Anticipation!

For Saturday, December 24, 2022:

Luke 1:57-58 TLB: “By now Elizabeth’s waiting was over, for the time had come for the baby to be born—and it was a boy. The word spread quickly to her neighbors and relatives of how kind the Lord had been to her, and everyone rejoiced.”

This was a time of great spiritual activity and anticipation. An angel had visited Zechariah in the Temple. An angel had visited Mary, and then Joseph. Zechariah had been promised a son who would announce the soon-to-arrive Messiah. Zechariah’s son was to be named John. Mary was told that she would be birthing that Messiah, and Joseph was assured that his wife had been faithful. The Messiah-baby was from the Holy Spirit! They were to name him Jesus which means Savior.

As you might expect, everything happened just as they had been told. John-the-Baptist turned out to be a strange fellow, living in the wilderness, wearing clothing made of coarse camel hair and relying on locusts for sustenance. Nonetheless, many people came to hear his message: Repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom of God is at hand! Those who agreed were baptized in the Jordan.

At about age 30, Jesus began his public ministry. We celebrate his arrival tomorrow, on Christmas day. After Jesus, everything was different – better! He atoned for mankind’s sin-problem. People are still talking about it 2,000 years later!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship