When we read the birth narratives of Jesus, we see that God chooses to work through human beings to bring about His plan of salvation. Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph are the stars of the show. When the child comes, he is a human being too. Strikingly absent from Scripture is any indication that the baby had dual natures or was a hybrid “God-man.” Instead, God ordained that a man would be born to save mankind—an exciting truth worth celebrating!

Luke 1:5-10 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous and blameless according to the Law. Zechariah encountered the angel Gabriel who told him that he would have a child and to name him John.

Luke 1:26-33 While Elizabeth was pregnant, Gabriel made a visit to Mary and prophesied that she would give birth to the Messiah.

Luke 1:34-36 Although we would prefer a more specific explanation of precisely how Mary became pregnant by divine intervention, the angel just says God’s power would overshadow her.

Luke 1:37-45 Mary visited Elizabeth who greatly encouraged her right from the start. Elizabeth recognized that Mary was carrying her lord, a term used of many other humans throughout the Bible (Gen 18:12; 33:8; 42:10; Num 11:28; 1 Sam 24:8; 1 Kgs 1:31; 18:7; Ruth 2:13).

Luke 1:46-57 This poetic statement of praise was Mary’s response to Elizabeth. In it she focused on how God had humbled the powerful and exalted the weak. She would bear the Messiah—the most important human who had ever lived.

Matthew 1:18-22 Joseph, Mary’s fiancé, first decided to divorce her, but after a nocturnal angelic visit, he came to believe that “the child conceived in her is from the holy spirit.” This child, just like the boy born in Isaiah’s time, signified that God had not abandoned His people, instead the child’s birth meant “God is with us.”

The Messianic prophecies when compared with the historical events that occurred have impact in several ways. They validate the Messiah; affirm God’s integrity; encourage hope; reveal Yahweh’s eternal plan; and unite the Old and New Testaments.

Genesis 3:15 A brief introduction to the rest of the Bible and history Seed of the woman – Matthew 1:16 Joseph, the husband [father] of Mary

Matthew 1:17 42 generations but not if it ends with Joseph, Mary’s husband

Luke 3:23 Eli is the father of Joseph – Matthew1:16 Jacob is the father of Joseph.

Luke 3:31 Nathan, son David – Matthew 1:6 Solomon, son of David

Matthew 1:19-24; Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:1-16 There was a child born in the time of Ahaz who was called “Immanuel”. This is dual prophecy as it also relates to Jesus.

Revelation 3:12 states Jesus will have a new name; perhaps then he will be called “Immanuel”.

Luke 1:26-38 Throne of David

REV Luke 1:34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, seeing I do not know a man sexually?”

KJV Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

2 Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 11:1-2

Isaiah 9:1-7 Dual prophecy regarding Hezekiah and Jesus

Pastor Sean Finnegan and Sean Kelly share about their trip to the Philippines and New Zealand.

Revelation 6:8; 9:15 Catastrophic events and judgments will affect the earth and its inhabitants, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life.

Revelation 6:12-21; 20:11 Catastrophic destruction of the earth’s surface

Revelation 16:16 “Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”

Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Philippians 2:11

When Jesus returns, the Millennial Kingdom begins. It marks the start of a thousand-year worldwide reign of peace, justice, and righteousness.

Isaiah 65:17; 66:22 I will create new heavens and a new earth.

Revelation 20:1-3 During this time, the devil will be locked in the “abyss”.

Zechariah 14 Jerusalem will finally be the city of God from where King Jesus will rule the world.

Isaiah 35:1-10 Arabah is a desert, 103 miles long and 15.5 miles wide.

Isaiah 41:18; 43:19

Ezekiel 47:1-12 The Dead Sea has no life.

Ezekiel 36:35 This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden.

Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:3; Ezekiel 39:9-10 Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.

Isaiah 11:1-10 Jesus will be the king.

Isaiah 32:1-6, 18 Then My people will live in a peaceful habitation, and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places.

Revelation 1:6; 5:10 Apostles judge the 12 tribes; David will be king again; saints will rule the world with Jesus.

Galatians 6:9-10

We are supposed to do what is good toward everyone but do what is extra good toward

Doing good is easy when everyone is being nice, but it can be challenging when there is

Acts 15:36-41

Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement. To resolve the issue, their mutual decision was to

Sometimes, if we have disagreements, we can just choose to do things separately. Nothing in

Colossians 4:10

2 Timothy 4:11

1 Peter 5:13

1 Samuel 25:2-35

Abigail navigated the circumstances with Nabal and David with exceptional discernment

Proverbs 15:1; 17:27; 12:18

Jesus’ teaching to love our enemies is as controversial and ignored today as it was in the first century when he originally gave it. Even so, enemy love is a key distinction that sets Christianity apart from the other world religions and non-religions. Seeing this teaching foreshadowed in the Old Testament and then repeated by Paul and Peter, we can be confident that it is, in fact, how God wants us to live.

