You’re Invited! – Numbers – Preparation for the Promise

Posted on January 2, 2026 by dkoop

You’re invited to our new message series, “Numbers, Preparation for the Promise!”

Description: As God leads us on our faith journey from bondage to freedom, He prepares us or tests us along the way.  Each test reveals our attitudes, which can be dangerous or healthy.  Drawing from the experience of the Israelites who grumbled through the wilderness in the book of Numbers: this series will show how bad attitudes rob us of joy, blessings and are displeasing to God. Complaining, criticizing and coveting are not what our hearts were made for. They were made for thankfulness, contentment, and love. The book of Numbers is a great reminder to keep our eyes focused on Jesus; who’s with us in the wilderness! With Jesus, we can pass the tests of preparation as we await His promises.

 Dates                         Titles                          Scripture                              Events          

Jan. 4 – Avoid Complaining (Num. 10)

Jan. 11 – Avoid Coveting (Num. 11)

Jan. 18 – Avoid Criticizing (Num. 12)

Jan. 25 – Avoid Doubting (Num. 13)                                                       Communion

Feb. 1 – Avoid Rebelling (Num. 16)

Introduction to Numbers: 

Everyone knows the shrill whine of a young child—a slow, high-pitched complaint that grates on the eardrums and aggravates the soul. The tone of voice is difficult to bear, but the real irritation is the underlying cause—discontentment and disobedience. As the “children” of Israel journeyed from the foot of Mount Sinai to the land of Canaan, they grumbled, whined, and complained at every turn. They focused on their present discomforts. Faith had fled, and they added an extra 40 years to their trip.
Numbers, which records the tragic story of Israel’s unbelief, should serve as a dramatic lesson for all of God’s people. God loves us and wants the very best for us. He can and should be trusted. Numbers also gives a clear portrayal of God’s patience. Again and again he withholds judgment and preserves the nation. But his patience must not be taken for granted. His judgment will come. We must obey.
As Numbers begins, the nation of Israel was camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. The people had received God’s laws and were preparing to move. A census was taken to determine the number of men fit for military service. Next, the people were set apart for God. God was making the people, both spiritually and physically, ready to receive their inheritance.
But then the complaining began. First, the people complained about the food. Next, it was over Moses’ authority. God punished some people but spared the nation because of Moses’ prayers. The nation then arrived at Kadesh, and spies were sent into Canaan to assess its strength. Ten returned with fearful stories of giants. Only Caleb and Joshua encouraged the nation to “go at once to take the land” (13:30). The minority report fell on deaf ears full of the ominous message of the majority. Because of their unbelief, God declared that the present generation would not live to see the Promised Land. Thus the “wanderings” began. These wilderness wanderings featured a continuous pattern of grumbling, defiance, discipline, and death. How much better it would have been to have trusted God and entered his land! Then the terrible waiting began—waiting for the old generation to die off and waiting to see if the new generation could faithfully obey God.
Numbers ends as it begins, with preparation. This new generation of Israelites was numbered and sanctified. After defeating numerous armies, they settled on the east side of the Jordan River. Then they faced their greatest test: to cross the river and possess the beautiful land God had promised to them.
The lesson is clear. God’s people must trust him, moving ahead by faith if they are to claim his promised land.

Vital Statistics

Purpose: To tell the story of how Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, how they sinned and were punished, and how they prepared to try again

Author: Moses

Original Audience: The people of Israel

Date Written: 1450–1410 B.C.

Where Written: In the wilderness during Israel’s wanderings, somewhere in the Sinai peninsula

Setting: The vast desert of the Sinai region, as well as lands just south and east of Canaan

Key Verses: “Not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice. They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it” (14:22, 23).

Key People: Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Joshua, Caleb, Eleazar, Korah, Balaam

Key Places: Mount Sinai, Promised Land (Canaan), Kadesh, Mount Hor, plains of Moab

Outline

A. PREPARING FOR THE JOURNEY (1:1–10:10)
1. The first census of the nation
2. The role of the Levites
3. The purity of the camp
4. Receiving guidance for the journey
As part of their preparations, the Lord gave strict guidelines to the Israelites regarding purity in the camp. He wanted them to have a lifestyle distinct from the nations around them. He wanted them to be a holy people. Similarly, we should concern ourselves with purity in the church.

B. FIRST APPROACH TO THE PROMISED LAND (10:11–14:45)
1. The people complain
2. Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses
3. The scouts incite rebellion
The Israelites were prevented from entering the Promised Land because of their unbelief. Throughout history, God’s people have continued to struggle with lack of faith. We must prevent unbelief from gaining a foothold in our lives, for it will keep us from enjoying the blessings that God has promised.

C. WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS (15:1–21:35)
1. Additional regulations
2. Many leaders rebel against Moses
3. Duties of priests and Levites
4. The new generation
When the people complained against God and criticized Moses, they were severely punished. Over 14,000 people died as a result of rebellion against Moses. As a result of Korah’s rebellion, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and their households died, along with 250 false priests. Dissatisfaction and discontent, if allowed to remain in our lives, can easily lead to disaster. We should refrain from complaining and criticizing our leaders.

