Pastor Scott's Message  Merry Christmas! We are beginning a journey through the Gospel of Matthew. Last year, we preached through John. Like last year, we start at the beginning on Christmas and go one chapter at a time until we get to the resurrection at Easter. It is a unique way to see the life of our Savior. I'm titling this sermon series "Jesus through the eyes of...." Matthew has unique characters that aren't emphasized in the other Gospels. For example, Christmas Eve we see Jesus through the eyes of Joseph. Luke emphasizes Mary, Mark has no birth narrative, and John has a creed instead. It is in Matthew that we get to know Joseph the father of Jesus. As we relate to him, our faith grows. We will get to know others along the way: a demon possessed man, pigs, Elijah, a farmer, Herod, a Canaanite woman and Matthew himself. We will try to see Jesus through their eyes. By doing so, maybe we will appreciate our Lord more and more. There is always more to discover. He reveals himself to us through his word again and again. It reminds me of my relationship with my daughters. Having kids allows you to see the world freshly through their eyes. You can read them a book that you know all too well. But when they experience it for the first time, you get something new out of it. They ask questions you hadn't thought about. They see details you didn't see. They make connections that you didn't know were there. The characters of Matthew have much to teach us. I pray that this Christmas season you can experience Jesus in a new way.
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