Seeking Jesus This Christmas- Day 10: Dec 10 | Manger Animals, The Significance of the Animal Stable12/10/2025
 Read: Luke 2:6-12
Key Verse: “This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:12) The Bible does not specifically say that there were animals present at the birth of Jesus Christ. However, due to His birth being in an animal stable, one could assume that there may have been variety of stable animals at that time. What matters more is the deeper significance of why Jesus was born in a stable. Biblical history tells us that Mary and Joseph had to journey to Bethlehem to take part in a census decreed by Caesar Augustus. (Luke 2:1) Behind the earthly command there was heavenly purpose that would have Mary deliver the Child in Bethlehem, the city of David, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. (Micah 5:2) Added to that, there was a greater reason for His birth being in a stable than just the fact of there not being room in the inn. Jesus was born in the stable to fulfill a promise that dates back to the first chapters in Genesis. In Genesis 1:24-28 it states that the animals were created before Adam and that he would rule over them. It was while he was naming the animals that Adam learned that there was no one corresponding to him and the result was God creating the woman who would be known as Eve. So, animals were present to witness the creation of man and woman who would have dominion over them. But that is not all animals have witnessed. They were present to witness the fall of Adam and Eve as they used leaves to try to hide their shame (Genesis 3:7). It was an innocent animal that would be the first to feel the penalty of sin. “And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21). From that time on an unblemished animal would represent the temporary solution for sin until the time would come for the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) to come to earth to once and for all atone for the sins of mankind. Until then a sacrificial animal’s blood would be the covering and the temporary price paid for sin. Jesus was born in a stable (that may or may not have had animals there) as He is the One whose blood would be shed as as the final sacrifice before the Lord. Seeking Jesus This Christmas- Day 9: Dec 9 | The Stable and the Innkeeper, the Unlikely Host12/9/2025
 Read: Luke 2:1-7
Key Verse: “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7) Have you ever wondered why God didn’t make a room for Mary and Joseph? Just stop and think about it for a minute. If you were the innkeeper, would you try to find some small space within the building? These are questions we are probably asking ourselves. What we know from scripture is that Mary and Joseph were rejected everywhere they went due to there being no more room in the inn. And the innkeeper still said no even though they can clearly see that Mary was ready to give birth. Why was Jesus born in a stable instead of in someplace impressive, like a palace? Or even a regular room in a home? You can be confident that God was in control of every detail of Jesus’ birth—including where He would be born, and to whom. And you also can be confident that it was God’s will for His Son to be born in a stable instead of a palace. Why was this? One reason is because God wanted to show us that Jesus Christ came to bring salvation to everyone—not just the rich and powerful, but the poor and downtrodden. God’s love extends to the whole human race! And Jesus showed us the depth of God’s love by willingly leaving Heaven’s glory and sharing in our poverty. The Bible says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). In addition, because He was born into a poor family, we know that Jesus understands what it means to be poor—as almost everyone was then, and still is in most parts of the world. He also understands the temptations and sorrows we all face, and He knows too the fear and guilt that trouble our souls. As the Bible says, Jesus “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The real question, however, is this: Have you paid attention to Jesus? What place does He have in your life? Pray: Lord, thank you for stories like this of the innkeeper that show us how the way we behave in all circumstances can have eternal consequences. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear you at work in and around us each and every day. May we not push you away because we have “too much to do;” may we always place you as the main focus in our lives.  Read: Luke 2:1-5