D. SECOND APPROACH TO THE PROMISED LAND (22:1–36:13)
1. The story of Balaam
2. The second census of the nation
3. Instructions concerning offerings
4. Vengeance on the Midianites
5. The Transjordan tribes
6. Camped on the plains of Moab
The Moabites and Midianites could not get Balaam to curse Israel, but they did get him to give advice on how to draw the Israelites to idol worship. Balaam knew what was right, but he gave in to the temptation of material rewards and sinned. Knowing what is right alone is never enough. We must also do what is right.

Main Ideas: 

Census – Moses counted the Israelites twice, hence the title “Numbers.” The first census organized the people into marching units to better defend themselves. The second prepared them to conquer the country east of the Jordan River.
People have to be organized, trained, and led to be effective in great movements. It is always wise to count the cost before setting out on some great undertaking. When we are aware of the obstacles before us, we can more easily avoid them. In God’s work, we must remove barriers in our relationships with others so that our effectiveness is not diminished.

Rebellion – At Kadesh, 12 scouts were sent out into the land of Canaan to report on the fortifications of the enemies. When the scouts returned, 10 said that they should give up and go back to Egypt. As a result, the people refused to enter the land. Faced with a choice, Israel rebelled against God. Rebellion did not start with an uprising, but with griping and murmuring against Moses and God.
Rebellion against God is always a serious matter. It is not something to take lightly, for God’s punishment for sin is often very severe. Our rebellion does not usually begin with all-out warfare, but in subtle ways—with griping and criticizing. Make sure your negative comments are not the product of a rebellious spirit.

Wandering – Because they rebelled, the Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness. This shows how severely God can punish sin. Forty years was enough time for all those who held on to Egypt’s customs and values to die off. It gave time to train up a new generation in the ways of God.
God judges sin harshly because he is holy. The wanderings in the wilderness demonstrate how serious God considers flagrant disobedience of his commands. Purging our lives of sin is vital to God’s purpose.

Canaan – Canaan is the Promised Land. It was the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the land of the covenant. Canaan was to be the dwelling place of God’s people, those set apart for true spiritual worship.
Although God’s punishment for sin is often severe, he offers reconciliation and hope—his love is truly amazing. Just as God’s love and law led Israel to the Promised Land, God desires to give purpose and destiny to our lives.

Source: Life Application Bible Notes (Tyndale, 2007), 199–202.

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Hope for the Future – Luke 2:21-35

Posted on December 30, 2025 by dkoop

Just as the story of John the Baptist’s birth began in the temple (1:5-25), so the story of Jesus’ birth culminates in the temple. In obedience to the dictates of Jewish law, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to God (see Exodus 13:2-16) and offered a sacrifice for the ritual purification of Mary (see Leviticus 12:2-6).

In the temple, Simeon approached Jesus and delivered a prophecy, describing Jesus as “the Savior” (2:30 nlt). Anna joined in, praising God for the baby Jesus. Their testimony confirmed at least seven different prophecies surrounding Jesus’ birth (1:17, 31-33, 42-45, 68-76; 2:10-14, 28-32, 38). These prophecies, one after another, proclaim Jesus their Savior, Deliverer, and Lord. Like Anna, believers should join their voices with these witnesses, praising God for providing salvation through his beloved Son, Jesus.

2:21-24 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.“NRSV To understand these times and ceremonies, it will help to understand the background. Jewish families went through several ceremonies soon after a baby’s birth:

  1. Circumcision. Every Jewish boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day after birth (Leviticus 12:3; Luke 1:59-60). Circumcision symbolized the Jews’ separation from Gentiles and their unique relationship with God (Genesis 17:9-14). So after eight days had passed, Mary and Joseph took the child to be circumcised. They named him Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb (1:31). They did not go to Jerusalem for this ceremony; instead, a local priest most likely performed it.
  2. Redemption of the firstborn. A firstborn son was presented to God one month after birth (Exodus 13:2, 11-16; Numbers 18:15-16). The ceremony included buying back—”redeeming”—the child from God through an offering. Through this, the parents would acknowledge that the child belonged to God, who alone has the power to give life. Luke explained for his Gentile audience that this command came from the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord” as taken from Exodus 13:2, 12, 15 and Numbers 18:15. So Mary and Joseph brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
  3. Purification of the mother. For forty days after the birth of a son and eighty days after the birth of a daughter, the mother was ceremonially unclean and could not enter the temple. So when the time came for their purification, that is, at the end of Mary’s time of separation, they went to the temple to present Jesus to the Lord (#2 above) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law (as part of #3). Mary and Joseph were to bring an offering—a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. The priest would sacrifice these animals and declare the woman to be clean. If a lamb was too expensive, the parents could bring a second dove or pigeon instead. This is what Mary and Joseph did.

