Embedded Files
Advent Week One,
Advent Week One,
It Was All Planned From The Beginning
It Was All Planned From The Beginning
It Was All Planned
Perhaps you remember our Lent series that continued the understanding that NOTHING in the Bible happened by accident.
The Seed of the Woman, The Only Proper translation of the Hebrew word zera, and the Greek word spermatos, sounds like sperm for a reason, You might be surprised to know that the Hebrew Bible we have today actually came from the Greek Septuagint, as the Hebrew Bible was destroyed in the Great Fire of the Library of Alexandria, Egypt, Started by Rome.
Yes the Dead Sea Scrolls do predate the Greek Septuagint, but before they were discovered between 1946 and 1956, the Greek Septuagint IS the Standard.
But why will Seed be imperative to our lesson today, and why is offspring a horrible translation here?
We will see that for Humans it is impossible for a woman to have a seed, and that is the point, as a miraculous intervention of the LORD alone will make it possible.
Let's start the Lesson
Genesis 3:6-19
6 ¶ When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
8 They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 ¶ Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
10 He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."
11 ¶ And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
12 The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 ¶ The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life;
15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."
16 ¶ To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you."
17 ¶ Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life.
18 "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field;
19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
This Is The WORD Of The LORD
ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!!!
Lesson
Lesson
It Was All Planned
It Was All Planned
Today we start the Advent Season, and our lessons will walk us briefly from Genesis 3 and the promise by Christ HIMSELF that HE will Crush the Serpents head, though HE will die in process and rise from the dead.
As we reread Genesis 3
8 They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 ¶ Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
10 He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."
11 ¶ And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
12 The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 ¶ The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life;
15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."
16 ¶ To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you."
As with last year I will re-walk us through a few over looked facts, it will be important to keep the above text clearly in our minds and as Lt Columbo would say we are going to ask the “one more thing.”
First: Why were we made male and female?
The answer is cleared up when Jesus tells the Sadducees (It is Sad U See that they don’t believe in the Resurrection) Mt 22:29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.
30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
Jesus is bluntly telling them that the life of Marrying and giving in Marriage is due to the fall and the fall alone! Post second coming life will be eternal, as such the LORD knew we would fail in Eden’s Garden and need to reproduce as we will die, just as HE already knew HE would have to succeed in Gethsemane’s Garden.
Second: Christ HIMSELF promises the SEED of the Woman would CRUSH the Serpents head, but HE also told us plainly that “the Serpent would strike HIS heal”
This line can get overlooked as we in the 21st Century don’t realize just how deadly such a strike is, Christ is saying HE will die from this strike.
Ac 28:3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.
4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."
5 However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.
As the text for Acts clearly tells us Paul sound have died instantly from serpents bite, and the Maltians were stunned when it did not happen.
So Yes indeed The LORD of Eden’s Garden was indeed promising he would die in this rescue.
This takes us to the review of point 3
Third: The SEED of the Woman, in Human reproduction is impossible; as we learn in the descriptive but yet helpful passage when Ge 38:9 tells us “Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother” it tells us clearly who provides the seed, and as a consequence it also helps us to understand WHY the SEED OF THE WOMAN is a tip, it also is already telling us of two things that will help understand the rest of the Bible, and the layout of the Salvation path. We will be reminded of this when Jesus talks of the Camel going through the eye of the Needle.
To be clear the Bible is about GOD doing the IMPOSSIBLE as is our salvation in and of ourselves, it can ONLY be of the LORD’S doing!
The SEED of the Woman has ONLY ONE possibility, THE VIRGIN BIRTH!
Next week we will review the as part of the Path of HE who will sit on the throne of David for EVER!!
Walking through the Path Jesus always was to take is an exciting true path; I can’t wait to take with you all.
Second Sunday of Advent The Promise of Bethlehem
Second Sunday of Advent The Promise of Bethlehem
First Reading
Micah 5:1-5
1 ¶ "Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."
3 Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel.
4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.
5 This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, When he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.
This is the WORD of the LORD
ALL: Thanks be to GOD!!
Second Reading
The Promise of Bethlehem
When was this promise first given, well when one read Ruth 4 we find this answer given to one of the Great, Great, Great Grandfathers of our LORD Jesus Christ HIMSELF Boaz.
Ruth 4
1 ¶ Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, "Turn aside, friend, sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.
2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.
3 Then he said to the closest relative, "Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 "So I thought to inform you, saying, 'Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.'" And he said, "I will redeem it."
5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance."
6 The closest relative said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it."
7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.
8 So the closest relative said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." And he removed his sandal.
9 ¶ Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
10 "Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today."
11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
12 "Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman."
13 ¶ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.
15 "May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."
16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.
