Monday (1/6/20)

We have just finished the season of Advent culminating in Christmas. The season that we are in now, sandwiched between Christmas and Lent, is called Epiphany. The season of discovery. 

Epiphany: a festival on January 6th that celebrates the arrival of the Wise Men who came to visit Jesus.

Epiphany: a moment of sudden insight or understanding.

Epiphany: a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, or become conscious of something.

Epiphany: an appearance or manifestation of a divine being. 

We are going to take time these next eight weeks to discover Jesus through the eyes of those around Him. Each day we will read the story of a different person and their encounter with the living God as manifest through Jesus Christ. 

Surprise. Doubt. Disappointment. Adoration. Confusion.

All these emotions erupt from the pages of the gospels as normal people, people just like you and I, get a chance to interact with the God of the universe.

Throughout the weeks, you will see words in italics – they are synonyms for the word epiphany or discovery! Try to keep track or highlight them.

Each day as we read the stories of the people whose lives intersected with Jesus’ life, imagine yourself there, meeting Jesus, looking into His eyes, experiencing Him, discovering who He is. You’ll see some similar questions throughout the weeks. But focus on the discovery of Jesus.

During the first week of this devotional we will read stories of those involved in and around the birth of Jesus. You can check out this video from The Bible Project for an overview:

Read Luke 1:26-56 and 2:41-52

  • Try to not let any familiarity with the story cause you to skim these verses. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to teach and guide you.
  • Who is Mary? As you read these stories, describe how you see Mary:
  • What do you think Mary is “treasuring in her heart” after being scared that Jesus was lost?
  • What does she discover about Jesus in these interactions with Him (albeit – one is an interaction where Jesus is only a couple cells large in her uterus!)
  • Are there any new discoveries about Jesus that you notice?