2:25-26 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.NRSV Luke introduced another person who would be divinely told of the Messiah’s arrival and who would confirm the baby’s identity. His name is Simeon. He was spiritually in tune with God: righteous, devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, with the Holy Spirit resting on him. His occupation is unknown. He had all his life held on to God’s promise of a coming deliverer, so through the Holy Spirit, God promised that Simeon would not die before seeing the Lord’s Messiah. The “consolation of Israel” was another way of describing the Messiah. See Anna’s prophecy in 2:38 where the faithful are called those waiting for “the redemption of Jerusalem.” “Consolation” refers to the restoration of Israel as a nation; the word comes from Isaiah 40:1; 49:13; 51:3; 57:18; 66:10-11. Simeon, a righteous, devout, and Spirit-filled man who hoped in the future God had promised, stands forever in Scripture as a model of devotion and faithfulness to God.

 LIFE APPLICATION – SIMEON’S HOPE
Simeon was old and had much to ponder. No doubt he had disappointments in his life to worry over, much to bemoan, lots to regret. Rather than dwelling on life’s rough ride, Simeon, even in old age, looked to God’s future with brightness and hope. Simeon’s secret was in his worship and expectation for God. Worship and praise were natural to him; they were the center of his life.
Nothing is so bleak as a day without tomorrow. With God, however, every day has hope and good cheer. Neither old age nor grim circumstances should keep you from God’s comfort, sufficient for your needs today. Take Simeon’s example and look ahead to God’s great plan for you and the world.

2:27-32 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”NIV When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord (2:22), Simeon also went into the temple courts, having been moved by the Spirit to be there on this particular day. God was ordaining this meeting, in keeping with his promise to Simeon (2:26).

Mary and Joseph arrived in the temple to do for [Jesus] what the custom of the Law required. This obedience to the Old Testament law is mentioned several times in Luke. It points out Jesus’ credentials as one who obeyed the law, even from birth, because his parents did exactly as they were commanded. At the temple, Mary and Joseph met an old man who took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God. The Spirit led Simeon to recognize this baby as the “consolation of Israel . . . the Lord’s Messiah” (2:25-26).

Simeon’s song is often called the “Nunc Dimittis,” the first words of its Latin translation. Simeon praised God that he had done what he promised and could dismiss your servant (meaning himself) in peace. In other words, Simeon was now ready to die in peace because he had seen God’s salvation. To see Jesus is to see salvation. This salvation has been prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Jesus Christ is the fullest manifestation of God’s “glory” that his people had ever seen. Luke, writing to Gentiles, pointed out that from the very beginning God’s plan was to offer salvation to Gentiles as well as to Jews. The mission to the Gentiles is a key theme in Luke and Acts. Even the prophets had predicted this (see, for example, Isaiah 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; 60:1-2). The Jews were well acquainted with the Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the Messiah’s blessings to their nation. They did not always give equal attention to the prophecies saying that he would bring salvation to the entire world, not just the Jews.

Many thought that Christ had come to save only his own people. Luke made sure his Greek audience understood that Jesus had come to save all who believe, Gentiles as well as Jews. If you want to know what God has to say to you, see what Christ was and is.

C. H. Spurgeon

 

 

LIFE APPLICATION – JESUS THE LIGHT
Simeon referred to Jesus as “a light for revelation.” Few metaphors capture Jesus’ mission as well. Light makes the stillness come alive; light settles fear; light reveals mystery; light enables relationships. Jesus is God in the flesh, eternal light breaking into a spiritually dark world.
Jesus is your light. He is not a distant sun, remote and driven by physics’ laws. Jesus is the light of your life—your courage, your enabler. Start each day by turning on the light—a moment of meditation on God’s Word, a prayer of dedication to live for God all day.

2:33-35 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.“NIV Here Joseph and Mary are called the child’s father and mother, which they were, although Joseph was not technically the father (as the genealogy in chapter 3 will clarify, and as the reader already knows). They marveled (were amazed) that this stranger in the temple recognized their small son and prophesied his coming as a light to all nations, not just the Jews. Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph and then prophesied that Jesus would have a paradoxical effect on Israel. He would bring light and salvation, but his coming could also cause division. Some would “fall” because of him (see Isaiah 8:14-15), while others would “rise” (see Malachi 4:2). There would not be overwhelming acceptance of the promised Messiah—in fact, many would not recognize him and would reject him altogether. With Jesus, there would be no neutral ground: people would either joyfully accept him or totally reject him. He would indeed be a sign, but he would be spoken against by many, thus revealing what was inside many people’s hearts. This would have surprised and saddened Mary. Simeon told Mary that a sword would pierce her soul. As Jesus’ mother, Mary would be grieved by the widespread rejection he would face; she would experience great pain when he died. Although she could not have known it and Simeon had only a hint of it, Mary would be the only person on earth who would witness both his birth and his death. He was God’s Son, but she would always be his mother and she would love him as dearly as any mother loves a son. The sorrow and horror he would face would affect her deeply.

