TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 40:1-11
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. - Isaiah 40:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
As anyone who has parented toddlers has experienced, the process of raising little ones requires both firmness and gentleness. Children often want to do their own thing, like crawl into the fireplace, run into the street, or throw their toys. Parents find themselves firmly correcting (for the hundredth time!) the inappropriate action. But children also need hugs and encouragement as they develop and learn new skills.

God is the perfect model of the firm and gentle parent. It is the will of God that His people should be comforted even in the worst of times. In the previous chapters of Isaiah, the prophet warned the people of the consequences of their sin, and he foretold of the Babylonian captivity. But before God sent His people into captivity, He furnished them with promises of support and comfort during their times of trouble (v. 1).

“A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord’ ” is a prophesy of the coming of John the Baptist (v. 3). John the Baptist called people to repent of their sins, thereby preparing them for Christ. God used John the Baptist to initiate the public ministry of Jesus after His baptism.

Isaiah 40 also prophesies the coming of Christ, who was and is God, that He would come into the world in a physical form. “And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it” (v. 5). At Christ’s first coming many didn’t accept Him, so for all people to see, Isaiah had to be referring to the Second Coming. This is reinforced a few verses later, “See the Sovereign LORD comes with power” (v. 10).

The “good tidings” of verse 9 is that God is here. This was also the message of John the Baptist (cf. John 1:29–34). And it is the message of the gospel. Christ was born--God was here on earth. He came to take away our sins.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God comforted His people in the Old Testament through the prophets. Jesus came to earth and brought comfort as the Good Shepherd. He laid down His life for us, His sheep (John 10:15).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:5-25
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. - Luke 1:13b
TODAY IN THE WORD
In George Bernard Shaw’s play, Saint Joan, Joan of Arc tries to explain her message from God to the king: “The Dauphin was annoyed. 'Oh, your voices, your voices,’ he said. 'Why don’t the voices come to me? I am king not you.’ 'They do come to you,’ said Joan, 'but you do not hear them. You have not sat in the field in the evening listening for them. When the angelus rings you cross yourself and have done with it; but if you prayed from your heart, and listened to the trilling of the bells in the air after they stop ringing, you would hear the voices as well as I do.’ ”

As Joan told the king, God often speaks in unexpected ways to unexpected people.

Zechariah was a priest whose turn had come to serve in the temple. Both he and his wife Elizabeth were righteous (v. 6). They recognized their sin, brought the necessary sacrifices to the temple, and backed up their outward compliance with inward obedience. Zechariah means “God remembers,” and Elizabeth means “His oath.” Together their names mean, “God remembers His oath.”

Yet, Zechariah and Elizabeth were childless. And to be childless in their Hebrew society was practically a disgrace. Although they were elderly, they continued to pray for a son.

Then the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the temple and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard” (v. 13). The angel told Zechariah to name his son John, which means “the Lord is gracious.” John was dedicated by his parents to be a Nazarite for life, a man specifically consecrated to God. He would take a vow not to drink alcoholic beverages or cut his hair (v. 15).

Although his most fervent prayers were answered, Zecha-riah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this?” (v. 18). And as a result of his unbelief, he was unable to speak until John was born.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Here we see the humanness of Zechariah. He prayed fervently for a son, but when Gabriel told him his prayers would be answered, he questioned the angel.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:26-38
For nothing is impossible with God. - Luke 1:37
TODAY IN THE WORD
Over five hundred years ago Martin Luther wrote about Christmas, “It is not simply an old story of an event that happened fifteen hundred years ago; it is more than an event that happened once; for it is a gift and a bestowing that endures for ever.”

Six months after the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, he appeared to Mary, and she became the first person to hear about the gift of which Luther spoke. Mary was a young woman engaged to a carpenter named Joseph, a descendant of King David (v. 27).

Marriage in biblical times was usually an arrangement between two families. Once a price for the woman was agreed upon, a formal contract was drawn up. Then the wedding date was set, usually about a year later. If a woman had sexual relations with another man during her engagement, the groom could legally break off the engagement with a bill of divorce. Mary was aware of this when the angel approached her.

Gabriel told Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God” (v. 30). Given Mary’s engagement, an unplanned pregnancy probably didn’t seem like much of a favor from God. But the angel Gabriel’s message continued to grow more interesting.

The angel told her she would give birth to a Son and to name Him Jesus. Jesus was a common name and is the Greek form of the name Joshua. It means “The Lord Saves.” Gabriel predicted that Jesus would sit on David’s throne and that His kingdom would never end (vv. 32–33). Jesus offers believers eternal life, and His reign will continue throughout all eternity.

