🙏 We praise You, Heavenly Father, for Your Word, Your love, and Your faithfulness. It is through the work of Your son, Jesus, our Lord, King, and Savior, that we can be assured of greater things to come. You are our hope. 💖 We ask that as we begin our study of the Gospel of Luke that You guide us and speak to us. Show us ourselves and show us our savior. Amen.
This is my favorite Gospel account to review. I often get stuck in logical, rational human thought that wants to draw me away from the supernatural and fantastic Gospel message. Luke’s perspective removes those distractions.
Introduction
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 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.
Points to Ponder: This introduction is powerful, brilliant writing. There is so much packed into these TWO sentences. We know from looking forward into Acts, that Luke, a physician, was a companion of Paul during his ministry. He would have met Peter, John and other people who personally walked with Jesus – actual eyewitnesses. He carefully investigated the claims the apostles made, declared them to have been fulfilled, and is now determined to write them in an orderly manner so someone else can be certain of the truth. That someone else is Theophilus; it also helps me and perhaps, you.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Points to Ponder: Some key points in this section – God’s timing and God’s power. Like Abraham and Sarah, who were both very old, (Genesis 18:14), Zechariah and Elizabeth are also too old for children, even though they apparently prayed for a child! They are both descendants of Aaron, the Levite, the tribe given the priestly responsibilities for Israel. When Zechariah sees the angel, he is afraid. When the angel delivers the good news, Zechariah questions him out loud, with a self-focused question, “How can I be sure?” – speaking his lack of faith. (Not a good look for a priest of Israel.) The angel responds with shutting his mouth until the truth of John’s birth is revealed. 🤐
Elizabeth’s response brings to mind the OT narrative of Hannah asking the Lord for a Son, who she will give back to the Lord. Hannah gave birth to Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.” (See 1 Samuel 1:20)
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “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.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “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.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Points to Ponder: This section is a great contrast to what just happened with Zechariah. Mary is also troubled, but she keeps quiet – she just wonders. The same angel delivers her good news. Her question is focused on understanding the truth of the message. “How will this be?” She hears the explanation and accepts her role in God’s plan.
This is Luke’s set up for what we know will happen as Jesus delivers the message of the coming Kingdom. The Pharisees and religious leaders will have difficulty accepting it; the young, the humble, and the broken are better positioned to hear and accept a message of hope.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she 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!”
Points to Ponder: Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit is already working here. Mary’s greeting affects both Elizabeth and the baby in her womb. Elizabeth’s summary line summarizes the distinction between Zechariah and Mary – one believed, one didn’t.
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Points to Ponder: This song is a reminder of Hannah’s Prayer (1 Samuel 2). The reader will flash back to the OT and think about the history of the nation of Israel. The Old Testament ends abruptly with no conclusion, just promises. We remember Luke’s introduction mentioning ‘things that were fulfilled’ and we start to think… wait, you mean ALL the Old Testament promises and prophesies?
Mary’s song includes the ‘from now on’ phrase which tells us that she understands the significance of Jesus’ birth… all generations. Yet, her humble astonishment remains as she glorifies the Lord and rejoices in His mercy extending from generation to generation… just as He promised to Abraham.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Points to Ponder: Evidence that the angel’s words were true. Zechariah speaks! This time, though, he praises God. (Better look for a priest!!!) And he breaks out in song!
Zechariah’s Song
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 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.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
Points to Ponder: It is interesting how Luke compares the priest, Zechariah, with the humble, young, woman, Mary, with these two songs. One, an older man with status, position, and respect in the community. The other, a teenage girl, about to give up everything the world has to offer. Definitely two different paths, but they are both filled with the Holy Spirit – the word choices are meaningful as they are now part of Scripture. Mary, a teenage girl, weaves many Old Testament references in her song. Zechariah prophesies the purpose of John the Baptist specifically mentioning his child’s purpose – preparing the way for the Lord to give people the knowledge of their salvation through the forgiveness of sins. This contrast weaves together the OT and the NT, again, helping Luke show the reader that Jesus is the fulfillment of OT promises.
Both of these songs praise and glorify God.
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
Story Time – After Sunday school, when the children would learn their roles for a Christmas play, my daughter was in the backseat and told us she had memorized her lines… (‘Lines,’ I thought, she was like 3 or 4 years old!) She recited proudly, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a degreed that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world… and everyone went to their own town to register.” Talk about planting seeds – at that time she knew more Scripture than I did. (Hearing ‘Caesar Augustus’ from a preschooler makes any parent wake up from worrying about what to make for lunch!) The spiritual hit was so impactful that I’m glad I wasn’t driving. Still, I made no decision at that time to answer God’s call to me; still too many thorns and thistles in my path.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Points to Ponder: Not a lot of details about Joseph in this Gospel because remember, Luke is looking for eyewitness accounts and careful investigation. By the time Luke heard the Gospel from Paul, Joseph has died. He includes the historical markers of political leadership and census requirements that helps us understand certain prophetic details… Is He Jesus from Nazareth… or Jesus of Bethlehem? Yes.
Also, what appears to be just a fun little anecdotal note about an angel appearing again, this time to shepherds. Again, the shepherds are afraid and the angel tell them not to be, then delivers the good news of their savior. Then a whole host of angels appear, praising God. They proclaim glory for God in heaven and peace to those upon whom God’s favor rests. (T.T. – Tough Teaching – this doesn’t seem to imply ALL people.)
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Points to Ponder: Simeon – a character that helps bridge the OT and NT, adding detail to Jesus being the fulfillment of God’s promises in the OT. We see Joseph and Mary as poor here since their consecration offering is a pair of doves or two young pigeons. Simeon praises God and pronounces the cultural and spiritual upheaval that this child will cause in Israel.
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Points to Ponder: This section brings to mind that there were still people that were part of the faithful remnant of the people of Israel. Mary and Joseph are still obedient to the covenant laws given by Moses. Simeon and Anna are pictures of those who live with hope, holding on to the promises of God. The details of Anna’s marriage survive long after she has passed away, a testimony to her patient perseverance. Anna gives thanks to God… then spoke to others! Here we see that even before Jesus’ ministry has begun, seeds of hope are being planted almost thirty years earlier.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Points to Ponder: We see an interesting contrast to what obedience means. We know that Mary and Joseph were obedient to the laws of Moses. We assume they raise Jesus with this trait, as well. Many dismiss this story as the time ‘they lost Jesus’. Critics think this is a time when Jesus sinned by disobeying His parents. (In this Gospel, these are the first words of Jesus.)
Summary: Chapters 1 and 2 – Luke lays out a thread of fulfillment between the promises of the Old Testament and the New Testament by introducing people and God’s direct intervention in their lives. Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, Anna, and some shepherds. There is no room for individual pride – it was not good for man to be alone! (Genesis 2:18) God fulfills His promises through generations – through families, communities, and nations. Relationships are important, faithfulness is important, and patient perseverance is key.
🙏 Heavenly Father, we are not a generation of people that honor You as we should. In a world broken by sin, we sometimes lose the hope of the Gospel message. We sometimes focus too much on ourselves. Thank You for Your forgiveness and thank You for Your Word. Let Your favor rest on us, bringing us peace and the restoration of our souls. Let our submission to you be like Mary’s – all to bring You glory. Amen.