The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. – Isaiah 9:2

Hebrew
אֹ֣ור/or: illuminating light

Why It Matters
There’s nothing more disorienting than total darkness. Without a light source it can feel as if every step is dangerous and worrisome. Isaiah paints a picture of a world in which people have chosen to make sense of the confusion of spiritual darkness by walking away from the ultimate source of light. Instead they seek earthly light sources that end up driving them into further darkness. But Isaiah also prophesies that a time is coming when the people who walk in darkness will see a great אֹ֣ור (light). This particular tense of the word is a light that illuminates and exposes the path. God’s response to humanity’s rejection is to provide a light source so that we can navigate life clearly! That is a God worth giving our lives for.

Declaration of the Week
I will let the light of the gospel bring clarity to the confusing areas of my life.

Application
What area of your life do you need Jesus to be the light?

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6

Hebrew
שָׁלֹֽום/shalovm: completeness, welfare, peace

Why It Matters
The prophecy of a light breaking into our dark world foretells that this will happen through a child, a baby boy. He is supposed to have several titles, including Prince of Peace (שָׁלֹֽום). The kingdom that this prince is to usher in stands in direct contrast with any other typical kingdom. Normal kingdoms would hold fast to their land and holdings through the use of force, defense, and weapons. But this kingdom would be marked by peace, or completeness. But make no mistake, this Prince will not be weak and defenseless. Rather He will completely conquer the one thing that brings disunity to the world – sin. So as we submit ourselves to His Lordship and identify with His kingdom, we are joining a victory that has already been accomplished, therefore granting us peace and completeness with God.

Declaration of the Week
I will let the light of the gospel bring clarity to the confusing areas of my life.

Application
What area of your life do you need Jesus to be the light?

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. – Isaiah 9:7

Hebrew
לְמַרְבֵּ֨ה/le•mar•beh: increasing, abundance

Why It Matters
Have you ever wondered what the future of the church will look like? Maybe you think that the best days of the universal church are behind her. Isaiah’s prophecy is a good reminder that the church is God’s idea, and not even the gates of hell can prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). Isaiah encourages us with the phrase “of the increase (לְמַרְבֵּ֨ה) of his government and of peace there will be no end.” The tense of this Hebrew word indicates a continuing increase, or more and more abundance. God is not in danger of losing his guidance of your life! As we submit to his governing our lives, God mercifully allows us to keep on growing in grace and peace. He has proven himself trustworthy in the past, and promises to be so for the rest of eternity. Good news this Advent season!

Declaration of the Week
I will let the light of the gospel bring clarity to the confusing areas of my life.

Application
What area of your life do you need Jesus to be the light?

And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, – Luke 2:3–4

Greek
ἐπορεύοντο/eporeuonto: to depart, leave, get up and go

Why It Matters
Of all the incredible aspects of the Christmas story, the trip that Joseph and a pregnant Mary take from their hometown of Nazareth to Bethlehem ranks as one of the most amazing. A census is called by Caesar Augustus, requiring Joseph to make the nearly 90 mile trip in order to be included in the counting of the family of David. Mary has spoken with the angel about her pregnancy, and her faith in God now requires her to act. Will she do what pleases her God, or what pleases herself? Mary chooses to take the difficult but appointed road rather than walking the path of self and comfort. This road will cause her to travel over exposed flatlands and treacherous high elevation, all while being at the full term stage of her pregnancy. Her faith has required her to eporeuonto, to get up and go away from all that was safe and familiar toward the unknown and scary. Mary reminds us that saying yes to God doesn’t always mean things will be easy. In fact, it typically requires us to leave (eporeuonto) what we know to be safe for what we have to trust Him to provide. But the trip to Bethlehem was nothing compared to the journey the Son of God would willingly take for us as He left Heaven to be born in a manger.

Declaration of the Week
I refuse to hold back from God anything that He has first freely given to me.

Application
What have you been keeping from God?