Matthew 5:43 Jesus recalled what people commonly said about loving their neighbors but hating their enemies (likely pulling on Leviticus 19:16-18).

Exodus 23:4-5; 1 Samuel 24; 26; Proverbs 24:17-18; 25:21-22; 2 Kings 6:8-23 The Old Testament has a law, a couple of proverbs, and several powerful examples showing love to one’s enemies.

Matthew 5:44 Jesus’ command is as radical today as it was in his day. He told his disciples to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors.

Matthew 5:45 This behavior is rooted in God’s example of giving rain to the righteous and unrighteous.

Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 2 Peter 3:9 God’s heart is for the wicked to turn from their evil. He would rather someone repent than face judgement.

If that’s God’s heart, shouldn’t it be ours as well?

Matthew 5:46-48 According to Jesus, his followers get no credit for expressing love to those who love them. That is an imperfect, partial, common love. He calls us to a perfect, complete, and uncommon love —loving those who aren’t nice to us.

Romans 12:14-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 4:12-13; 1 Peter 2:21-24 Both the apostles Paul and Peter repeated this teaching of Jesus in their own words. As Christ-followers, we are left with no doubt about this teaching. It is the way.

We are called to love our neighbors, whether they are enemies or family. Our love, like Jesus’, is motivated by God’s love for us, not by how others treat us. Those who seem least deserving of love need it the most. Being right is not always loving; being loving is always right.

Luke 10:25-37 The most important question ever asked is followed by a foolish question.

Galatians 5:13-16, 22 To walk by the flesh is self-centered, without concern for God or others. As we walk by the spirit, we love others.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 God wants us to earnestly desire the spiritual enablements in order to serve others, but love is the more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 These three verses emphatically communicate the importance of doing all with love for God and others.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient – Exodus 34:6; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9-10; Ephesians 4:1- 3; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15; James 5:7-9

Love is kind – Nehemiah 9:17; Romans 2:4; Titus 3:3-5; Ephesians 2:7;

Luke 6:35-36; Ephesians 4:31-32

Not jealous, not bragging, not arrogant, not acting unbecomingly (rude or improperly), not seeking its own, not provoked, not considering a wrong (does not keep a record of wrongs or hold onto past mistakes or grievances) Proverbs 24:17; Acts 13:42-48 Does not rejoice in unrighteousness; rejoices with the truth.

1 Peter 4:8; Proverbs 10:12; 17:9 Bears all things – means to cover closely to keep water out. Love covers with silence.

Believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Love never fails (Psalm 136).

John 13:34-35; 15:12; 1 John 3:23; Ephesians 5:2 The higher standard of love is “as he loved us”.

Matthew 5:44-48

To love your neighbor as yourself, you must first love yourself. Although sometimes it may be hard, you should love yourself because you’re made in God’s image, you are an awesome human, and you are loved by God. Instead of falling into arrogance or self-loathing, focus on others without neglecting self-care, and you’ll strike the right balance.

Mark 12:29-31 Rabbi Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and then to love your neighbors as yourself. Next week we’ll look at loving your neighbor, but today let’s consider loving yourself.

Why should you love yourself?

1. Created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27)

There are two ditches on either side of the narrow path of self-love.

1. Arrogance: thinking you’re better than others

The great secret to self-love is focusing on others. In other words, loving others is a major way to love yourself. Perhaps that’s why Jesus said to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Ephesians 5:29 Although self-care may have been obvious to ancient people, it’s easy to work ourselves into the ground in modern times.

The more accurately we know God, the more fully we can love Him.  Ignorance, wrong knowledge, and mischaracterization undermine our love relationship with Yahweh. Keeping Jesus’ commandments is paramount to loving God which  includes love each other.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5   Wholehearted devotion, obedience, mindfulness, passion and concern for how others perceive God are involved in loving God.  

Matthew 22:37-38   Total devotion is our foremost duty 

Heart – Innermost being from whence the issues of life stem 

Soul – Life, self, person, desire, passion, emotions 

Might or strength – All the energy, effort, and capabilities we possess, using our actions, resources, and physical being to love Yahweh 

Foremost is used to emphasize that something holds the top spot in terms of significance or priority.  

Ignorance, wrong knowledge, and mischaracterization of Yahweh are crippling to our love relationship with God.  

Numbers 14:10-20   Moses understood Yahweh’s characteristics and wanted others to think well of Him.  

Does our love for God motivate us to stand up for His glorious name? 

1 Samuel 17:43-47   David wanted Yahweh exalted above all. 

John 14:21-24   Keeping Jesus’ commandments is paramount to loving  

1 John 5:1-3;  

2 John 1:1-9 

1 John 4:20-21   One who loves God loves others.