Key Verse: “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.” (Luke 2:1) The prophet Micah prophesied 700 years before the birth of Christ that he would be born in Bethlehem. Most of us read the words of the Christmas story in Luke without giving them a second thought ... “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world” (Luke 2:1). His greatest act – the one which would have the most lasting effect on world history – was to call for a census of the empire. This was a common custom, in keeping with the pattern of Roman control of conquered territories. Censuses were a favorite of Caesar Augustus. Taxes helped keep the Roman army healthy, build roads, and finance army campaigns to keep conquering the world. Plus, he was a very luxurious emperor. Romans taxed Jews and they followed Roman laws. Rome put in local authorities. So, when it came to the census, the Jews did what their Roman governors and local leaders told them. Clearly, there was purpose behind Luke’s unique recounting of Jesus’ birth. He was locating Jesus in historical time and place. The birth of Jesus, the true God who took on human flesh, was not some sort of myth. The context was crucial. Additionally, Roman census methods required registration at the place of family origin. This meant that Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary, would need to head 90 miles south from Galilee to Bethlehem – in fulfillment of a prophecy from Micah (5:2). God’s plans happened as He said they would. The census was a thoroughly secular decree, the kind of thing governments have been doing since the beginning of time. Yet God used it to serve His purposes and the census had been used by God to bring His Son to the earth. Pray: Lord, you hold the mightiest rulers in your hand; nothing they do is beyond your command. Open our eyes to see Your hand and moving through our world today. Help us to see the truth, as you show in your Word.  Read: Matthew 1:18-24
Key Verse: “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25) To understand Joseph’s perspective of the Christmas narrative, we need to understand the customs surrounding betrothals/marriages of the time. In biblical times, people were married in their early youth, and marriages were usually contracted within the narrow circle of the clan and the family. Interpreting their “betrothal” as a modern-day “engagement” would be wrong. The Jewish custom in that time period involved a two-stage marriage: first, a legal contract of marriage, followed later by a party with the husband taking his wife into his home. This is shown in the Gospels: Joseph learned that Mary was expecting before she came to live with him so he planned to divorce her, but an angel instructed him not to; instead, he should take Mary into his home. It’s easy to glance over this and not give it another thought as you read this part of the Christmas tory. But stop and consider how significant this decision was. Mary and Joseph had to work together to move forward. Joseph provided for his family as a carpenter and followed God’s instructions to care for them. He named and circumcised his son, presented Him at the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22), and took Him to the Temple on holy days when possible, all in line with Jewish law. Joseph also protected Jesus from Herod (Matthew 2:13-15), the King of Judea who wanted to kill the child, by taking Mary and Jesus to safety in Egypt and then Nazareth. He was true to his calling and to his family. Although he’s not mentioned very often in Scripture, Joseph is an important role model of fatherhood and faith. Pray: Lord, thank you for Joseph and his integrity. Thank you for working through ordinary people who don’t look for fame or glory but look out for the best interests of those around them. Help me to be more like that, to be faithful to you and walk with integrity, always doing the right thing even when it means I’ll personally suffer.  Read: Matthew 1:18-24
Key Verse: “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21) Gabriel shows up a third time in the Christmas narrative, this time to reassure Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, that she was not unfaithful to him but was carrying the Son of God. It was the first of two times Gabriel would reassure Mary’s not-so-sure husband. Joseph was a godly man – he was faithful to the law. He could have publicly humiliated Mary for her infidelity and had her pay the consequences to the full extent of the law, but he chose to do what was loving and spared Mary from having to be punished according to their law and dissolved the engagement with her quietly. Gabriel spoke to Joseph’s character. He focused on two areas in speaking to Joseph: 1. He reminds Joseph of his royal ancestry – “son of David” – appealing to the pride of his legacy. “You are of royal ancestry,” he seems to be saying, “You are part of the people of God.” 2. He appeals to Joseph based on Scripture. This is, Gabriel reminds him, to fulfill Scripture: “The virgin will give birth...” Joseph knew who he was and he was committed to Scripture, something vitally important to the man who would be the earthly guardian of Jesus. It’s something we all should follow – know who we are as Christians and know what the Bible says. And Joseph’s response was what you’d expect from such a person – immediate obedience, even to such a difficult mission. He took Mary as his wife. But he took it a step further...they didn’t consummate that marriage until after Jesus was born so there could be no doubt that Jesus was truly the Son of God. Pray: Father God, I thank you for finding a way to give us Your message. Lord, You protect us, teach us, guide us, and fight battles for us. Thank you for Joseph’s obedience; may I be as quick to obey when God gives me an assignment.  Read: Luke 1:36-56
