from heaven for the Children of Israel as they wondered through the wilderness. It was always enough, but Jesus is so much more! He is the bread from heaven!
Many of us will receive Holy Communion as we celebrate the birth of Christ-Jesus, the Bread of Life. In this bread-His Body-He forgives us our sins. In this bread He renews us, and empowers us to continue our journey beyond Bethlehem to our homes, our communities, and throughout the world.
Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem. They would later descend to Egypt to escape Herod's envy, and return to Nazareth where Jesus would grow up and join His father as a carpenter. Later, He would trek to the Jordan River where He would be baptized and on to Calvary where He would be crucified. But His journey would not end there. He would ascend into heaven where He has prepared a place for us. He will come again.
That is when our journey will end-when He comes again. The journey home to heaven will be the best of all. And it is all possible because of Mary and Joseph's Advent journey to Bethlehem, and the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
THE PRAYER: O Advent Lord, thanks for accompanying our journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Bless our celebration of the birth of Jesus, our Bread of Life. Amen.
Acts 6:8: "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people."
This is Saint Stephen's Day. We are not sure if he ever visited Nazareth or Bethlehem. We do know what happened in Bethlehem affected him. There was no doubt in his mind about the wonderful events of Christmas Eve. There was no doubt in his mind about what the angels had sung to the shepherds-that in Bethlehem was born the Savior of the world.
We don' know if Stephen followed Jesus during His ministry. We don't know if he was one of the 72. We don't even know if he was aware of what Jesus was going through from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. But we do know Stephen believed Jesus had paid the full price for his sins, had conquered death, and that now he had a real purpose for living.
His devotion and his service to Jesus were evident to all. When the apostles determined the expanding community of believers had grown to the size that they could no longer give their full attention to praying, proclamation, and the full pastoral care of the people, Stephen was chosen to be a deacon. His selection surprised no one; he was a strong and powerful witness.
Jesus' followers were mightily encouraged by Stephen's knowledge, faith, and enthusiasm.
Those who opposed Jesus found Stephen's strong witness exceedingly offensive. A full account is recorded in Acts 7. Stephen becomes the first among many who would lay down their lives for Jesus. On Saint Stephen's Day we give thanks for them all-and for the One who gave His life for us.
THE PRAYER: O Lord, bless all who give faithful and strong witness of the wonderful gift You are to us. May it remain the real purpose for our living. Amen.
I John 3:16: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
We can be pretty sure Saint John was in both Nazareth and Bethlehem. On this Feast Day of Saint John the Evangelist we celebrate the faithful companion that John, the brother of James, was to Jesus. He was among the first chosen to be a disciple; he was a confident of Jesus; he was with Jesus through His passion; he was at the crucifixion and was entrusted by Jesus from the cross for the care of His mother. Saint John was very special to Jesus.
He is also very special to us. In a Gospel and three pastoral letters, he shares the heart of Jesus for all people. It is the heart of love. John also records the book of Revelation-a vision of what is yet to come.
There is a clear theme to John's writings. That narrative thread is to describe the nature of God's love for us. It is a covenant love-a love that commits to another but that is not conditioned on a response. It's a love that always seeks the welfare of the other and rejoices in whatever the response may be.
That is the kind of love John saw in Jesus. That is the kind of love he was determined to live out. That is the kind of love those who read his writings are urged to live. That is the kind of love he urges us to live out.
On this Feast Day of Saint John the Evangelist, on this third day of Christmas, celebrate God's love for us in the Christ Child. On this Feast Day of Saint John, determine again to love as Christ has loved us!
THE PRAYER: Bless us this Feast Day of Saint John the Evangelist as we celebrate Christ's love for us and recommit ourselves in our love for our brothers and sisters. Amen.
Matthew 2:18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
There were many who were welcomed into Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus. The shepherds were welcomed. They told everyone what they had seen and heard. They told everyone what the angels had told them: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).
The Wise Men were welcomed into Bethlehem. A star had brought them to where Jesus was. They must have been quite a group, and the residents of Bethlehem must have been very excited to see these visitors from the East. They had seen His star and had come to worship the King of the Jews.
But there was one who was not welcomed into Bethlehem: Herod. Known for his horrible reputation, he was so insecure he murdered members of his own family whom he thought were conspiring against him.
Herod heard from the Wise Men a new king of the Jews had been born. His own staff confirmed this would happen in Bethlehem. When the Wise Men didn't return to help him find this new king, Herod was incensed. He ordered the murder of all males two years old and younger in and around Bethlehem. Fortunately, Joseph had been warned about these unwelcome visitors and escaped to Egypt.
On this day of the Church year we remember the death of these baby boys. It is called "The Holy Innocents, Martyrs." We remember these boys, their parents, and all untimely deaths of children and the pain it brings their parents. We also consider our Lord's great love for those children, and His compassion for those parents. On this day, we pray our Lord would release His love and compassion through us who experience unwelcome visitors to the Bethlehems of our time.
THE PRAYER: O tender Jesus, watch over and protect every child from unwanted visitors. Amen.
