Preparing for Jesus
Preparing for Jesus is a 28-day journey through Jesus’ family tree, meant to turn your hearts and minds toward the coming King as you prepare to celebrate his arrival.
On this journey, you will encounter some familiar and not-so-familiar ancestors of Jesus, starting with Abraham and ending with Joseph and Mary. You will meet heroes and villains. And you will read stories of victories and failures.
As you take this journey, reading each entry through the lens of the Christmas story and your own experiences, each day’s entry will guide you as you take another step closer to Jesus and invite Him more fully into your heart, mind, and journey.
Coin and Dagger
Matthew was a tax collector in Roman-occupied Galilee. Despite his comfortable life, he was scorned and shunned by his fellow Judeans. To them, Matthew was a traitor who lined Rome’s coffers, and his own, at the expense of the people of Galilee.
Simon was a Zealot; loyal to God, the Judean people, and their traditions. Not content to see God’s people suffering, Simon was ready and willing to take up arms to free his homeland from Rome’s oppression and pagan influence.
Their paths had crossed before. Now a Nazarene teacher has arrived in Capernaum with new ideas and a new purpose that challenges both their worldviews in unexpected ways. Despite their differences, Matthew and Simon confront their shared history and divergent ideals as they embark on a new mission that meets strong resistance from both sides.