Mary then asked a very practical question: how this could be since she was a virgin? Yet, with Gabriel’s explanation, she immediately accepted the angel’s message to her. Her response is remarkable: “I am the Lord’s servant. . . . May it be to me as you have said” (v. 38).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Mary was a young woman, probably uneducated and of modest means. Yet, Gabriel said, “You have found favor with God.” Mary’s total submission to the will of God made her the ideal candidate to be Jesus’ mother.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Luke 1:39-56
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished! -
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the most exciting moments for a woman is when she discovers she is pregnant, and she can feel the unborn child moving inside her. Likewise for a man, it is thrilling to anticipate being a father as he places his hand on his wife’s abdomen and feels the kick of a little foot.

How exciting it must have been for Elizabeth to feel her baby John leap within her womb when Mary arrived. Elizabeth was an elderly woman, strong in her faith, and “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 41). What a comfort and encouragement she must have been to young Mary during the three-month stay at her cousin’s house.

Upon talking to Elizabeth, Mary became filled with joy and sang a song of praise, one of the greatest hymns in Scripture called the “Magnificat.”

It is quite similar to Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2 that she offered when she found that she was pregnant with Samuel. She looked beyond the gift and praised the Giver. In Hannah’s prayer she rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord and in His deliverance (1 Sam. 2:1). Hannah understood what Mary also knew: the great and sovereign Lord over kings is gentle and merciful to His servants.

Mary realized that the words of Hannah, as well as those of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah, would be fulfilled by the baby in her womb. She knew it was a glorious privilege to be the mother of the Son of God, but there was a paradox of blessedness in her life. Mary’s heart must have been filled with a wondering, awe-filled joy. Yet, this blessedness would become a sword to pierce her heart when she saw her son hanging on a cross (cf. Luke 2:34–35). That pain would not be resolved until the Resurrection, when she would fully comprehend the important role God had given to her.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The relationship between Elizabeth and Mary is a wonderful model of encouragement, and we see instructions for similar mentoring in Titus 2:3–5.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:57-80
And you, my child, will . . . give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. -
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Sir Walter Scott was young, he wanted to become a soldier. An accident made him slightly lame, however, and he was forced to abandon his dream. He turned his energies to reading old Scottish histories and romances, and he became a master novelist. His works include the classics Ivanhoe and The Talisman. His characters and stories sweep the reader into the violent, dramatic changes of history. Though he couldn’t have predicted it when he was young, his change of vocation ended up impacting far more people.

John the Baptist had no such career redirection--in fact, his parents knew his role before he was even born. The angel Gabriel told Zechariah that his son would be the forerunner who would prepare the way for the Messiah.

In Palestine the birth of a boy was an occasion of great joy. Friends and musicians gathered around the house and sang when the birth was announced. Elizabeth was doubly thankful. She had conceived in her old age and given birth to a son.

On the eighth day the boy was circumcised and received a name (v. 59). A family name was usually given to a baby, so everyone assumed the child would also be named Zechariah. But to the neighbors’ surprise, Elizabeth said, “No! He is to be called John” (v. 60).

Not believing her, they turned to Zechariah. Since he could not speak, he wrote for them, “His name is John” (v. 63). Gabriel had told Zechariah in the temple that God wanted his son to be named John. John is a shorter form of the name Jehohan, which means “Jehovah’s gift” or “God is gracious.”

After this act of obedience, Zechariah was able to speak again, and immediately he began praising God (v. 64). His song echoes the themes of Mary’s song: praise for God’s redemption, recognition of God’s faithfulness, and a response of serving the Lord (vv. 68–75).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
For two days we’ve read some incredible songs from Hannah, Mary, and Zechariah.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 1:1-17
I, Jesus . . . am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. - Revelation 22:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Tracing family histories is a growing hobby. Today people spend thousands of dollars on special computer software, research books, and even trips to the place of their ancestors. There’s often a strong tug to feel connected to where we come from.

Genealogies were exceedingly important to the Jews. Matthew 1:1-17 provides Jesus’ genealogy on Joseph’s side. Matthew said that Jesus is “the son of David, the son of Abraham (v. 1). Many Bible scholars believe that Matthew reversed the chronological order here to present Jesus first as the Messiah, the King who will establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

We read previously this month that Jesus is the Son of David. Here He is also the Son of Abraham. God said to Abraham, “Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me” (Gen. 22:18).

The names in Matthew’s genealogy are arranged in three groups of fourteen people each. This is a mnemonic device, arranged so that they are easy to memorize. The three sections are based on the three great stages of Jewish history: first from Abraham to David, second from David to the exile in Babylon, and the third from the Exile to the birth of Christ.

