The Grateful Outcast
April 19, 2020 • Cindy Lee • Luke 17:11–19
"Jesus is coming,” Nathanial whispers. “He’s coming.” . “Jesus,” I say, scratching another sore on my arm until it weeps. . “Oh, you Samaritans! Don’t you know anything?” Nathanial sighs. “He’s the Healer, like the prophets predicted. He can save us—even you.” . Ten of us are still alive in this leper colony. Staying at home would put our families at risk. Tears prick my eyes as I think of the day I left behind my wife and son—of the sadness on their faces. I miss them. . “Unclean!” people scream at us, hurrying by. “Ugh! Look at them!” . “Dear God,” I pray, “Whatever Jesus wants, I promise I will do it.” . “Jesus is coming,” Nathanial cries. “A huge crowd is following Him.” . “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” we cry over and over again until our throats dry up. . My heart thumps as Jesus stops. He does not run away. His eyes reflect compassion and love. He reaches out to us. The crowd immediately disperses, shuddering. . “Go and show yourselves to the priests,” Jesus says. . I want to shout out that they won’t let us near them. But then I remember my prayer and promise to God. . All of us obey. As we walk, my skin tingles. The heat is no longer intense. Before I even look down, I know I am well. Overcome with emotion, I jump up into the air. . I begin to praise God loudly and run back to Jesus, falling on the stony ground at His feet, unable to stop thanking Him. . Jesus speaks, His eyes rich with love. “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner? Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.” . I run back to the priests and then to my home, my heart soaring. Jesus has saved my life. • Cindy Lee . • Have you ever felt like an outcast? Read John 1:12 and 3:16. How does Jesus give us a place to belong? (To learn more, check out our "Know Jesus" page.) . Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner? Luke 17:18 (WEB)
Day 8 - Worst Saturday
April 11, 2020 • Kevin Zeller • Luke 24:1–8
It was the worst Saturday ever. . The sun had come up, and the birds were still singing just like any other day. But to Jesus’s disciples, the whole world had been destroyed. Jesus had died on a cross. . The disciples were alive, but their hope was gone. . Of course, their people had felt this sorrow before. Several hundred years earlier, a savage empire had invaded Jerusalem, sacking the city, taking the people captive, and destroying the temple. That day, too, was like the end of the world. . But the prophets had said there would be a restoration. They had said God had promised to save His people from sin and death and restore them to the land. The disciples had thought—had known—that Jesus was the promised King who would restore the kingdom. . All the signs were there. He had performed miracles, spoken and taught with authority, and even raised the dead. . Now He couldn’t do any of those things. What is more, they had lost a friend and the only One who would teach them. Had they misread the signs? Was God angry with them for having followed a false teacher? Or did God even remember His people and His promises? . They didn’t know that the next morning, the story wouldn’t just be continued, but ended. That Jesus would win so unexpectedly and decisively. That He would fulfill all the promises made to His people. That He would do what was literally impossible... and rise from the dead. • Kevin Zeller . • Have you ever felt like your whole world was destroyed? . • What sorts of resurrection promises can you find in the Old Testament of the Bible? . • Read John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15, and 1 Peter 1:3-5. Because of Jesus’s resurrection, what hope do we have as Christians? . For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man [Jesus] will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. Matthew 12:40 (CSB)
Worst Saturday
April 11, 2020 • Kevin Zeller • Luke 24:1–8, Matthew 12:40
It was the worst Saturday ever. . The sun had come up, and the birds were still singing just like any other day. But to Jesus’ disciples, the whole world had been destroyed. Jesus had died on a cross. . The disciples were alive, but their hope was gone. . Of course, their people had felt this sorrow before. Several hundred years earlier, a savage empire had invaded Jerusalem, sacking the city, taking the people captive, and destroying the temple. That day, too, was like the end of the world. . But the prophets had said there would be a restoration. They had said God had promised to save His people from sin and death and restore them to the land. The disciples had thought—had known—that Jesus was the promised King who would restore the kingdom. . All the signs were there. He had performed miracles, spoken and taught with authority, and even raised the dead. . Now He couldn’t do any of those things. What is more, they had lost a friend and the only One who would teach them. Had they misread the signs? Was God angry with them for having followed a false teacher? Or did God even remember His people and His promises? . They didn’t know that the next morning, the story wouldn’t just be continued, but ended. That Jesus would win so unexpectedly and decisively. That He would fulfill all the promises made to His people. That He would do what was literally impossible... and rise from the dead. • Kevin Zeller . • Have you ever felt like your whole world was destroyed? . • What sorts of resurrection promises can you find in the Old Testament of the Bible? . • Read John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15, and 1 Peter 1:3-5. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, what hope do we have as Christians? . For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man [Jesus] will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. Matthew 12:40 (CSB)