17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!" So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now these are the generations of Perez: to Perez was born Hezron,
19 and to Hezron was born Ram, and to Ram, Amminadab,
20 and to Amminadab was born Nahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon,
21 and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed,
22 and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.
(NAS95)
This the WORD of the LORD
ALL: Thanks be to GOD!!!!
Lesson
The Promise of Bethlehem
Upon His marriage to Ruth, it is Boaz who is blessed by the Elders at the gate of Bethlehem when they pronounce “10 "Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today."
11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
12 "Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman."”
As we see in verse 11, The Elders proclaim “May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.”
Was there blessing ever of the LORD, as the line of Boaz will see NO End, and Bethlehem will NEVER be forgotten!
Ruth will be the Great Grandmother of David the Shepherd Boy, who will become the 2nd King of Israel, and the very fields of Bethlehem one can imagine at one time belonging to his Great Grandfather Boaz, “Ru 2:1 ¶ Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter."
3 So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4 ¶ Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, "May the LORD be with you." And they said to him, "May the LORD bless you."
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?"
6 The servant in charge of the reapers replied, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.
7 "And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while."
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.”
These same Fields the Shepherds would be keeping watch over their flocks on the first Christmas night.
All of this is just happenstance?
I am sure you can see it, no it was carefully planned.
Next week we will look at some of the other Prophetic announcements leading up to the Birth of Our LORD Jesus Christ.
This little book of Ruth is so jammed with importance that I would humbly suggest every verse has an impact of the path to the birth of Jesus Christ.
May you enjoy a Blessed Advent
Third Sunday Of Advent Lesson
Third Sunday Of Advent Lesson
The Shepherds And The Family Business
The Shepherds And The Family Business
We take a bit of a turn this week and look at the Shepherds and the family business.
We take a bit of a turn this week and look at the Shepherds and the family business.
Though I am sure you have heard that Shepherds are notorious story tellers, it is also important to know that they would know a “perfect Lamb” when the see one.
Luke 2:8 ¶ In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ
ALL: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ!!
Have you ever thought about the Earthly Family line of our LORD Jesus Christ?
As our chosen readings purposely showed us, our LORD’S Earthly family predominantly was of what occupation?
That is correct Herdsmen or Shepherds.
What might this tell us of the Angles reporting the news of Jesus Birth to Shepherds in a field of Bethlehem?
I would suggest that we cannot bypass a few observations;
One could they be Cousins still in the Family Business?
Next might these Shepherds be tending their flocks in fields once owned by Boaz?
Could it be that the proper inspectors of a “Perfect Lamb” actually be Shepherds?
None of these questions can be discounted, and they are properly proposed.
But I do think my Wife Robin has brought a thought to mind when she said to me one day “could it be that they leave the 99 to find the one?”
Well I think that is for sure this one of the reasons Shepherds where told, and builds the Parable Jesus will later tell;
“Luke 15:4 "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
5 "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Though this LAMB is not lost, HE sure has been announced as someone Special.
So we see the Shepherds leaving all to follow this call of the LORD, yes this was said this way on purpose as it is the same way we are called, and the model of leaving all throughout the Bible.
We see Noah Building an Ark trusting GOD who will wipe all away in the Flood,
We see Abram leaving all in Ur to follow the call of the LORD.
We see leaving all to follow the call of the LORD as the path to our salvation.
Yes this is a call of the Shepherds is in the dark of night and supernatural in its nature, but so is our call to salvation as we too are in darkness (in fact dead) when we are called to salvation.
So this week let us reflect on this perfect LAMB born in Bethlehem, who came to Earth to save us from our sins,
Next week we will look at the announcements to Zachariah & Mary and the Birth of John the Baptist, as we prepare for the Christmas Celebration in honor of our LORD’S Earthly Birth.
Have a Bless Advent Season
Advent Week Four Lesson
Advent Week Four Lesson
Doing The Impossible Twice, It’s Child’s Play For The LORD
Doing The Impossible Twice, It’s Child’s Play For The LORD
Isaiah 7:13 Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?
14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
This Is The WORD Of The LORD
ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!!
Lesson
Doing The Impossible Twice, It’s Child's Play For The LORD
Luke 1:11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb.
16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
:18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."
19 The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
Luke 1:26 ¶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
A Quick Sidebar,
How might you personally react to an Angel of GOD appearing to you this very evening?
I would hope I am not alone in saying I would be in total shock!
I fear I would be speechless, and having to sit to listen to the proclamation, as well as wondering if this is indeed real.
We pick up our true Biblical Accounts as both Zachariah and Mary confront such a happening.
As reported by Malachi One would come as Elijah, and when we match that prophecy to John the Baptist we notice that John did not only come in the Spirit of Elijah but also dressed like him!
