John 5:22-23 “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”
 
LET’S recall that one main reason John wrote his gospel is to defend Jesus as divine. He was likely writing specifically to the Ephesus church to encourage them to steadfastly believe Jesus is Savior, the Son of God.
   John uses chapter 5, then, to report on Jesus’ own divine defense. It is very difficult, yes, almost impossible for the Jews to believe God would be a man, especially a poor rabbi who has worked as a carpenter. After all, they have learned from God’s own Word that God is Yahweh – LORD. To devout Jews striving to obey God’s commands, Yahweh is a holy, barely spoken word. Cautiously and fearfully, they used only the four vowels YHwH to write or speak his name.
   John 5, then, is Jesus’ mini-sermon of actions and words to define his character. He heals a man and admonishes the man to “stop sinning”. Then he defends his sovereign authority to do these things. “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does…21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.”
   How dare this man equate himself with YHWH! But then Jesus teaches another unthinkable lesson. “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.” Imagine you are a Jewish priest, Pharisee or teacher who barely speaks the name of God. Then this rabbi from Nazareth steps into Jerusalem to essentially say, “YHWH is my Father. I do only as he says. And know this. I am the Judge. If you do not honor me, you dishonor YHWH.” It is little wonder the Jews tried to kill Jesus. He seemed to disdain YHWH’s holy character with every word.
   But we and the Jews then can know he spoke the truth because he fulfilled YHWH’s promises. Moses prophesied such a one to come in Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.
   He also fulfilled the angel’s proclamation: Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. God promised he would come. Christ – Messiah – the Lord – YHWH – had come. Jesus is God come to earth to save many people from sin’s death into heaven’s eternal life.
   Are you listening to Jesus? One day he will judge your life. He has spoken the truth to prepare you for that day. Hear the truth and be ready.
 
Prayer: Help me, Jesus, to listen to your truth. Amen.
 

Luke 2:36-40 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
 
AS we conclude this study of Jesus’ birth from Luke 1-2, we do so in the spirit of Epiphany. On the calendar, this is the 12th day after Christmas. “Epiphany” means to reveal. It was established through years of church tradition as a day to celebrate Christ revealed to the world through his birth and the Wise Men from the East going to him in Bethlehem about two years after the nativity. Over time, Jesus’ birth and the Wise Men’s visit has been joined at Christmas. The Eastern Orthodox Church still celebrates both together on January 6. It is their “Christmas”.
     I pray that your journey toward Jesus is a constant process through which the Holy Spirit reveals the Christ more personally to you. With that, here is one epiphany for you: You can live the same kind of life Jesus did.
     Yes, it’s true. Jesus lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit is available to live inside you and change your life. Jesus is recorded to offer this epiphany to us in John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
     Pause and consider this remarkable revelation. No, we won’t save souls as Jesus did, but the Holy Spirit is available to empower our lives as he did Jesus’ life. How does this happen?
     It begins when you confess your sins to Jesus. You empty your mind of sin as you repent. You then acknowledge Christ as your Lord. This means he is the highest authority in your life. In that relationship, confess with joy and love to the world, “Jesus is my Savior. He’s the One who cancels all the debt of my sins.” Pray to the Spirit to live disciplined into all of God’s Word. Pray for special gifts and revelations to be a witness to the world. Then see what God’s Spirit will do.
     Jesus has proclaimed a remarkable promise. I think we disbelieve this amazing revelation from our Lord more than any words we hear from him. But remember, “You are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you.” (1 Corinthians 3:16) The Spirit came upon Jesus to empower his ministry. As you confess Jesus, the Spirit has come upon you to do the same. Live in faith every day! Call on the Spirit to heal, to restore, to reconcile, to redeem and to recreate. Remember, when you are Spirit-filled, you will be sin-empty. Jesus also said it this way in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.” 
     In the Spirit’s power, I pray each day for you is a day of epiphany. As you grow in love of God, he will reveal more and more the wonders of his love.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your great revelation of the gospel. Thank you, Spirit, for your empowering presence in my life. In Jesus’ precious name, may I love you more. Amen.

