Hey, I know you didn't expect to hear from me on a weekday, but I thought I would embrace the spirit of the season of giving.

And as there is only one more sleep till Christmas, I wanted to put something in your digital stocking as a thank you for listening and keeping in line with the show's goal of centering minds on the spiritual things.

What better time than this to spend a moment reflecting on the story of Jesus?

Now, this will be a little longer than what you're used to, and I know nobody asked for more Daniel doubt this week, but bear with me.

I hope it's encouraging.

What I've done is simply read through the accounts of Jesus birth, his death, and his resurrection, and I promise that any commentary from me will be minimal.

Maybe that's the best gift I could give you this year.

I'll list the sections of scripture in the show notes, but I plan to read it as one narrative.

Merry Christmas.

Let's hear the story of Jesus now.

In the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the House of David.

The virgin's name was Mary.

And having come in, the Angel said to her, Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, Blessed are you among women.

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

And the Angel said to her, Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God, and behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus.

He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the House of Jacob Forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.

And Mary said to the Angel, How can this be, since I do not know a man?

And the Angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will over shadow you.

Therefore also that holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Now indeed Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is now the 6th month for her who was called Baron.

For with God nothing will be impossible.

And Mary said, Behold, the maid servant of the Lord, let it be to me, according to your word.

And the Angel departed from her.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of a city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

And so it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered, and she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a Manger, because there was no room for them in the end.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And behold, an Angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Then the Angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be the sign to you, that you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a Manger.

And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill toward men.

And so it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherd said to one another, Let us go now to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a Manger.

Now when they had seen him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning the child.

And all those who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told them.

Now before I leave you to enjoy your Christmas, let's Fast forward and see the culmination of the plan that the birth of Christ set into motion.

Then the soldiers led him away into the hall called the Prayeratorium, and they called together the whole Garrison.

And they clothed him with purple, and twisted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and began to salute him.

Hail, King of the Jews.

And they struck him on the head with a Reed, and spat on him, and bowing the knee, they worshipped him.

And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off of him, put his own clothes onto him, and let him out to crucify him.

And they compelled a certain man, Simon, as he was coming out of the countryside to bear his cross.

And they brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is translated Place of a Skull.

And they gave him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but he did not take it.

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments, casting lots on them, to decide what every man should take.

Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

And the inscription of His accusation was written above King of the Jews.

And with Him they also crucified 2 robbers, 1 on his right and the other on his left.

So the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, And He was numbered with the transgressors, and those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying, Ah, you who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself and come down from the cross.

Likewise the chief priests also mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, He saved others, himself He cannot save.

Let the Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.

And even those who were crucified with Him reviled him.

Now when the 6th hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the 9th hour.

And at the 9th hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, Eloy, Eloy, Lama Sabakhthanai, which has translated, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

And some of those who stood by, when they heard that, they said, look, he is calling for Elijah.

Then someone ran and filled a sponge of sour wine and put it on a Reed, and offered it to him to drink, saying, Let him alone, and let us see if Elijah will come to take him down.

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed his last.

And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

So then the centurion who stood opposite him saw that he cried out like this, and breathed his last.

And he said, truly, this man was the Son of God.

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they and certain other women with them came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, and they went in, and did not find the body of Lord Jesus.

And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, 2 men stood by them in shining garments.

Then as they were afraid, and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead?

He is not here, but He is risen.

Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified.

And on the third day rise again, and they remembered his words, and then they returned from the tomb and told all of these things to the 11 and to all the rest.

And it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told them these things.

Their words seemed to them like an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

But Peter arose and ran to the tomb, and stooping down, he saw the linen clothes lying by themselves, and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

And we know the rest of the story.

It always does the sole good to see the big picture, doesn't it?

I hope you're encouraged and moved by the story of our Savior, of his birth, of his life, his death, and his resurrection.

Know that he did it for you.

If you don't usually reflect on that at this time of year, maybe you should.

Maybe we should reflect on it every day, all the while making sure it doesn't lose its impact.

I hope you have a great week.

Thank you for listening from my family to yours.

Merry Christmas.

I'll see you Sunday.