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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Celia Bowring and are based on Luke 2 and 3
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Luke 2 and 3 (in full)
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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Luke 3 4 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be
Sunday December 21 - Jesus’ genealogy
He was the son of Joseph... Zerubbabel... David... Judah, Jacob, Isaac,
Abraham... Noah... Seth, Adam, the son of God. Luke 3:23-37
I recently traced my family tree, and after hours of fascinating (and possibly inaccurate!) research I was chuffed to discover that in the 1300s my ancestors were members of the Scottish aristocracy, possibly related to kings and queens! To be honest this is irrelevant to my status or identity – after all, who cares? But genealogies were crucially important for people in biblical times, both to guarantee property rights and to establish how each individual fitted into Israel’s history.
Luke, writing for Gentiles, takes time to record Jesus’ forbears right back to Adam, the first human. The genealogy in Matthew chapter 1 shows Jewish readers Christ’s royal lineage, inheriting God’s promises to Abraham – “in you all the families on earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3) and King David – ‘your throne shall be established forever’
(2 Samuel 7:16). God chose Israel as his people, giving them the law, protection and provision through the generations, to show the world his loving purposes – ultimately through the coming of Jesus the Messiah. But no-one would be left out. Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection opened the way for all nations to be forgiven and adopted into God’s eternal kingdom as his children. Those of us who are not Jewish descendants of Abraham are still part of Jesus’ family tree, as 1 Peter 2:9 declares: ‘...called out of darkness into his marvellous light!’
Lord Jesus, you have existed forever – the Son of God, the son of David, the Prince of peace, who died to rescue and bring us into your kingdom. We praise you! Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY