Hear the Words of the Angels, Magi, Shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Simeon, and Herod Come to Life in a Whole New Way! The birth of Jesus is depicted in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew and is traditionally represented in nativities with the characters central to the story: Jesus, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, the magi,…
The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi: Bethlehem
Where It All Began 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While…
Forgiveness and Entrusting Justice to God
Revenge builds a lonely house. Space enough for one person. The lives of its tenants are reduced to one goal: make someone miserable. They do. Themselves. No wonder God insists that we “keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time” (Hebrews…
What Was Meant for Evil, God Uses for Good
Joseph Son of Jacob Graduate with honors from the University of Hard Knocks Director of Global Effort to Save Humanity Succeeded How? How did he flourish in the midst of tragedy? We don’t have to speculate. Some twenty years later the roles were reversed, Joseph as the strong one and his brothers the weak ones.…
Searching the Night for a Light
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” — Matthew 1:22-23 On the night when Jesus was born, I…
Joseph’s Prayer
Joseph… did what the Lord’s angel had told him to do. — Matthew 1:24 The white space between Bible verses is fertile soil for questions. One can hardly read Scripture without whispering, “I wonder…” “I wonder if Eve ever ate any more fruit.” “I wonder if Noah slept well during storms.” “I wonder if Jonah liked fish or if Jeremiah…
Joseph: Relationship Reveals Your Purpose
Relationship Reveals Your Purpose Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers. — Genesis 37:5a NKJV We all have dreams for how our lives will – or should – turn out. Many times these are dreams that have been impressed on us by God Himself. But when will they stop being…
The Youth of Jesus
What do we know about Jesus’ childhood Luke 2 presents the one authentic biblical account of Jesus’ childhood, and the scene reveals a very normal boy with true-to-life parents. Joseph and Mary were traveling with a large caravan of friends and relatives from Nazareth to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. No doubt hundreds of people from their community went together to…
Models of Faith in a Hostile Society
There is no single correct way for how God’s people should respond to a culture hostile to faith. In the Old Testament, God called the Israelites to develop their own society. He designed laws to keep out pagan influences. But He sent New Testament followers into the world to impact unbelieving cultures. As we reflect…
3 Bible Studies on Old Testament Characters
Many people try to avoid the Old Testament, maybe unintentionally, feeling that the New Testament is more applicable and relevant to our modern lives. Paul’s teaching on the fruit of the Spirit is much easier to apply to life than David refusing to kill Saul and cutting only a corner of his cloak. We can…