2nd Kings 1:7 Then he said to them, "What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?"
8 So they answered him, "A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."
Mark 1:6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
Who was it that did NOT see John as a Special Prophet?
Yes you are right the Religious Leaders!
The LORD opened the eyes of many who came out to see John as they repented & were Baptized!
We will see these same groups attracted to and angered by John’s Earthly Cousin Our LORD Jesus Christ, as the Religious leaders HATE him and “the (we) Sinners” (we are ALL Sinners) were attracted.
We also notice that both of the Births will be remarkable and as we have noticed, another Camel through the literal Eye of the Needle moment. To man these births will be Impossible, as Elizabeth is far beyond child bearing, as noted by Dr. Luke, and Mary has NEVER been with a man and IS a Virgin.
This consistent message should remind us also that even our Salvation is a Miracle of the LORD’S doing, as the LORD alone directs all matters.
As we prepare for Christmas let’s look at a couple other matters;
First Elizabeth as instructed names her Baby boy John, when John is NOT a family name, and as today naming after relatives and friends was the tradition. Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
We also need to note that Elizabeth is naming John on the written instructions of the mute Zachariah as Gabriel only gives the message to him.
Could John be a return of the actual Elijah?
No as the Mount of the Transfiguration clearly dispels any such thoughts as Peter Identifies both Moses & Elijah, and it is safe to assume the Peter knows who John the Baptist is as his kid brother Andrew was a follower of him.
Next we notice that Mary is related to Elizabeth and this will make John and Jesus Cousins
That John in the womb has been predestined to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
And that he is the Promised for runner to the Messiah.
As we have walked through this series of Promises, Promises, Promises that the LORD has kept all of HIS promises, and has actually made sure the deck was stacked against HIM as HE alone could fulfill them all.
May the LORD Bless you as we prepare to again celebrate the Birth of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ!
Christmas Eve (or Day) Service
Christmas Eve (or Day) Service
This post can be used for Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day.
If Your Church Family Has a Christmas Eve Service, Please attend there, though I would be Honored if when you get Home, that you did this Service at Home too.
I would ask one small favor, as a kid growing up at First Presbyterian Church in Hackettstown, New Jersey, we would have an 11:00PM Christmas Eve Service, that would allow us out just after Midnight, and thus Christmas Morning.
My favor is that this Service is written for what I believe is the proper time for our Christmas (Eve) Day service at Midnight Christmas Morning.
This might not seem much, but the LORD did allow Dr. Luke to include certain time Details, such as, ‘The Shepherds Out In The Field Keeping Watch Over Their Flocks By Night” and the Midnight Setting adds to the theatre I believe the LORD intends us to relive each year.
As quick side note, If your Church does not have a Midnight Service, kind of suggest it in as kind and yet strong words as possible, it really is worth it.
The Processional is perhaps the best way for setting apart (the meaning of Holy) the time of Worship.
The Processional of the Cross dates back to the Roman Emperor Constantine (313AD), and is a cool link to our Foundation as the Church of Jesus Christ, and the Roman World’s acceptance of Christ.
As we come to Worship today, it is not by accident that we have a 180 degree turn in our Processional, going from a long dark period pleading with our FATHER to send Emmanuel (spelled this way on purpose as both are correct as we talked about last week), and today we rejoice that the LIGHT of the World has come in FLESH.
Let’s run to worship together and Praise our Loving TRIUNE GOD!!!
Call To Worship
Matthew 1:23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."
Processional
O Come All Ye Faithful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzzcOJEiHh8
Perhaps one of my Favorite Processional Post, from the
Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. a few years back
May the Peace and Glory of Our KING and Savior Jesus Christ Be With You!
ALL: And Also With You!
Please Take A Moment and Even On Facebook Pass The Peace
Hymn
The First Noel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mItWsC8RtM
Kings College, Cambridge, England
First Reading
Micah 5:1 ¶ Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; He has laid siege against us; They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."
3 Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren Shall return to the children of Israel.
Isaiah 7:13 Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?
14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
This Is The WORD Of The LORD
ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!!
Hymn
Angles We Have Heard On High
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISnKuuXnRPg
Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
Second Reading
Isaiah 9:1 ¶ Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
8 ¶ The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
As well as others not quoted here.
This The WORD Of The LORD
All: Thanks Be To GOD!!!
Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj2fwME46GM
Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Salt Lake City, Utah
Our Christmas Meditation
Please HOLY SPIRIT, Allow this Meditation to Have the desired effect, as we are allowed by YOUR Leading to walk into this great even as a spectator, please also allow us to smell and live the conditions afresh in our minds as we explore the event of that first Christmas Morning.