 LIFE APPLICATION – OLDER AND WISER
Although Simeon and Anna were very old, they had never lost their hope that they would see the Messiah. Led by the Holy Spirit, they were among the first to bear witness to Jesus. In the Jewish culture, elders were respected; thus, because of Simeon’s and Anna’s age, their prophecies carried extra weight. Contemporary society values youthfulness over wisdom, and potential contributions by the elderly are often ignored. Christians should reverse those values wherever they can. Encourage older people to share their wisdom and experience. Listen carefully when they speak. Offer them your friendship and help them find ways to continue to serve God.

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Source: Bruce B. Barton, Dave Veerman, Linda K. Taylor, Life Application Bible Commentary – Luke, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1997), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 48-36.

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Hope is Born – Luke 2:1-8

Posted on December 25, 2025 by dkoop

Christmas is not all sugar plums, ho, ho, ho, and fa- la- la- la- la.

In this season of joy & merriment, more people will be lonely than at any other time of the year, more people will be depressed than at any other time of the year.  More alcohol will be consumed during December than during any other month of the year. More people will take their own lives than any other time of the year.  At Christmas there is good, there is bad and there are blessings.  We see that the very first Christmas, Mary had inconvenience and discomfort she was with out the comfort of home and couldn’t find lodging and had to give birth in a stable, but there was a blessing behind all that and other blessings as well.

Let’s dive into our text.

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.

In Mary’ day she was just an insignificant peasant girl, a lowly Roman subject with no rights. That who she was then, we know she was much more in God’s eyes but that was the way the world at that time viewed her.   In this post, we look at her and the birth of Jesus.

Luke tells the story for us, and he does a nice job of setting the stage—the whole stage—for the story.    He starts with the headline of the day: “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.”
If there had been newspapers in the ancient Mediterranean world, this would have been the front-page headline on every one of them.  In Athens, Ephesus, Damascus, Alexandria, and Jerusalem alike; the big news was this decree from the Roman emperor.   It would have been the lead story on every news broadcast and the hot topic of every roundtable discussion. It set people in motion all over the Empire, including a certain couple from Nazareth who were pledged to be married.

See how Luke begins to set the stage…Rome…not a manger, is at the center of the stage.  The Roman Emperor, not a baby, is the star of the show—or at least the character with the top billing at the start. And the prospect of some Empire-wide tax, not some anonymous birth, is the headline.
The most insignificant things swallow up the most significant thing.  I believe it was Mark Twain who said, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” As a historian, Luke identified the time period of Jesus’ birth by naming the Roman emperor and the local governor. The contrast between Jesus, the divine King of kings, and Caesar Augustus, the first Roman emperor, would have been striking to Luke’s first readers.

Caesar Augustus would have been on the lips of every Jew who lived in Israel and the lips of every one in the Roman Empire.  He controlled the known world.

Let me tell you about him. “Octavian (or Augustus, as he was called after 27 B.C.) was the grand nephew of Julius Caesar. (His grandmother, Julia, was the sister of Julius Caesar; his mother, Atia, was Caesar’s niece.) After Julius Caesar’s assassination on the Ides of March, 44 B.C., Octavian, then only eighteen years old, was adopted as Caesar’s son by the terms of his will. This meant that Octavian inherited much of his great-uncle’s wealth as well as his prestige and power.  During the following thirteen years (from 44 to 31 B.C.) Octavian avenged the murder of his “father” and cemented his control of Rome. This culminated in the Battle of Actium (31 B.C.) at which his forces defeated those of Cleopatra and Marc Antony. In 27 B.C. Octavian, who had been renamed Augustus (meaning “reverend”) by the Roman Senate, was the first Roman emperor, ruling all of the vast Roman Empire under his sole authority.  Augustus also had the longest reign of any Roman emperor, a term of 44 years. He reigned from 27 b.c. to a.d. 14.   Caesar Augustus was one of the greatest of all Roman rulers. The month of August was named after him—to honor him. Augustus is the emperor who began the worldwide “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace).   He was a good administrator and was fastidious about the financial accounting of his empire. Augustus ended the civil war in the land and brought peace and prosperity throughout the Empire.”  Sources: www.vroma.org and www.encyclopedia.com

In the Roman Empire they worshipped their emperors as deity and burned incense to them.

He was the bigwig in the entire world.  There was no mistaking this as the Romans controlled the world and had his image everywhere:  in statues, on their patriotic banners and flags, on their military armor and shields.  And on most every coins the Jewish people had to use.

A Roman census (registration) was taken to aid military conscription or tax collection. The Jews didn’t have to serve in the Roman army, but they could not avoid paying taxes.

These people Caesar Augustus, Quirinius, this official decree, the census, these were significant people, significant events.  If you ask anyone in the streets who Caesar was  “oh, he makes me sick! We have to go to register we have to pay these taxes!”

