Advent Day #15 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace,good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14 Peace on earth—most people desire that wars cease, and love conquer hate. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem, turned into a song, details …
The Now, But Not Yet
Advent Day #14 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty …
Good Tidings of Great Joy
Advent Day #13 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you …
An Occupied Manger
Advent Day #11 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 There are a few references to mangers, cribs, or stalls in the Old Testament. Interestingly, two directly allude to emptiness, and …
O Come, Thou Dayspring
Advent Day #9 To give knowledge of salvation unto his peopleby the remission of their sins,Through the tender mercy of our God;whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:77-79 When …
He Hath Scattered the Proud
Advent Day #7 He hath shewed strength with his arm;he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He hath put down the mighty from their seats,and exalted them of low degree.He hath filled the hungry with good things;and the rich he hath sent empty away. Luke 1:51-53 Luke’s well-researched account of the …
The LORD—κύριος
Advent Day #6 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 The name of the Lord is used fifteen times in just the first chapter of Luke. It is the Greek translation of the transliterated word YHWH, …
The God of the Impossible
Advent Day #5 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:36-37 Mary's conversation with the Angel Gabriel would have recalled the account of another barren woman …
The Name of Jesus
Advent Day #4 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 Jesus was a relatively common name in first-century Judea. Jesus was the Greek version of the Old Testament name, Jehoshua, or Joshua, as it was shortened …
The Virgin’s Son
Advent Day #3 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23 Isaiah, a prophet of God hundreds of years before the first Christmas, promised an ungodly king of Judah that a virgin would …
His Song in the Night 