There is much we don’t know about the early life of Jesus. After Jesus’ trip to the temple as a 12-year-old, we are told that He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people” (Luke 2:52). Luke’s Gospel account then fast-forwards to the baptism of Jesus as an adult. This was an important event in the life of the promised Messiah that is recorded in each...

The early ministry of John the Baptist is recorded in all four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This preacher whose dress, diet, and living conditions may have seemed eccentric to some, proclaimed the good news of One greater than himself: Jesus, the promised Messiah.  Two Old Testament passages tell us about John the Baptist, the first being Isaiah 40:3—a verse cited not only by the...

Jesus’ visit to the temple as a boy reveals His obedience to His Father and Christ’s desire to fulfill His plan for our salvation. Jesus continued to obey God’s will all the days of His life, even to the point of death on a cross. We read of Jesus’ oneness with His Father and the lengths Christ would endure to secure a right relationship with God for all who would trust in Him for salvation. Through Jesus’ perfect obedience, Christians can abide with our Father, here on earth...

The biblical story of the wise men’s visit highlights the worthiness of Jesus as Messiah. These men from the east traveled hundreds of miles to worship the young King.  We read in verse 2 that the wise men arrived in Jerusalem proclaiming a star’s rising and their mission to worship the King of the Jews. After being asked by King Herod where the Messiah would be born, the...

The story of Jesus’ dedication in the temple further reveals Him to be the expected Messiah—the chosen One promised to bring salvation to all who repent and believe. Here we discover that Simeon and Anna were patiently waiting for God’s Messiah to enter the world, and through their words, we learn that Jesus is worthy of worship and that He would usher in salvation and redemption for both the Israelites and the Gentiles.  We can also see a correlation between Simeon’s words and those of the Old...

Matthew and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ birth showcase God’s faithfulness in sending us His Son. Long before Mary and Joseph embarked on their journey to Bethlehem, God had already promised to redeem His creation through the long-awaited Savior. Now, God was ready to make good on His promise of salvation—in an unexpected setting, at a seemingly inopportune time, and through the most unlikely of people.  The earthly arrival of God in human form caught many by surprise. From Jesus’ virgin birth to His first...