From a message by Jon Alsdorf

Have you ever had to wait for something important for a very long time? Maybe it was a vacation, a job promotion, or even a marriage proposal. In our instant-everything culture, we're not very good at waiting. We want our ketchup to squeeze out fast, our microwaves to heat food instantly, and our movies available on demand.

But God operates on a different timeline than our modern American "get it done now" pace. Throughout Scripture, God invites us to be patient and wait on Him. The passage in Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that "they who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles."

What Happened After Jesus Was Born?
In Luke chapter 2, we encounter the story of what happened after Jesus' birth - a story about two people who had been waiting faithfully for God's promises to be fulfilled. Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to fulfill three overlapping requirements from the law of Moses.
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Why Did Mary and Joseph Go to the Temple?
First, there was the purification after childbirth. According to Leviticus 12, after a male child was born, the mother needed to go through a 40-day purification period. This wasn't about sin - it was about medical cleanliness and health practices of the time.
Second, they needed to make an offering. The typical offering was a lamb, but there was provision for those who couldn't afford it - they could bring two turtle doves or two young pigeons instead. The fact that Mary and Joseph brought the birds rather than a lamb shows they were not wealthy. Jesus was born into economic humility.

Third, they came for the presentation of the firstborn. Every firstborn son belonged to God and needed to be presented at the temple, then "redeemed" back to the parents for five silver coins. Think about this: here was the baby born to redeem all humanity, and His parents had to redeem Him back from God.

Who Were Simeon and Anna?
What Made Simeon Special?
In the busy chaos of the temple, Mary and Joseph encountered a man named Simeon. Scripture describes him as "righteous and devout" - not sinless, but serious about his faith. Like Moses and David, who were also called righteous despite their failures, Simeon had pursued God's pathway of forgiveness and redemption.

Most importantly, Simeon was "waiting for the consolation of Israel." This phrase comes from the second half of Isaiah, which prophesies about Israel's restoration and redemption. But Simeon wasn't waiting for better circumstances - he was waiting for a person.

The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, Simeon immediately recognized Him - not through human wisdom, but through the Spirit's revelation.

What Did Simeon Say About Jesus?
When Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms, he declared: "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace... for my eyes have seen your salvation." Notice he didn't say he had seen salvation happen - he said he had seen salvation itself. Salvation isn't an event; it's a person.

Simeon also prophesied that Jesus would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." This was radical - many Jews struggled with the idea that salvation would extend to non-Jews. But Simeon understood that this redemption was part of God's plan from before the foundation of the world, and it was for all people.

Who Was Anna the Prophetess?
Anna was an elderly widow from the tribe of Asher who had been married only seven years before her husband died. She had spent decades in the temple, devoted to prayer and fasting. Like Simeon, she was spiritually attentive and recognized Jesus immediately.
Both Simeon and Anna were nobodies in terms of worldly position - they had no titles, no political power, no wealth. Yet God chose to reveal His Son to them because they were Spirit-led people who had been faithfully waiting.

What Can We Learn From This Story?
Jesus' Work of Redemption Began Immediately
Jesus didn't wait until He was 30 to begin His redemptive work. From day one, He took on the role of a servant. He was born into poverty and immediately began fulfilling every requirement of the law on our behalf. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Jesus' Identity Is Clear to the Spiritually Attentive
Those who were taking God at His word and looking for the fulfillment of His promises saw Jesus clearly. God isn't playing hide and seek with us. When we're spiritually attentive - reading His word, praying, seeking Him - His identity becomes clear.

Interestingly, around the time of Jesus' birth, the Romans removed the Jews' authority to carry out capital punishment. This fulfilled Jacob's prophecy in Genesis that "the scepter would not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes." Some Pharisees recognized this timing and knew the Messiah must be present, but many missed Him because they weren't spiritually attentive.