Then there was this peasant couple who have to find shelter in this animal pen in Bethlehem. How insignificant! They have this baby.  Who cares? And have to put him in a feeding trough.  Now everybody’s talking about Caesar, Quirinius, taxation, official decrees.  Now we live in 2005, 2005 years from what event?  This event. The taxation? No. The decree? Caesar? No its the event of this baby born in Bethlehem. When we look back what seems insignificant now? Quirinius who was he, Augustus?  Who is he?  These are just details, what is significant now Jesus or even Mary.   The point is 2000 years ago it was just the opposite. What was important back then was the bigwigs, the taxes, the empire, the travel and registration.  Who cares about a baby being born, Caesar is expanding his empire we have to pay taxes.

The most significant events were swallowed up by the insignificant events.  What a contrast: Caesar, a baby, Rome the capital of the world and Bethlehem a cow town.  Caesar is sleeping on fine linens in a palace, being waited on by servants and guards, pampered surrounded by splendor while the King of Kings is in a feed trough with smelly animals and the stench of urine.  What a contrast!  See how the insignificant swallowed up the significant.

There was prophecy given oh 8 centuries before this event given in Micah 5:2 let me read it for you, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Centuries before Caesar met with the Senate or his royal advisers and said, “lets tax everyone, lets issue a decree issuing a census!”  God orchestrated these events that would bring Joseph and Mary from Nazareth 80 miles down to Podunk Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.  This bigwig, Caesar thought he was in control, he was only God’s pawn, a puppet, God’s errand boy for the Prophet Micah to fulfill his will in his perfect timing!

Some things never change.  The insignificant swallows up the significant every Christmas, people say, “hey don’t forget its Jesus birthday”  “he’s the reason for the season!” but we all get caught up in the commercialization of Christmas.  Jesus is swallowed up by Elmo or cabbage patch dolls or the latest fad that will be in tomorrow’s garage sale.  This may sound bad, but I wish this only happened at Christmas.  The truth is every Sunday the insignificant swallows up the significant.  Work, hobbies, idols, and insignificant things swallow up Jesus and his kingdom.  Instead of reaching people for Christ we reach for more entertainment or comfort.  Like Caesar there is a lot of personal kingdom building.  We focus much time and energy on what will not mean a hill of beans later.

To give your income that more people can be reached for the gospel instead of buying more stuff and gadgets may not be popular in the world’s eyes.  But it will be what lasts in all eternity.  This is what Christmas reminds me that the big wigs come and go, the latest fad dies, but Jesus and anything done for his kingdom remains forever and ever.

4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.

Luke goes on to tell how the decree from Caesar Augustus prompted Joseph to travel from Nazareth, where he lived, to Bethlehem, which was where he grew up.  A traditional nativity scene puts the manger in Bethlehem in the middle. Luke’s account reminds us, however, that Bethlehem was not only far from the center of the world’s stage, it wasn’t even at the center of Joseph’s stage. His home was Nazareth, and going to Bethlehem was going out of his way.

The government forced Joseph and Mary to make a long trip just to pay his taxes. His fiancée, who had to go with him, was pregnant and near delivery, and made the long journey back to Bethlehem. It is evident that as thousands of people were traveling for the same reason there was no room for them when they arrived. We have had a reminder of what this must have been like, the lines of cars coming out of Houston before hurricane Rita hit. Thousands of people were moving along, driving, walking, and sleeping on the side of the road. People everywhere told stories about how there was no room for them when they looked for a hotel. After a week of walking and riding, Joseph and Mary experienced the same thing.

So when they arrived in Bethlehem, they hear the bad news, “I’m sorry, the motel is full…
but you’re welcome to stay in the tool shed!”   This couple and this birth were not even a big fish in the small pond of Bethlehem.

Zig Ziglar tells about his brother who was traveling & came to a hotel & asked for a room for the night. The manager told him that they were fully booked & there were no rooms available.

Ziglar’s brother said, “Now be honest with me. If the President of the United States walked through that door just now & requested a room, would you have a place for Him to stay?” The manager replied, “Well, if the President needed a room, we’d find one for him.” Ziglar’s brother said, “That’s great. I know for a fact that he’s not coming, so I’ll take his room.”

If Mary & Joseph had been more influential, perhaps there would have been a room for them, too. But they were just common people, peasants, carpenters, laboring folks – & they had no place to stay.

Doing God’s will often takes people out of their comfort zones. Those who do God’s will are not guaranteed comfortable lives. But they are promised that everything, even their discomfort, has meaning in God’s plan. 

The Romans ruled the civilized world at this time. By contrast, Mary controlled very little. Against their better judgment and political convictions Joseph and Mary complied with the Roman order and traveled to Bethlehem. Often people feel like Mary, caught by forces larger than they are.  The Romans were in control insofar as human authority can get its way by exerting human power. But the Romans did not recognize their limitations. In reality, God controls the world. In all times and places, he works his will. God did not seem soften Mary’s bumpy road, but did strengthen her. God is in charge of your life too. He will guide you and provide all you need. Like Mary, live each day by faith, trusting that God is in charge.

