January 19, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“In those days John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.” (Matthew 3.1)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

So where do we go from here? If we follow the course of Matthew’s itinerary for his gospel birth narrative and with a historical guideline, we would see very little time passed between his birth and his entry into Nazareth via Egypt. We have a tendency to think of a much longer time. Of course, the calendaring of those early events remains a bit in doubt. Herod died in 4 B.C. shortly after ordering the murder of the innocents in Bethlehem. His son, Archelaus, took the throne in his place shortly thereafter. It would have been possible that since the order designated the death of all male children two years of age and younger, that Jesus would have been born up to two years earlier. Further, it takes five to seven weeks to travel from Bethlehem to Alexandria which was the largest population of Jews outside of Israel. From Alexandria to Nazareth may have taken up to three months. Suffice it to say that the arrival of the magi then has to be in 4 B.C. following the historical dating for Herod the Great’s end of life. Interesting to note that there are still not recorded sightings of the magi, the star or the death of the innocents in Jewish and Roman records. This does not mean none of these events happen. It does lend itself to paranoia that was associated with Herod as the numbers of murders of Jewish leadership and his own family members escalated. All of this to remind us that when Matthew set his gospel writing to paper around 75-80 A.D., three quarters of a century had passed since the birth of Jesus and the associated events and nearly a half century had passed since the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a reminder to us all about our own history. The further away from the events in our lives we get, the less we may remember of the details of those events. Telling and retelling the story keeps it alive and most accurate. Having others share that story alongside of us allows it to be verifiable and reliable. It makes me wonder if Jesus ever shared the events of His birth with his disciples and closest circle of friends. As Mary kept all those things in her heart, so Jesus must have as well.

As I think about it, I am encouraged to see the possible emphasis placed on the “second birth” aspect of Jesus’ life and teaching. Just as John recorded the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus which brought awareness to being “born again,” the de-emphasis of Jesus’ first birth, no matter how miraculous or spectacular or meaningful, cannot override His second birth which was resurrection. Our second birth, or new creation, comes upon our confession of sin and profession of faith. At our profession and with the accompanying baptism, we are baptized with water and the spirit just as Jesus fulfilled all righteousness at His baptism with the confirmation of the Holy Spirit descending as a dove from heaven above. The fullness of that second birth and new creation comes with our own resurrection after death being brought into heaven by God’s mercy and grace. For each of us, our births are a miracle of God. Without the investment, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we would simply be like a lifeless Adam and a non-existent Eve. So, regardless of the circumstance of our conception and birth, we are God’s children blessed with His promise of care and salvation. [Note: for those who believe in abortion for any reason, even life-threatening circumstances to the mother, we must bear in mind the truth of who we are and whose we are.] It is then compelling that we embrace our second birth and new creation with baptism and with the walk of faith serving God as did Christ in this world on earth. None of us shall see that Heaven without the newness of life made possible by Jesus Himself from the Christ of God in Heaven to the babe in Bethlehem to the Savior at Calvary to the Messiah returned to Heaven. We must invest ourselves in this life which is ours by grace. We must follow the journey laid out before us so that others will know of their own new life made possible by believing that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God who is our Lord and Savior forever.”

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.