He would be born in a Bethlehem manger to dirt poor parents, a Carpenter for a step Father in a culture that looked down on the "trade" class (not much has changed, but here it was even more scorned), he also had a Mom who was regarded as a harlot and granted every "privilege" of that station (sarcasm intended).
A Manger in Bethlehem, is more of a cave, with a Stone feeding trough, we got to see such an example at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, stone being so prevalent, would last (3000 years some are dated).
We then get to imagine the scene as Mary and Joseph get to Bethlehem having traveled on foot from Nazareth, a 80 mile journey and took about 4 days, though Mary's pregnancy may have added to this time, it was quite doubtful they had a donkey as they had to offer the poorest of offerings not a lamb but Luke tells us two turtle doves or pigeons for the offering on the eight day for Jesus.
As they arrive in Bethlehem Mary goes into labor, and Joseph scrambles to find a place for them to stay, and as doors are closed in his face, they get offered a manger, probably crowded with animals do to the census. Jesus first deep breath on this earth, is the stench of manure, as his parents wash his little body, with what water could be found (the animal water trough comes to mind), wrap him quickly in cloths, and rags anything they could scrape together, then they lay him on this stone slab with some straw as a bed, wrapped in cloths, in a darkened cave, any light may have come from a fire but we must remember the shepherds were out in the field so it was probably spring to summer and doubtful a fire would have been needed for warmth, they may have had a torch of their own. As you probably have noticed this is the Exact picture of our King's burial as well, washed quickly no time for the all the spices as Sabbath was fast approaching, Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary would be there Sunday morning with the burial spices, body wrapped quickly in fine linen, and Jesus laid on a stone slab, in Joseph of Arimathaea’s own tomb cut into the rock, some have noted (Dr. Warren Gauge for one) that it was so cool that a Joseph & Mary attended Jesus at birth and a Joseph & Mary attended him at his death.
Back to Bethlehem, and the Angels announcing to Shepard's out in the field the arrival, but why Shepard's you might ask, as they were notorious story tellers?
Well I thought of two reasons, David’s family business was Shepherding in those same fields of Bethlehem that Jesus' earthly great grandfather to the 31st generation Boaz once owned, and perhaps they were alerting the Cousins, or and I think it could be both, Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God, and who better to view and inspect a perfect Lamb then Shepard's.
My Wife Robin I believe correctly saw the connection of the Shepherds leaving the 99 and seeking this precious 1, a parable Jesus would later use.
So why would the King of glory Suffer through this Humiliation of taking on human flesh and being born in such conditions to die the kind of death he would die?
It's because he truly LOVES you and me and wants to give you the greatest gift of all, Salvation, and eternity with HIM!.
Please take time to thank Jesus for making Grace Free for us, as It cost HIM EVERYTHING!
Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRuXdOb6TrA
Kings College, Cambridge, England
Third Reading
Luke 1:6 ¶ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34 And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
35 And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
39 ¶ In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever."
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
Matthew 1:18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."
24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Luke 2:1 ¶ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 ¶ And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10 And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;
11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child;
18 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 ¶ And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ
ALL: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ!!!
Anthem
For Unto Us A Child Is Born
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS3vpAWW2Zc
London Symphony Orchestra, London, England
As We Run To The LORD’S Feast
We will Sing these Hymns During The Meal
1Co 11:23 ¶ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
See A Mind The Winters Snow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPgo-UfyJgc
Kings College, Cambridge, England
Carols
Oh Holy Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrUB9AEnnEc
Kings College, Cambridge, England
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljrf6G1kmto
St. Pete’s Choir
Sussex Carol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZm2NsZnJHE
Kings College, Cambridge, England
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlfHyb397VY
(Sorry No Choir Information on the Post to give due credit)
Away In The Manger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNtnJMb8UbQ
Westminster Abby, Westminster, London, England
While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SDzWV5Ionk
Westminster Abby, Westminster, London, England
Silent Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb8lOXUqrvM
Estherville United Methodist Church, Estherville, Iowa
Anthem
And The Glory The Glory Of The LORD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzP_xlVgTpQ
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and Baroque Orchestra
Toronto, Ontario
Halleluiah Chorus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6_nJ11BgTE
London Symphony Orchestra, London, England
The LORD’S Benediction
Hebrews 13:20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Let Us Go Forth And Love and Proclaim Of Risen LORD and Savior Jesus Christ
Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen!
Merry Christmas!!!
