Matthew has introduced Jesus, giving his genealogy, linking him to the story of God’s chosen people in particular to David the great king (messiah) and Abraham the ancestor (patriarch) whom God first chose and blessed to be the blessing of the rest of humanity, and four really interesting women. He has told the birth, with a focus on kingship (messiah) and opposition (Herrod’s massacre of innocents). The escape to and return from Egypt – as well as being Messiah Jesus recapitulates Israel. Matthew effectively told us that what Israel should have been Jesus is!

Now three tests, one dumb, one diabolical and the last showing us that Jesus is a real human, and not just a god taking a holiday in human skin.

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Using a photo by by Stacirl (some see a face in the flames)

How would you take to John as preacher in your church? He certainly had an attention grabbing opening:

You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Luke 3:7

If a little lacking in pastoral skills

But for a modern audience it actually gets harder, just as John seems to soften. And then there’s Jesus…

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This is perhaps the chapter of the Bible that more people have partly heard than any other. We have also heard things that aren’t there: like the animals around the manger who don’t get a mention in Luke’s account – perhaps because their presence in houses as well as “stables” they were taken for granted.

Most people have a favourite part of this chapter. My childhood favourite is left out of the set reading, but I’ll talk about why other bits have stuck in my mind more recently. Although I will not actually talk about Jesus’ birth, for this chapter above all others in the Bible, I will notice things about Mary and another quietly significant woman character.

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CHRIST – BIRTH
The third vertical window on the north side represents the birth of Christ. The chief feature of this window is the exploding star at the top with its streams of light flowing downward. The lower part shows a horizontal streak of lavender suggesting the separation of heaven from earth. The heavenly light of the star may be seen in the bottom section of the window which depicts the actual birth scene. The purple typifies His royalty and the red anticipates His cross.
Photo by FirstBaptistNashville