The Pathway of Redemption Involves Pain
Simeon warned Mary that "a sword will pierce through your own soul." Jesus' path to redemption was painful for Him, and following Him involves suffering for us too. Scripture never promises believers a painless life. As Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

God's Redemption Is Available to Everyone
Perhaps most amazingly, God chose to reveal Jesus to two elderly, forgotten people with no worldly status. This shows us that God's redemption is available regardless of how old, forgotten, or marginalized we might feel.

Romans 10:12-13 declares: "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call upon him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to become more spiritually attentive like Simeon and Anna. Set aside time daily for prayer and reading God's word. Look for ways God is working in your life and circumstances, even in the ordinary moments.
Remember that salvation isn't about getting your life together first - it's about calling on Jesus, who will do the work of getting you together. He came from the very bottom, took on the role of a servant, and made redemption available to everyone who calls on His name.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I spiritually attentive to what God is doing around me, or am I too busy to notice?
• Have I called on the name of the Lord for salvation, or am I still trying to earn it somehow?
• How can I develop the patient, faithful waiting that characterized Simeon and Anna?
• What circumstances in my life am I trying to control instead of trusting God's timing?

From a message by Jon Alsdorf

When we think of Christmas, our minds often turn to the familiar scene: Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, shepherds in the fields, and angels announcing the birth of Jesus. This story, found in Luke chapter 2, represents what many consider the heart of the Christmas narrative. But beyond the beautiful imagery lies a profound invitation that changed everything.

What Made This Announcement So Special?
The Christmas story begins with a Roman census ordered by Caesar Augustus. This taxation required everyone to return to their ancestral towns to register. For Joseph, this meant traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem - the city of David - because he was from David's lineage.

Without this decree, Jesus would have been born in Nazareth. But God orchestrated these events so that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, fulfilling ancient prophecy. The timing seemed impossible - Mary was about to give birth, making travel extremely difficult. Yet this was the only opportunity they had to comply with the census.

Why Did God Choose Shepherds?
Of all the people God could have chosen to receive the first announcement of Jesus's birth, He selected shepherds. This choice was remarkable because shepherds occupied one of the lowest social positions in that culture. They were often viewed as untrustworthy and uneducated, even barred from testifying in court.

Yet throughout Scripture, God shows a special affinity for shepherds. From Abel to Abraham, from Moses to David, many of God's chosen servants were shepherds. Even Jesus would later call Himself "the good shepherd," embracing this humble title.

The First Gospel Message Ever Proclaimed
When the angel appeared to the shepherds, something unprecedented happened. This marked the very first time in all of Scripture that the gospel was clearly proclaimed. The angel's message was simple yet profound: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Three Powerful Titles Revealed
The angel used three significant titles to describe the newborn Jesus:
Savior - One who rescues and delivers
Christ - The Messiah, God's anointed one
Lord - The supreme authority and ruler

These weren't just nice titles - they were declarations that this baby was fully God. When used together, these words could only appropriately describe Almighty God Himself.

The Sign That Changed Everything
The angel gave the shepherds a sign: "You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." While finding a baby wasn't unusual, and swaddling cloths were normal, finding one lying in a manger was extraordinary. This humble feeding trough became the cradle for the King of kings.

Suddenly, a multitude of heavenly hosts appeared, praising God and declaring: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased."

How Did the Shepherds Respond?
The shepherds' response teaches us everything about how to receive divine invitations. They didn't just take the angels' word for it - they went to see for themselves. "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

They went with haste, found everything exactly as the angel had said, and immediately became messengers themselves. They shared everything they had heard and seen with everyone they encountered.

Different Responses to the Same Message
The Scripture reveals two different responses to the shepherds' testimony:

The crowd's response: They "wondered" - but this was a passing moment of curiosity. They heard the amazing story, thought it was interesting, and moved on with their lives.

Mary's response: She "treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." Mary didn't just have a momentary reaction; she meditated on these events for the rest of her life, gathering them like precious treasures in her heart.

