Moments of Light: The Gospels

By Michael Helm

About the Book

This book is a day by day journey through the Gospels, a journey where you can discover the life of Jesus as if you were actually there; seeing, hearing, and experiencing the miraculous Love of God as told by those who were closest to Him. Feel the faith of Mary even as she ponders what it will mean to bear God’s Son, and her husband Joseph as he first struggles with the news of her pregnancy, but then demonstrates the meaning of obedience to God. See the Disciples as they are profoundly transformed by Jesus’ words and the miracles they witnessed each day. Experience the emotion and bewilderment of Jesus’ followers as they helplessly watch His agonizing death, which only days later is turned to joy and awe after His resurrection. Consider Jesus’ final instructions to His followers before returning to heaven, and the effect they had on them, as well as for us today.

About the Author

Michael Helm lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his wife Shirley and their two cats. He enjoys music and the arts, growing flowers, good coffee and friends, stimulating conversations, and the outdoors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: Jan 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9798892118866

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Preface

These short messages are part of a larger body of work that encompasses the entire Bible. They were originally written for radio broadcast, with each episode intended to be self-contained as well as an integral portion of the message of the Bible as a whole. Audio files from those broadcasts are also available. All quotations from Scripture are from the New King James translation unless otherwise noted.

This volume comprises a chronological journey through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, a journey that is intended to place the reader in each moment, as if it were occurring now, and as if you were present. From the moment Zacharias met Gabriel in the Tabernacle, to the moment Jesus’ followers met the risen Savior, each person who encountered Jesus was awed and forever changed by the supernatural power of God, His tender mercies, and unfathomable Love.

These Moments are intended to cause the reader to think, to ponder and, most importantly, to respond to Jesus, to the end that each person turn and follow Him, as many also did during His time on earth. They represent many hours of waiting on the Lord Jesus, quietly listening for His voice for the right words, while constantly affirming that only His words are Truth, Light, and Life. It is my sincere hope that the reader is touched and transformed by Him, that you experience His Goodness and become aware of His faithfulness and great love, as I have while writing and preparing these Moments for publication.

August 10, 2021 – Tacoma, Washington

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Fathers And Families

Math. 1:7

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Matthew begins his account of Jesus with a genealogy, a listing of his ancestors through Joseph, His earthly father, back forty-two generations to Abraham. Joseph was a descendant of King David through Solomon, and his lineage includes some of Israel’s greatest rulers, such as Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, and Zerubbabel. Luke also includes a genealogy in his Gospel account, but through Mary, who also was a descendant of David through his son Nathan. Matthew traces Jesus back to Abraham, because His account of Jesus’ life was based on His Jewish heritage which began with Abraham. Luke traces Jesus’ ancestry back to Adam, as the focus of his book was His humanity, that He was the Savior of the whole world. Matthew starts with Joseph since ancestry and inheritance were traced through the father’s family, and Luke also starts with Joseph, but his genealogy is not Joseph’s since they differ after King David. Why is this important, and why did these men take the time to trace Jesus’ ancestry? The promise of Messiah dates back many thousands of years to the Garden of Eden, when God promised a Savior to break the curse of sin and redeem mankind. Jesus is the single most important person in human history, so it follows that being certain of his identity was equally important. The Jewish people very carefully preserved a record of their ancestry for this purpose, so that they could positively identify Messiah when He arrived, and also so that subsequent generations would not be misled by imposters. I am grateful for those in each family who meticulously kept and preserved these records so that we and countless others could identity and believe in the only God and Savior, Jesus the Christ.

An Unexpected Sign

Luke 1:63

And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, saying, His name is John. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke, praising God.

The words in our text were written by Zacharias, a priest, and the father of John the Baptist. They were first spoken by his wife Elizabeth in response to clamoring family members who were attempting to circumvent their wishes in naming the child. About nine months before, Zacharias was visited by the angel Gabriel, who told him that that his prayers had been heard; his wife would soon become pregnant and give birth to a son whom they were to name John. Zacharias didn’t believe Gabriel because he and his wife were quite old, and asked for a sign as proof this was true. The sign he received was his inability to speak during Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Zacharias learned faith and obedience the hard way, as many of us have, and the reward for his obedience is again being able to speak after being mute for over nine months. The name John means God is a gracious giver, which so appropriately defines the blessing the child would be to his parents and all those who would be saved as a result of his ministry. Gabriel promised that John would bring his parents joy and gladness, and that he would be a prophet, a forerunner of God’s Messiah, whose words would prepare the people to receive their Savior, and of whom Jesus said there was no one greater. Obedience to God is the key to His blessing, and it is one simple action that can unlock the key for reward and fulfillment we cannot imagine or contain. It is far easier to believe and obey when God speaks, sometimes by simply saying Yes, Lord, but even if we require a lesson like Zacharias, the discomfort and pain are minuscule compared with the joy of being part of God’s marvelous plan for the human race.

