Kara Hackert 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the word of God. It's Monday, November 28, and Sunday's coming - so is Christmas! This is Kara Heckert, and today our reading is from Luke 1, verses 26 through 28.
Kara Hackert 0:22
The birth of Jesus foretold. In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!
Kara Hackert 0:46
Our passage is entitled, "The birth of Jesus foretold." Foretold to Mary, the mother of Jesus. In these verses, we learn that she was a virgin, pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, who was from the line of King David. The prophet Isaiah foretold all of this years before. In Isaiah 7, verse 14, we read: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son. And we'll call him Emmanuel." And in Isaiah 9, verse 7: "There will be no limit to how great his authority is. The peace he brings will never end. He will rule on David's throne and over his kingdom. He will make the kingdom strong and secure. His rule will be based on what is right and fair. It will last forever. The Lord's great love will make sure that happens. He rules over all."
Kara Hackert 1:45
This is the coming of the Messiah. God's Son, born to Mary, whom the angel says is highly favored, who the Lord is with. He chose her and blessed her through his grace and love. The birth of Jesus was foretold. The people and his mother are waiting for their Messiah. We are waiting too. This is what the season of Advent is all about -waiting for the coming of Jesus. Oh come, oh come Emmanuel.
Kara Hackert 2:18
Let's pray together. Dear heavenly father, we thank you for sending your son to save us. Thank you for this Advent season - a time to wait and prepare for him. Please help us to slow down and focus on you and your gifts of hope, peace, joy and love. Thank you for these blessings. Amen.