What Does This Mean for Us Today?
This Christmas story isn't just ancient history - it's a living invitation that continues today. We have access to far more revelation about Jesus than those shepherds did. They heard about a baby born to be Savior; we know about the Savior who lived, died, and rose again.

The Invitation Remains Open
Just as the shepherds were invited to "come and see," we're invited to experience Jesus for ourselves. We can see that sins are forgiven, grace is available, and lives are transformed through Him. The question is: will we respond like the shepherds, or will we stay with our "sheep" - our comfortable, familiar routines?

Life Application
The shepherds teach us three essential responses to God's invitation:

Be like the shepherds: Don't just take someone else's word about Jesus - go explore everything there is to know and experience about Him. Investigate His promises and see how He delivers on them.

Be like the angels: Share the good news with others. Just as the angels couldn't contain their excitement about Jesus's birth, we should be eager to tell others about the hope we've found in Him.

Be like Mary: Treasure God's word in your heart and ponder it deeply. Don't let spiritual truths become passing moments of wonder - let them transform your life from the inside out.

This week, ask yourself: Am I responding to God's invitation with the urgency of the shepherds? Am I sharing the good news like the angels? Am I treasuring God's word like Mary? The greatest invitation in human history has been extended to you - how will you respond?

From a message by Jon Alsdorf

The Christmas story we often tell is filled with wonder and joy - wise men following a star, bringing gifts to baby Jesus. But there's a darker, more complex reality beneath this familiar narrative that reveals something profound about how we respond to Jesus today.

What Really Happened When the Magi Arrived?
When the wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem asking, "Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?" the response was immediate and telling. Scripture says that "King Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." This wasn't just mild concern - this was deep, widespread anxiety that gripped an entire city.

The Historical Context That Changes Everything
To understand why everyone was so troubled, we need to grasp the political powder keg that was first-century Palestine. This wasn't a peaceful time of Roman rule. The region had been a battleground between empires for centuries.

The land had passed from Babylonian to Persian to Greek to Roman control. Most recently, the Parthian Empire from the east had actually conquered Jerusalem and driven out the Romans, including Herod himself. The Jews had preferred Parthian rule because it allowed them more religious and cultural freedom.

When Herod returned with Roman backing to reclaim his throne, tensions remained high. Many Jews still hoped the Parthians would return and liberate them from Roman oppression.

Why the Magi's Question Was So Dangerous
Now imagine a large contingent of eastern dignitaries - likely from Parthian territory - arriving in Jerusalem asking about the one "born king of the Jews." This wasn't an innocent question. Herod was the appointed king, installed by Rome. These visitors were essentially asking, "Where is the rightful king?"
This was a direct challenge to Herod's legitimacy and a potential signal of Parthian interest in the region. No wonder all Jerusalem was troubled - this looked like the beginning of another political upheaval.

How Do We Respond to Threats?
We all face different types of threats in life - physical, social, relational, or threats to our identity and meaning. Usually, our response to perceived threats is more intense than our response to actual ones. We lash out, become defensive, or try to protect what we think is being challenged.

Herod's response was extreme but predictable. When he realized the wise men had circumvented his authority, he ordered the murder of all male children in Bethlehem under two years old. This was the desperate act of someone who felt his power and position were under attack.

Why Jesus Is Still a Threat Today
Here's the uncomfortable truth that Matthew wants us to see: Jesus is absolutely a threat to you and me, just as he was to Herod. Not because he wants to harm us, but because he challenges our position as ruler of our own lives.

Jesus Threatens Our Personal Autonomy
When we make Jesus Lord, our options become limited. We can't just do whatever we want with our time, money, or relationships. The choices available to us in any given situation become constrained by his will and his ways.

Jesus Threatens Our Financial Independence
Following Jesus means we can't do anything we want with our money. Generosity, stewardship, and kingdom priorities begin to reshape how we handle our resources.