Let It Be Done

Luke 1:38

Then Mary said, Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

Today’s Moment concerns the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary, the mother of Jesus, where she is told that she would become pregnant with a child who would be the Son of God. Mary’s only question is how this will happen since she is a virgin, and is told that God Himself would impregnate her through His Holy Spirit. Our verse for today is her response, and I don’t think there is a more powerful declaration of faith in all of scripture. After the angel left, Mary must have been overwhelmed with her thoughts. She would have to cope with the scorn and rejection from people who would assume that she had sinned and question her virtue. And, what would she say to Joseph, her betrothed husband, how would she make him understand? Then, there was the child, who would grow up with the stigma of supposedly being born out of wedlock. Imagine the response if Mary told them the truth; who would believe her? But Mary doesn’t voice these concerns. Instead, she goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, now six months pregnant with John the Baptist, who leaps in her womb when he hears Mary’s voice greeting his mother. Then, Mary writes a song of praise to the Lord. She says her soul magnifies the Lord, who has regarded her lowly state, and future generations would call her blessed. No wonder that God chose her out of all the virgins in Israel to be the mother of His son, and rear the Savior of the world. Mary would experience much difficulty and pain as a result of her decision, but this would be eclipsed by the joy of being a mother, and especially a mother to a man who would heal and deliver countless people, as well as being an integral part of God’s plan of redemption for the world.

Immediate Obedience

Math. 1:24

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.

Joseph is betrothed to Mary, the mother of Jesus, but they are not yet married. The preceding verses tell us that Mary was found to be with child. We aren’t told how this played out, whether Mary told Joseph herself, or told someone else who told Joseph, but somehow, Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, and he knew it was not his child. He decides to end the formal betrothal and break off their relationship quietly so as not to shame her. Mary is in a precarious position, too, for under the Law it is possible that she could be stoned for her supposed offense. But Joseph was a good man and he loved her. This story could have ended here, but God had a plan; He sends an angel to speak to Joseph in a dream, telling him to take Mary for his wife, for the child she carries was conceived of the Holy Spirit and is the promised Messiah. Joseph is a man of faith, and obeys immediately. And, when Jesus is born, Joseph claims Him and then raises Him as his own. This outstanding man is an example to us all, for he undoubtedly knew the challenges both he and Mary would face; the gossip, the sideways glances, the sneers, those who would shun them, plus the responsibility of raising God’s own Son. But for Joseph, his love for God left no other alternative, and the joy of pleasing God far outweighed any personal pain. Serving and obeying God is never easy, and sometimes it is unpleasant. The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people just like Joseph and Mary who accomplished great things for Him simply by being willing, and by taking tangible steps each day to please Him. All of us can be part of that heritage, simply by saying Yes when He calls and being diligent each day.

Born To You

Luke 2:11

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

Our text was spoken by an angel from God to shepherds watching over their flocks in the hills surrounding Bethlehem. It is night, the animals have been put in an enclosure for safety from predators, and it is very dark with no light except perhaps that of a fire for warmth. The angel, who is as bright as the sun, appears without warning, and the shepherds are understandably terrified. But, the angel says, Don’t be afraid because I brings wonderful news of the birth of the promised Messiah. Then, the angel is joined by a large number of angels singing and praising God. Try to imagine this awesome sight. The sky, lit up like day, perhaps even brighter, with hundreds, maybe thousands, of angels singing about the arrival of our Savior. Then as abruptly as it started, it is over, and it is dark again. The shepherds can’t contain themselves, and go to Bethlehem to see and worship their Messiah, after which they tell everyone possible what they have seen and heard. The angel referred to Jesus using three titles: Savior, Christ, and Lord. Jesus means God is Salvation, and Jesus would give His life to save us from our sins. Christ means Anointed, or someone filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and we see God’s power displayed through Jesus throughout his ministry. Lord is a title for a ruler or king, and the Bible teaches that eventually, every person in the universe will bow and acknowledge Jesus as Supreme over everything. The angel also said Jesus is born to you, not just to Mary and Joseph, or a select few, but to everyone. God’s spectacular announcement to these lowly shepherds underscored His magnificent Gift to mankind; God Himself coming to earth to be everything we would ever need in this life and the next.