 But the inconvenience continues!  One thing I’ve noticed is that babies never seem to be born at convenient times.  For both of our children, Niki wanted them born early or at least on the due date but no, they were on a different timetable.  They are not born when you say, “ok now” Babies are never born then, are they? They always wait until you’re asleep & don’t want to get up or in a car or elevator. Or they wait until you have something more pressing to do. Then they decide to make their entrance into the world. They almost always come at a most inconvenient time.   Even Jesus did. “It’s not a good time to be born, Lord. There’s no room in the inn. There’s no hospital bed. It’s not a convenient time.” But babies seem to have an ability to select those inconvenient times.  Even though they are inconvenient they are also so rewarding.

 The same is true of serving, giving and our commitment to Christ it may not be convenient to go to church to serve, or give but it is rewarding in the end.  There are times when I don’t feel like going to my small group but afterwards I am always glad I did.  The hardest things are inconvenient but most rewarding.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

 And while they were there indicates they were there for an undetermined number of days huddled on the floor of the animal shelter among the camel’s donkey’s and their feeding troughs.  It was a drab place that offered no birthing amenities such as the help of doctors and nurses or even the presence of her mother.  In those days, women giving birth had much support from her family and community even a midwife to assist.  Any normal young mother would like to have her mother present, but Mary had the assistance and reassurance of her new husband.

She gives birth there in the animal shelter, just think of all the maternity wards you have seen or been to with masks, rubber gloves and sterile equipment.  Think of how un-sterile, how filthy, how uncomfortable it must have been.  She gives birth to  “her first child” the Greek word is not “monogenes” or only begotten but “protokon” or first born meaning there were others, the bible does say that Mary had other children. (Matt. 12:46,Matt. 13:55 lists his brother’s names: James, Joseph, Simon and Judas, and says he had sisters, also Mark 3:31, Luke 8:19, and John 7:3)

 She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth in some translations it says, “swaddling clothes.”  “The ancient custom was to wrap the arms, legs and body of the baby with long strips of cloth to provide warmth and security.  Parents in those days also believed that wrapping the child helped his or her bones to grow straight. God did not provide Him with royal robes or fancy clothing.  John MacArthur God in the Manger

and laid him in a manger,  This is a feed trough.

When Jesus entered the world came through the smelliest, filthiest and most uncomfortable conditions.  How many of you have been to the San Antonio stock show? Or Houston Stock show?  How many of you went inside to where the animals were housed?  Do you remember the smell of urine? The smell of feed?  The smell of the animal?  This was the first breathes our Lord!

But that is just like Jesus, it says, “he humbled himself” (Phil 2:5) that is divine grace.  He did not only humble himself and be born in a smelly stable but humbled himself as a substitute for unclean sinners and bore the stench of our guilt upon the cross.  Here is the thing:  Mary was there very uncomfortable at the manger; Mary was there very uncomfortable at the foot of the cross.  Sometimes we will be uncomfortable as we follow Christ, as we serve him, this is what we see.

19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

The birth of Christ gives us a glimpse of what Jesus is like and what Jesus continues to do. Jesus didn’t come marching in through the front door, flexing His muscles, and demanding the spotlight. He could have, but He didn’t. A movie star has his or her entourage. A sports team runs onto the court or field with fanfare, cheers, and applause. A big-name performer gets a standing ovation. And the President, Prime Minister, and Queen are all welcomed by bands, red carpets, and protocol.  But the King of the Universe arrived in strips of cloth, mostly ignored by the world He had created.

And still, today, the Lord does not barge or force His way into our lives. Instead, He stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to welcome Him in.  Have we welcomed Him in?
Take a good look at a beautiful nativity scene: Joseph and Mary, the  stable, and a manger.
Let it remind you:

2,000 years ago the Lord worked in and used the lives of insignificant and common people (Mary & Joseph)
That’s good news for you and me, because this assures us that He will willingly works in and uses our lives as well.
2,000 years ago, God came into a place (Bethlehem) that seemed small and unimportant. I’m glad to hear that, because Leander and Jarrell are small and unimportant.
2,000 years ago, He came into a place that was dirty and unworthy of Him. (A manger)
And that’s good news for me, because my heart is dirty and unworthy, yet God is willing to come in and reside there…cleaning it up…changing the furniture around…making all things new!
We have a savior who could come bursting in, but does not.  A savior who comes in gently and unassumingly, perhaps even unnoticed at first. We have a savior who, bit by gracious bit, moves into the spotlight of our lives. He moves toward the center of our stage. And the savior, who comes into your life and mine backstage, by His mercy, becomes the star of our show. We praise you and welcome you Lord Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

Darrell

www.Upwards.Church

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Hope in Uncertainty – Luke 1:39-49

Posted on December 24, 2025 by dkoop

God knows that situations I will face in life will be difficult and often mind-boggling.  I can see even from Mary’s life that I am not alone in my circumstances.  I do not have to be strong enough.  I do not have to be wise enough.  I do not need to figure it all out.  God gives me the help I need.