Day 5 - The Other Criminal
April 10, 2020 • Mike Hurley • Luke 23:39–43
I’m a people watcher who loves hanging out at restaurants, observing the crowd around me. As people pass by, I wonder who they are and sometimes try to guess their story. I do the same with Bible characters—so many of their stories seem far too incomplete. . There were two criminals crucified at the same time as Jesus, and Luke records their brief interaction. The one who interests me isn’t the one who was promised paradise with Jesus; it’s the other guy. Luke reveals the man was yelling insults at Jesus, quoting the man saying, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39). . Those were bold words coming from a man on the cusp of death. Clearly, he had heard of Jesus and the rumor of Him being the Messiah. But why hurl insults? His angry comments were so offensive the criminal was rebuked not by Jesus... but by the other criminal. . There is so much we don’t know. The man’s name, crime, background, age, and family are all left unspoken. We assume both criminals died at some point, and most assume one criminal will see Jesus in paradise and the other won’t. . I hold out hope for the angry criminal—hope that he watched the man who received the promise of eternal life in Jesus and had a last-moment change of heart. It could have happened. Such is the nature of salvation. We are saved not by good works but by belief in the work of Christ on the cross. • Mike Hurley . • Is salvation really so simple as trusting in the work of Christ? (Check out our "Know Jesus" page for more information.) . • Why do you think Luke didn’t record any other details about the two criminals? . • Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Why is it important that salvation from sin and death isn’t based on what we do? . For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
The Other Criminal
April 10, 2020 • Mike Hurley • Luke 23:39–43, Ephesians 2:8–9
I’m a people watcher who loves hanging out at restaurants, observing the crowd around me. As people pass by, I wonder who they are and sometimes try to guess their story. I do the same with Bible characters—so many of their stories seem far too incomplete. . There were two criminals crucified at the same time as Jesus, and Luke records their brief interaction. The one who interests me isn’t the one who was promised paradise with Jesus; it’s the other guy. Luke reveals the man was yelling insults at Jesus, quoting the man saying, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39). . Those were bold words coming from a man on the cusp of death. Clearly, he had heard of Jesus and the rumor of Him being the Messiah. But why hurl insults? His angry comments were so offensive the criminal was rebuked not by Jesus... but by the other criminal. . There is so much we don’t know. The man’s name, crime, background, age, and family are all left unspoken. We assume both criminals died at some point, and most assume one criminal will see Jesus in paradise and the other won’t. . I hold out hope for the angry criminal—hope that he watched the man who received the promise of eternal life in Jesus and had a last-moment change of heart. It could have happened. Such is the nature of salvation. We are saved not by good works but by belief in the work of Christ on the cross. • Mike Hurley . • Is salvation really so simple as trusting in the work of Christ? (Check out our "Know Jesus" page for more information.) . • Why do you think Luke didn’t record any other details about the two criminals? . • Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Why is it important that salvation from sin and death isn’t based on what we do? . For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Dining with Strangers
April 3, 2020 • Andres Lopez • Luke 24:13–35, Hebrews 13:2
