Christmas Day - John 1:1-18

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

John 1:1-18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

John 1

Prologue

 ¹ In the beginning was the Word,     and the Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
    ² He was with God in the beginning.
    ³ All things were created through Him,
    and apart from Him not one thing was created
    that has been created.
    ⁴ Life was in Him,
    and that life was the light of men.
    ⁵ That light shines in the darkness,
    yet the darkness did not overcome it.
    ⁶ There was a man named John
    who was sent from God.
    ⁷ He came as a witness
    to testify about the light,
    so that all might believe through him.
    ⁸ He was not the light,
    but he came to testify about the light.
    ⁹ The true light, who gives light to everyone,
    was coming into the world.
    ¹⁰ He was in the world,
    and the world was created through Him,
    yet the world did not recognize Him.
    ¹¹ He came to His own,
    and His own people did not receive Him.
    ¹² But to all who did receive Him,
    He gave them the right to be children of God,
    to those who believe in His name,
    ¹³ who were born,
    not of blood,
    or of the will of the flesh,
    or of the will of man,
    but of God.
    ¹⁴ The Word became flesh
    and took up residence among us.
    We observed His glory,
    the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father,
    full of grace and truth.
    ¹⁵ (John testified concerning Him and exclaimed,
    "This was the One of whom I said,
    'The One coming after me has surpassed me,
    because He existed before me. ' ")
    ¹⁶ Indeed, we have all received grace after grace
    from His fullness,
    ¹⁷ for although the law was given through Moses;
    grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
    ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God.
    The One and Only Son —
    the One who is at the Father's side —
    He has revealed Him.
   

Christmas Eve - Luke 2: 1-20

We haven't actually done our reading yet today.  We are saving it for tonight after church.  It will be a wonderful way to end the day as a family.  I will post the final part of the story tomorrow but our whole family would like to take this time to wish you a blessed Christmas.  Thank-you for joining us on this wonderful journey through scripture.  May the unfailing love of our Father and His Son Jesus Christ bless you today and in all the days to come.

In Christ,

Kimberley, Jason and the whole McGibbon Gang

Luke 2:1-20 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

 ¹ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. ² This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.    ⁴ And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, ⁵ to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn.
   

The Shepherds and the Angels

 ⁸ In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: ¹¹ today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. ¹² This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger."    ¹³ Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
    ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to people He favors!
    ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
    ¹⁶ They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. ¹⁷ After seeing [them], they reported the message they were told about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

Fourth Wednesday of Advent - Luke 1: 57-80

Luke 1:57-80 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The Birth and Naming of John

 ⁵⁷ Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. ⁵⁸ Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.    ⁵⁹ When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. ⁶⁰ But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John."
    ⁶¹ Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." ⁶² So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet and wrote:
    HIS NAME IS JOHN
    And they were all amazed. ⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue [set free], and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵ Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶ All who heard about [him] took [it] to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him.
   

Zechariah's Prophecy

 ⁶⁷ Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:     ⁶⁸ Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because He has visited
    and provided redemption for His people.
    ⁶⁹ He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of His servant David,
    ⁷⁰ just as He spoke by the mouth
    of His holy prophets in ancient times;
    ⁷¹ salvation from our enemies
    and from the clutches of those who hate us.
    ⁷² He has dealt mercifully with our fathers
    and remembered His holy covenant —
    ⁷³ the oath that He swore to our father Abraham.
    He has given us the privilege,
    ⁷⁴ since we have been rescued
    from our enemies' clutches,
    to serve Him without fear
    ⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness
    in His presence all our days.
    ⁷⁶ And child, you will be called
    a prophet of the Most High,
    for you will go before the Lord
    to prepare His ways,
    ⁷⁷ to give His people knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins.
    ⁷⁸ Because of our God's merciful compassion,
    the Dawn from on high will visit us
    ⁷⁹ to shine on those who live in darkness
    and the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.
    ⁸⁰ The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Fourth Tuesday of Advent - Luke 1:39-56

Luke 1:39-56 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Mary's Visit to Elizabeth

 ³⁹ In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:    You are the most blessed of women,
    and your child will be blessed!
    ⁴³ How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! ⁴⁵ She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!"
   

Mary's Praise

 ⁴⁶ And Mary said:    My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
    ⁴⁷ and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
    ⁴⁸ because He has looked with favor
    on the humble condition of His slave.
    Surely, from now on all generations
    will call me blessed,
    ⁴⁹ because the Mighty One
    has done great things for me,
    and His name is holy.
    ⁵⁰ His mercy is from generation to generation
    on those who fear Him.
    ⁵¹ He has done a mighty deed with His arm;
    He has scattered the proud
    because of the thoughts of their hearts;
    ⁵² He has toppled the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted the lowly.
    ⁵³ He has satisfied the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away empty.
    ⁵⁴ He has helped His servant Israel,
    mindful of His mercy,
    ⁵⁵ just as He spoke to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and his descendants forever.
    ⁵⁶ And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

Fourth Monday of Advent - Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26-38 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Gabriel Predicts Jesus' Birth

 ²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸ And [the angel] came to her and said, "Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you." ²⁹ But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. ³⁰ Then the angel told her:    Do not be afraid, Mary,
    for you have found favor with God.
    ³¹ Now listen:
    You will conceive and give birth to a son,
    and you will 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 Him
    the throne of His father David.
    ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
    and His kingdom will have no end.
    ³⁴ Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?"
    ³⁵ The angel replied to her:
    The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
    and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
    Therefore the holy One to be born
    will be called the Son of God.
    ³⁶ And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God."
    ³⁸ "I am the Lord's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her.

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Luke 1:5-25

Luke 1:5-25 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Gabriel Predicts John's Birth

 ⁵ In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.     ⁸ When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. ¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him:
    Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
    because your prayer has been heard.
    Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
    and you will name him John.
    ¹⁴ There will be joy and delight for you,
    and many will rejoice at his birth.
    ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord
    and will never drink wine or beer.
    He will be filled with the Holy Spirit
    while still in his mother's womb.
    ¹⁶ He will turn many of the sons of Israel
    to the Lord their God.
    ¹⁷ And he will go before Him
    in the spirit and power of Elijah,
    to turn the hearts of fathers
    to their children,
    and the disobedient
    to the understanding of the righteous,
    to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.
    ¹⁸ "How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."
    ¹⁹ The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. ²⁰ Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
    ²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. ²² When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. ²³ When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.
    ²⁴ After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, ²⁵ "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people."
   

Third Saturday of Advent - The Nature of the Son

Hebrews 1:1-14 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Hebrews 1

The Nature of the Son

 ¹ Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. ² In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe.  ³ He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins,  He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. ⁴ So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.    

The Son Superior to Angels

 ⁵ For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father, or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son ?  ⁶ When He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says, And all God's angels must worship Him. ⁷ And about the angels He says:    He makes His angels winds,
    and His servants a fiery flame;
    ⁸ but about the Son:
    Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
    and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
    ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
    this is why God, Your God, has anointed You,
    rather than Your companions, with the oil of joy.
    ¹⁰ And:
    In the beginning, Lord, You established the earth,
    and the heavens are the works of Your hands;
    ¹¹ they will perish, but You remain.
    They will all wear out like clothing;
    ¹² You will roll them up like a cloak,
    and they will be changed like a robe.
    But You are the same,
    and Your years will never end.
    ¹³ Now to which of the angels has He ever said:
    Sit at My right hand
    until I make Your enemies Your footstool ?
    ¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?