Four names stand out--customarily women’s names didn’t appear in Jewish genealogies: Tamar (v. 3), Rahab (v. 5), Ruth (v. 5), and Bathsheba, referred to as Uriah’s wife (v. 6). If you study these women, you may wonder what some of them are doing in Christ’s genealogy! They are examples of God’s grace and forgiveness of sins.

It is important to note that Joseph was not Jesus’ actual father, but rather Mary’s husband (v. 16). Consequently, the genealogy of Mary appears in Luke 3:23–38. Her genealogy goes back to Adam and shows that Mary was also from the line of David.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Take some extra time this week to read the stories of the four women in Christ’s genealogy. Tamar can be found in Genesis 38; Rahab in Joshua 2; Ruth in the book of Ruth; and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11-12.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 1:18-25
The virgin . . . will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Jewish marriage procedure in biblical times had three steps. First was the engagement, made through the parents or a professional matchmaker. Often the couple had never even met one another. The second step was the betrothal, which was absolutely binding and could only be terminated by divorce. It lasted for one year, and the couple was known as man and wife. But the relationship was not consummated until after the third step, the actual wedding ceremony and celebration.

Mary and Joseph were betrothed when Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant. Joseph was a gentle and righteous person, so he decided to divorce her quietly–rather than have her stoned as he was permitted to do under Jewish law (v. 19). In order to prevent a very tragic situation, an angel appeared to Joseph to make clear what was happening. The angel explained that the conception was “from the Holy Spirit” (v. 20).

Mary’s story would have been unbelievable to Joseph except for one fact: Joseph was a devout Jew who knew the Scriptures. He realized that God had promised a Messiah who would be born of a virgin.

The angel also said, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins” (v. 21). The name Jesus means “Savior.” Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, Jeshua, and Jehoshua--all familiar Old Testament names.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In your prayer time today, think about the name for Jesus--Immanuel, God with us.

Do you think about God being with you as you go about your day, interact with friends and family, make decisions at home and work, experience good times and bad times?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 2:1-7
The time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. - Luke 2:6–7
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2000, the United States conducted the census that is mandated by the Constitution. Even the hours it took to fill out the long census form seem pretty easy compared to the travel requirements of the Roman census.

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world” (v. 1). The Roman Empire at that time spread further than ever before, and censuses were taken every fourteen years for the purpose of taxation.

Both Mary and Joseph were required to go to Bethlehem since they were of the house of David (v. 4). Bethlehem was the birthplace of David, and Joseph traced his lineage back through David’s son, Solomon (cf. Matt. 1:6). Mary’s lineage went back through David’s son, Nathan (see Luke 3:31). This fulfilled the prophesy of Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Caesar Augustus hadn’t considered being a part of God’s plan, but even the most powerful man in the world is subject to the sovereign working of God. He was the adopted son and appointed heir of Julius Caesar, and his actual name was Octavianus. He had taken the name Caesar as a political strategy, and later gave himself the name Augustus as a signal of his self-ascribed deity. This precedent would later become full-fledged emperor worship, and thousands of Christians would lose their lives because they would not bow to the reigning Caesar.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This is an example of how God controls all history. Devout Jews never dreamed that the Messiah would enter the world in this manner. Yet, God had a plan for Mary and Joseph. They were not promised that life on this earth would be comfortable or easy, but they were told that their Son was the promised Messiah.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 2:8-20
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Once there was a European monarch who worried his court by often disappearing and walking incognito among the people. When he was asked not to do so for the sake of security, he answered, “I cannot rule my people unless I know how they live.” Jesus came to earth in the humblest way possible, as a baby born to a poor couple in a remote outpost of the empire. Author George MacDonald put it this way, “They all were looking for a King / To slay their foes and lift them high; / Thou cam’st, a little baby thing / That made a woman cry.”

When the Savior came into the world, He did not lay aside His deity. Like the European monarch, He laid aside His glory. The Jews were expecting Him to come as a regal King with all of creation watching the magnificent spectacle. Instead, His welcoming committee consisted of shepherds.

God’s message first came to shepherds who were tending their flocks at night. The angel’s first words to them were, “Do not be afraid” (Luke 2:10). When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the temple (Luke 1:13) and to Jesus’ mother (Luke 1:30), his first words also were, “Do not be afraid.” How reassuring it must have been that the angel’s first concern in each case was to comfort those to whom he was presenting God’s message. This reassures us, too.