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. – Luke 2:7

Greek
καταλύματι/katalumati: a lodging place; the breaking up of a journey

Why It Matters
Anyone who has watched cartoons or sitcoms for even a small amount of time can tell you that when a character declares “It can’t get any worse!” it always indicates that something bad is about to happen. Mary and Joseph had endured a 90 mile trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a census and, upon arrival, two realities hit almost simultaneously: Mary goes into labor and there is no room in the Inn (katalumati). Scholars aren’t sure which event happened first, but needless to say it was a “can’t get any worse” situation. The word Inn carries with it the idea of taking a break. Rather than a 21st century hotel, the katalumati in Bethlehem would have likely been an extra room in someone’s home. Mary and Joseph had no way to break up their journey, so they resort to giving birth in a cave where animals would be fed. Their plans changed, but God’s plan was still accomplished. Would you consider your journey worth the hardship so long as God’s will was fulfilled in the midst of it?

Declaration of the Week
I refuse to hold back from God anything that He has first freely given to me.

Application
What have you been keeping from God?

and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” – Luke 2:24

Greek
θυσίαν/thusian: a sacrifice (the act or the victim)

Why It Matters
Mary and Joseph were good Jewish parents. After the birth of Jesus, they demonstrated their faithfulness to the law by offering a sacrifice (thusian) of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Luke is referencing Leviticus 12:8 that tells us that anyone who was unable to afford to sacrifice a lamb can offer these birds instead. Jesus’ parents did what they could to honor the law despite not having much to offer. The interesting thing about this passage is that who they were offering TO was one with who they were FOR. The Greek word for sacrifice could be used for the act of sacrificing, as well as for the victim of the sacrifice. They didn’t have a lamb to thusian for the purification ritual, but they were entrusted with the Lamb of God who would provide purification through His thusian! Now because Jesus fulfilled the law, my faithfulness to it – and Him – isn’t contingent on anything I have to offer except the life He ransomed through His sacrifice.

Declaration of the Week
I refuse to hold back from God anything that He has first freely given to me.

Application
What have you been keeping from God?

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. – Luke 2:9

Greek
ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν/ephobethesan phobon megas: feared a mega fear

Why It Matters
There was nothing glamorous about being a shepherd. Long hours, a dirty environment and disrespect in society all meant that shepherding was often the last resort for people looking for a career. In fact, they were so marginalized in society that the Rabbis had placed a ban on shepherds testifying in court. However, shepherds also had to be among the toughest and bravest men in Israel. Protecting the flock from predator and terrain was no easy task! So our imagination is engaged when we see these tough as nails outcasts become terrified of something. Luke tells us they literally “feared a mega fear” – ephobethesan phobon megas. The glory of the Lord was enough for them to have a visceral response. When we encounter the glory of the Lord, we can’t help but react to it. Luke goes on to tell us that the angel told them not to react with phobon (where our English word phobia comes from), because he was there to pronounce good news to them. We can be encouraged that the light of God’s glory won’t simply expose our sinfulness and marginalization, but will serve to illuminate the good news of Jesus to the recesses of our dark lives! The good news means that we don’t have to be afraid of judgment or punishment. Instead, we are instructed to simply hear from Heaven and worship.

Declaration of the Week
I commit to set aside space in my life to spend fresh time with God.

Application
How can you make yourself available to hear from Heaven and listen?

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. – Luke 2:16

Greek
σπεύσαντες/speusantes: to hasten; urge on

Why It Matters
Shepherds were known to be about their business because if they weren’t, their flock would not stay intact. It was a job that was twenty four hours a day and seven days a week. Shepherds were even known to sleep in the fields with their flocks so that they were able to protect them at night. As they were going about their business, an angel appeared and spoke to them about the Savior that would be born. They would find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger and that is how they would know that they had correctly identified the Messiah. After hearing what the angel had to say, the Shepherds quickly made their way to seek out this baby who was the Messiah. This means that the shepherds left their flock, their livelihood, and their lifestyle to respond to what the angel had told them. They moved from complete fear upon seeing the angels initially, to a place where they felt compelled to action. They wasted no time in deciding to go and seek out the baby who was the Messiah. This verse uses the word haste: The Greek word for haste here means to hasten, urge on and desire earnestly. As a result of the word from the angel, they were filled with an earnest desire to seek out the Messiah and experience for themselves the miracle that was spoken about. As we go about our business this holiday season, let us earnestly desire and seek out moments to be with our Savior. May it be the prayer of our life that we earnestly desire to see Jesus and know Him. May we be compelled to action by the words that God is speaking to us and the ways in which God is leading us.

Declaration of the Week
I commit to set aside space in my life to spend fresh time with God.

Application
How can you make yourself available to hear from Heaven and listen?

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. – Luke 2:9

Greek
συνετήρει τὰ ῥήματα/suneterei ta rhemata: preserved, defended or protected the word

Why It Matters
The shepherds reacted with fear to the glory of the Lord, but then responded to the good news by heading straight to Bethlehem to find Jesus. As the shepherds finish up with Mary and Joseph, Luke focuses on Mary and her reaction to the good news the shepherds relayed to this young family. He says her reaction was to suneterei ta rhemata – literally to protect the word that was spoken to her. Often rendered “treasured,” or “treasured up” all these things, the Greek verb comes alive in the idea that she had a word that was spoken to her heart, and she committed to preserve, defend and protect it – just like the treasure it was! There are many things in this world that will try to rob you of the treasure of the word that has been spoken to your heart. Your response to the good news should be to protect and defend it. So how do we do that when so much seems to be trying to steal it from us? Mary’s response foreshadows Jesus’ words in John 10:10 when He declared, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” As we lean in to our relationship with Jesus we have the abundant life that provides the strength necessary to defend that word; defend it from the hardships of this life as well as from the thief who hates that you have this treasure in the first place.

Declaration of the Week
I commit to set aside space in my life to spend fresh time with God.

Application
How can you make yourself available to hear from Heaven and listen?

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. – Luke 2:25

Greek
παράκλησιν/paraklesein: comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty.

Why It Matters
As Mary and Joseph bring their baby to the temple in Jerusalem, they meet a man named Simeon who had been waiting for the paraklesein (consolation) of Israel. We know a few things about him from this verse: he was righteous and devout, and Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit was upon him. Later in the text, Luke infers that Simeon had been waiting a long time to see the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:29). All these details together paint a picture of a man who had been connected to God for a long time, but had yet to receive what he was hoping for from God. The word rendered consolation in this verse has the potential to be glossed over in the English language, but certainly shouldn’t be! A sports fan in our culture may hear this word and think of a consolation prize – something you give out when a person or a team hasn’t actually achieved their goal. It typically is a prize designed to make you feel better, or comforted, for not getting what you had hoped for. But the use of paraklesein here is so much richer than that! The Greek meaning of this word is more accurately “comforting from a deep loss or hurt.” In this sense Jesus is no consolation prize, but is the reward that we need the most yet do not deserve. Simeon goes on to rejoice that although he has likely waited decades for what he hoped for from God, the gift of paraklesein has arrived right on time.

Declaration of the Week
I will not let my experiences or my feelings dictate my faith in God.

Application
How can you lean in to the peace that Christmas brings?

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed – Luke 2:34

Greek
κεῖται/keitai: to set in place; to be laid out or appointed

Why It Matters
In verse 25, Simeon is shown to be waiting for Israel to be comforted from a deep hurt. Now he has the privilege of scooping Jesus up in his arms and holding the very answer to his years of prayer and petition. In many ways, Simeon represents the distinction between faith before Christ and faith after Christ. Before Jesus, faith was marked by waiting; after Jesus it will be marked by following. Simeon declares that Jesus is keitai (appointed) for the fall and rising of many in Israel. This word conveys an important theological point: Jesus was God’s plan for humanity from the very beginning (see Revelation 13:8). Along with appointed, the word keitai means to be set in place or laid out. God had a place set for Jesus long before He came to this earth. There was a need that only Jesus could meet by being set in that place. No one else would be able to meet the requirements of this appointment! And not only is Jesus appointed to this place, but He also fulfills this appointment by being “laid out;” laid out on a cross and nailed to it for our salvation. Simeon’s words to Mary have the markings of both blessing and foreshadowing.

Declaration of the Week
I will not let my experiences or my feelings dictate my faith in God.

