John’s ministry as the messenger and forerunner of Messiah was foretold by Malachi and Isaiah and an Angel. What does this tell us about John and Jesus?

Jesus became a refugee to be the savior of refugees. He was patterned after Israel to be the Savior of Israel.

Pharaoh and Herod would slaughter a generation of children to keep suppress God’s program. Neither were successful.

When Jesus is your only hope, no obstacle can keep your from drawing near.

Is the Birth of Jesus just a recast Roman Hero Story or the answer to humanity’s oldest problem?

In this mass of humanity, is anyone strong enough to reign and kind enough to save? Here is the one who fulfilled the ancient promises of God’s Savior/Servant/King.

It takes a God who can raise the dead to give us back our future.

The Gospel speaks to the marginalized because it is their story- the story of a stone that human builders thought useless, that God then chose as a cornerstone. From what we thought was rubble, God would build His New Temple.

The Jewish idea of a “Goel” a Kinsman Redeemer is one repairs our past, and re-opens our future. The Redeemer does this by entering our situation and offering us a true family.

Just as the lord has remained faithful to his covenant love for us. So should we remain faithful to our covenant with him and each other.