The Christmas Story

Hey People!
Happy Christmas Eve!
You know my favorite thing about Christmas? The story! Like seriously the Christmas story is probably more commonly told than any other and it never gets old for me! My favorite personal tradition is reading the first two chapters of Luke throughout the season. I love all the building anticipation of Jesus coming, especially knowing that they were waiting for a savior for so long!
Today I just want to share a few moments from the lead up to Jesus birth.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. 

 (Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV Emphasis mine)

Isaiah was written like 700 years before Jesus was born and God was already telling people he was coming! And look at the depth of that passage, so much hope, so much peace that they knew Jesus would bring.

Part of me want's to copy and paste all of Luke 1 and 2 right here so you all have to read it but I won't. I'll just share a few excerpts but then you have to read it to yourself and pay attention! Okay? Even if you have read it like a hundred times before. It is so full of cool details and there are two song/poems that people just break into like in a musical or a Shakespeare play! I was going to share a verse from each but they just make way more sense all together and in their place in the story. Right now I'm just going to remind you of one more aspect.

 So depending on how well you know the whole story you might remember Zechariah. He and his wife

had a son when they both thought they were too old and that son was John the Baptist who

Zechariah described this way:

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
  for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
  in the forgiveness of their sins,
 
(Luke 1:76-77 ESV)

 John was a pretty important part of Jesus' ministry from the very beginning. Even before he was 

born he was confirming who Jesus was (but I'll let you read about that for yourself and maybe

 share more thoughts in a later post) 

Guys, I haven't even mentioned Joseph, or a star, or angles...! There is so much more to the Christmas story! 

Are you excited yet? 

Okay so go get your Bible or click this link, get a cup of hot cocoa or tea and read the Christmas story

and then comment and tell me what your favorite part is or what you noticed that you hadn't before. 

Merry Christmas!

-L.