“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

I’ve never been great at memorizing scriptures, but John 1 is the exception. There is something so poetic and beautiful about the imagery that John gives us for the Son of God. The Word is both amorphous and completely present. This Word is completely united with the God of the Hebrew Bible and yet entirely new. The Word is the true light to which we can see all things and yet not understood at all by the people who encounter it. This is the Messiah, the one true God, who came to be with-us, Immanuel.

-Michaela Eskew

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“Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,” Matthew 1:20 

I understand completely why Joseph would have been afraid to take Mary as his wife. He is a righteous man, meaning he wants to do what God wants him to do. How do you know what God wants you to do? You read the Bible, you listen to your leaders, you uphold the standards set by your community. But now Joseph is in this quandary. It seems whatever action he takes will be wrong. Sometimes, doing the right thing isn’t obvious. Sometimes, doing the right thing is considered wrong by others. God intervenes for Joseph and gives him guidance and permission and he obeyed. What can we learn from Joseph’s brave obedience? 

-Pastor Travis

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“The Jesus began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent” Matthew 11:20

Oh Advent, you’ve done it again. Instead of sweet baby Jesus drifting off to sleep under the star of Bethlehem we get fiery Jesus warning unrepentant people of judgement and condemnation. I think we need these passages of scripture that reveal a harsher Jesus, so that we know for whom it is we are waiting. Jesus is not some milk toast preacher who goes along to get along. He’s not someone that we can mold into any shape of affirmation for ourselves. Jesus is himself. Jesus’ main message was the same as that of the surly John the Baptist. Repent! Turn around. Change your ways. Change your orientation. Change your defaults. Turn away from yourself and your sin and turn towards God revealed in Christ. That is how we prepare for the return of Jesus. It’s always a good idea to get to know the person you’re preparing to receive. Otherwise you might be surprised by the One who actually shows up.

-Pastor Travis

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