Like Mary, the shepherds immediately accepted the angel’s words and said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened” (v. 15). They hurried to Bethlehem where they found Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They were probably the first people to visit Jesus, and seeing Him convinced them that He was the Savior of the world, so “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child” (v. 17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus is our Messiah--our Savior. And we can meet Him daily in prayer and in His Word. This is how we develop a close relationship with Him. Then, like the shepherds, we can share our joy with others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 2:1-12
Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We . . . have come to worship him. - Matthew 2:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bethlehem is located six miles south of Jerusalem. We previously read the prophecy, quoted from Micah 5:2, that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:6).

People in the Mediter-ranean world, whether they were Jews or not, were hoping for a leader who would guide their nations out of submission to Rome and into a golden age of order and prosperity. And as we’ve discussed, the Jews in particular longed for the arrival of their Messiah. But they didn’t expect a tiny baby--they expected a conquering hero who would overthrow the Empire.

The Magi were priests who specialized in the study of the stars and planets. They were also skilled in philosophy, medicine, and science. They were filled with wisdom, and they would have been aware of the Old Testament prophecies regarding Jesus’ birth. Although we don’t know what brilliant star those ancient Magi saw, that heavenly brilliance spoke to them of the entry of a king into the world. Thus, they set out to find Him.

In contrast to the Magi, King Herod was an evil man, who was insanely suspicious. If he suspected anyone to be a rival to his power, that person was promptly eliminated. He murdered his wife, her mother, and three of his sons. Augustus, the Roman Emperor, had noted that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son. It is obvious how such a man would feel when news reached him that a child destined to be a king had been born.

Herod sent for the Magi and said to them, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him” (v. . In actuality, though, Herod had no intentions of worship; he planned to kill the child.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may be finishing your last-minute Christmas shopping. But have you thought of what you will give to Jesus?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 2:13-23
And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” -
TODAY IN THE WORD
A children’s story tells that when Mary and Joseph became weary on their way to Egypt, they sought refuge in a cave. A spider, wishing to do something for the Christ child, spun its web across the entrance to block the wind. When Herod’s soldiers passed by, they didn’t bother to check the cave because the spider web was not torn. They didn’t think anyone could possibly be inside. They left the holy family in peace. Some historians attribute the tradition of hanging tinsel on a Christmas tree to represent the safety provided by the spider’s web in that story.

The angel of the Lord once again appeared to Joseph and told him to flee, because Herod would try to murder Jesus. Joseph instantly obeyed (v. 14). Fleeing to Egypt fulfilled the prophecy of Hosea 11:1: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” This passage carries the double meaning of God’s love for Israel, shown by Moses leading the exodus from Egypt, and also God’s love for us by calling His Son from the relative safety of Egypt to return and fulfill His ultimate purpose of suffering and dying on the cross for our sins.

Herod wanted to be sure to eliminate this potential rival to his power, so “he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under” (v. 16). Perhaps the soldiers drew a circle around Jerusalem with the radius as far south as Bethlehem and as far north as Ramah. They killed all the young boys within that territory, fulfilling the words of Jeremiah 31:15 that are quoted in Matthew 2:18.

Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel, was the symbolic mother of the northern tribes of Israel. In Jeremiah 31 she is pictured crying for the exiles at Ramah, a deportation point during the Babylonian captivity. This terrible mourning had its fulfillment in Matthew 2 as the mothers in Bethlehem and the surrounding area wept as their children were brutally slain by Herod’s soldiers.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Now we have seen all four prophecies dealing with locations in the birth of Christ fulfilled: born in Bethlehem, called out of Egypt, weeping in Ramah, and called a Nazarene. When originally given by the Old Testament prophets, these prophecies may have seemed strange and unreal. Yet, all were fulfilled and became real during Jesus’ early childhood. Look over the previous days of December, particularly the Old Testament passages. Make a list of the other prophecies regarding Jesus that you can find.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 2:21-40
Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, . . . my eyes have seen your salvation. - Luke 2:29–30
TODAY IN THE WORD
Our culture seems obsessed with youth. Advertisers pay millions of dollars to target 18-year-olds. Magazines and television shows rarely depict anyone over the age of 50. We seldom hear the value of old age celebrated.

The Bible teaches that people are loved by God and can serve Him at any age--from the smallest child to the most elderly woman. Anna is a beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness to a woman who had served Him her entire life.

In Luke 2:22 we read, “Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” According to the Law, every firstborn male was sacred to God (Ex. 13:2). A ceremony called the Redemption of the First-born allowed parents to “buy back” their sons by paying five shekels of silver to the priests at the temple (see Num. 18:16).

Also forty days after Jesus was born, Mary was required to bring an offering to the temple for her purification after childbirth (cf. Lev. 12). Since they were poor, she would have brought “a pair of doves or two young pigeons” (v. 24). This sacrifice was for Mary, not Jesus.