The mall food courts in Guatemala City are very different from those I visited in the US. When I came back from four years away from my country, one of the first outings we had was to the mall. Mall runs and window-shopping are common practices among most city folk in Guatemala. We especially like doing this on Sunday afternoons. Food courts get packed—to the point that families usually have to split up to find a spot to eat. It’s crazy, and I bet many of you reading this are already cringing at the thought. . The layout of these food courts is pretty interesting. Tables are all touching each other, basically creating twenty-people tables. There is no room to separate them, so—whether you like it or not—you usually eat lunch with strangers. . And that brings us to today’s Bible passage. Shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus appeared in disguise to two of His disciples, walking along the road to Emmaus with them. Even though Jesus was a stranger to these disciples, they still invited Him over for dinner at their place. Jesus accepted and ate with them. And He broke the bread! When that happened, the disciples recognized Him... and then He vanished. . Is it too bold to say that maybe by having lunch with strangers—even at such a common place as a food court—we might be dining with Jesus, welcoming Him to have lunch with us? Is it even crazier to think that when others are hosts to us, we might recognize Jesus in them? . Hospitality is an opportunity to show and remember Jesus’ love and presence. It’s a chance to recognize and proclaim that Jesus stepped in to dwell with us even when we were estranged from Him (John 1:14; Romans 5:8). • Andres Lopez . • As Christians, how can we (safely) welcome the stranger among us into our lives? . • How can you reach out to the outcasts in your school? . • Who is a trusted Christian adult—such as a camp counselor, pastor, or youth leader—you can talk with about what practicing hospitality looks like? . Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)
The Lost Archives
March 2, 2020 • Naomi Zylstra • 2 Kings 22:8–11, 2 Kings 23:1–3, Luke 11:28
The following is an allegory based on 2 Kings 22-23, which tells the story of King Josiah and the rediscovery of the book of the law. . The lieutenant of the Fourth Galactic League rushed into General Lazlo’s office: “General, my platoon was searching old Lymerian archives. We found something you should see.” . The lieutenant pulled up a document on his hologram pad and passed it over. The general gasped. “Is that Earthen religious law? Weren’t all Earthen religious laws catalogued already?” . Tears began to form in the general’s eyes. How could we have lost something so precious? She began to read the text, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” She paused. “Lieutenant, I need you to contact the Old Earth Religious Order. I must speak to a representative at once.” . As the lieutenant made contact with the Order, the general paged through the document. She saw messages proclaiming love and salvation—and over and over, the name “Jesus.” Hadn’t she once heard an old story of a Jesus who had risen from the grave? . “General,” said the lieutenant, “I have a leader of the Old Earth Religious Order.” . The general spoke with the leader, who said the rediscovered book was Christian Scripture—a text thought to have been lost over four hundred years ago. . When the leader hung up, the general was left staring at a blank screen. She reflected on her own life. She was a hard worker and good at her job, but she often felt unfulfilled, even in success. She wondered if this rediscovered book had the answers. She also thought of the chaos in her colony and wondered if the book contained the path to true peace. . General Lazlo pressed the emergency broadcast button and began to address the entire colony: “Dear citizens, something vital was rediscovered today, and I have the privilege of reading it to you.” • Naomi Zylstra . • The Bible is about Jesus, who offers us freedom from sin (Acts 10:43). That’s why it’s such an important book. How does this affect the way we study and understand it? . But he [Jesus] said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:28 (WEB)
What Do You Mean, Lord?
March 1, 2020 • Aleia Lenz • Luke 10:38–42, Ephesians 2:8–9
She must have been so frustrated. Martha was working, always working. Cooking, cleaning, doing everything possible to make their guest comfortable. And not just any guest: they were hosting Jesus, the renowned teacher. . Yet while she ran around, making preparations for the rabbi and His disciples, her sister Mary merely sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His words. Martha kept glancing at the teacher, waiting for Him to tell her sister to help her. . Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She cried out: “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand” (Luke 10:40). . “Martha, Martha,” He replied. “You are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). . What? . Martha was probably shocked and hurt. Why would He rebuke me for working hard and encourage my sister for being lazy? That’s not fair. . Martha didn’t understand that no matter what she did, no matter how hard she worked, she could never earn God’s favor. While works are important as a testament of faith (James 2:26), faith in Christ is our path to salvation (John 14:6). Slowing down for a moment to listen to the words of Jesus Himself, as Mary did, is infinitely more important than busying ourselves trying to earn God’s forgiveness and favor by what we do. . That is the entire reason Jesus gave His life for us: so we could be saved through faith in Him...because we could never do it on our own. • Aleia Lenz . • Have you ever caught yourself thinking you could earn God’s forgiveness? . • Read Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23; 5:6-8, and 2 Corinthians 5:21. Why is salvation from sin and death impossible without Jesus? . • To learn more about salvation through Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page. . For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB)