Hymn
Joy To The World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHS7StIz1S8
Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
Recessional
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQHcfgPMnjU
St. Bartholomew’s, New York City, New York
*** If you ever get a chance to go to and sing in one of these Great Church Buildings, Please consider it, the Setting is unbelievable, and the music, though far short of Heaven, is still as good as it gets on this side, I have had the Pleasure to attend Services at Washington National Cathedral, Westminster Abby, St. Paul’s Cathedral, A Church in Bethlehem, Israel, St. Bartholomew’s, St. Patrick’s and they are all inspiring settings ****
We own the music on CD from St. Pau’s Cathedral, London England, Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England, Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., the Messiah London Symphony Choir and Orchestra (multiple copies), London, England, and I highly recommend each
The Mission of Christmas is the Message of Completion
The Mission of Christmas is the Message of Completion
There are two Words I wonder if we ever really focus on in the Bible that are very helpful to the Earthly Mission of our LORD Jesus Christ; those words are Beginning and Accomplished. Jesus actually calls HIMSELF Re 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
They play out over and over again in the Rescue Mission of Jesus, and are very apparent if we have eyes to see in the first Christmas setting.
Before we focus on the Manger of Bethlehem, let’s look at just a few Beginnings and Accomplished Book Ends in the Bible.
Our very First is from Genesis Chapter one and how the Universe was Created?
You are correct it was Spoken into existence by the GOD!
Beginning
Creation of Heaven and Earth
Genesis 1:1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
3 ¶ Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
Accomplished
1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
Re 4:1 ¶ After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
Beginning
Shame of Nakedness
Genesis 3:6 ¶ When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
Accomplished
John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, "I am thirsty."
29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.
30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
Remembering they gambled HIS Clothes, Jesus feels full force the Shame of the first Sin in nakedness.
Beginning
Seed of the Woman
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."
Accomplished
Luke 1:31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
Beginning
The Bread of Life
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.
19 He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." He gave him a tenth of all.
Accomplished
Luke 22:15 And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes."
19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
Now that this has whet your appetite I will allow you to devour the Scriptures for such patterns, but here is two hints look for where Hyssop is used & Ruth 4 and Luke 2 have something important in common.
But we want to focus on the Christmas scene as a Beginning and Accomplishment in the very scene that is set.
In the Beginning Mary and Joseph are forced into a darken cave for lodging, as Middle Eastern 1st Century Mangers where not then, nor are they today cute wooden structures.
I was able to see such a Manger in use as we traveled from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea and off the Road as more than one of the keepers of the flocks had their herds huddled in such a cave.
So our manger scene it hopefully set in your mind, dark a small fire perhaps at the entrance to ward off predators perhaps, but since this is a manger closer to the Inn even this is not a sure thing.
Then it happens Mary goes into labor and before you know it Jesus is born!
What to do Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
For the record the manger of the day would be a Stone slab perhaps chiseled out for the food or water to be place.
What did you notice as it should be mind blowing as look at our Accomplished?
They hurriedly wrapped HIM in Clothes like a papoose or mummy to protect HIM from the elements.
Let’s Jump to the Accomplished side of this scene, I think some of you have already gotten there;
John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, "I am thirsty."
29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.
30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
31 ¶ Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him;
33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, "NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN."
37 And again another Scripture says, "THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED."
38 ¶ After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.
40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
NASB95
What did you notice and I know now that you are looking for it there is a lot?
First a freebie for your assignment, the SEED of the Woman was going to die while crushing the Serpent as a Serpent bite was lethal, as was HIS crushing of the Serpent.
But what did you notice?
That is correct is was the day before the Sabbath and they need to burry Jesus quickly!
So they (I know you see it now) Wrapped him like a Mummy in Linen Cloths and laid HIM on a Stone Slab in a Darkened Cave. Thank You Dr. Warren Gauge for first showing me this picture
But as we know though Jesus Earthly Life will be bookended by swaddling clothes, it will be HIS real resurrection form the Dead that will remind us that GOD Alone has the power to raise the Dead to life.
You see the Whole Bible is about the Rescue Mission of Jesus Christ, and HE Knew it Before HE created the Heavens and the Earth That HE alone would have to Live the perfect life we could not, and Die the Death WE deserved.
HE knew that for there to be a Jerusalem Cross, Cave, and Accomplishment, there had to be a Bethlehem Cave and real Human Birth and a Beginning.
Yours and My Salvation is of Our FATHER in Heaven, Through the Completed Work of Jesus Christ Alone, and by the Regeneration of our Dead Souls by the HOLY SPIRIT
I hope you enjoyed this quick Trip and much as I did writing it, and also Pray that if you thought you were not good enough to be saved that you realize neither was any of us as Jesus came to save we sinners and NOT the righteous.
Merry Christmas
Paul & Robin Wallace
What’s In A New Year And Why New Year’s Is An Important Time For Christian Celebration Too
What’s In A New Year And Why New Year’s Is An Important Time For Christian Celebration Too
Quick Foundation, as we enter 2023 AD, as the date 2023 will be briefly and factually explained in our short homily, that is presented in points meant to be explored.