Luke 2:33-35 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
 
IN the midst of this joyous moment for Simeon, he prophesies to Mary a summary of Jesus’ life. Jesus will cause change. People will rise, and people will fall because of Jesus’ life. People will oppose Jesus. There will be great sorrow for Mary. Notice he didn’t say this to Joseph. Joseph would not witness the terrible death of God’s son.
     The gospel message is certainly about change. When Jesus came to the earth each one he personally touched changed. We’ve read of Zechariah, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and now Simeon experiencing God’s profound love. Certainly this was just the beginning of our Savior’s magnificent impact on mankind to change us forever. See the change in Israel before Jesus went to the cross. Thousands of people saw his miracles. He fed them bread for lunch and the Bread of Life for eternity. He turned the water into wine and his blood into our eternal drink of salvation. He healed our bodies and cleansed your sin. He died to defeat death. He rose to resurrect millions into the eternal Kingdom of God. Yes, Jesus broke into the world as God’s great Gift to change you. How do you respond to God’s eternal blessing? In humility and gratitude, you go to Jesus and tell him, “Lord, I need to change. Show me what I must do to more deeply know your love.” Then listen to his voice.
     “Where’s his voice?” you ask. Hear him in the Bible’s words. Read it with open ears. Listen, also, to the words of a friend who knows Jesus. Believe the words of a pastor who offers you the truth. And know Jesus’ voice, most of all, is in the Holy Spirit as he quietly speaks to you. Listen to him. He is your Comforter, your Helper. He will save you from harm, protect you from evil, offer you hope, and show you God’s peace. Yes, in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is still changing you with his personal, eternal touch.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the changes you brought into the world and into my life through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Luke 2:25-32 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
 
SIMEON is a very faithful servant of God. God had given to him a wonderful promise: Simeon would see the Savior before he died. And here comes Jesus. Simeon felt God’s great love. Simeon was assured, and he was consoled in God’s promises come into his life.
     Jesus is our consolation, our comfort and our light when we turn to him and trust his teachings. Jesus’ life brought peace to Simeon, who knew God had fulfilled his promise. And Jesus is the one who brings peace to our souls when we see and believe that Jesus is God’s fulfilled salvation promise.  
     Center your life on this good news. Everything – that is each thing in the world – will fade away and disappear. But God’s promised Savior is with you always. He consoles you in your struggles. He guides you into his light that “the peace of Christ (will) rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15)
         
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you are so grieved over our sin you sent the Great Consolation to bring peace to our souls. Amen.
 

Luke 2:21-24 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. 22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 
 
WHY take pigeons to the temple? It was because God’s law commanded this. It was a part of the circumcision ceremony for the child and purification rites for the new mother. Leviticus 12:3-5 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying… And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting (now the temple) a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering…8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.  
     This is God’s law. Mary and Joseph took the pigeons to the temple because their lives are based on this core value: Obey God’s commands.
      This quiet obedient couple lived this most basic life value. There were no angels with trumpets announcing the Savior coming into town. No heavenly music chorused the sky; the shepherds and their friends were not parading joyfully through town.  
     The One who would make this sacrifice law obsolete by becoming the Sacrifice for mankind, came that day in the arms of his parents. Joseph and Mary persistently obeyed God’s commands. This is worship. This is righteousness. Matthew says, “And her husband Joseph was a righteous man.” (1:19) Joseph and Mary present to us a true discipleship example: Obey God’s commands.    
 