Found
January 30, 2020 • Hope Bolinger • Luke 15:3–7
If you’d told me I’d get lost in New York City, I’d have begged you to wake me up from my nightmare. . But lo and behold, during my junior year on choir tour, with over one hundred students jam-packed into a few charter buses, I ended up lost in one of the biggest cities in the world. I and a handful of other friends followed a chaperone who, although they were invested in getting a picture with a person dressed up as Woody from Toy Story in Times Square, didn’t invest in a GPS. . But when we realized the time—thanks to the handy dandy screens in the Square—we scrambled toward the sidewalks to get back to the bus for our next tour stop. . None of us had a keen sense of direction, and the only ones with cell phones didn’t have our choir director’s number. It was a time before any of us had smart phones, so no luck in using a GPS. Swerving from street to street, I felt my chest contract as tears welled up in my eyes. . We’ll never get back to the bus. They’ll ditch us and pick up a couple of Broadway actors to take our place. I mean, there are more than one hundred students. Who needs a couple of spare altos and sopranos who can’t read a map? . At long last, our choir director called one of our phones (she must’ve gotten the number from another student) and discovered our location. She rushed over, directed us to the bus’s position, and made sure we climbed aboard before we took off to our next destination. . I had never related to Jesus’ story of the lost sheep until that day. Especially knowing that our choir teacher would not leave until she had all of us, even having to ditch the bus to locate where we’d gotten lost. And man, oh man, did it feel good to be found. • Hope Bolinger . • Have you ever been lost before? What did it feel like to be lost? What did it feel like to be found? . • Reread today’s Bible passage. Where do you see yourself in the story of the lost sheep? The one who is lost? One of the ninety-nine? . • To learn more about how we all need to be found by Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page. . What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? Luke 15:4 (CSB)
The Un-Lost Son
January 25, 2020 • H.K. Rausch • Luke 15:11–31
Abidan stretched, looking toward the sun. It was setting, so he left the field and approached the house. He stopped, listening. That sounds like a party, he thought, waving over Baanah the servant. “What’s going on tonight?” Abidan asked. . “Your brother has returned!” Baanah said. “Your father has served the feasting calf to celebrate!” . “Jabin’s back?” Abidan’s tone was angry. . Baanah nodded. “Shall I get your father?” Abidan only threw up his hands in frustration. . When Abidan saw his father coming, he turned away. “What do you want?” . “I want you to join the party. Please come see your brother. It’s been thirteen months.” . “I know.” Abidan’s voice was strained. “And I have been here. Working hard every day. Respecting you, always doing exactly what you’ve asked. I’ve given you everything, never once getting a goat to eat with my friends! Jabin runs off and wastes his inheritance. Upon his return, you restore him like he’s been a victim and I don’t even get told to leave the field early? Isn’t what I do enough to please you? The disobedient son gets all your love?” . “My son, you are welcome to a goat and all I have!” said his father. “Abidan, you have not entrusted to me what I long for: your brokenness. You keep me at arm’s length all the time. You desire to be loved, but ‘doing enough’ cannot earn what you want.” . His father continued. “Both my sons have been wrong in their perception of my love. One thought he could enjoy it by what he got from me, the other by what he could give to me. I celebrate Jabin’s return because he has come to discover what I will do with the truth about him, however ugly it might be. This is what I long for with you, Abidan. Will you come to the party, that I might celebrate the return of both my sons?” • H. K. Rausch . • What was Jesus contrasting by His parable of the two brothers? . • Does Jesus want us to clean ourselves up before we come to Him (John 15:3-4)? Can our works, status, or what we don’t do sustain our relationship with Christ (Luke 18:9-14)? . Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32 (CSB)
Roll on Like a River
January 20, 2020 • Naomi Zylstra • Amos 5:24, Revelation 21:4, Luke 18:7–8
