THE ORIGINAL HOME ALONG

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:43-45

After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

THE ORIGINAL HOME ALONG

Well, guess Joseph and Mary will not receive the Parents of the Year Award. How could they not know their son was not with them? Didn’t they help him pack for the trip home? After all, he was only 12! Didn’t they make sure he was with them? Didn’t they check on him at noon to make sure he had something to eat? After all, he was only 12! He was not 13 yet. He was not ready to be a man. Not yet!

Okay, it was a bit hectic. There would have been many groups of people heading home after the Feast of the Passover. And I am sure there were family members traveling with Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Maybe, just maybe, they thought he was with a cousin. Maybe they thought he was somewhere close.

Can you picture Mary and Joseph when they realized Jesus was not with them? When they realized he was not with friends. Or family. Can you sense Mary’s panic?

“Where is Jesus? Where can he be? Oh, Joseph, what are we to do? God help us!”

Jesus, on the other hand, was perfectly calm. This 12 year old was exactly where he was supposed to be.

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

One year is ending and a new year will soon begin. We will stop writing 2011 and begin writing 2012. Endings. Beginnings. Change!

But not all things change. No matter what day. No matter what year. We will always know where to find Jesus.

Jesus is right there. In his Father’s house!

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Hello Jesus, Well, I have made it through another year. There has been good and bad during 2011 and there will be good and bad during 2012. The peace I feel is knowing You will be there, right there in your Father’s house. You are right there for me to pray to, talk to. During 2012, my prayer is for ______________________ . Amen

BE WISE: GET THERE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

The snow falls. The fog rolls in. The rain pours. The roads are ice covered. Would any of these keep you from going to church? What reasons do you find for not going to church?

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 2:1-2, 10-11

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him”

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

BE WISE: GET THERE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER

How did you answer the questions of the day? Ice might keep me home. I love winter but I hate walking on ice. Honestly, I have found other reasons to stay home, but they are always good reasons. “I wouldn’t want to give my cold to anyone else.” “Just this Sunday I want to keep my feet up, have another cup of coffee and read the whole paper.”

What reasons do you find? “The big game starts early and I would miss the kick-off.” “I was up late last night.” “Man, I just did not get my lesson read.”

The Magi came a long way to find the king of the Jews. Apparently, they could find no good excuse to stay home. Riding a camel miles and miles and miles -- Can do. Using early GPS (aka star) -- Can do. Asking for directions - Can do. Finding the right home - Can do. Those were mighty determined Magi. They found no excuse. What they did find was Jesus.

Christmas is two days away. I pray you find no excuse. I pray you find your way to the Christ Child.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PRAYER TIME

Remember, Jesus likes to hear you talk to Him. Today, please take time to wish Jesus a Happy Birth Day. Tell him about your journey to the manger.

BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE

December 18 is the fourth Sunday in Advent. When I looked up Advent, it was explained this way: A time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. A shorter answer was coming. So, Advent is expecting, waiting and preparation for something to come.

SCRIPTURE: JOHN: parts of Chapter 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”

Jesus then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE

Matthew began with the information that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures and Mark began by telling us that the baby grew into a man. Luke - Luke investigated and announced: IT IS TRUE! What does John want us to know? A LOT!

I didn’t count them, but the study notes tell me the Book of John uses the word life thirty-six times. This is nineteen times more than any other New Testament book. The first eighteen verses of chapter one are a bit deep (theological) but please read all of them. These verses are like a 2 X 4 whack on the head so we do not miss THIS IS THE WORD MADE FLESH!

John also wants us to know John the Baptist is a great man and has his own calling, but John the Baptist is a man sent from God to be a witness. You have to give credit to John the Baptist. He never tried to steal the limelight or make himself to be anything other than what he had been called to do. “I baptize with water but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John the Baptist came to proclaim: This is the Son of God.

This chapter closes with Jesus talking to the disciples. But what is the main objective of the Book of John?

John 20:31 -- BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME.

Matthew, Mark and Luke informed, investigated and confirmed that Jesus, the fulfillment of the Old Testament, is the Son of God. John wants us to believe! Because, by believing, we - THAT WOULD BE YOU - can have life. Eternal life!

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Do you get confused by the first few verses of the Book of John? Or other verses? If so, let me assure you are not alone. Do not let that stop you from reading the Bible. Sometimes the Bible uses complicated words to say: Do you believe in my Son, Jesus?