Application
How can you lean in to the peace that Christmas brings?

And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. – Luke 2:38

Greek
λύτρωσιν/lutrosīn: to ransom or redeem

Why It Matters
Luke’s gospel places a lot of emphasis on the marginalized. From the shepherds hearing the good news to the widow giving her last few cents in the Temple offering, Luke seems to be reminding us that the Gospel is for everybody. Here, an elderly widow named Anna is blessed to see Jesus at the Temple. Her response is to bless God and speak to everyone who was waiting for the lutrosīn (redemption) of Jerusalem. We don’t get to know Anna’s actual words, but the theme was God’s design to ransom, or redeem, the capital city of her beloved country. The word reminds us that Jesus had come to accomplish something specific on behalf of all people. He hadn’t arrived on the scene to teach us a set of rules to follow – that would be enslaving. Rather, Jesus came to be the ransom for our enslavement. It reminds us of Jesus’ words in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom (lutron) for many.” Thanks be to God, who saw us in our bondage and sent Jesus to buy our freedom with His very life!

Declaration of the Week
I will not let my experiences or my feelings dictate my faith in God.

Application
How can you lean in to the peace that Christmas brings?

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. – Matthew 2:1

Greek
μάγοι/magoi: Wise man, magician

Why It Matters
Filled with mystery, adventure, suspense and even murder, some of us grew up being awed by this amazing Christmas story. We may have even heard the wise men (magoi) identified by their traditional name “magi.” We don’t know everything about who these magoi were or where they came from, but the Greek provides a few clues. This word magoi originally was a term for a far-eastern scientist, one who combined mystic sorcery with scientific research. This is in large part where we get our english word “magic” from; it’s when our imagination meets the miraculous. These men follow a star and a prophetic word to Jerusalem (the seat of regional power) to announce the arrival of the true king. The prophecy combined with the star appearing left them with a decision to make: act in faith and travel the several hundred miles west to witness history, or stay put wondering about how these signs would impact them. These magi were wise, not just because they discerned the prophecy, but also because they understood and acted on its implications for their lives.

Declaration of the Week
This week, I will take time to honestly assess who or what I’m choosing to follow.

Application
What steps do you need to take to ensure you’re following the right leader?

And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” – Matthew 2:8

Greek
Πορευθέντες ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς/poreuthentes exetasate akribos: Go travel around and search carefully and accurately

Why It Matters
In the opening scene of the Christmas movie classic Home Alone, Joe Pesci’s character is a thief who disguises himself as a cop. He then seeks diligently to find out information about the security of a neighborhood home and the family’s plans for Christmas, but clearly for his own evil reasons. In that movie as well as in this text in Matthew, the audience is in on the villain’s secret: their motives are impure and deceitful. Herod has ordered the Magi to poreuthentesexetasate akribos, to travel around the area seeking carefully and accurately for the child who would be king. The tense of the phrase carries with it a sense of urgency. Herod is in essence telling the Magi to make this child their only priority, which is great advice. However we are let in on the reason why Herod is so passionate: he wants Jesus dead so that his throne will not be jeopardized. Jesus is more concerned with our motivation for doing good things than whether or not we do good things at all. The reason is in part because our motives are deeply connected to our heart, and God created us in such a way that our hearts follow what they desire. What does the trajectory of your life say about your heart’s desire?

Declaration of the Week
This week, I will take time to honestly assess who or what I’m choosing to follow.

Application
What steps do you need to take to ensure you’re following the right leader?

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. – Matthew 2:11

Greek
ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς/anoidzantes tous thesaurous: opening to offer their treasures

Why It Matters
In this verse we are confronted with the motivation of the Magi to follow the star. This group of men had traveled hundreds of miles to get a glimpse of the true king. Now in His presence, these Magi are seen anoidzantes tous thesaurous, opening their treasures. They journey to Jesus bearing gifts to give Him rather than expecting something from Him. Yet the text says in verse 10 that when the star rested over the place where Jesus was, they “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” The Magi’s experience wasn’t one of begrudging duty, nor was it one marked by selfishly desiring to receive. These wise men rejoiced exceedingly because they got to experience being in the presence of the king, which led them to give of their treasures. They had the dual experiences of giving and receiving in the single act of following. Even today, when our motivation to follow Jesus is marked by giving rather than receiving, we are able to experience both as well!