Jesus Threatens Our Relationships
Christ wants access to all our relationships - marriage, parenting, friendships, work relationships. He wants to reshape the character of how we interact with everyone in our lives.

Jesus Threatens Our Legacy and Social Standing
If our purpose is to make a name for ourselves, Jesus disrupts that plan entirely. He's not interested in building our reputation but his own. Following him seriously can also impact how others perceive us socially.

Jesus Threatens Our Pursuit of Pleasure
The American pursuit of pleasure and comfort doesn't align with Jesus's call to take up our cross and follow him. He challenges our comfort zones and calls us to sacrifice.

What Do We Do When We Feel Threatened by Jesus?
Often, we delay responding to the gospel because we instinctively know that if Jesus becomes Lord of our lives, things are going to change. We enjoy being the king of our own lives and making our own choices.

But here's what we need to understand: whatever we perceive as threatened by Jesus represents areas of our lives that we haven't fully surrendered to him.

The Only Two Positions Available
Jesus draws a line in the sand and calls us to choose sides. We can either yield our lives to his authority and salvation, or we can engage in power plays and try to position ourselves to somehow survive God's judgment on our own.

The second option is impossible. No amount of money, good works, or self-improvement can satisfy the enormous debt we have before God because of sin. The only way is surrender to Jesus.

Why This Is Actually Good News
Christmas represents God's greatest gift to the world because Jesus provides the only way to have peace with God. Through him, our debt can be paid and we can be reconciled to our Creator.

When we surrender the things we're afraid Jesus will threaten, something amazing happens. He transforms them and gives us back something far better than what we were protecting. He doesn't take things away to harm us but to bless us beyond what we could imagine.

Life Application
This week, take an honest inventory of your life with the Holy Spirit's help. Ask yourself: "What is it in my life that feels most threatened by Jesus?" Whether it's your autonomy, finances, relationships, reputation, or pursuit of comfort, identify those areas where you're still holding back.

Once you've identified these areas, ask God to help you surrender them to Jesus. Don't waste time protecting things you're afraid he'll mess up. Trust him with every aspect of your life. The peace that comes from full surrender to Christ surpasses anything we can experience while trying to maintain control.

Questions for Reflection:

• What areas of my life do I still try to control instead of surrendering to Jesus?
• How might my resistance to Jesus's lordship be creating anxiety or conflict in my life?
• What would it look like practically to surrender my biggest area of resistance to Christ this week?
• Am I ready to trust that Jesus's plans for my life are better than my own?

From a message by Jon Alsdorf

Life rarely unfolds the way we envision it. Most of us aren't where we thought we'd be when we were 18 years old, dreaming about our future. Whether it's career paths, relationships, raising children, or financial situations, our plans often get turned upside down. This universal human experience of disappointment and confusion can leave us wondering where God is in the midst of our circumstances.


The Universal Experience of Broken Plans
We all have stories of things not working out as expected. Sometimes we plan and hope for specific outcomes, only to face months or even years of closed doors and rejection. These experiences can be deeply discouraging and make us question whether we heard from God correctly in the first place.


The Christmas story gives us a powerful example of how God works through circumstances that seem completely backwards from what we might expect. Mary and Joseph's story shows us that God's plans often look nothing like our plans, yet His ways are always perfect.


Mary's Unexpected Calling
The Angel's Announcement
In Luke chapter 1, we read about the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary with news that would change everything. The angel told her she would conceive and bear a son who would be called the Son of the Most High, and that God would give him the throne of his father David.


This wasn't just random news to Mary. As someone from the lineage of David, she would have understood the significance of these promises. Her question wasn't about the prophecy itself, but about the practical matter: "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"


Mary's Faithful Response
Despite the overwhelming nature of this announcement, Mary's response demonstrates remarkable faith: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word." She chose to trust God's plan even when it didn't make sense from a human perspective.


