As we come to the close of Paul’s letters to the Colossians, having asked for prayer that a door would be opened for the gospel in his time, Paul now commends a pair of his co-laborers who are assisting him in his gospel ministry. The character traits these companions are commended for make an important profile for Christians to display as we work and pray for the successful spread of the gospel in our time.

Jesus told many parables over the course of His ministry, teaching many things about the kingdom of God. But none was as poignant as the parable He told of His own impending death, just days away on the cross. Though He was God’s beloved Son and the owner of all creation, He was rejected and killed by the very people He came to save. But after three days, He would become the capstone: the rock of salvation who alone can save us from the crushing judgement our sin deserves.

As the time drew near for Jesus to go to the cross, his opponents launched a united assault to question His authority. Jesus not only evaded their trap, but turned the tables, confirming His complete control over the events before Him. We marvel not only at the authority of our Savior, but that He has conveyed His authority to us as we go forth at His command to make disciples of all nations.

As we return to Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we come to some of his final thoughts following his household instructions. He closes with some important commands for how believers are to conduct their prayer life, especially for the advance of the gospel, and how they are to conduct their lives in relation to those outside of the church.

At the end of Luke 19, Jesus fulfills His prophetic office with both compassionate words and zealous action. He weeps over the lost while doing something about it: decisively cleansing the temple and restoring biblical teaching. We need such a prophetic Savior today. One who warns us, cleanses us, instructs us, and delivers us through His own glorious death and resurrection.

We often view sickness as something to be feared, or as a barrier to God’s work, but as with everything else in the lives of His people, the Lord uses sickness for His glory. Though never pleasant, it is always a powerful tool in His employ to humble us, remind us of His grace, equip us for service, and prepare us for glory. Along with the Psalmist, we may confess “It was good for me to be afflicted” when our afflictions draw us to the Savior who died to heal us forever.

As we revisit the episode in Matthew’s gospel covering the Magi, we will see that the evangelist introduces three prophecies that find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. And Matthew wants us to pay careful attention to the reality that these prophecies about Jesus were sovereignly fulfilled by God, so that we would have utter confidence in the Father and his redeeming work.

Matthew’s account of the birth of Christ has some important themes to teach us about the arrival of Jesus. We will also see the Magis’ joyous response to the new King, which stands in stark and ironic contrast to the response of king Herod to his divine rival.

The traditional Palm Sunday text of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem may seem out of place at Christmas, but it reminds us that Jesus was not just Lord at his birth. He was Lord in the days leading up to His suffering, death, and resurrection and remains the sovereign Lord of all creation. The King has come in glory and will return in greater glory, bringing ultimate liberation from sin and death to all who trust in Him.

Most of us are risk averse. We prefer playing it safe to the uncertainty of potential loss. But in the Parable of the Ten Minas, Jesus says we must pursue an aggressive investment strategy as His disciples. Between His two Advents, we must actively invest our lives in the work of His kingdom, resisting the temptation to merely coast along. Such investment is possible through the grace of the Savior who first purchased our salvation on the cross.