The Way - Day 001 (Luke 1)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Luke 1:1-25
Luke begins his account of the life and ministry of Jesus by introducing his readers to a couple named Zacharias and Elizabeth who lived during the reign of Herod the Great (Matthew 2:1). Zacharias was a priest and both he and his wife were said to be "righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (1:6). Although they were living in consistent obedience to God, Luke mentions that "they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years" (1:7). In this culture, barrenness was viewed as unfavorable and a curse upon a couple resulting from some type of sinfulness against God. From all indication in Luke's writing, it seems as if Zacharias and Elizabeth had learned to live with this circumstance even though others probably looked down on them and the couple continually prayed that God would give them a child if He so chose (1:13).
 
Continuing on with life as normal, Zacharias was faithful in fulfilling his priestly duties in the temple and "...according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense" (1:9-10). Burning incense in the temple was an honor for a priest and something which individuals only had the opportunity to do once in their lifetime. Each priest who was chosen to keep the incense burning would enter the temple in the morning and evening. When Zacharias approached the altar of incense, and angel of the Lord appeared and Zacharias became fearful until the angel said, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth" (1:11-14). The angel revealed to Zacharias that his son, John, would be used by God to "turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God...to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (1:15-17); in other words, John would call people to repentance so that their hearts would be ready to receive Jesus, the soon-coming Savior of the world (see Malachi 3:1).

In disbelief of the angel's words, Zacharias questions him saying, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years" (1:18). Even though he had prayed to God for this child (1:13), Zacharias did not truly believe that He could perform this miracle. As a consequence for his lack of faith in God to do what seemed impossible, the angel (Gabriel) declared that Zacharias would "be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place..." (1:19-20). When Zacharias finally emerged from the temple he was speechless and could not verbalize his conversation with the angel (1:21-22). Zacharias returned home after his temple duties had concluded and several months later his wife gave birth, so in an act of worship she "hid herself five months saying, 'Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people'" (1:24-25).

This real-life story must remind us that God is able to do the things we think are impossible. At times, we pray for something yet question whether God can bring it to pass. I am reminded of the words of James, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (James 1:6-8).
 
Luke 1:26-80
Luke takes his readers back to the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy to detail something extremely significant which happened to a woman named Mary who was engaged to be married to Joseph (1:27). The same angel who had appeared to Zacharias in the temple also appeared to Mary saying, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.... Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God" (1:28-29). Hearing this announcement from the angel, Mary was "troubled" because she did not understand what type of "greeting" he was bringing (1:29). Commanding her not to be afraid of his words (1:30), the angel provided a further explanation of his greeting saying, "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end" (1:31-33). His name, Jesus, means Savior (Matthew 1:21) and being called the Son of the Highest implied that the child born to her would be equal with God. This baby about to be born to Mary was no ordinary child; in fact, Mary asked an obvious question to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" (1:34) Mary could not comprehend how she would give birth without being involved with a man sexually. The angel explained, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God" (1:35). Mary's child would not have an earthly father but a divine one - the Holy Spirit. Jesus would become the deliverer God had promised to the world immediately after Adam and Eve sinned in the garden (Genesis 3:15). Matthew writes, "And she [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

Not only does the angel reveal this news to Mary but also that her relative, Elizabeth, who was barren will soon conceive (1:36) reminding Mary that "with God nothing will be impossible" (1:37). Mary reacted to the angel's words saying, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word" and then the angel departed (1:38). A few days later Mary arrived at the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth (1:39-40) and together they celebrated the miracles which God had brought about in their lives (1:41-55). It is likely that Mary stayed with Zacharias and Elizabeth until their son, John (the Baptist), was born (1:56). Luke provides some of the details surrounding the birth of John. Upon giving birth to her son, the people demanded that she name him Zacharias (1:57-59) but she refused and told them that his name would be John (1:60). Continuing to argue with her, the people said, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name" (1:61). Zacharias, who still had not spoken (1:18-22), was nearby so they asked him his thoughts on naming the child (1:62). Luke records what happens next, "And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, 'His name is John.' So they all marveled. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea" (1:63-65). From this time forward, the people in that region knew that there was something unique about this son who had born to Zacharias and Elizabeth and Luke writes that "the hand of the Lord was with him" (1:66).

Zacharias, finally able to speak, breaks out in praise to God for sending the promised deliverer, Jesus, to bring redemption (1:68), salvation (1:69-70), and protection (1:71-75). he also expresses praise to God for his own son, John, who would "be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission [forgiveness] of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God...to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (1:76-79).

Dear God, thank You for fulfilling Your promise to send the One, Jesus, who would bring deliverance from sin to all who will confess and believe.