Joy--4th Christmas Gift Series

What is the spiritual significance of Joseph and Mary traveling though "Galilee"? In Galilee stands the Sea of Galilee. Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee six times during His walk as the Son of God. (Unger’s Bible Dictionary, map). In the same manner He turned the water of the six water pots of stone into wine at a joyous occasion—a wedding. At the wedding each stone pot was filled with the natural life-sustaining water, but when Jesus came, He turned all that water into the Life giving wine of His Spirit. He showed at the wedding feast, that there would be a day, when all those consumed in death would be animated with the wine of His Life.

Over and over again, Jesus made an open show that death was coming to an end in the presence of the Son as He sailed back and forth across the sea of humanity performing miracles upon it and all along its coasts. In that region He healed the sick and lame, cast out demons, walked over boisterous waves, and raised the dead.

It was during one of those trips with His disciples, "...there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:37,39).

There are times of darkness when we also embark with Jesus across this foreboding sea of humanity’s course in life, the circuit we ride. It is common for troubling storms to blow without a moments notice. The deluge of waves pound relentlessly upon our breaking ship. In the midst of its fury, it looks as if all will be lost; and with Jesus asleep in the back of the ship, we may think that He isn’t even concerned about it.

But like those of little faith that night, we forget that He always accomplishes what His Father sends Him to do. If He is sent to cross over the circuit to the other side, He will cross over and will lose no one who travels with Him. In the course, as it was that dark night of death’s storm, Jesus arises, rebukes the wind, says to the sea, "Peace, be still," the wind ceases, and there is a great calm -- all is calm (Mark 4:39). All is still. Silent Night, Holy Night.

When The Voice of the Son of God is heard, it is always obeyed. When the Spirit moved and God said, "Let there be light..." there was light. When the Spirit moved and God said, "Let the waters bring forth..." the waters brought forth. And when the Spirit moved and God said, "Let the earth bring forth..." the earth obeyed and brought forth the energy of life.

Then they had to travel through Samaria.

The New Testament mentions Samaria in Luke chapter 17:11-20, in the miraculous healing of the ten lepers, which took place on the border of Samaria and Galilee. John 4:1-26 records Jesus’ encounter at Jacob’s well with the woman of Sychar, in which He declares Himself to be the Messiah. In Acts 8:5-14, it is recorded that Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached there.

In Jesus’ time, his people had little to do with the people who lived in Samaria. The Jewish people painted the Samaritans as mongrels or half-breeds due to intermarriage with non-Israelite groups after the Assyrian invasion of 722-721 BCE. Their priesthood and sanctuary were judged illegitimate, and their text of the Scripture was considered as corrupt. The Samaritans returned the fury with interest.

John 4:4-42 depicts Jesus masterfully transcending human divisions and inviting the woman, the disciples, the Samaritan townspeople, and ultimately all people to worship "in spirit and truth" (vv 23, 24). Jesus models for us, an openness to new people and new ways of doing things. Jesus shows you and me how to rise above prejudice in order to give testimony to the truth and draw others into spiritual union with him.

SO to have joy this Christmas, you and must have a new outlook on the world--Open to new ways, new ideas about God, open to people who are different from you

The only way God can reach out to others in this world is through you; So the Christmas event is an invitation to you to journey through a period of a new awakening, a new perception about life. Many times we journey through a time when we say, "Oh, come on. How can this be? I’m too old. I can’t do this. After all, I have limitations."

On from Samaria to Judea we travel with Joseph and the pregnant Mary.

If we’re smart, we’ll pass on by our own doubts and go to Judea which is the preparation for the birth of the Christ. It literally means "praising the Lord".