The AD really does mean Anno Domini, Literally Anno where we get the word Annual or yes Year, and Domini the Latin for Yes Literally the LORD we will talk a little about this latter.
Second this Homily is actually meant for the early part of you New Years Eve Evening, as it allows you to watch our go to your favorite Midnight Tradition.
Let’s run to Vespers.
Call To Vespers
Luke 2:29-30
29 "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Processional
O Come All Ye Faithful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7c6c6pK1YQ
Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
May the Peace of Christ Be With You
ALL: And Also With You!!
Please take a minute to pass the peace of Christ
Hymn
Joy To The World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHS7StIz1S8
Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
First Reading
Genesis 1:1-26
1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
3 ¶ Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
6 ¶ Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."
7 God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.
8 God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
9 ¶ Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.
10 God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so.
12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.
13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
14 ¶ Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;
15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.
16 God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.
17 God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,
18 and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.
19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
20 ¶ Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."
21 God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
22 God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."
23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
24 ¶ Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind"; and it was so.
25 God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
26 ¶ Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
This Is The WORD Of The LORD
ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!!
Hymn
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpX8yLIdyc0
First Methodist Church, Houston, Texas
What’s In A New Year And Why New Year’s Is An Important Time For Christian Celebration Too
Lesson Scripture
Luke 2:21-35
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.
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
25 ¶ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against
35 "(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ
Response: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ!
Homily: What’s In A New Year?
1: The Marking Of A New Year
A: A New Year Around the World
As I looked into the Celebration of January 1st as the Start of the New Year Worldwide, I was able to confirm That YES indeed, to the entire World it will be 2023.
I visited Official Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Israel, Egypt, Vietnamese Newspaper, and Government and in each the date was confirmed as December 31, 2022.
But why is that significant and what does it have to do with Christianity?
Well a lot of course as it is another proof of the real existence of Jesus Christ.
But we also need to see that certain terms used for period dating are actually attacks on the Christian Faith, and must be avoided in the Church’s Vocabulary.
B: AD Vs CE
a: For the record the Julian Calendar Marked the First of the year as January 1st in 45BC
b: BC, AD marking of time introduced in 525 and is Widely Used by 800, and AD really mean Anno Domini, Literally Anno where we get the word Annual or yes Year, and Domini the Latin for Yes Literally the LORD, so we Do mark our year as the Year Of The LORD despite the Atheist propagandist introduction of BCE CE as their attack, as on would only have to ask, What is the foundational marker for CE (Common Era) and just how was it conceived???
Remember, WE know where BC & AD came from and can defend it.
c: Replacing of the Julian Calendar as the Norm in the Roman Catholic World Starting in 1600 and the United Kingdom adopted the “Gregorian” Calendar in 1750
C: The Marking of Time is due to the Saviors Birth
a: Yes this is the is debated and it DOES NOT matter as on Theologians argue over whether Jesus was actually Born in 4 BC or 1 BC, so 4 BC VS 1 BC, as most theologians (Professional arguers and Biblical damagers) who argue this MISS it was an attempt to start the dating based on Jesus’s earthly birth according to the best data available at the time.
2: The Unblemished Lamb
A: Following the Law HE is Circumcised on the eighth Day
B: HE will live from Cradle to Ascension the Life We could NEVER Live
C: HE will Be inspected Three Times Pilot, Herod and again Pilot
D: He Will Conquer Sin and Death
3: A Fresh Start Given To Us
A: A New Year really is just another day, and yet to some we make resolutions
a: No Demand Here
b: Rely on Christ Alone
B: A New Year In Christ was given to Us in Our New Life In Christ and Is lived Out Daily as a Fruit of our Regeneration by the HOLY SPIRIT.
a: Thinking we have Strength in ourselves we kid ourselves
C: We Resolve Nothing, But We Ask The LORD to use HIS Servants to HIS Honor and Glory Everyday HE has given Us to Live.
Hymn
Angels We Have Heard On High
With Intermission For The Preparation Of Incense
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3a1duZgSkQ
Church of St. Mary The Virgin, Roman Catholic Church, New York City, New York
The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ
ALL: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ!!!
Hymn
LORD I Have Seen Your Salvation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43cSVjw--oc
Oklahoma Academy, Harrah, Oklahoma
Let’s Run To The Feast Of Our LORD Jesus Christ
(This Is Communion)
1Co 11:23 ¶ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
O GOD Beyond All Praising
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ltVumr0Ouk
Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, Washington
The LORD”S Benediction
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 ¶ Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Let Us Go Forth As Those Who Love And Proclaim Our Risen LORD & Savior Jesus Christ
Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, AMEN!
