From the very beginning, the incarnation – God becoming flesh – is an act of costly sacrifice. Christ left the riches of heaven, laying aside his glory, and came among us in human form. In becoming human, Jesus embraced every aspect of human life. Jesus got hungry and needed to eat, he became tired and …
Are our losses drawing us closer to God? The portrait sketched by Luke of Anna is a bleak one: widowed after only seven years of marriage, she was now in her old age. Yet she comes across not as lonely, or sad, or bitter. Instead, we have an astonishing portrait of someone whose life is …
What are we waiting for the Lord to do in our lives? Simeon had been waiting. The Holy Spirit had revealed that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah (Luke 2:26). It is the same Spirit who moves him to enter the temple courts that day: the exact moment that this poor …
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to? This is one gig I would have loved to have been at! The angel’s solo, in which the sign of a baby, wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger is given, gives way to a “great company of the heavenly host”: the greatest backing band the world …
Once again, the angelic messenger says, “Do not be afraid”, this repeated message to God’s people that his drawing near is a good thing rather than something to fear. The good news is that the long-promised Messiah has arrived. After years and centuries of waiting and longing, he is here. As often is the case, …
Some places are more significant to us than others. Bethlehem was one of those places to Israel. Bethlehem had form when it comes to leaders. It turns up repeatedly in the book of Judges. But most significantly, Bethlehem was the meeting place and home of Ruth and Boaz, and their son Obed, grandfather to great …
The arrival of the Magi clues us in as readers that this story of the birth of a child is of global significance. But not just global significance: the cosmos has moved to announce the birth of this child. Previous visitors from the east included the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians – all conquering armies who …
Do the details of our lives matter? The gospel accounts are full of details about the incarnation, of God becoming human. Real places – Nazareth, Galilee, Judea, Bethlehem. Real people – David, Joseph, Mary, a son. Real expectation – they were pledged to be married, they were expecting a child. Real situations – a census …
When was the last time our hearts poured out praise to God for all he is and is doing in our lives? Mary’s response to God of worship comes after she has visited her cousin Elizabeth. In a wonderful indication that God is very aware of our human need to know what he is saying …
What difference does it make today, to know that, regardless of what we are facing in life, we are not alone because God is with us? These words may be so familiar to us that we overlook their significance. Centuries before Christ is born, God lays out his plan: “a virgin will conceive and give …