When Mary and Joseph entered the temple courts, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He was so committed to seeking God that the Holy Spirit was guiding his thoughts and actions. When he saw Jesus, he knew that God had kept his promise (v. 26).

Notice that Simeon declared that Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah 49:6 which we read earlier (vv. 30–32). Simeon added that Jesus would meet with much opposition, because people can’t feel neutral toward Him. They either surrender to Him or are at war with Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Both Anna and Simeon waited a lifetime for their prayers to be answered, and in His timing, God answered them.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 1:6-18
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. - John 1:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you had an announcement that would change the world, who would you want to deliver it? Would you choose a supermodel or celebrity? Maybe a respected journalist or political leader would get everyone’s attention.

The announcement of the coming of the Savior was given by God to a man named John the Baptist, a man who lived in the desert, ate strange food, and wore odd clothes.

This wild-looking man, who spoke with irresistible authority, attracted quite an audience, which he challenged to repent from their sins. Then he baptized them as a symbol of their repentance. It doesn’t sound like a popular message or messenger, but people crowded to him. John always knew that his role was to be a messenger, and he pointed beyond himself to the coming of “the true light that gives light to every man” (v. 9).

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (v. 14) shows that Jesus became fully human and lived as a man while never ceasing to be the eternal God who has always existed, the Creator of all things, and the Source of eternal life.

By His Spirit and grace, Jesus Christ enlightened all who were willing to accept Him, while those who wouldn’t listen perished in darkness.

Jesus Christ is the perfect example of how we are to act, and He was the perfect teacher to show us how God thinks and how we should mirror His thoughts. Jesus also came as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, that His death would satisfy the requirements of the removal of our sin. “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (v. 16). He brings us grace and truth (v. 17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Memorizing Scripture is a great discipline. This week, write John 1:14 on a note card. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 1:1-8, John 1:19-28
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. - Mark 1:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the wonderful benefits of having four gospel accounts of the life of our Lord is that each personality can relate to one of the books. The Gospel of Mark is sometimes described as the “active gospel” we often find words like “at once,” “immediately,” and “without delay.” Mark starts his account of the life of Jesus by jumping right into the story of John the Baptist.

Mark seldom quoted Old Testament passages, but here he does begin with quotations from the prophets Isaiah and Malachi, declaring that the coming of John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecies of the one who would be the forerunner of Christ (Mark 1:2–3; cf. Isa. 40:3 and Mal. 3:1).

One way that John prepared “the way for the Lord” (v. 3) was to baptize people in the Jordan River and preach “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (v. 4).

Baptism wasn’t a new concept to the Jews, but it was reserved for Gentiles–incomers from other faiths–who needed to be baptized to be considered clean. Jews considered themselves God’s chosen people already, and they didn’t see a need to be “washed.”

Yet, unorthodox as John the Baptist seemed to the religious leaders, many people came to listen and to submit to his baptism. He stayed in the wilderness where he could easily hear God’s voice. He also made lifestyle choices that were distinctive; he wore simple clothes made of camel’s hair like the ancient prophets, and he ate locusts and honey.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Author Ruth Stafford Peale said of Christmas, “It is more than just the birth of a baby in a manger 2,000 years ago. Christmas is a universal celebration of God in our lives every day.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 1:9-11, John 1:29-34
John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” - John 1:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
Public ceremonies are one way that we declare outwardly what we already have decided inwardly. For example, weddings publicly declare a couple’s commitment to each other.

This month we’ve been thinking about the birth of Jesus in the context of the stream of biblical history beginning in Genesis 1:1 and working our way through the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and Malachi. As we read yesterday, Isaiah and Malachi foretold that John the Baptist would “prepare the way for the Lord” (Mark 1:3). Now the story reaches a climax at the baptism of Jesus.

Why did Jesus go to John to be baptized? Jesus was without sin, so it wasn’t to cleanse Him. Rather it was a baptism of the Spirit, and according to Bible scholar William Barclay, three things happen when the Spirit takes possession of us: first, our lives are illuminated, and we gain knowledge of God and God’s will; second, the Spirit gives us the power to act on that knowledge, and our lives are strengthened; and third, our lives are purified.

Christ did not confess sin at His baptism, since He had no sin to confess, but He prayed, as others do, and He kept in communion with His Father. The Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove (v. 10). Just as at Creation, we see the Trinity at the baptism of Jesus. The Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove on Jesus in His human form. Then God, the Father, spoke from heaven, saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (v. 11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Baptism is an important part of Christian practice, considered by all Christian churches to be an important step of obedience (cf. Matt. 28:19).