The Journey to Christmas: A New Cast
One of the most difficult parts about moving off to college was saying goodbye to my old friends. I was born in north Dallas and my family never left. I went to the same church since I was 2 and grew up in the same schools since 1st grade. I met most of my childhood friends in the nursery and I am sure a few of them saw my diaper getting changed. This made the friend-making process in college difficult since I was used to people who knew me my entire life. A new cast developed in my life story with a new setting and culture.
After thousands of years of kings, deliverers, and prophets guiding the Biblical story, a new cast begins developing. Hundreds of years have passed since God has last spoken and the culture in Israel could not be more volatile. The Persian government has been replaced by the Romans. Jewish religious sects have developed who now oppress the poor and hurting. To make matters worse, influential men are claiming to be the promised deliverer but are instead leading good Jewish men to their own crucifixions as the merciless Roman soldiers exercise zero tolerance. It is a society marked by guilt, pain, and longing for freedom.
As the Jews suffer, the world is getting smaller. Roman roads are the most advanced in history. The Koine-Greek language is serving as a universal means of communication. Shipping lanes, aqueducts, and other amenities are also growing as the Romans continue to advance their unstoppable empire. The people are hungry for freedom and the culture is poised for a new movement.
As the world continues to grow and tear itself apart, a faithful priest named Zachariah enters the Temple to perform the ritual sacrifices. He is not a man of prestige, wealth, or fame. He is simply an obedient man of God. While he is there an angel appears, telling him that his wife will bear a child who will prepare the way for the long-awaited Messiah. Shocked and riddled with doubt, Zachariah protests and is cursed to remain mute until the child’s birth.
Meanwhile, another messenger of God appears. This one is Gabriel. As before with Zachariah, the recipient is not a person of wealth or fame. It is a young Jewish girl in a back-woods town called Nazareth. At around 14-15 years old, this teenage girl named Mary is preparing for her marriage when Gabriel appears. In spite of her virginity, Mary is told she will give birth and his name will be called Jesus. He will be the Son of the Most High, the future King, the rescuer.
While the culture continues to look for their political or militaristic leader in the world-class cities, God is working among the greatest victims of this fallen world. He is working among the faithful and the obedient. They are the same ones forgotten by society and disenfranchised by its self-destructive pursuits. In a time of oppression, pain and sorrow, the message is clear. The armies of light are preparing for their invasion on the principalities of darkness. As promised in Genesis and throughout Israel’s history, a child is on his way. An invasion will soon begin and it will be led by our rescuer.
Read Luke 1 and respond to one or more of the following questions. Also, feel free to add your own insights into the text. The more interaction, the better!
What key differences do you notice between Zachariah and Mary’s reactions to the angels’ messages?
What does Mary’s song tell us about God and his plan for this child?
Why is John’s birth so significant?
www.gravityministries.org
After thousands of years of kings, deliverers, and prophets guiding the Biblical story, a new cast begins developing. Hundreds of years have passed since God has last spoken and the culture in Israel could not be more volatile. The Persian government has been replaced by the Romans. Jewish religious sects have developed who now oppress the poor and hurting. To make matters worse, influential men are claiming to be the promised deliverer but are instead leading good Jewish men to their own crucifixions as the merciless Roman soldiers exercise zero tolerance. It is a society marked by guilt, pain, and longing for freedom.
As the Jews suffer, the world is getting smaller. Roman roads are the most advanced in history. The Koine-Greek language is serving as a universal means of communication. Shipping lanes, aqueducts, and other amenities are also growing as the Romans continue to advance their unstoppable empire. The people are hungry for freedom and the culture is poised for a new movement.
As the world continues to grow and tear itself apart, a faithful priest named Zachariah enters the Temple to perform the ritual sacrifices. He is not a man of prestige, wealth, or fame. He is simply an obedient man of God. While he is there an angel appears, telling him that his wife will bear a child who will prepare the way for the long-awaited Messiah. Shocked and riddled with doubt, Zachariah protests and is cursed to remain mute until the child’s birth.
Meanwhile, another messenger of God appears. This one is Gabriel. As before with Zachariah, the recipient is not a person of wealth or fame. It is a young Jewish girl in a back-woods town called Nazareth. At around 14-15 years old, this teenage girl named Mary is preparing for her marriage when Gabriel appears. In spite of her virginity, Mary is told she will give birth and his name will be called Jesus. He will be the Son of the Most High, the future King, the rescuer.
While the culture continues to look for their political or militaristic leader in the world-class cities, God is working among the greatest victims of this fallen world. He is working among the faithful and the obedient. They are the same ones forgotten by society and disenfranchised by its self-destructive pursuits. In a time of oppression, pain and sorrow, the message is clear. The armies of light are preparing for their invasion on the principalities of darkness. As promised in Genesis and throughout Israel’s history, a child is on his way. An invasion will soon begin and it will be led by our rescuer.
Read Luke 1 and respond to one or more of the following questions. Also, feel free to add your own insights into the text. The more interaction, the better!
What key differences do you notice between Zachariah and Mary’s reactions to the angels’ messages?
What does Mary’s song tell us about God and his plan for this child?
Why is John’s birth so significant?
www.gravityministries.org
posted by Matt Morrison | 1:23 AM
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