Post-Christmas Thoughts

So that was Christmas 2018.

How’d you do?

Thinking on the past hours, these come to mind:

a tree – a cross, Acts 5:30

lights – I am the light of the world, John 8:12

food – I am the bread of life, John 6:48

family – He was in the world reconciling a people to Himself, II Corinthians 5:19

music – Glory to God in the highest!, Luke 2:14

a crèche – you will find the Babe…in a manger, Luke 2:12

gifts – For God so loved the world that He gave His one begotten Son, John 3:16

Dec. 25 – there is born this day, Luke 2:11

angels – Ephesians 3:9-10

star – Numbers 2:17

So how was your Christmas?  Was Jesus very much evident?  Did Jesus get ample time?

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:21, And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 

Eight days from December 25 is January 1 (inclusive counting).  So on our New Year’s Day, Jesus was physically marked as a Hebrew, a descendent of Abraham (circumcision), and officially and publicly named Joshua (Jesus) meaning “Jehovah saves”.  After seven days of mostly seclusion (outside of shepherds and a few others), the new life went public and a new year and new era was launched!  Glory!!

Luke 2:22-24 reports that at 40 days Joseph and Mary took baby Jesus to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord (our Feb. 2 if He was born on Dec. 25).  Then Mary learned that Jesus would rock the boat (“fall and rise of many”), a sword would pierce her soul, and Joseph would not be present at the end (2:25-35).  Ugh!  What a heavy, heavy truth for Mary to carry for about 33 years!  As much as Mary was blessed, she carried a large thorn through much of her life.