Wow, today we start the New Testament. Aren’t you excited? I am.
From the first few verses of Luke 1, we can see that the author wants to write a careful account “of the events that have been fulfilled among us” to the “most honorable Theophilus so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”
He starts with the story of Zechariah, a Jewish priest. He and his wife Elizabeth were from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were people of character: “righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.
This story always brings a smile to my face since it involves people who longed for children, but couldn’t have them. Now, they are so old, there is apparently no hope of their having children. But God had other ideas. While he is ministering in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appears to him and tells him his wife Elizabeth will have a son and he should be named John. He tells Zechariah the following about John:
- Many will rejoice at his birth
- He will be great in the eyes of the Lord
- He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks
- He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth (if that doesn’t tell you an unborn baby is life, I don’t know what does.)
- He will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God
- He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah
- He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord
- He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children
- He will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly
Apparently, Zechariah didn’t want to get his hopes up since he asks the angel how he can be sure this will happen, after all he and his wife are well along in years. Gabriel tells him it will happen, but since he lacked faith, he will be silent and unable to speak until the baby is born.
As you guessed, Elizabeth becomes pregnant and goes into seclusion for five months.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sends Gabriel to Nazareth to a virgin named Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David. He tells her she will conceive and bear a son whom she will name Jesus. The Lord will give him the throne of his ancestor David. When Mary asks how this can happen, Gabriel tells her the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her. Thus, the baby will be holy and be called the Son of God. He also tells her about her relative Elizabeth being six months pregnant. “For nothing is impossible with God.”
I’m sure Mary was wanting some kind of confirmation so she hurries to where Elizabeth lives. A the sound of Mary’s greeting Elizabeth’s child lept within her and Elizabeth becomes filled with the Holy Spirit. She speaks of Mary as “the mother of my Lord.” Mary breaks into praises to God.
Mary stays with Elizabeth for three months, but apparently does not stay until the birth of Elizabeth’s son. What a happy occasion for Zechariah and Elizabeth! When, at the age of eight days, John was being circumcised, the neighbors and relatives wanted to name him “Zechariah” after his father, but Elizabeth insisted on “John.” When Zechariah wrote on a tablet “his name is John,” he could speak again and began praising God. Zechariah prophesies about the birth of the Savior and about the his son who will be called “prophet of the Most High.”
John grew up and became strong in spirit and lived in the wilderness until he began his ministry to Israel.
The book of John (the Apostle) also talks about the birth of John the Baptist after opening with wonderful, almost poetic words about Jesus, the Word of God. We see that he already existed in the beginning with God, that God created everything through him and there was nothing created except through him. His life brought light to everyone and this light shines in the darkness and can never be extinguished by the darkness.
John was not the light but simply a witness of the light.
The 14th verse of John 1 is worth memorizing: “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Tomorrow, we’ll read Matthew 1 and Luke 2:1-38. Be sure to watch for the four women mentioned in the lineage of Christ in Matthew 1. Does anyone remember what they have in common?
Until next time…
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