Two Witnesses

Luke 2:25, 36, 38

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher… and coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

It is about 40 days after Jesus’ birth, and Mary and Joseph bring Him to the temple to be presented to the Lord along with the required sacrifice for Mary’s ritual purification. While there, they meet two people, prophets of the Lord, sent by Him to confirm His word to them and speak words of encouragement. Both were elderly and both had been faithful to God for many years, coming daily to the temple to worship. God had promised Simeon that he would live to see God’s Messiah, and on this day, the Spirit of God led him into the temple at the exact time when Mary and Joseph were there to present their child and their offering in fulfillment of the Law. Anna had lived as a widow for most of her life, and this prophetess was so sensitive to God that she recognized what was taking place at that same moment, offering encouraging words to Mary and Joseph, and to those who happened to be nearby. This is the mercy of God, to confirm His words to these two parents who had believed them without asking for, or being provided any proof. I’m sure both of them had their moments of doubt, yet they believed, and subsequently behaved as though everything God had said was true. First, God sent angels announcing Jesus’ birth to shepherds, who then visited Mary and Joseph to tell them of that wondrous event. Now, He sends two faithful prophets to encourage those He had chosen to raise His Son, strengthening their faith for this challenging and often difficult task.

Seeking The King

Math. 2:10-11

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Men have come from the east, following a star which announced and accompanied the birth of a King. We aren’t told how many there were, or exactly where they were from, but the east in scripture generally means the region of Mesopotamia, Arabia, or Persia. They followed the stars, not in the sense that some people today practice astrology or read their daily horoscope, but in the sense of a person of both science and religious conviction. They believed that God spoke to them through the stars, just as He speaks to others in visions and dreams, and He did, leading them to a King who was God’s gift to mankind, the Savior of the world. They most likely travelled a very long ways to see this King, persistently following God’s star until they arrived in Jerusalem, causing quite a stir asking everyone they meet where they can find the King whose birth the star announced. Not the least of these was Herod, the reigning king, a wicked man who would ultimately seek to kill Jesus in a rage of paranoid jealousy. Herod pretended to be interested, but only so he could learn the Child’s location and send his soldiers to eliminate Him as a potential threat to the throne. The men followed the star to Bethlehem where they fell down and worshipped Jesus, presenting Him with costly gifts befitting of a king. I’m sure they were surprised that no one in Jerusalem knew about the arrival of their King and even more about the apparent apathy in those they met. I greatly admire these men. Their courage and conviction stimulate me to follow their example, seeking God and following Him with all of my strength.

Two Sons

Math. 2:14-15

When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt I have called my Son.

God sent an angel to speak to Joseph in a dream, telling him that King Herod intended to find and kill Jesus, and to go to Egypt and stay there until God speaks to him again. This is the second angelic visitation Joseph received, and his response this second time is exactly like the first. He obeyed God immediately, taking Mary and Jesus and leaving for Egypt that night where they stayed until God visited Him again after Herod was dead. Our text tells us that Joseph’s actions are the fulfillment of a prophesy from Hosea spoken about 700 years before. The prophecy was addressed to the Northern Kingdom of Israel who had rejected God and embraced idol worship. Hosea reminded them that God had delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt despite the fact that they worshipped some of the same false gods. God now applies this prophecy to Jesus, and the contrast is startling. Israel had disobeyed and rejected God and His ways, but Joseph demonstrated His love and commitment to God by doing exactly what He was told to do when he was told to do it. And, Jesus would behave in the same manner, repeatedly demonstrating His love for His Heavenly Father by immediate obedience to whatever He was told. God also called each of us out of slavery to sin and eternal destruction, offering eternal life through Jesus our Savior. How we respond, whether in faith and love for Him demonstrated by the same obedience exemplified by Joseph and Jesus, or merely lip service that will ultimately result in outright rejection of God, is a choice each of us must make each day.

His Father’s Business

Luke 2:49

And He said to them, Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

One of the most horrid feelings in this life is not knowing where your child is, and I imagine every parent has experienced this terrible cold, icy feeling in the pit of your stomach at least once. Joseph and Mary were returning home from Jerusalem where they had been for the past week celebrating Passover, and after one day’s journey, they realized that Jesus was not among their party. They returned to Jerusalem and looked everywhere. Three days later, which I’m sure must have seemed like three years, they finally found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers of the Law, both asking and answering questions. These learned men, highly educated and respected, were tasked with teaching the nation the