Emily Parke Chase
Ready for another installment on this Advent series on “Parenting Jesus”? Jesus told lots of parables about family life. There is the obvious story about the rebellious prodigal son, a gracious father and an angry elder brother, but you may remember also the story of the father who asked his two sons to work …
Read More Advent 2015: Day17Thanks for continuing with me on this journey through my Advent series on “Parenting Jesus.” Crowds began to follow Jesus everywhere he went. Mark 1:45 tells us that at times the number of people gathered around Jesus made it impossible for him to enter a town. Two chapters later in 3:20,21 – also …
Read More Advent 2015: Day 16Ready for another Advent devotional in this series on “Parenting Jesus”? In a small town, neighbors all know each other’s business. And Nazareth was no different. Everyone knew not only Jesus but his father and mother. Luke, in chapter 4, describes what it was like when Jesus returned to his home town. He …
Read More Advent 2015: Day 15Here we are again with the next devotional in this Advent series on “Parenting Jesus.” After the wedding celebration in Cana described in John chapter 2, Jesus went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers and his disciples. This is the apostle John’s first mention of Jesus’ brothers. Often I forget that …
Read More Advent 2015: Day 14Jesus attended the wedding in Cana along with his mother and his disciples. As we noted yesterday, Mary quietly approached Jesus, drew him aside, and whispered in his ear, “They have no wine left.”
Read More Advent 2015: Day 13Most of us remember the story of Jesus turning the water into wine, but what does this event reveal about his mother, Mary? Today as you read John 2:1-11, pause before you rush to the climax of the story. Look at the event from Mary’s perspective.
Read More Advent 2015: Day 12Secrets are hard to keep in a small town, but there was one huge secret in Nazareth: Joseph knew he was not the biological father of his oldest son.
Read More Advent 2015: Day 11Luke twice records that Mary pondered extraordinary events in her heart. Instead of seeking the advice of other mothers, she went off by herself and sat quietly with her own thoughts, sorting the fragments like broken potsherds. How did all the pieces fit together?
Read More Advent 2015: Day 10Luke 2:19 tells us that at the time of Jesus’ birth, Mary treasured up inside her heart all the amazing events that occurred at that time. After the trip to Jerusalem, Mary did it again. She privately pondered the words spoken by her son. By the time Jesus was 12 years old, he …
Read More Advent 2015: Day 9On one of those annual trips to Jerusalem, Jesus wandered off. At least that is how Mary and Joseph perceived it. Jesus knew where he was headed so there was no “wandering” at all.
Read More Advent 2015: Day 8