Joseph's Difficult Decision
A Man of Character
Joseph's situation was even more challenging. He discovered Mary was pregnant, and no angel had explained the situation to him yet. The Scripture tells us he was "a just man and unwilling to put her to shame," so he planned to divorce her quietly rather than expose her to public disgrace.


Divine Intervention
It was only after Joseph had made his decision that an angel appeared to him in a dream, explaining that what was conceived in Mary was from the Holy Spirit. The angel told him not to fear taking Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus, "for he will save his people from their sins."


The Deeper Problem: A Broken Royal Line
God's Promise to David
To understand the full significance of Jesus' birth, we need to go back to God's promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7. God promised that David's throne would be established forever and that his kingdom would never end. This was a covenant promise that seemed impossible to fulfill by the time of Jesus' birth.


The Curse on Jeconiah
The royal line of David faced a major problem through King Jeconiah (also called Coniah). Because of his wickedness, God pronounced a curse in Jeremiah 22:30, declaring that none of Jeconiah's offspring would succeed in sitting on the throne of David. This created an apparent contradiction with God's earlier promise to David.


The Babylonian Exile and Lost Kingdom
After the Babylonian exile, the Davidic kingdom never truly returned. Various foreign powers ruled over Israel, and the royal line seemed to disappear into obscurity. By the time of Jesus' birth, the promise of an eternal Davidic kingdom appeared to be broken.


God's Impossible Solution
Two Genealogies, One Perfect Plan
Matthew and Luke provide different genealogies for Jesus that initially seem contradictory. Matthew traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph, showing the legal royal line. Luke traces the lineage through Mary, showing the biological line from David through his son Nathan, avoiding the cursed line through Jeconiah.


The Law of Levirate Marriage
God had established a precedent in Numbers 27 with the daughters of Zelophehad. When a man died without sons, his daughters could inherit, and their husbands would be legally adopted as sons of the deceased father. This law provided the legal framework for Jesus to inherit both the biological line through Mary and the legal royal line through Joseph.


The Perfect Fulfillment
Through this intricate plan, Jesus became:

• Literally the Son of God (a new creation)
• Literally the son of David (through Mary's lineage)
• Legally adopted into the royal line (through Joseph)
• Not a blood relative of the cursed Jeconiah
• The prophesied Messiah in every impossible way

What This Means for Us Today
We Are Also Restored to Royalty
Just as Jesus threaded an impossible needle to restore the royal line, believers are also restored to royal lineage through Christ. Second Corinthians 5:17 tells us that anyone in Christ is a "new creation" - not just another descendant of Adam, but something entirely new.


Children of God
John 1:12-13 explains that those who receive Jesus are given "the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." We become direct creations of God, adopted into His royal family.


A Royal Priesthood
First Peter 2:9 declares that believers are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession." We are called to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.


Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
It's Okay to Be Disappointed
God doesn't condemn us for feeling disappointed when things don't work out as we hoped. These feelings are natural and human. However, we must remember that if things didn't work out the way we planned, it means God's plan is better than what we hoped for.


Trusting God's Timing and Methods
As followers of Jesus, we don't walk by sight but by faith. We trust that God is working things out in ways far better than we could ask or imagine, even when we can't see how.


Perfect Peace Through Trust
Isaiah 26:3-4 promises: "You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."


Life Application
This week, choose to trust God's plan over your own understanding. When circumstances don't unfold as you expected, remember that God specializes in working through impossible situations to accomplish His perfect will. Just as He restored the royal line through Mary and Joseph in the most unlikely way, He can restore and redeem the broken places in your life.


Consider these questions as you reflect on this truth:

• What areas of your life feel like they haven't gone according to plan?
• How might God be working behind the scenes in ways you can't yet see?
• Are you willing to trust that His plan is better than your original hopes and dreams?
• How can you walk by faith rather than by sight in your current circumstances?

Remember, you are not just surviving life's disappointments - you are a child of the King, part of a royal priesthood, called to trust in the God who keeps His promises and works all things together for good