This week, think about Advent a time of expecting, waiting and preparation for something to come. What do you expect to come? Now take time to talk to God.

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I rarely do a series so the last four weeks have been a stretch for me. It has personally been a challenge because I usually have an idea and then know the scripture to go along with it. And I am not a “deep” writer. I write everyday stuff. This has been a stretch and not as much fun to read, but it has been good too. It has shown me that I can get in a rut about what I write and what I read. It has shown me that I need to read Psalm 139 (my favorite) but that I also need to read John 1:1-18. Thank you for hanging in there while I tried something new. -- Mary

CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED

December 11 is the third Sunday in Advent. When I looked up Advent, it was explained this way: A time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. A shorter answer was coming. So, Advent is expecting, waiting and preparation for something to come.

SCRIPTURE: LUKE: parts of Chapter 1

Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you so you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The angel Gabriel told Zechariah: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

The angel Gabriel told Mary: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”

Mary visits Elizabeth and, upon seeing Mary, Elizabeth exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Mary sang: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.”

Zechariah spoke: “No! His is to be called John.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED

Matthew Chapter 1 contained 25 verses and Mark Chapter 1 contained 45. Then along comes Luke. Luke Chapter 1 contains 80 verses! Luke must have had a deal with the local office supply because 80 verses would require a lot of ink. Luke is one windy guy. Or is he?

Luke wanted this one special friend to know “the certainty of the things you have been taught.”

What a friend Luke was. He wanted to make sure his friend had no doubts. He wanted his friend to know Gabriel himself came to Zechariah and to Mary. He wanted his friend to know - to know IT IS ALL TRUE! Everything his friend had been taught was CERTAIN! Can you see him smiling as he sent this wonderful news to his friend? Can you imagine the joy his friend felt when he read the news Luke had for him?

Matthew began with the information that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures and Mark began by telling us that the baby grew into a man. Luke - Luke investigated and announced: IT IS TRUE!

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Do you know for certain that Jesus is true? Do you have a friend that could use a letter telling them about Jesus?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Dear God, Thank you for the Gospel of Luke. One friend writing to another to help him understand that everything he had been taught was real. When I am having a rough day or a number of rough days, may I remember that everything I have been taught has been carefully investigated and is true! May I remember that Jesus and the lessons he has for me are true! Amen

PREPARING THE WAY

December 4 is the second Sunday in Advent. When I looked up Advent, it was explained this way: A time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. A shorter answer was coming. So, Advent is expecting, waiting and preparation for something to come.

SCRIPTURE: MARK: parts of Chapter One

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”-- “a voice of one calling in the desert. And so John came, baptizing and preaching. And Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan.

• Temptation - 40 days in the desert
• Disciples - Come follow me
• Be gone - Jesus drives out an evil spirit
• Healing - Jesus heals many
• Prayer - Jesus prayed in a solitary place

PREPARING THE WAY

Now hold on, what happened here? Do you ever compare stories with your sister or brother and wonder if you grew up in the same house? How could these two believers have such a different starting point for their writing? Matthew began with the genealogy of Jesus but Mark skips right over the background, even the birth of Jesus, and starts with John the Baptist. Did Mark not consider the birth important? Or ---

I think Mark was a meat and potato guy. Or a ‘just the facts’ man. Mark wanted those that read his Gospel to understand quickly who Jesus is. Mark wanted the reader to be ready for what was coming. He wanted the reader to be ready for the ministry of Jesus. Let someone else give you the “Once upon a time” version. Mark began quickly in verse 11 telling us: And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Wow! No genealogy. No long prelude. Just the facts: Listen up folks. The Son of God is here! The disciples were ready to help and by the end of the first chapter Jesus had cast out an evil spirit, healed many and prayed.

Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. I do not think Mark was an Advent guy. Mark wanted us to know that we no longer had to wait or prepare. Mark wanted us to know that the reason for advent was all grown up and ready to serve!

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

When you think of Jesus, do you picture him as a baby or as an adult? Or do you see Jesus as a baby at Christmas and an adult the rest of the time?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Dear Father of Jesus, Christmas comes and goes quickly as I prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus. First I spend all my time getting ready and then I spend time putting it all away. This Christmas I want to slow down and understand what I am celebrating. This Christmas I celebrate the birth of Jesus and the man Jesus became. Amen