December 3, 2025
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Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Advent 2025 – Day 3 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Birth and Childhood of Jesus
Read Sections 1.10 through 1.15 (pages 12-16)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
So this is the second time Mary was told a prophecy about her son. The first time was her cousin Elizabeth, who said she was the mother of her Lord. now Simeon tells Mary that Jesus was a gift from God. that Jesus was the Messiah. And a light to the entire world. Simeon also tells that there’ll be no neutral ground people will either love Jesus or they’ll hate Jesus. the three kings that pursue for thousands of miles to find Jesus as a babe they respond with joy and gifts. a little different than people today who expect God to come looking for them to prove who he said he is and to give them gifts, but for the wise still around us, they seek and worship Jesus today, not for what they can get, but for who he is
I was struck by the words in the first section that the first born sons in a family were special to God, and so a sacrifice would be made on their behalf. We see Joseph and Mary’s regard for the law here as well as the reality that this boy was a little more special to God the Father. And people need to know now who He is and so two faithful worshippers of God are brought to Jesus to affirm to any who knew them that the One they had waited for had come. Then, in addition. to that, God brings a group from a foreign land to recognize the significance of Jesus’ birth. All Jerusalem is astir as this entourage arrives asking where the one who would cause a new star to be born was born. Herod himself becomes curious and pretends to want to know where the child is as well for noble reasons. And so the wise men come to the boy Jesus at a house, not the manger, and give Him their gifts. Now the truth always has its enemies and those who want to silence those who represent the truth. And so Herod does an extremely cruel and harmful thing to try to eliminate Jesus, a perceived threat to Herod. But God protects Jesus by guiding His earthly father to go to Egypt. What a clear similarity to what happens to the Jews of old, that Jesus is called out of Egypt and back to the promised land. And He grows in stature and character. And His wisdom is shown in how He explains Scripture and answers questions as He is left behind in the temple, His true Father’s house.
Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem at 12 yeses old. Always baffled me how Mary and Joseph could lose him heading home. But from what I’ve read in the past, this was a large crowd; The women and children usually in the front With the men in the back, Protecting from robbers, etc. Both Mary and Joseph must have assumed Jesus was with the other. In my father’s house, did Mary and Joseph understand? Jesus could have stayed but show’s obedience to return home with his family. Don’t think there’s any other mentioned of Jesus works until 18 years later
Advent 1.10-1.15
So many miracles by God as He made sure that His Son was safe during harsh times. And such sacrifice by mothers whose children were murdered by Herod.
I love that the words of the wise men still amazed Mary and Joseph. After how Jesus’ birth occured and all the things that had happened up to that point with angels and shepherds, the fact that they were still wrapping their heads around who this child was feels like a natural human response to an extreme situation. Reminds me that the Bible is full of ordinary people that God uses in extraordinary ways!
Herrod also is the dark side of humanity, the one that lets pride and greed and selfish desire cloud them to the point of extreme cruelty. Feeling so threatened by the truth, he would do anything to stop it. Again, an ordinary person does something extreme and we should be so relieved in the truth of knowing God can use ALL situations for God even something as heartbreaking as this.
Advent days 1-3.
God’s plan to offer salvation to all (Jew and Gentile) is apparent even this early in Jesus’s appearance.
Psalm 39; 2 Chronicles 35-36; The Life of Jesus 1.10-1.15
Advent 2025 – Day 3
I was thinking how God plants affirmation periodically in Mary and Joseph’s life about who Jesus is. The shepherds, Simeon and Anna, a dream, another dream, foreigners, and Jesus himself demonstrating an unusual wisdom, maturity and teaching.
I was thinking also of how our culture infantilizes our youth. Even though Jesus was a child, He was 12, which was not too far from traditional manhood.
Prophesies told are coming true in a short span of time. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, Rachel cries for her children, the Messiah will be called a Nazarene. These foretellings all make sense when the disciples receive the Holy Spirit. Like Simeon and Anna, they understand and see the full picture of how Jesus was the Messiah.