Prayer: May our offerings, Father, be offerings of worship to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
 
THE angels told the shepherds to go and see the Christ child. The angels described the scene in some detail. Then the shepherds went to the manger and saw the scene “just as they had been told.” The shepherds then returned to the fields in high spirits. They saw the Savior, and they glorified God. This means they elevated him to the highest place in their hearts and minds, rejoicing in the wonder he had done.
       That’s what happens when God breaks into the darkness, bids his people to go to the Light, and they go. There are no people on this earth who glorify God more passionately than those whom God rescues from great darkness.
       A young man I know has experienced a powerful transformation in his life as God rescued him from drugs, alcohol and other addictions. He knows he had nothing to do with the rescue. He was near death in the emergency room with an overdose of drugs, and God stepped in to say, “I love you.” For a time he sought God, glorified his name, it seemed, but then old habits returned.
       Again my friend was homeless, cold and without hope. Then one night he saw the light on in a church. He walked into a room, and God held out his hand again and said, “I love you.” The church gave flesh to God’s love. They got him to the place he needed to be to heal, rest and begin anew. Joyfully, his love for Jesus has grown to great proportions. He will tell you and anyone he meets, “I love Jesus.” His life glorifies the God whose favor rescued him.
       We all need that attitude. We all have sinned. We all were dead in our sins, enemies of God; yet, God has come to say, “I love you.” Through his favor of faith on you, you are his, and he is yours. Have you heard the good news that Jesus is born; Jesus is crucified; Jesus has died; Jesus is alive; Jesus is ascended to Heaven? Yes, it is just as you have been told. The God of Heaven and earth, the Everlasting Father is yours.
       Find ways this year to put flesh on God’s love.
      
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that your gospel is true. Thank you for your light to draw me into you. Give me joy to tell all, “I love Jesus.” In his name, amen.  

Luke 2:16-18 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
 
CAN you imagine the conversations the shepherds had with people after they had left the Christ child? “Hey everyone, we have some great news! We were watching our sheep. Then suddenly an angel appeared in the sky. He told us the Savior was in a manger here in Bethlehem. Then the sky was filled with angels praising God! We then went to that stable just up the street. It was so amazing – just as the angel said. We saw the baby Savior of the world!”
     “Yeah, right guys. What are you drinking out there in the pasture? The Messiah is born in a stable? Guys, you have to do better than that.”
     “Hey everyone, here’s some great news. God’s Word says that Jesus loves you. The message of all the Prophets and the Apostles is that you can trust Jesus, the Savior, to guide you into a loving relationship with the holy God. He offers to you a faith to free you from doubts, fears and sin. His ways will bring you into a true relationship of joy and peace with God! What’s more, he is the way to eternal life!”
     “Yeah, right. You have to do better than that.”
     Too many times the truth isn’t enough for people, is it? Perhaps God’s truth is too easy or too simple to believe. Perhaps it is too loving to understand. But as we see the Messiah come to Bethlehem, we see God demonstrate his desire to enter into all mankind through the simple act of saying, “I believe.”.
     Luke and all of Scripture tell us a Savior is God’s ultimate possibility for all who open their heart to believe in the Savior come. He changes minds. He changes hearts. He changes attitudes. He changes your life forever.
 
Prayer: Open my heart, mind and soul, Holy Spirit, so I will surely believe in Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Luke 2:12-14 “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
 
