Wednesday, December 30, 2015

John 1:1-2

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

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 2nd & 3rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

To summarize a bit, the Word (Logos) becomes "flesh" so that all might "see his glory", that is, his Father's glory, "full of grace and truth (Greek: alÄ“theia).”

Monday, December 28, 2015

John 1:1-2

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

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 2nd & 3rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The writer of John’s Gospel is the philosopher of the four Gospels.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Luke 2:15

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

During the Feast of Tabernacles (that is, Sukkot) Jewish people have a tradition of imagining the arrival of seven shepherds, one each night, ancient worthies like Abraham, Moses, and David. In so doing...

Monday, December 21, 2015

Luke 2:8-9

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In contrast to rabbinical contempt for shepherds, however, Jesus distinguishes between the good shepherd and the hireling (John 10:11-13).
 

Friday, December 18, 2015

Luke 2:19

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 19th & 20th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In this way, she leaves for us the incomparable example of taking the Word of God into our hearts and allowing its mystery to become our treasure and its message our trust.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Luke 1:36

Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 19th & 20th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In a single clarifying statement, the Gabriel declares: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37). This language comes directly from Genesis 18:14...

Monday, December 14, 2015

Luke 1:34

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 19th & 20th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What does it mean for God to do big things through little people? What happens when those little people turn out to be you and me?

Friday, December 11, 2015

Luke 2:35

So that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 12th & 13th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Mary’s firstborn was destined to unsettle the world, and one day it would push Jesus out of the world and onto the cross. There was no room for the troubler of Israel who would reveal the inconvenient truth about human beings.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Luke 2:12

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 12th & 13th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The problem of public space for God existed from the beginning of time. And so when we tell the Gospel story we remember that there was no room for Jesus at the inn.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Luke 2:6-7

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 12th & 13th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Just as light and darkness stand in stark contrast, so the conditions of Jesus’ birthplace are at variance with his true identity. Would we have expected to find him in such humiliation?

Friday, December 4, 2015

Matthew 2:9

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 5th & 6th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Gift-giving should look different in the hands of Christian people. It’s not about trendiness or keeping track of what other’s give to us.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Matthew 2:11

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

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 5th & 6th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

From these three references, interpreters have imagined subtle prophecies about the future of Jesus, in particular, the significance of myrrh, pointing to his coming death. What are we to make of these suggestions?