In our reading, we find that Joseph is a man of mercy, love, and compassion. 

The angel Gabriel brings good news to the priest Zechariah that he and his wife will have a son. The boy, John, will pave the way for the coming of the promised Messiah of Israel. 

Malachi prophesied that one would come in as a messenger for the Messiah. This messenger would be like the prophet Elijah and prepare the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40). 

David implores us to cling to God's truth and to realize that God is merciful and loving from eternity. 

Jesus came to this world to be the King and to reveal the truth. He came to reveal the truth of who we are and the truth about the world. His Kingdom is not of this world but has broken into this world. The Kingdom of God has value systems that some would call upside down. God's kingdom values the weak and upholds those that have no power. 

John reminds us that doctrine matters. What we believe about Jesus truly matters. He encourages his readers to understand that God became flesh in the person of Jesus. He also encourages us to remember that we have the gift of the Holy Spirit living in our lives. 

In today's episode, we get a look behind the scenes concerning the real identity of Christ. He is the preexistent Son of God who came to us and took on flesh to show us the way forward and give us the right to become children of God. 

In our reading today we explore how God has liberated man from the slavery of sin, death, and the law by sending His Son. 

In this episode, we explore Psalm 16 and discuss how this Psalm points us to Jesus. This Psalm prophecies of the resurrection of Christ and His ascension to the right hand of the Father.