Key Verse: “Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?” (Luke 1:43) Imagine the delight and joy in the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth! Not only would they become parents after decades of despair and disbelief, but they would parent the last of the Old Testament prophets and a forerunner of the Messiah. Elizabeth could have complained that God waited too long. She could have thought that it would be harder to raise a child. She could have decided that she no longer wanted a child. She could have even balked at the plans God had for her child’s life. But she didn’t do any of those things. Rather, she turned and offered her praise back to God. She rejoiced over the blessing she was given and gave God the glory. Elizabeth provided spiritual, physical, and emotional support to Mary. She took Mary into her care at a time when both women felt vulnerable and lonely, and the two were strengthened together. They rejoiced together in the “impossibility” that had become their reality. Elizabeth's baby “leaped in her womb” when Mary entered the house and called a greeting. And the words she spoke to Mary when they met show that Elizabeth knew that Mary had a very important baby growing inside her. The Savior of humanity! Think about these three important lessons to learn from the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah: ● God's timing is perfect. Elizabeth fully saw the hand of God in her life and rejoiced over His plan for her. Is there something in your life that makes you wonder what God is doing? ● You can trust God. This story builds our trust in God. When God proclaims something over our lives or we read something in the Bible, we need to trust Him. Pray: Lord, give me the faith of Elizabeth, to rejoice in your plans for me and my family and to faithfully walk in those plans no matter how difficult they may seem. Also, help me to see others around me who are in need of encouragement, mentoring, and support. May I reach out with your love in their time of need.  Read: Luke 1:1-23, Luke 1:57-80
Key Verse: “But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John...And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah...’” (Luke 1:13, 17(a)) The Old Testament ends with this verse from the book of Malachi: "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents." (Malachi 4:5-6) Why is that important? Because after that, God goes silent...for 400 years! No prophets, no angels, no word at all. If you know the Christmas story well, it’s easy to shrug and just move on when you hear about an angel appearing – they’re synonymous with Christmas after all. However, angels didn’t often appear in Zechariah’s day – and rarely appear even in recorded history. So is it any wonder that Zechariah is skeptical when he is visited by an angel – the same angel who appeared to Daniel 500 years earlier? His response was stunned disbelief. We do not know the exact age, however some reports say Zechariah was 99 and Elizabeth was 88 when John was born, but if that can’t be verified, you can be certain they were both well over 60 (that was considered beyond “child-bearing years” at the time). So long he had prayed, so many tears he had shed. And now it is happening? Gabriel tells Zechariah that he and his wife will have a child, a child who will bring back many people to God, and in the Spirit and power of Elijah, he will prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. Not just any baby, but one empowered by the Holy Spirit even before he is born to point people to Jesus! Zechariah was just an ordinary priest in the temple – he was one of 300 priests in the family of Abijah (Luke 1:5) and one of 24 divisions of priests in Israel. An ordinary priest, but one God chose to have a pivotal role in the coming of Christ. His eyes (and voice) were opened, and when John was born, Zechariah was ready, fully believing and trusting God would do exactly what He said He would. Zechariah goes on to prophesy over his son, “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him.” (Luke 1:76). There are those prayers we send to God that seem doable and reachable – and there are those we send with a wrapping of cynicism and doubt. Don’t pray small, pray BIG and expect God to respond. Talk about times when you were faithful and earnestly believed – yet heard nothing from God. Those seasons of silence are devastating but often teach us much. If you are in a season of silence now when God doesn’t appear to be listening, be encouraged by this story of Zechariah – the same God who remembered his people in Egypt and remembered his people in Judea and remembered his people on the cross also remembers you. God is not intimidated by the things that worry you. He will work it out for your good and His glory....in His time. God can work in our lives in spite of any circumstance. Things may look hopeless, but God is always in control. "All things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27). Faith is a quality God values highly. If we want our prayers to be answered, faith makes the difference. God does reward those who depend on him. Pray: Father God, I thank you that you chose ordinary people like me to do your Kingdom work. I know that there are times when I just find it hard to believe, especially when it comes to something you’ve told me about myself. I pray right now that you would help me overcome that skepticism, help me hear your voice and be confident that you will do what you say you will do, even when it seems impossible with human eyes. Let me not doubt your ability to do anything, including what I cannot see or know. Help me be patient in my “seasons of silence” – and know that you are working even when I can’t see or feel your presence.  Read: Luke 1:11-22; 1:57-66
