On the hills outside Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1-13 & Luke 2:8-20)

A young shepherd boy had been out on the hills near Bethlehem tending his sheep when he was surprisingly summoned to return to his father Jesse’s house. When he arrived a feast was about to get started because Samuel the prophet had turned up. However, before Samuel would allow the food to be served he […]

Joyful worship (Matthew 2:10-11 & Luke 2:20)

The Nativity story describes two groups of people who come to meet the baby Jesus: the magi and the shepherds. You can’t really imagine two more different groups of people! The magi were pagan astrologers – magicians – who had travelled hundreds of miles and expected to walk into the palace in Jerusalem and be […]

When the fullness of time had come (Galatians 4:4-5)

‘But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.’ (Galatians 4:4,5) World history had unfolded from the Garden of Eden to the point where the next stage of […]

He shall be called Jesus (Luke 1:31-33)

‘You shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ (Luke 1:31-33) […]

Psalm 130 – Looking for redemption

Psalm 130 is a song filled with deep cries of longing for mercy and redemption.  As one of the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134) it would have been used by pilgrims as they made their way to Jerusalem for the festival celebrations.  This particular song helped the pilgrims articulate their hope for salvation. The psalm […]

Joseph (Part 3): Dreamer, Refugee, Protector (Matthew 2:13-23)

It happens so frequently.  Someone or something captures the public imagination and for a short time they are the talk of the town.  But, no sooner than they become a household name, they disappear from view.  Just two months ago, Joseph was the subject of every nativity play in the country.  Now, in the middle […]

Joseph (Part 2): On that holy night (Luke 2:1-7)

The Christmas story, as is true of any and every historical event, is firmly rooted at a particular time in a particular place.  Luke, that most careful of chroniclers, identifies the circumstances surrounding the time and place of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:1-7.  Emperor Caesar Augustus decreed that everyone within the vast reach of the […]

Joseph (Part 1): A righteous man (Matthew 1:18-25)

It was an absolute bombshell when Joseph heard the news that his fiancée was pregnant.  It was almost unbelievable that Mary could have done this.  It seemed so out of character for the young woman promised to him in marriage… And yet it was true.  She was pregnant and the rumours were swirling. Matthew 1:18-25 […]

The Magi: Gifts for a King (Matthew 2:1-12)

The nativity accounts of the birth of Jesus contain some famous characters.  Some of those characters are the Magi, or wise men, whose appearance is described in Matthew 2:1-12.  These Eastern mystics travelled a long, long way from their homeland because they believed they had seen a heavenly sign that a special baby had been […]

Zechariah: Interrupted by God (Luke 1:5-25 & 57-80)

Luke 1:2-25 & 57-80 Zechariah was a priest from a priestly family.  He had married Elizabeth who was herself a priests’ daughter (v5).  They are described by Luke as being ‘righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord’ (v6).  What an outstanding introduction for the first […]