Unclean. A word that would cause people to alter course quickly. The unclean were to be avoided because to assocciate with them would make you unclean. But when Jesus encountered the unclean He did not alter course He altered lives, including how we view the unclean, the outcast, the untouchable. Jesus’ humanity reminds us of the image we bear and validates our own human experience. But when the unclean encounters Jesus, it does not change Jesus, rather changes the unclean. This is good news for everyone.

After a long morning of fishing and no success, the last thing Peter wanted to do was cast out his nets again. But as Jesus got in Peter’s boats, it was clear, Peter’s plans were about to change. Because Jesus asked him to push out again, he did it. And Peter would not stop casting nets the rest of his life, although what he was aiming to catch would be very different.

As Jesus made His way throughout Galilee the report about Him began to grow and spread. He wasn’t just teaching with authority, He was living with authority. In the span of a view verses Jesus cast out a demon, heals his mother in law, and leaves town as the crowds grow. There was a purpose and intention to His actions and life the speaks to a clarity of mission that most of us miss. Rightly ordering our hearts will lead to a rightly ordered life.

As Jesus entered his hometown synagogue, expectations were rising. Reading from scripture, He Invited all those present to experience the hope of HIs Kingdom, and yet they refused to believe. Freedom was in front of them, but instead they chose the chains of what they knew. Jesus has come that we may have life, why do we continue to choose death?

In our moments of weakness, where do we find strength? When you are filled with doubts, where do you look for truth? As Jesus is led into the desert for forty days He is confronted by lies of the enemies. But in these moment He shows us how to combat lies and He begins a show a new way forward for all of Humanity.

Who are you? This a question that seems simple but can often haunt us. People are quick to tell us who we are or who we should be, but whose voice matters most. The beginning of Jesus was marked by a clear declaration of who He was and is. Luke also reminds us that this good news is not just for some, but Jesus has come for all.

Many of us have found the road of life to be a little bumpier than we hoped. And for many of us, we have made things more complicated and harder than necessary because we have forgotten what is most important. Before Jesus was to burst on the scene John the Baptist was called to prepare the way. To make straight the paths that were crooked, to level the hurdles so that those of his day may better see Jesus for who He really was and is. The words of John ring true for us today, reminding us to ready our hearts to see the King.

An old man, who lived a faithful and devout life, waiting for the comfort of his people to come. Why the days of his life were growing dim, the light he awaited grew bright. The light had come and everything would change. The man who long awaited the blessing of God on his people would now bless the savior of the world

Far from a palace, in the quiet of the fields, shepherds were tending their flocks. When the night came alive around them. Good news of great joy for all people, a message just as much for the shepherds as it is for us today. Good news of great joy, Jesus has come!

We find a pair of panicked parents looking for a lost son. After 3 days of searching, they finally find him sitting among the teachers, eagerly learning, asking questions, and lingering at the temple. The boy, Jesus, just wanted to be in His Father’s house. Where do we eagerly desire to be? And how can we begin to foster and practice an intentional rhythm of being with the Father?