Death does not have the final say over us or those we love but see no longer. She danced as a reminder of our hope in Jesus and the power of his resurrection.

You cannot understand the Last Supper and the Crucifixion without hearing the echoes of the Passover, and you definitely cannot understand Jesus’ ministry without seeing it in the context of the Exodus. Even in the waning days of Christmas, we are reminded: Passover and the Cross are closer than they appear because of Matthew Chapter 2. As hard as he tried, Herod never had a chance of stopping this New Exodus. God’s work of salvation was destined to begin in Bethlehem and to come out of the

The joy of Christmas manifests itself because of the joy Christ brings into the world. It’s as simple as that: Jesus brings the joy of heaven with him to earth. What Jesus offers is a deeper joy than anything this world can give. It’s a joy that lacks sentimentality and will not quickly fade like momentary bouts of happiness. It is a joy that is real and authentic to our lived experiences. It doesn’t bypass the tougher parts of life, pushing them under the rug.