December 9th, 2023
by Ellie Sanazaro, Webster Kids Director
by Ellie Sanazaro, Webster Kids Director

Scripture
“The Scriptures say that the Messiah will come from the family of King David. Doesn't this mean that he will be born in David's hometown of Bethlehem?” - John 7:42
Reflection
“Mom, how tall is God?”
[Gosh, I love kids’ questions.]
“Well, God is everywhere, so it’s hard to say exactly how tall he is, but he’s really big,” I responded to my 5 year-old, thinking that answer would suffice.
“But what about Jesus? He was a human, so how tall was he? Was he everywhere like God? I thought he was God. Was he a giant human?”
Oh boy. The questions kept coming. And I wasn’t sure I’d had enough coffee yet to explain the hypostatic union to a preschooler.
Questions about who Jesus is aren’t new. And they’ll probably continue into eternity.
Whether it’s a 5 year-old wanting to know how a probably 5’5ish man could also be God
…or a deconstructing twenty something trying to sort out Jesus’ role in the atonement
…or a 1st century Jew questioning how a Galilean could be the Messiah
many of us have questions about Jesus because who exactly Jesus is does remain something of a beautiful mystery.
The men in our passage today were arguing about one such question:
“Can the Messiah come from Galilee? The Scriptures say that the Messiah will come from the family of King David. Doesn't this mean that he will be born in David's hometown of Bethlehem?” John 7:42
Whoever asked this question was right. The prophets had foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, the town of David:
Bethlehem Ephrath, you are one of the smallest towns in the nation of Judah. But the LORD will choose one of your people to rule the nation--someone whose family goes back to ancient times. Micah 5:2
Like a branch that sprouts from a stump, someone from David's family will someday be king. Isaiah 11:1
Someday I will appoint an honest king from the family of David, a king who will be wise and rule with justice. Jeremiah 23:5
So while I don’t have the time or knowledge to perfectly explain many of the mysteries of Jesus, I can answer this question.
Yes, Jesus was from Galilee. And, yes, it had been prophesied that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. But what the person asking this question likely didn’t know was that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Roughly 30 years before, a very pregnant Mary and her fiance traveled a long distance to Bethlehem to register in the census. And in the town of Bethlehem, in a stable, Jesus was born and laid in a manger. Of the line of David and with the prophesied birthplace, Jesus fit the description of the foretold Messiah.
And so, John 7:42, though short and simple, serves as a reminder of the faithfulness of God. It reminds us that God kept his promises and did what he said he would.
There remain many questions about who Jesus is. And while they may not have as straightforward an answer as this one, they are all worth asking and exploring. Jesus is worth getting to know.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your word and the knowledge it gives us about you and your son, Jesus. Help us to continue to explore who Jesus is in this beautiful advent season. Reveal yourself to us, we pray. Amen.
“The Scriptures say that the Messiah will come from the family of King David. Doesn't this mean that he will be born in David's hometown of Bethlehem?” - John 7:42
Reflection
“Mom, how tall is God?”
[Gosh, I love kids’ questions.]
“Well, God is everywhere, so it’s hard to say exactly how tall he is, but he’s really big,” I responded to my 5 year-old, thinking that answer would suffice.
“But what about Jesus? He was a human, so how tall was he? Was he everywhere like God? I thought he was God. Was he a giant human?”
Oh boy. The questions kept coming. And I wasn’t sure I’d had enough coffee yet to explain the hypostatic union to a preschooler.
Questions about who Jesus is aren’t new. And they’ll probably continue into eternity.
Whether it’s a 5 year-old wanting to know how a probably 5’5ish man could also be God
…or a deconstructing twenty something trying to sort out Jesus’ role in the atonement
…or a 1st century Jew questioning how a Galilean could be the Messiah
many of us have questions about Jesus because who exactly Jesus is does remain something of a beautiful mystery.
The men in our passage today were arguing about one such question:
“Can the Messiah come from Galilee? The Scriptures say that the Messiah will come from the family of King David. Doesn't this mean that he will be born in David's hometown of Bethlehem?” John 7:42
Whoever asked this question was right. The prophets had foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, the town of David:
Bethlehem Ephrath, you are one of the smallest towns in the nation of Judah. But the LORD will choose one of your people to rule the nation--someone whose family goes back to ancient times. Micah 5:2
Like a branch that sprouts from a stump, someone from David's family will someday be king. Isaiah 11:1
Someday I will appoint an honest king from the family of David, a king who will be wise and rule with justice. Jeremiah 23:5
So while I don’t have the time or knowledge to perfectly explain many of the mysteries of Jesus, I can answer this question.
Yes, Jesus was from Galilee. And, yes, it had been prophesied that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. But what the person asking this question likely didn’t know was that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Roughly 30 years before, a very pregnant Mary and her fiance traveled a long distance to Bethlehem to register in the census. And in the town of Bethlehem, in a stable, Jesus was born and laid in a manger. Of the line of David and with the prophesied birthplace, Jesus fit the description of the foretold Messiah.
And so, John 7:42, though short and simple, serves as a reminder of the faithfulness of God. It reminds us that God kept his promises and did what he said he would.
There remain many questions about who Jesus is. And while they may not have as straightforward an answer as this one, they are all worth asking and exploring. Jesus is worth getting to know.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your word and the knowledge it gives us about you and your son, Jesus. Help us to continue to explore who Jesus is in this beautiful advent season. Reveal yourself to us, we pray. Amen.
Posted in Advent Devotional
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2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11Friends Along the Way | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 12The Loneliness of Fear | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 13Not Through With You Yet | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 14Clinging to Hope | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 15Bring It To The King | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 16Pray When Unsteady | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 17Courage to Stand for Faith | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 18Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 3A Holy Rage | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 19Focus on What is Holy | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 20Fast for Justice and Kindness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 21The World is Harsh and Beautiful | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 22I Feel Sorry for Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 23i flipped a table once | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 24Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 4Ain’t Got Nothin’ | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 25
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
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