Mary responded to Gabriel’s announcement with faith – yet God knew that there would probably come a million questions and doubts once she didn’t have an angel standing in front of her. Who, in the entire world, could this young teenage girl go to?  Who could understand?

Trying to explain a private angelic visit and an immaculate pregnancy even to her parents and Joseph or anyone in the small community of Nazareth would not have been a wise move.
Who would believe her when she told them? What would she do?  That’s when she thought, “Elizabeth! Of course!”  Who in the entire world could possibly accept Mary’s crazy story better than Elizabeth – who had a crazy story of her own.
With the amazing news from the angel that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived and was already 6 months pregnant when she was way past childbearing age, Mary knew instinctively that was where she was to go.

LIKE MARY I HAVE….

  • Hope From People Who Have Shared A Similar Experience

 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,

 We see that Mary is the type of woman who puts her faith into action. She not only says, “Lord, I am your servant”, but she also “hurries” to see God at work in the life of her relative Elizabeth. The journey to Judea that Mary undertook was not a simple drive to the next town; it was a difficult journey that would have taken at least three days at that time. Mary did not let that stop her from going to Elizabeth, rejoicing with her, and praising the Lord for fulfilling his promises.  *Next time you give an excuse like, it’s kind of far, or it’s not really convenient to go to my small group just think of Mary’ journey and time commitment.

 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

 Mary needed somebody who knew about miracles.  How many times during her journey do you think Mary practiced how she would tell Elizabeth what had happened?  As Mary had rushed off to visit her relative, she must have been wondering whether the events of the last few days were real. Elizabeth’s greeting surely strengthened her faith. Mary’s pregnancy may have seemed impossible, but her wise relative believed in the Lord’s faithfulness and rejoiced in Mary’s condition.   Imagine what it meant to Mary when Elizabeth knew that her pregnancy was real and that she was carrying the Lord in her womb! Elizabeth affirmed that what Mary had experienced was true! Elizabeth saw with the eyes of faith – and affirmed the work of God in Mary.

It’s interesting to me, that while John prepared the way for Jesus, in a real sense, Elizabeth prepared the way for Mary. Elizabeth had her own crazy and miraculous pregnancy, and so wasn’t at all skeptical of Mary’s.

In her years of barrenness, she had already experienced the disgrace and rejection of the community that Mary was likely to face when word got out. But Elizabeth had paved the way.   All her life, God had prepared her, not only to be John’s mother, but to be the example of maturity and faithfulness that Mary needed for the enormous task ahead of her.

Elizabeth extended love, acceptance, hospitality, hope and faith to a young girl in need of every bit she could offer.

The truth is this, even though Mary had a very strange circumstance, God still provided someone who had a similar circumstance for her to relate to.  What you are going through right now, is NOT unique to you, I guarantee, there is someone or several who have already gone through the same situation and they are willing to hug you, listen to you and give you encouragement.  It happens all the time in small groups.  We think we are alone in our problems only to find that someone else has been there.  Our church has small groups for this reason:  to provide you someone who will say, “Lean on Me”. But you will never have that if you do not go.  You cannot build that in one or two visits.  It takes time to build trust and friendship and relationships that matter, but get started now!  Before you find yourself in need of some encouragement but you do not know where to turn.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

 Movement of a baby in its mother’s womb is certainly not abnormal in fact it’s probably one of the most exciting things to feel the baby moving before he or she is born. Almost every parent knows what it’s like to place his or her hand on the mother’s abdomen and feel the kicking and moving of the infant in the womb.   Sensing the baby’s movements is thrilling because that action indicates a new person is on the way.  But the movement of Elizabeth’s baby was far more significant than that of a normal fetus in a mother’s womb. That’s because this fetus was a prophet, and not just any prophet but the prophet who would be a forerunner for the Messiah.  His special leap was John’s first proclamation, a silent prophecy in his earliest role as prophet.  God in effect used the unborn John to make an enthusiastic prophecy of support for the coming Messiah.  God can even use the activity inside a mother’s womb to preview his plans.   Would Gabriel’s news to Mary come true? By this point in her visit to Elizabeth, an affirmative answer was coming into clearer focus.  First the testimony or encouragement of the six-month pregnant Elizabeth gave Mary confirmation of what she needed to hear.  Next came God’s miraculous evidence through the fetus leaping at the sound of Mary’s voice.  A coincidence?

  • Encouragement From People Who Care

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

There are two different words in this passage that are often translated “blessed”.

In verse 42, Elizabeth tells Mary:  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!”  The word here is “eulogeo” – and you may be able to hear an English word in there: eulogy.  For us, a eulogy is a term usually reserved for funerals, but it is the time when we talk about the person’s life from as positive a perspective as possible. This isn’t the time to say, “And he never did pay me that 50 bucks he owed me, the cheapskate!” It may be true, but that’s just not what you say in a eulogy!   The word “eulogeo” is not reserved just for funerals — it means “to praise, or to speak well of, to honor.” So Elizabeth is saying, “You and that baby are just going to be the most honored people on the planet.”    In ancient Jewish culture a woman’s greatness was based on the greatness of the children she bore.  Elizabeth was telling Mary was the most blessed because she was going to give birth to the greatest child ever, the Lord Jesus.  That may not have been what this unwed pregnant teenager was feeling that moment especially after a 3 or 4 day trek through the hills of Judea.

