“I am the Lord’s Servant,” Mary Answered. Key Passage: Luke 1:38 Focus verse: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38) The angel Gabriel has just delivered shocking news to Mary. It’s a lot for her to take in. It would be a lot for anyone. The […]
The Genealogy of Jesus Today’s Passage: Matthew 1:1–17 Focus Verse: This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) We’ve already talked about how John, Mark, and Luke open their biographies of Jesus. Now we’ll look at Matthew’s approach. Though it may seem strange to us […]
At the Temple Anna and Simeon Bless Jesus Today’s Passage: Luke 2:39 Focus Verse: They returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. (Luke 2:39) As we’ve covered, Mary and Joseph go to the temple in Jerusalem when Baby Jesus is eight days old. They do so to consecrate him to God as their […]
Mary Treasured These Things and Pondered Them in Her Heart Today’s Passage: Luke 2:19 Focus Verse: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19) Mary’s delivery had been a private experience. Now a bunch of strangers show up. They’re nearby shepherds who have left their sheep unattended to […]
Joseph and Pregnant Mary Travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem Today’s Passage: Luke 2:1–5 Focus Verse: Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. (Luke 2:4) As our journey toward Jesus’s birth unfolds, another complication arises. Caesar Augustus decrees that a census will take place […]
Elizabeth’s Unborn Child Leaps for Joy at the Sound of Mary’s Voice Today’s Passage: Luke 1:39–45 Focus Verse: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45) Not only will Mary have a baby, but her much older relative Elizabeth will have one too. Mary sets off […]
The Angel Gabriel Has Some Shocking News for Young Mary Today’s Passage: Luke 1:26–30 Focus Verse: “Greetings, you who are highly favored!” (Luke 1:28) Back to Luke’s narrative, our story switches from foretelling the birth of John the Baptist to foretelling the birth of Jesus. Just as the angel Gabriel gave exciting news to Zechariah […]
The Word was with God, and the Word was God. Today’s Passage: John 1:1–13 Focus Verse: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Let’s start at the beginning. Jesus’s story doesn’t open with his birth. It doesn’t begin at the announcement of his […]
The Magi Visit Jesus Today’s Passage: Matthew 2:1–2 Focus Verse: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2) Now let’s focus on the Magi who come to visit Jesus. Matthew is the only writer in Scripture who mentions them. First, we must dispel some common misconceptions that come to […]
Baby Jesus in the Temple Today’s Passage: Luke 2:21–24 Focus Verse: He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. (Luke 2:21) The shepherds arrived shortly after Jesus’s birth to see the child the angel had told them about. Our story picks up eight days later, when it’s time […]