Luke 1 - Two Cousins Who Changed the World!

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Today we start the third gospel, the gospel of Luke. Like Matthew, Luke took a lot of his material from Mark and then added his own unique stories. Here are some of the distinctives of Luke. 

1. The specific purpose of Luke's gospel it to write an "orderly" account of the events that had happened. So this is a historical account of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Luke includes details, which are only available to us through his writings. 

With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. Luke 1-3-4

2. Luke wrote both Luke and Acts. In the book of Acts much of the material comes from Paul's conversion and subsequent missionary journeys, which Luke accompanied him on. The prologues to Luke and Acts say essentially the same thing. I.e. I am writing to most excellent Theophilus about the things that have happened among us. Theophilus' name means "lover of God". Some think he is a generous benefactor in the early church 

3. Luke has a lot of emphasis on the Holy Spirit in his gospel, especially in the birth narrative. Luke starts with the lineage of John the Baptist through Zechariah, and how he came to be born. Luke's birth story focuses more on Mary than Joseph, who  is focused on in Matthew's gospel. 

Since Luke writes his gospel to his readers so that they "would know the certainty of what they are taught", we can also be more confidence of what we believe through Luke's gospel. Luke reminds us again that the life, death, and resurrection is a real event that happened in human history some 2,000 years ago. It is the most attested to literature in antiquity!  

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

Both Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, belonged to the priestly line. Elizabeth came from the line of Aaron, the first priest, and brother of Moses. Elizabeth had gotten up in age and still was without child. That was all going to change as when Zechariah was serving in the temple, suddenly an angel appeared to him. The angel told him that the Lord had heard his cry and Elizabeth was finally pregnant. 

John would be a very special boy and be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. This is very unusual. As Christians, we are born once naturally, then "born again" spiritually when we come to faith. See John 3:3

John's specific ministry would be to bring the people back to the Lord by calling on them to repent of their sin. He would prepare the road for the Messiah. John was put in the same company of Elijah, the greatest prophet in Israel's history. Though John was given a direct message from Gabriel, God's angel, John still questioned the birth because Elizabeth's age. We don't know her exact age from the bible, but most think she was in her 50's or 60"s. 

John did not believe the angel Gabriel, so the angel told him he would not be able to speak again until the baby was born. When John went home with Elizabeth, she became pregnant and remained in seclusion for 5 months. 

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

A month later God sent Gabriel with more good news, this time he went to Mary, who was a virgin pledged to be married to Joseph. Joseph was the line of David, Israel's greatest king. The angel came to Mary and said, 

 “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

It says Mary was "troubled". It would have been very frightening for an angel to show up at her doorstep. Any time an angel shows up in the bible, the person who encounters the angel is always very frightened. The first words are usually, "Don't be afraid!" Angels are very intimidating, probably not like the cute little angels on "Precious Moments" cards. But she was also troubled by the words that she was "highly favored". She didn't know what this meant. 

The fact that Mary was troubled at his saying shows her humility. Mary was surprised to hear such extravagant words said of her.

If she is troubled about these first words look what the angel says next, 

Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

First of all, Mary was a virgin so that fact that she would conceive would have blown her away. Her child would be named Jesus, which meant, "God saves". On top of that he was would be a called the Son of God. In the Jewish faith, God "Yahweh" was so holy to think that one's child would be called a "Son of the Most High" would have been overwhelming. On top it this, He would be a king, greater than even King David. He would reign forever and his kingdom would never end. 

He will be called the Son of the Highest: Jesus would be the son of Mary, but not only her son; He would also be, and be known as, the Son of God.