Declaration of the Week
This week, I will take time to honestly assess who or what I’m choosing to follow.

Application
What steps do you need to take to ensure you’re following the right leader?

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” – Matthew 2:13

Greek
ἀπολέσαι/apolesai: to kill, destroy

Why It Matters
The magi had arrived in Jerusalem looking for the True King that the prophets had foretold would be born, and to whom the star had led them. In their search they rightly head to the palace, where they speak with Herod, the ruler who currently was seated on the throne. Joseph is warned in a dream that Herod’s response to hearing about the Christ-child was to search for and apolesai(destroy) Him. This reaction was common for Herod; he had destroyed wives, children and other members of his own family to ensure that he would remain in charge and in control. This was his natural response to a threat. Imagine that kind of selfishness and abject evil embodied in a ruler! Unfortunately, Herod’s reaction to the threat of losing his throne isn’t that much different than our own. If we’re honest with ourselves, our natural reaction to any ultimate authority over our lives is to hold tightly to our own throne, destroying whatever threatens to remove us from being in control of our own kingdom. Jesus comes to be Lord and leader, and much inside of us resists to the point that we resemble Herod. We may not apolesai to the point of murder, but we have the capacity to destroy relationships, integrity, trust, etc. all to keep our throne intact. The good news is that while we were busy defending our throne, Jesus shows love to us by dying on a cross to forgive those very actions and attitudes! He then invites all who are tired of searching and destroying, all who are exhausted from fighting and running, to come to Him, so that He can give them rest.

Declaration of the Week
I will react to Jesus’ advent with joy and gratitude.

Application
What in your life needs to submit to the implications of Christmas?

And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt – Matthew 2:14

Greek
ἐγερθεὶς/egertheis: to rouse awake; to collect oneself

Why It Matters
If you’ve ever been a teenager, or if you’ve ever had to wake one up, you may identify with the idea that the call to get up isn’t always met with immediacy. There are plenty of factors that we let influence us to stay put and enjoy the comfort just a little longer. In this text, Joseph is woken by an angel, who tells him to change his plans and bring his family to a country in the opposite direction of home. The inspiring part of Joseph’s response to the call is how quickly he obeys. In the middle of the night he egertheis (gets up and collects what he owns) and leaves. This word in the Greek carries with it the idea of immediacy. Joseph doesn’t wait until it’s more convenient to travel, nor does he have a conversation with the angel about how he would rather travel back north to Nazareth. He quickly leads his family in response to the word given by the angel. I wonder how many times in my life I’ve let comfort or convenience dictate how quickly I obeyed a directive from Heaven. Honestly, more than I care to admit. Thank God His mercies are new every morning, and today is a new opportunity to egertheis in response to His call!

Declaration of the Week
I will react to Jesus’ advent with joy and gratitude.

Application
What in your life needs to submit to the implications of Christmas?

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. – Matthew 2:16

Greek
ἐνεπαίχθη/enepaixthé: to ridicule, mock or make fun of

Why It Matters
Why are we so easily offended? Often the answer to that question comes from a need to appear important, authoritative or influential. Herod was accustomed to being the most important person in the region, and this certainly contributed to what we see in this verse. After the magi headed home without notifying Herod as to the whereabouts of Jesus, Herod felt as though he has been enepaixthé, tricked by the magi. The Greek actually means that he felt as though he was being mocked and ridiculed by the wise men. Why is that? Herod believed that he deserved more respect than anyone in the entire nation. Any usurping of his will would inevitably be taken as a sign of disrespect and a cause for offense. When those feelings rise up in us, it can be difficult to pause and identify them, but it’s critical to do so. Offense indicates our tendency to be like Herod – to feel as though we deserve to have our will accomplished above all else. As we submit to the One who prayed “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42) the things that offend us submit to Him as well.

Declaration of the Week
I will react to Jesus’ advent with joy and gratitude.

Application
What in your life needs to submit to the implications of Christmas?