Recessional
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQHcfgPMnjU
St. Bartholomew’s New York City, New York
Lesson What does Dedication Sunday remind us of?
Lesson What does Dedication Sunday remind us of?
That Jesus did not just come to Earth to Die on the Cross for our sins and as critical as that was, HE also came to live a perfect life fulfilling all of the Law as this was equally important.
We come to Dedication Sunday and as I have suggested we not just jump back into other series as has become so popular in Reformed Churches, but we indeed do our reviews at Holiday times in the Church year, and Dedication Sunday is such a review.
Jesus tells us this plainly in Matthew 5:17 ¶ "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
As we have read
Jesus will be Named and Circumcised on the eighth day as require Genesis 17 or first reading, and Leviticus 12.
Then Mary upon completion of her purification, an offering to redeem HIM must be presented;
Leviticus 12:6 ¶ 'When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.
7 'Then he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female.
8 'But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'"
Dedication Sunday of Jesus Christ is not a Sunday that should be missed in all the celebrations of New Years as it was imperative for Joseph & Mary to follow the Law to the letter, as again Jesus came to fulfill the full law, and though this sounds redundant, EVERY law had to be fulfilled.
As we walk with our LORD through the Gospels, we will recall these fulfillments as the Earthly foundation of the Work on the Cross and Resurrection.
It is this very narrative were we conclude that Jesus will be born into a dirt poor family as Joseph & Mary will be presenting the poorest of offerings.
Luke 2:23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."
Leviticus 12:6 ¶ 'When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.
7 'Then he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female.
8 'But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'"
(NAS95)
So when your Pastor makes the claim that Joseph and Mary were dirt poor we know this to be true from their offering which you noticed was what?
Correct, not the Lambs, but the “if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'" Mary and Joseph clearly offer the “24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."”
And Simeon Luke 2:28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel."
The Prophetess Anna Luke 2:37b a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Then Luke finishes this narrative with Luke 2:39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
So it is clear Jesus mission is a full mission to live the perfect we could not, follow the law perfectly that We could not do, be condemned as we SHOULD have been, and die a death we SHOULD have died, and all to rescue excrement like of us, but HE Loves HIS own Just as we are and provided the awakening of our Dead Souls and truly making us fully HIS.
This message is on of shortest and yet lays out the true path of Christ ALONE provided Salvation by the will of the FATHER and the in Dwelling of the HOLY SPIRIT, it is NOT because the Pastor’s Sermon, but because the FATHER’S full will to actually awaken the Pastor and use Him as HIS Instrument.
We must remember as Instruments of the LORD it is NOT our Preaching that “Wins” Souls to Jesus Christ, But the Will of The FATHER alone and as such telling your parishioners week in and week out how they are to improve their lives by reading the Bible More, and Obeying GOD’S Law more with NO reliance on the HOLY SPIRIT alone opening the Parishioners eyes is actually what is closing the Churches.
You see, yes even in this Dedication and this small following of the Law, Our FATHER shows HIS Law sure matters and NO one will be saved by our obeying something we break daily, but by the ONE who perfectly obeyed and fulfilled the Law in Full.
Dedication Sunday was the second Earthly step in this process.
Epiphany Sunday
Epiphany Sunday
Video Introduction https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1vOFs-O7Gr/?igsh=MWEwc210em55ZjZiMQ%3D%3D
Our Epiphany Sunday, We Post our Epiphany Celebration on the Sunday closest to the 6th Of January, here in 2024 that will be of course the 7th.
Now we really don’t believe the Wisemen from the East arrived 12 days after the Birth of Jesus, as Herod orders the Children newborn to 2 years old allowing us to date the arrival between that period. But we are Celebrating their real arrival, and the fact that the People living 1300 mikes away see the Star, and yet those living 5 miles away were blinded by this event. Have a Blessed Epiphany Sunday, and Merry Christmas to our Orthodox Church Friends.
Call To Worship
Matthew 2:1b Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
Processional
The First Noel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9PGW32pVHY
Passing of the Peace
May The Peace Of Our LORD & Savior Jesus Christ Be With You
ALL: And Also With You
Please Take A Moment To Pass The Peace On Facebook
Hymn
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtV477Cqni0
First Reading
Isaiah 9:1-8
1¶ But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.
3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
8 ¶ The Lord sends a message against Jacob, And it falls on Israel.
This Is The WORD Of The LORD
ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!!
Hymn
Good King Wenceslas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQVUMG6LZGM
Second Reading
Micaiah 5:1-7
1 ¶ "Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."
3 Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel.
4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.
5 This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, When he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.
6 They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, The land of Nimrod at its entrances; And He will deliver us from the Assyrian When he attacks our land And when he tramples our territory.