DID you ever wonder why God, the eternal Father, the Creator of the universe, the One who has made majestic mountains and one-cell animals would have his very own Son born in a manger? I’ve been around mangers. They’re dirty. Animals drool into a manger as they eat. Who knows what forms of God’s creation live in a manger? Oh, Lord God of all creation, couldn’t you at least have opened a room in the crowded inn for your own Son?
     Actually, you could ask a number of “why questions” about Jesus’ life. Why was he born into a lower-class working family? Why did he wait until he was 30 to begin his ministry? Why did people hate him so? Why did they kill you, Jesus? Based on reading the entire council of God – that is, the Bible, I believe the Lord God’s answer would be something like this: “Why, you ask, did I allow My Son to have such a hard birth, difficult life and tortuous death? It was all for you, my child. You see, my Son is my gift to you. Jesus is my demonstration of the depths of my love for you. Sending my Son from the most glorious existence in Heaven to a lowly place on earth, I have shown to you real humility. You must now be humble so that my words will teach you. You must now be willing to serve me wherever I call you to be with me.
     “I wanted my Son to know what work is like for you, so he could understand your frustrations and pain as you turn to him in prayer. My Son’s life was to show you I am willing to do anything to have you turn and call me “Father”. My Son’s life, death and resurrection was to open the doorway to my home for you forever. Yes, this is all for you, my child. I am a God who walks with you everywhere, even when it stinks, when it’s uncomfortable, when it’s deadly. My Son has experienced this. He knows your needs. Trust him, and turn to him. When you do, I will welcome you into my home. And we – myself, my Son, my Spirit and you – will live together forever in the glory the shepherds saw that night.”
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your Son and your Spirit come to dwell among us. Teach me the humility I must have to faithfully trust and serve you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Luke 2:8-9 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
 
ONCE when I was talking with one of my granddaughters, my attention drifted, and my eyes looked away from her face. In response, she put her hands on my face, turned my face to hers, looked me in the eye and said, “Pay attention, Grandpa. I’m talking to you.” It worked. She got my attention, and I was back on track, fully engaged with her.
       How amazing it is! When my eyes looked into her eyes, I heard her words and took them to heart.
       Through the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke 1 & 2, we read of God coming to the priest Zechariah, the virgin Mary and now the common shepherds. Very powerfully, in the form of an angel and then a multitude of angels, God has come in his heavenly glory to put his spiritual hands on the faces of these chosen servants. He has said, “Look at me. I have something you must know.”
       The “glory of the Lord” throughout Scripture testifies of God’s appearance that causes every “knee (to) bow” Romans 14.11) Immediately, the shepherds’ eyes turned from any distractions. Their eyes fearfully, wondrously penetrated upward to see God’s grand perfection appear over his earth, directly onto them. As it happened with every other person in the Bible who experienced God’s clear, profound glory, God’s glory transformed their lives.
       From that night, Luke’s gospel tells us how Jesus grew to minister God’s glory to the world. Through his preaching, his love, his forgiveness, his healing, his sacrificial death, his resurrection and his ascension God’s glory personally penetrated into mankind’s heart to say, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10) “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
       Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds listened. Follow their example. Turn your spiritual eyes to gaze intently upon the Lord Jesus, the Savior of the world. He speaks to you his gift of forever life, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” Revelation 21: 7
      
Prayer: Lord God, move my eyes to gaze upon your glory and listen intently to you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. 

Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
 
THINK of this: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Certainly it ranks among the top of the Bible’s life-giving messages. Assuredly, this is one of the greatest messages in history.
       The Christ, who is the Son of God, has come to earth! Again note: “a Savior has been born to you”. How do you respond to the message? What do we do with our lives when we understand this wondrous, immortal truth? This is the truth that gives our lives meaning. It is the truth that is another step forward in God’s fulfillment of his ancient promise to his people: “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God” (Exodus 6:7). Yes, the Father has sent the Son to become your Savior.
       Receive and feel the pleasure of that truth in your life today. As you work, deal with the kids, struggle with circumstances, get the estimate for the car repair, and calculate your budget, know this: The Savior “has been born to you”.
       That means he is available to you night and day. He offers his comfort and peace when you are distressed. He offers his truth when you need to know what to say and do. He gives you his strength when you feel weak. He watches over you when others seek to harm you. He is your God in so many, many ways.
       Yes, Christ the Lord, the One who saves, has come to you to be very, very personal with you. Celebrate the joy of Jesus. Pray for faith to fill your heart. Savor the wonder, and let it surround you. The God of Heaven and earth has been born to you that you may be born again into him.
      
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that a Savior has been born to me. I receive him. I celebrate him. I live in joy, knowing he is Christ the Lord for my soul forevermore. Amen.