Key Verse: “The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.’” (Luke 1:19-20) Gabriel had a huge task, and it began about six months before the birth of Christ when he was sent to visit a simple priest in Jerusalem. The task that day should have been simple – he was to tell Zechariah that his prayer for a child had been answered; he and his wife would have a son. That should have been great news, right? If you’ve been praying for something literally for decades, wouldn’t you be happy when it finally happened? But Zechariah is scared at first, then very skeptical of the angel’s message. “How can that be?” he asks. Gabriel is not too happy when Zechariah questions him. He gives Zechariah his credentials – “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” He lets Zechariah know he’s going to have a consequence of his unbelief: “And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Maybe that time spent in silence was just what Zechariah needed to prepare himself to raise John the Baptist. That’s a tall order; one that requires concentration, dedication, and determination – all characteristics Zechariah honed during his time of solitude. When John was born, he was ready for the task. He named him John, and “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.” The main message today is that even when we’re skeptical, when we can’t see how God can do what He says He will do, we can and should trust in Him. Think about a time in your walk when God seemed to be asking the impossible yet came through and did exactly what He said He would do. Sharing these stories will both strengthen your faith and give those around you the seeds that will help their own faith grow. Pray: Lord, I know it’s human nature to question the impossible, to be skeptical of things we do not know or cannot understand. Help us to learn to trust you, particularly in the unknown. Help us to embrace the callings you have on our lives and to joyfully obey even when it makes no sense. Help us to keep our eyes on you.  Read: Luke 1:26-38; Luke 1:46-49
Key Verse: “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:38) When Gabriel came to Mary, God had not spoken to his people or through his prophets for 400 years. And there are precious few moments recorded in Scripture when angels show up in person at all. So it’s natural to think Mary was overcome with emotion . She had never been with a man and the idea of becoming pregnant with the Son of God was overwhelming. But Mary did cling to what she knew. She willingly, with all her heart, accepted the task to carry Jesus and raise Him as His earthly mother; knowing all of the consequences that were possible in her life when her family would find out that she was with child and without a husband. Her trust however, was not in man, it was in the Lord. She believed in the promises of God and that the child inside her womb was no ordinary child. He would save His people, including her. He would reverse sin’s curse. This child would rule the nations. Was there ever a time in your walk with Christ when He asked you to do something that seemed impossible or improbable, something that would cause you to be shunned by your family or community, something that just flat-out stunned you and left you asking, “What?” Remember Mary and the heart and desire she had to follow the will of God, no matter the cost. Pray: Father God, thank you for Mary’s example. Thank you for showing me an example of her unwavering faith, especially in the difficult circumstances she had with the pregnancy, birth, and early years of Jesus. Give us that same faith and obedience to do whatever you ask of us, no matter how difficult or unbelievable it may seem. Help us to hear Your voice. And during this Christmas season especially, help us to see through the eyes of those who witnessed Your birth here on earth firsthand.  Read: Luke 1:26-38
Key Verse: “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” (Luke 1:35) Have you ever wondered what the angel who carried God’s message to the world thought about that task? Gabriel was the angel chosen by God to tell: ● Zechariah that he and his wife would have a son who would prepare the way for God ● Mary that she would mother Christ ● Joseph that he should not be offended by Mary’s pregnancy and marry her anyway ● The shepherds that their Savior was born and encourage them to tell the world ● Joseph again, to take his child, the son of God, to Egypt to avoid being slaughtered by a king Those are challenging circumstances and very difficult messages! But he did so faithfully and without question! Pray: Father God, thank you for Gabriel and his commitment to you. Thank you for Mary and her faith in you. Give us the determination and strength of Gabriel to accomplish what you call us to do. And give us the heart of Mary to be ready to obey no matter what you ask. May we be prepared for spiritual battle, and always remember to look up to you for help in our times of need. |
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