Jesus’ question today “cuts right to the chase,” and how we answer Jesus’ question in real time shapes our attitudes, perspectives, and priorities. Whom or what are we really living for? This world offers a plethora of money, success, power, happiness, adventure, etc. to give our lives over to, yet according to Jesus, what good will it do if we spend our lives pursuing things that ultimately do not matter? While this path offers temporary gain, it costs one for eternity. Conversely, Jesus says that if we surrender our lives here for Jesus and the gospel, we will gain life for eternity. To this end, Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him.

The word anxious comes from the Latin word angere, which means “to choke” or “afflict.” What an insightful way for us to think about anxiety; it attempts to strangle and put a choke-hold on our faith, our thoughts, our mind, our peace, our very wellbeing. Moreover, angere is also the root word for angst, anguish, and anger. Anxiety takes its toll. Jesus, however, has a different path for His disciples: trust in the Father’s provision. “Remember the lilies and sparrows.” The Father - who is pleased to give us His very kingdom - is present each day with His grace for whatever circumstances may attend us.

When Jesus finished praying in a certain place, one of His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray also. These verses are part of Jesus teaching us how to pray. He invites us through prayer to ask, to seek, and to knock, with the promise that the Father loves to hear and answer the needs of His dear children. After all, “Which father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?” How much more will our perfect, good, and faithful Father in heaven respond to the prayers of His children!

Jesus’ question addresses fear, a prevalent and sometimes paralyzing human emotion. Even into a new year, culture, politics, economics, etc. remind us how much there is to be afraid of.

The holidays can be a time when surprise company or guests stop by to say “Hi.” In our text, Elizabeth – now in her final trimester - receives TWO surprise guests: virgin Mary & the baby in her womb too. In fact, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps with joy in the presence of unborn Jesus. The Holy Spirit opens Elizabeth’s mouth to pronounce a blessing upon Mary for her faith in every word that God had spoken to her through the angel Gabriel, even when many questions must have filled Mary’s mind. For our own faith in Mary’s Child and His Word, also a miraculous working of the Holy Spirit, we too are blessed, now and for eternity.

The angel Gabriel appeared to young Mary with a surprise announcement; (loose translation), “You’re going to have a baby, it’s a boy, you are to name Him Jesus, and this will happen without you knowing a man.” Can you imagine? Why the name Jesus? Because Jesus means “Savior” or “He saves.” Jesus lived up to his assigned name in the fullest way on Good Friday, and today, the Name above all other names continues His reign for all eternity. Jesus. Our dear Savior.

Because of the sin and brokenness in all of us, our homes can be places of hurt – especially around the holidays. Zechariah and Elizabeth had their fair share of hurt too, yet their miraculously born son would foretell of Jesus. Jesus helps us when home hurts, for He entered this world as one of us to comfort and heal the hurt that we experience.

In Matthew 1, we contemplate the unique and dysfunctional family trees that we are born into…and that Jesus Himself was born into as well. His own family tree underscores the truth that Christ came to redeem our dysfunctions and make us part of His forever tree – the family of God.