Eventually Elizabeth’s words would come true, but they probably didn’t feel true for Mary at that moment.

The other word for blessed is used in verse 45, where Elizabeth says, 45 “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”  This time Luke doesn’t use “eulogeo”. He uses a word that has less to do with the words and opinions of others and more to do with being favored by God, and having the heart and attitude of one who knows that favor.

I think it indicates a lasting joy regardless of circumstances. Elizabeth is saying, “Mary, when you grab hold of God’s promises and believe them, there is a joy that is going to sustain you through this!”   Elizabeth was not speaking abstractly, but on the basis of her own experience. She’s saying, “Oh honey! I know how you may feel. I know there’s gonna’ be hard times. But when you trust Him, when you take God at His word, when you cast all your cares on Him, you’re gonna have JOY!  I’m not telling you tales, Mary, ‘cause I’ve experienced it. And you can take that to the bank.”

Again in our small groups and serving areas you will find encouragement that will be like food when you are starving, water when you are parched.   If you are not receiving encouragement then you need to go somewhere where you will.  Work may not provide it, your family will not provide it, but God has it for you. It could be a small group or a ministry.  Get plugged in somewhere and it will come.

We can see that Mary also had…

  • Comfort From A Relationship With God

 Elizabeth’s joyous affirming and encouragement to Mary released the song from Mary’s heart that has become known as “The Magnificat” from the opening words in Latin, “Magnificat anima mea Dominum,”—“My heart magnifies the Lord.”

This helps us to understand what kind of person Mary was. She truly was a special person who had a relationship with God.  She loved the Lord for he had done great things for her. She understood that she did not deserve this special privilege of being the mother of the Messiah, for she said, “He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” (Luke 1:48)

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

She says, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”   She had been faithful in her obedience and love for God, but still she needed a Savior. The Roman Catholic Church talks about the “immaculate conception,” and by that they are not talking about the birth of Christ, but rather the birth of Mary. They believe that she was born without original sin. They also believe that she lived a sinless life. And while we respect our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, we believe that Mary needed a Savior like the rest of us. She did not say, “My spirit rejoices in God the Savior;” she said, “God, my Savior.” Sinless people do not need a Savior. And in spite of the fact she was just like the rest of us, God not only became her Savior, but bestowed on her the unparalleled privilege of being the one who would bring God’s Son into the world. He would not just be her Savior, but the Savior of the world. He would bring forgiveness to the human family.

Her song continues from verse 46-55 and is made up of images and references to Scriptures from Genesis, from Job, from the Psalms, and from Isaiah and highlights how steeped her thinking was in the Word of God.   Mary’s psalm of praise reveals a repeated use of the terminology and theology of the Old Testament. Virtually every commentator agrees that Mary’s song is dripping with Old Testament allusions and references.  She is quite the theologian. She really knows her scriptures.  Some may question how a simple peasant-girl may have such a grasp of the Old Testament. All Israelites from their childhood days knew by heart much of the Old Testament.  Mary was steeped in the poetical literature of her nation, and accordingly her song also bears the unmistakable signs of it.

Now the Pharisees and Sadducees were also steeped in the study of the Scriptures but Jesus later pointed out that though they studied the Scriptures that spoke about Him they refused to come to Him – instead they rejected and killed the very One they claimed to love and follow.  It reminds us that it is altogether possible to study the scriptures purely as an academic exercise as one might any other book of literature or history and completely miss the heart of the message.

Mary studied the Scriptures as a lover would passionately memorize and consume the letters from her beloved – they not only stimulated her thinking but also transformed her heart and mind and soul.   She had comfort from her relationship with God.

This song of Mary celebrates her relationship with God – it is worship.  Worship takes the attention off of us and focuses it on God – on His might, on His power, on His mercy and grace. And that environment is perfect for strengthening and deepening faith – because faith keeps its vision focused on the word and promises of God and not on the surrounding or prevailing circumstances.

We see in verse 56 that Mary stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months.  Because travel was not easy, long visits were customary. Mary must have been a great help to Elizabeth, who was experiencing the discomforts of being pregnant in her old age. In addition, Elizabeth certainly helped Mary. During these three months, Mary surely discussed with Elizabeth how to handle what would be an extremely difficult social predicament. She would have to return home and explain her pregnancy to her family and her fiancé. Hopefully, when Mary went back to her own home, three months pregnant, she was even more strengthened in her faith by Elizabeth’s faith ready to face all that the future would hold.

Like Mary, you too can have hope in uncertainty.

Darrell

www.Upwards.Church

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