Today marks the eighth day since we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Eight days after the actual birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph kept the Jewish custom of officially naming the baby. In the case of their child, there was no mystery whatsoever what name they would give. An angel had brought them a directive from heaven. They were told to name their boy-baby Jesus. It’s a name that means, “The LORD saves,” or “Savior.” They were to give him this name because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1)

At this time each year, you very likely play a couple roles.  On the one hand, you play the role of giver.  You will be the giver of gifts.  And on the other, you will be the recipient of the gifts of others.  Each year there is this sort of “exchange” that happens.  We give…we get.  We give…we get.  Which is better?  Kids probably like the getting.  As we get older, perhaps we prefer the joy of giving.

To begin with this morning, we are going to try to imagine what it was like to be a child of God in and around Jerusalem 700 years before Jesus was born.   There were no hospitals and urgent care centers.  There were no pharmaceuticals. 

“How’s it going?”  “You know, same-old, same-old.”  How many times has that little dialogue been repeated?  Perhaps you have been the one to answer with the “same-old, same-old.”  Just what is meant by that… “same-old, same-old”?  Same-old, same-old means things are routine, normal, ordinary, unchanged and unchanging.  Some might say boring, tedious, unexciting.

There is no doubt whatsoever what Pontius Pilate wanted people to see when he had Jesus of Nazareth crucified.  Pinned onto the cross along with Jesus was a sign Pilate had prepared.  It said: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”  He had it printed on the sign in three languages.  It was written in Aramaic so the Jews could read it.  It was written in Latin.  Latin was the official language of the Roman empire.  And just in case there was anyone in town who didn’t know Aramaic or Latin, he also had it written in Greek, which was pretty much known throughout the Mediterranean world.