15th March
Proverbs 1:7-9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
After readings in Isaiah we start a series on Luke
As you read the Bible Stop; Read; Ponder; and Pray.
Monday Luke1:1-4
The gospel of Luke was written by a Greek doctor who accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journeys. He is the only non-Jew to write a part of the New Testament and his gospel is addressed to a man named Theophilusof whom we know nothing other than that he was probably a man of importance who had become a Christian but wasn’t completely grounded in the faith and Luke wanted to bring him up to date about all that had happened.
Luke says that many had handed down eyewitness accounts of Jesus life, death and resurrection but he had gathered a lot of things together for Theophilus so that he would know the truth and certainty of the things he had been taught. There are many books today that have been written about the life of Jesus but we are going to look at the text of Luke’s gospel so that we have a grasp of his life to put our faith in him.
Tuesday Luke 1:5-24
First of all Luke places the historical background to what he is going to say in Herod the Great’s time who lived from 72-4 BC. He then starts by telling of John the Baptist’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, righteous old couple who were childless. Zechariah was a priest and had the responsibility one day of going into the temple in Jerusalem to burn incense as worshipers outside were praying. Incense was symbolic of prayers but the responsibility of doing this was chosen by lot and may only have happened to a priest once in a lifetime so this was a special time for Zechariah. Whatever else his prayers would be about the central prayer of the people would always be for God’s promised Messiah to come to rescue Israel from their contemporary position and to bring in the promised peace and joy of God’s settled Kingdom.
He is confronted with an angel whilst about his duties and is told that the angel is Gabriel and gives him a special announcement that his prayers have been heard and that Elizabeth will have a son who will bring joy and delight to them but more than that he will have a ministry among the people calling them back to a righteous readiness for the Lord.
Zechariah is doubtful and because of this he will be punished by a time of dumbness, unable to speak what he has heard, for a time. The people outside realised something had happened in the Temple but the next five months pass in seclusion with his message unheard.
The person of Jesus is fixed in history and signs are given that show that something distinct and special is revealed about him.
Wednesday Luke 1:26-38
This passage is called the Annunciation which is where the angel Gabriel comes to Mary in Nazareth and announces to her that she will conceive and give birth to a son who is to be named Jesus (which is the same as Joshua meaning Jahweh is Saviour). He will reign over Israel as King David did but his reign will last forever. This intimation showed that he would be the expected Messiah prophesied from of old.
Mary questions how this could be because of her virgin status and the angel tells her that he who was to be born was not going to be the son of her and Joseph but that the boy was to be of the Holy Spirit of God. It declares that Man is impotent to bring about his own salvation. Jesus is born of man but is also the Son of God. The early fathers spoke of the hypostatic union of God and Man in Jesus Christ. He was fully God and fully Man, two natures, but united in one person.
Mary’s response was a gracious and humble acceptance of the word and intention of God – “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled”
Thursday Luke 1:39-45
As a result of what the angel told Mary she hurried to the town in the hill country of Judea where Elizabeth and Zechariah lived. On reaching her Elizabeth felt the movement of her child within her and inspired by the Holy Spirit uttered the words uttered the words oft repeated about Mary, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear!”. We shouldn’t imagine that the blessings she uttered implied a kind of equivalence between Mary and her son for reading on we will see that this is not so. Elizabeth expresses her own amazement that she should be blessed by having Mary, who she describes as “the Mother of my Lord”, visit her. She realises that the one to be born is not just a son of Mary but in fact is her Lord. She congratulates Mary in accepting by faith the word spoken to her and as such she exemplifies for all the faith that saves.
Friday Luke 1:46-56
This song of Mary’s has long been called the Magnificat after the Latin word at its start, it is a song of praise to God from the heart of Mary. She reflects on her lowly status not being of power or note among the people of her day but realises generations will call her blessed by God. We note also that she says that his mercy extends to all who fear or reverence Him in contrast to those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
She notes that when she gives birth to Jesus it will be a completion of the promises God had made away back in the time of Abraham when he promised to be with him and his descendants and through him to bless the world.
She stayed with Elizabeth for three months, that is until the time of John’s birth before returning home.
Saturday Luke 1:57-80
We have the birth of John now and the joy that Elizabeth’s neighbours and relatives felt for her after many years of barrenness however, when the time for his circumcision came, which was the sign of God’s covenant with Israel, his name was a surprise to those around. Elizabeth said his name was to be John thus fulfilling the Angel’s message (John means “God is gracious”) and then on asking Zechariah he confirmed the name in writing and was given back his power of speech.
If there is a message for us it is that our communications should be in accord with the word of God The song of praise that is then uttered by Zacharias is called the Benedictus after the first word in Latin. As well as praise to God for his fulfilment again of his promise to Abraham (v73) he goes on to speak of the role of his son who will be a prophet who will prepare the way for the coming of Christ.