Mary reflects on the transformation of the stable, once a place of cold fear, now filled with the warmth and sounds of her baby, Jesus. It has been three months since the shepherds, who first anointed Jesus with their awe, visited them. Forty days after Jesus' birth, Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for her purification and Jesus' presentation, offering sacrifices as per Jewish tradition, symbolizing atonement and purification. In the Temple, they encountered Simeon and Anna, who recognized Jesus' significance and prophesied about him.
Joseph shares his perspective, feeling a mix of awe and uncertainty as he navigates his role in this divine narrative. Despite his doubts, Joseph finds strength and assurance in the responsibility entrusted to him.
Later, as word spreads about Jesus, the Magi arrive, bringing gifts that symbolize Jesus' kingship, divine nature, and the suffering he would endure. Despite the opulence of the gifts and the grandeur of the Magi, Mary and Joseph remain grounded in the humble reality of their situation, understanding the profound significance of their child, who is a beacon of hope and promise not just for them but for the world.
The death of Jezebel, the infamous queen of Israel, occurred during the reign of Jehu, who had been anointed by God to execute judgment...
Zechariah, a post-exilic prophet during the reign of Darius the Great around 520 BC, played a pivotal role in the spiritual and physical restoration...
What happens in the 400 years between Malachi and Matthew? We fill in some of that history as we pivot from the Old Testament...