The throne of His father David: He will be the Messiah prophesied to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), who has the rightful authority to rule over Israel, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

It is not a surprise that Mary wondered how this could be, since she was only a virgin. Once again we see Luke's emphasis on the Holy Spirit, 

“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

Mary is given two promises. One the Holy Spirit would "overshadow" her. Second, as a sign that this promise would come true her relative (cousin) Elizabeth was already in the 6th month of her own pregnancy. Elizabeth's conception after many years of barrenness is similar to her conceiving as a virgin. Then we here of the extraordinary faith of the Virgin Mary when she says, 

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

We see her humility once again. It is not about her. She is the Lord's servant, so if God wants her to be the mother of the Son of the Most High then so be it. We see her faith as well. when she says, "May your word be fulfilled". 

Again the focus is on "God's Word". Servants are willing to do whatever God asks of them and trust in God's Word to be fulfilled. 

“It was inevitable that clouds would gather around her character, which would sorely perplex the good man to whom she was betrothed. But as soon as she realized that this lot was ordained for her by God, she humbly acquiesced, with these model words of patient faith.” (Meyer)

All this took more trust in the Lord than we might think. Mary agreed to receive a pregnancy that would be seen as suspicious, and this in a culture that had a potential death penalty for adultery. Mary identified herself with sinners so that the purpose of God would be fulfilled. (Guzik)

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Mary was so excited about the prospect of her cousin Elizabeth being pregnant, which would also confirm her own pregnancy, that she and Joseph traveled some 80 to 100 miles from Galilee to the hill country in Judea. When she got to Elizabeth's home, and Elizabeth heard her greeting, the baby leapt in her womb and she was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit. It would be interesting to know how she felt that. Once again Luke's emphasis on the Holy Spirit. 

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth exclaimed, 

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Not only was that her cousin was pregnant in her old age, but also the reverence and blessing she gave to Mary was confirmation of what Gabriel had told Mary. Mary was blessed. She was blessed because of the child growing in her belly, but also she was blessed because she believed in faith what the Lord had told her. 

We are always blessed, when we listen to God's word and walk in faith and obedience to what it tells us to do. 

Mary responds to all these blessings with a song we call "The Magnificat". Also known as "Mary's Song". The word "Magnificat" means, "My soul magnifies the Lord". 

As you read and meditate on her inspired praise song notice the focus on what God has done for her and his faithfulness to keep His promises. We continue to see her humility and her tender spirit. 

The Birth of John the Baptist

John is finally born, and as neighbors came to rejoice with her, the time came for them to circumcise and name the boy. Apparently the community had a role in naming one's child, as they wanted to name him "Zechariah", after His father. Elizabeth along with Zechariah knew his name was to be John from the angel's command in 1:3, so she said, “No! He is to be called John: This took a lot of courage as well.

The people were not convinced of this name and presumed that Elizabeth had made a mistake. After all, no one in their family was named John. So Zechariah motioned for them to give him something to write on, and he wrote the words, "His name is John!" Immediately he got his voice back and praised God! Once again John's faith brought him the blessings that all these things came to pass just as the angel had said it would.

William Barclay relates the custom of the time: “When the time of the birth was near at hand, friends and local musicians gathered near the house. When the birth was announced and it was a boy, the musicians broke into song, and there was universal congratulation and rejoicing. If it was a girl, the musicians went silently and regretfully away!”

It was fitting that Zacharias’ first words were praise to God. His chastisement for disobedience had not made him bitter. Instead, it made him want to trust God all the more, at every opportunity.

Zechariah’s Song

Zechariah had his own song to sing. He too was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied. Zechariah recounted the promises God had made through the royal covenant with David. His mouth now open, Zechariah was filled with a new confidence and excitement. Zechariah had a very good idea of just how important his son's role would be in preparing people for the Messiah. 

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation

    through the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79 to shine on those living in darkness

    and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Luke chapter 1 is quite a chapter. We see three people Elizabeth, Zechariah, and Mary used mightily, as they responded to the angels and walked in faith. They would all be remembered for their role in the salvation story through these two very important events. The birth of John the Baptist, and his cousin Jesus! 

Where is God calling you to step out in faith as a response to His Word knowing that He will honor all of His promises to us too!