Comparing the Christmas story accounts in Matthew and Luke, this is what stood out afresh to me this year [after being in Israel for three months and taking Land and Bible, Jewish Thought and Culture, Ancient Israel, and 2nd Temple Period]. So thankful that as one fellow IBEXer put it, "I now read my Bible in color, instead of in black and white."
"The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah...In the days of Herod...there was a priest named Zacharias...according to the custom of the priestly office...you will bear a son, and you will give him the name John...he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah...the Lord God of Israel has raised up a horn of salvation for us...Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth...of the descendants of David His servant...Mary had been betrothed to Joseph...Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country...And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child...and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord...to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father...John lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel...a decree went out from Caesar Augustus...to the city of David which is called Bethlehem...the shepherds began saying to one another...Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people...there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon...he came in the Spirit into the temple...Anna continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem...Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt...Archelaus was reigning over Judea..."
Israel: A real place.
The Incarnation: A real event.
Christianity: A real God.
God is not dead nor does He sleep,
Mollie
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!
Picture 1: An Ancient Synagogue {I think}
Picture 2: Herodium
Picture 3: Bethany
Picture 4: Mount of Olives at sunset with Laurel
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