Mass shootings, racism, sexual assault, displacement—our world is riddled with injustices, and they sting. We live in a world broken by sin. . But there is hope in the midst of these injustices. The book of Amos says God’s justice will “roll on like a river” (Amos 5:24). Then, in Revelation 21, God promises to one day remove death, suffering, and pain, wiping away our tears as He does. In short, God hears us when we cry out against injustice. . But even though we know part of God’s plan is to bring His justice, we wonder, How will He bring justice to all of the hurts in our world? . First, Jesus showed us God’s justice carried out. When He died on the cross, He took on the sins of the world and God’s just punishment for them. Anyone who puts their trust in Jesus has their sins nailed to the cross. Second, those who have rejected Jesus’ work on the cross will face Him at the Judgment Day, and He promises to punish and bring justice for every outstanding injustice then. So, ultimately, whether through the cross or at the Judgment Day, all injustice will be made right (2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Peter 3:9-13). . In the meantime, God calls His people to act justly here and now as we wait for His upcoming justice. Jesus Himself acted against injustice in His everyday life when He flipped over tables in the temple, stopping the money changers who were taking advantage of people (Mark 11:15-17). . That means that one way we can show Jesus to others is through seeking after justice. While we wait for our Savior to return and bring ultimate justice, we, as Christians, can speak out against any injustice we encounter. • Naomi Zylstra . • Did anything surprise you from today’s reading? If so, what? . • Where do you see injustice in the world today? How can you help, showing Jesus’ love and justice to those involved? . And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man [Jesus] comes, will he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:7-8 (NIV)
Lament (Part 2)
January 15, 2020 • Taylor Eising • Psalm 13, Luke 22:41–44, Isaiah 41:10
Have you ever read a psalm and thought, Wow, that person was really mad at God. Are you even allowed to say that to Him? The short answer: yes, and it’s called lament. . In fact, about a third of the psalms in the Bible are lament psalms or complaint psalms. A lament is when you bring your honest, unfiltered frustrations, angers, griefs, and disappointments to God in prayer. It says, “God, I’m not okay. This stinks. I hate it. I feel like You’ve forgotten me. Why did You let this happen?!” . That doesn’t sound encouraging, does it? But lament is so important that, throughout the Bible, the prophets, the leaders of Israel, and even Jesus Himself lamented. So if lament is so normal in the Bible, why don’t we see it as much now? . As Christians, we avoid lament for two reasons. . First, we sometimes falsely think lament comes from a lack of faith. But lament is as much an act of faith as gratitude is. It shows that (1) we trust God with our deepest, most uncomfortable feelings and (2) we trust Him to do something about those hurts—now or when He returns (Revelation 21:1-5). Therefore, lament is a faithful response to the pain and brokenness sin causes in the world. The lament psalms of the Bible show us what this looks like. Almost all of these psalms end by praising God for how good and faithful He is—but not before the psalmists have expressed their hurts to God. . Second, we avoid lament because, when something bad happens, we want to skip all of the terrible feelings and rush to the healing. My friends, that isn’t healthy. True healing happens only by walking through the pain and hurt, relying on Jesus as He walks through it with you. . Jesus loves us unconditionally. He lived, died, and rose again here on earth— He knows our pain. He even laments on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25). Therefore, we can bring our pain to Him because of what He has done, is doing, and will do for us (Hebrews 4:14-16). . Lay your laments at His feet, as loudly as you need to. God is big. He can handle it. You can know, by the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection, suffering’s days are numbered (2 Peter 3:1-13). . • What pains in your life do you need to lament right now? You can lament something in your past or present, something happening to a loved one, or a general evil in the world (human trafficking, poverty, racism, etc.). Bring these hurts to God. If you’re not sure where to start, use a lament psalm as a blueprint for your prayer. Try Psalm 44, 55, 77, 79, 90, or 142. . • Do you have a tendency to rush through processing your pain with God? Why is that? Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about it? . Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (CSB)
Echoes of the Story
January 3, 2020 • Kevin Zeller • John 20:31, 2 Timothy 3:15–17, Luke 24:44
The redemption of God’s people was over before it began. Until it wasn’t. Abraham and Sarah not being able to get pregnant. The slavery of their descendants in the land of Egypt. The rebellion of those descendants, leading to their eventual destruction by and exile to other nations. Each time, it seemed like God had forgotten His people and abandoned them to sin, suffering, and death. . But Sarah miraculously got pregnant. God miraculously led His people out of Egypt and back into the promised land. And He even preserved His people in captivity and led them back from exile into their own land again. . But when the first holy Saturday dawned, it seemed like the story was really over for good. Jesus, God in human flesh, had been killed violently on a cross. His talk about His kingdom had been silenced. Was it over? Had God abandoned His people? . He hadn’t. All the times God had miraculously rescued His people before had led up to this moment: Christ’s resurrection. Jesus walked out of the tomb alive, healed from His injuries and free from death forever. . So whenever it seems like the story is over—like God has abandoned you and forgotten His redemption plan—remember Jesus’ resurrection. He will come again to complete His redemption plan, and He is with His people even now by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:20). If your faith is in Christ, He will save you from sin and death (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). • Kevin Zeller . • The Bible—the story of God’s redemption plan for humans—is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. What questions do you have about the Old and New Testaments? Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can bring those questions to—such as a pastor or youth leader? . • How do you usually think about Old Testament stories? How do you relate them to the New Testament? . • What other pointers to the resurrection can you find in the Old Testament? . He [Jesus] said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44 (NIV)
Jesus is Fully Human (Part 1)
December 24, 2019 • Taylor Eising • Luke 2:1–7, Hebrews 4:15
Sorry, guys, but I’m going to ruin Christmas for you. Jesus probably wasn’t born in a stable. Read the passage again. It doesn’t say “stable” anywhere. We usually hear about Jesus being born in a stable because it says He was laid in a manger, which is where animals eat, and in our current time and place, animals live in stables. Makes sense, right? . The problem is, in the time and place that Jesus was born, animals lived in the house. Archeologists are discovering that most homes in the area were built with one small room for the animals to sleep in at night, one larger room for the family, and one room upstairs for guests. The room for the animals had large bowl-shaped indents in the floor, called mangers, to hold the animals’ food. . Also, the Bible says Joseph had family in Bethlehem, so he and Mary would have been welcomed into a relative’s house with open arms. In that culture, failing to show hospitality brought an incredible amount of shame. When the Bible says there was “no room” for them, it probably means the upstairs guest room was full, so they stayed downstairs with the family and animals. So, when Mary gave birth, she was surrounded by family to help with the delivery. But the house was packed so full that the only place they could put Jesus was in the manger. . Why does this all matter? Well, the circumstances of His birth say something very powerful: Jesus is human. He had a relatively ordinary birth for His time and place in history. He was surrounded by the people He came to save, right from His first moments out of the womb. . Jesus experienced everything it meant to be human. Although He is also fully God, He became every bit as fleshy as we are, so that He could save every bit of who we are. • Taylor Eising . • Why is it important that Jesus is fully human? Could He have taken our place on the cross if He wasn’t fully human (John 1:14; 14:6; Romans 5:12-21)? . • How does the fact that Jesus is fully human affect your relationship with Him? . • As we study God’s Word, why is it important to understand the culture and history of the Bible? . This High Priest of ours [Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)
Celebrating Christmas Around the World
December 22, 2019 • Melissa Yeagle • Luke 2:8–20, John 3:16
On the night Jesus was born, there was a lot of celebrating going on! And those celebrations continue on to this day—all around the world. . In the US, our Christmas celebrations center around putting up a Christmas tree and a nativity scene. On the actual day, we have a big meal and exchange presents. . In Norway, they start celebrating on Christmas Eve. Church services start at 5:00 p.m., then people go home for a special dinner. They generally have porridge, and one lucky person gets an almond hidden in their bowl. . In Poland, on Christmas Eve everyone watches the sky, eagerly waiting to spot the first star of the night. Once a star is spotted, dinner begins! This tradition is to remember the magi, who followed the star to find Jesus. They also have a tradition of putting hay on their dinner table underneath their tablecloth. This reminds them that Jesus was born in a manger. . In the Gambia, they have parades at Christmas time. They carry with them something called a *fanal*. It’s something they make out of bamboo with white paper hung over it, usually in the shape of a boat, and decorated with candles or lights. . In Russia, they celebrate Christmas on January 7. They go to church and then come home to a meal with twelve dishes—one dish to honor each of the first twelve disciples. . In reality, it doesn’t matter how we celebrate Christmas but rather who we celebrate. Christmas is the time we set aside to celebrate Jesus. He became human to save us from sin and death. That’s something worth celebrating all year. • Melissa Yeagle . • What is your favorite Christmas tradition? . • Why is it so important that Jesus—who is God—became a human (John 1:1-17; Romans 8:3-4; Hebrews 2:14-15, 17)? . For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (WEB)