7 ¶ Then the remnant of Jacob Will be among many peoples Like dew from the LORD, Like showers on vegetation Which do not wait for man Or delay for the sons of men.
This Is The WORD Of The LORD
ALL: Thanks Be To GOD!!
Hymn
We Three Kings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx35_DRIZ8g
Gospel Reading
Matthew 2
1 ¶ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
6 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"
7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."
9 ¶ After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
13 ¶ Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."
14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.
15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."
16 ¶ Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.
17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
18 "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."
19 ¶ But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20 "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."
21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee,
23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."
(NAS95)
The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ
ALL: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ
Lesson
Epiphany Sunday Lesson
This posting is being done on January 7, 2024, day after the Epiphany, and so our Epiphany Sunday is the day we celebrate the visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem and the House Joseph, Mary and Jesus are now staying.
We should also take a second to wish our friends in the Eastern Church a very Merry Christmas as they keep their traditions to the Julian calendar - which was created by Julius Caesar in 45BC.
There's a 13-day gap between the two calendars, meaning Christmas Day falls on what we now know as January 7.
Nowadays, most Orthodox countries follow the Gregorian calendar, but still observe religious holidays on the Julian dates.
The Orthodox Epiphany, for example, is on January 19 - instead of the sixth.
Nowadays, more than a third (39 per cent) of the world's Christians live in Russia - and around 85 per cent of them choose to celebrate Christmas in January.
Some Orthodox countries - including Greece, Cyprus and Romania - adopted a revised Julian calendar in 1923, and now celebrate with us on December 25.
Those that celebrate in January include Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Egypt and Bulgaria.
Serbia, Belarus, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Georgia and Moldova a Just the one - the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates on January 6.
Countries like Armenia and Lebanon were outside of the Roman Empire, meaning they were never influenced by either the Julian or Gregorian calendars.
Like us, the Apostolic Church also celebrates Epiphany on January 6.
(Source for the Eastern Christmas article the Sun of London January 5, 2019 Josie Griffiths)
Let’s also take a second to not get confused by signs we pass on Church Announcement boards that herald Christmas Too for today as we in the Western Church ARE NOT Celebrating a second Christmas but the important true event that we will discuss, as the Wise Men representing the People living in darkness indeed see the GREAT LIGHT (all caps on a description of Our LORD should by now give us a clue who this GREAT LIGHT points to and IS) and not from 5 miles away as we will talk about, but 1300 miles away from the East.
Hope you enjoy this lesson as much as I did writing it.
The People Living In Darkness
What should we have noticed already?
¨ It is only 5.52 Miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem
¨ I have actually traveled this distance to go to Church in July 2000, and it is close
¨ Mt 2:1 ¶ 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, 2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"
¨ The Magi traveled up to 1200 miles following a Star
¨ Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.
¨ The LORD alone Opens Eyes!
¨ Those 5.52 Miles away could not see
¨ Those 1200 Miles away did see!
¨ The People Living in Darkness could see
We Celebrate Epiphany on January 6, the 12th Day of Christmas
¨ What are some of the Fact?
¨ Did the Wise Men get there in 12 days?
¨ Of Course not, but how do we know?
¨ Mt 2:16 ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
Should we Celebrate Epiphany on January 6, the 12th Day of Christmas?
Did the Wise Men actually visit Jesus?
Yes
Was it important?
Yes
Should We Celebrate their visit?
Of Course
Yes Jesus was no longer a new born infant As Herod would never have given an Order to Kill Two Year olds had it been a new event.
Presenting the Gifts
9 ¶ After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
¨ Gold for a KING
¨ 1st Kings 10:2 So she (Queen of Sheba) came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.
¨ Frankincense for a Priest
Leviticus 2:2 'He shall then bring it to Aaron's sons the priests; and shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil with all of its frankincense. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD.
¨ Myrrh seems to be the Aspirin of the day, but in this case is appears to be presented to Jesus for two reasons
¨ The Agony of the Cross, HE will be offered it as a pain killer and refuse it.
¨ His Burial
¨ John 19:39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
So yes it is very important for us not only to remember the Epiphany, but also to Celebrate it, as it is a key to understand
“The People living in Darkness have seen a Great Light”
Next week we return to ordinary time, and will look at the Baptism of Jesus
Let Us Come To The Feast Of The LORD
1Co 11:23 ¶ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
See Amid The Winter Snow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4OqarWpBWM
Hymn
Joy To The World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHS7StIz1S8
The LORD’S Benediction
2nd Peter 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
(NAS95)
Let Us Go Forth As Those Who Love And Proclaim Our LORD & Savior Jesus Christ
Response By All: Thanks Be To GOD, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, AMEN!
Recessional
Crown HIM With Many Crowns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD-oubDZaIU
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