Matthew 2:1-2 (The Message)After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory –
this was during Herod’s kingship – a band of scholars arrived
in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around,
“Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews?
We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth.
We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
this was during Herod’s kingship – a band of scholars arrived
in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around,
“Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews?
We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth.
We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
Luke 2:8-14 (The Message)
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood.
They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood
among them and God’s glory blazed around them.
They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce
a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide:
A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah
and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket
and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host
of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood.
They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood
among them and God’s glory blazed around them.
They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce
a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide:
A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah
and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket
and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host
of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
John 1:1-14 (The Message)
The Word was first, the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one.
Everything was created through him; nothing – not one thing! –
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn’t put it out.
The Word was first, the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one.
Everything was created through him; nothing – not one thing! –
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn’t put it out.
There once was a man, his name John,
sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light.
He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in.
John was not himself the Light;
he was there to show the way to the Light.
sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light.
He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in.
John was not himself the Light;
he was there to show the way to the Light.
The Life-Light was the real thing:
Every person entering Life he brings into Light.
He was in the world, the world was there through him,
and yet the world didn’t even notice.
He came to his own people, but they didn’t want him.
But whoever did want him,
who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not sex begotten.
Every person entering Life he brings into Light.
He was in the world, the world was there through him,
and yet the world didn’t even notice.
He came to his own people, but they didn’t want him.
But whoever did want him,
who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not sex begotten.
The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
John 8:12 (NIV)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”