December 28 - Christmas

Isaiah 52:13-54:10 - I believe that Old Testament prophecy speaks about Jesus, but for anyone who has doubts, this section of Isaiah is remarkable. If you usually read this once during the day, consider reading small chunks of this passage throughout the day, and consider the ways in which Isaiah is speaking about Jesus.

Matthew 2:13-23 - Jesus is often spoken of as the new Israel or "Israel reduced to one". God often referred to the nation of Israel as His "son", and in this way Jesus comes to fulfill the role that Israel regularly failed at. His going into Egypt in this reading is one of the first ways this is done. Later we will see Jesus tested in the wilderness. Matthew's Gospel will show us again and again the ways in which God was preparing the world for Jesus.