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Studies in the Gospel of Christ according to Luke, 1
CHRIST, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
1
Abd al-Masih and Colleagues
1
(Luke 1:1 - 2:12)
 |
Waters-of-Life
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065 – Version 27.3.2004
English Title: Christ, the Savior of the World, 1 - Luke 1:1 - 2:12
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INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE
Our human language is not wide enough to contain the riches of the Savior of the World. This is why the Holy Spirit led certain men to clarify the unique Gospel in several ways and to produce four distinctive portraits of the person Jesus Christ, also to proclaim his victory over distresses, diseases, sins, death, Satan, and the wrath of God.
In the guidance of the inspiring Spirit, the evangelist Matthew proved to the Jews that Jesus of Nazareth who came from the despised Galilee was indeed the promised Christ who fulfilled the Old Testament predictions and the laws of God in his life and resurrection.
The evangelist Mark, an associate of Peter, explained to the believers in Rome who were surrounded with thousands of gods and idols, that Christ Jesus was the true Son of God and the Lord of Lords who reigns over all the powers opposite to God.
Luke, the Greek physician, presented Christ as a merciful Savior to all mankind, who established by his coming God’s peace on earth and a new era to the world.
And the evangelist John expressed in the words of the Greek philosophy the deep love of God made incarnate in Christ to enable us to obtain eternal life though living faith.
Each one of the four evangelists bore witness to a certain circle of people and conditions. Yet, Jesus Christ is the decisive answer to their numerous questions and abstract problems.
Who is the Evangelist Luke?
The other three evangelists were Jewish believers, Aramaic speakers, of Hebrew standpoint. They all translated the words and historic events of Jesus into Greek. However, the evangelist Luke was Greek of Gentile origin. He did not belong to the culture of the Old Testament. This experienced physician and cultured man of travel had command in clarifying the message of the gospel in Greek. His fluent and effective use of language sometimes surpassed that of the apostle Paul.
It is possible that Luke lived for a considerable period in Antioch and participated in raising the church formed of believers of Gentile origin (Acts 11:20-24). He knew Paul from the beginning of his missionary journeys and accompanied him personally on his second voyage from Troas to Philippi where he stayed to strengthen the new church (Acts 16:10). When Paul came back from his third journey and passed by Philippi (Acts 20:6), he took his spiritual brother with him on his long voyage to Jerusalem (Acts 21:17). During Paul’s imprisonment in Caesarea (AD 58-60) Luke drew together material, which he later used in the composition of his gospel. At last, the physician Luke accompanied the apostle Paul during his last journey to Rome sharing his shipwreck and remaining with him until he died by martyrdom. During those three periods of the apostle Paul’s company, Luke depicted the events employing the first person “we”, as Paul’s student, eyewitness and companion.
Paul himself mentioned Luke three times by name and called him his beloved and faithful fellow laborer (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11), which clarifies to us the deep impression of Paul’s theological thoughts about justification by grace on Luke’s gospel which testified complete salvation to all mankind (2:14; 3:4-6; 24:26). This privilege of grace can only be obtained by faith (7:50; 15:1; 17:10; 18:14; 19:1-10; 23:34,43). Whoever enters into this grace finds in it the spring of everlasting joy (1:46-47; 6:23; 13:17; 15:5-10, 23; 19:6; 24:41,52).
How Did Luke Write His Gospel?
The wise physician wanted to know more accurately about the life of Christ than he had heard from Paul and the early Christians in Antioch. He accompanied his teacher (in AD 58) to Jerusalem and met James, Jesus’ brother, whom he joined in companionship as a child in one family. Furthermore, the evangelist sought details from Peter and the other apostles also from many eyewitnesses of the life of Jesus about their experiences with the merciful Lord (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8,21; John 15:26).
First of all, Luke found in Jerusalem a collection of Jesus’ sayings and events compiled under supervision of the apostles and probably translated into Greek by Matthew, Andrews and Philips to establish the believers of Jewish pilgrims who did not learn Aramaic in their distant homes (Acts 2:42; John 12:20; Luke 1:1-4). Luke extracted verbally much of what was contained in that source common to the three earlier gospels, but unfortunately absent from us today. However these contents are made available to us through those three earlier gospels. This is why Luke’s account is in full agreement with that of the earlier evangelists.
The characteristic of Luke’s gospel is that he who describes the person of Jesus is an experienced physician who was much interested to know the miracle of Jesus’ conception of the Holy Spirit and his birth of the Virgin Mary whom he had most probably met in person and inquired about these events. It is a special blessing, that the Holy Spirit guides a physician to discover through his own efforts this great mystery and to cover this unknown link of the history of Jesus Christ.
We also find in his gospel an expert description of the miracles of Jesus, which the wise physician was completely unable to do by himself: giving sight to the blind, cleansing the lepers and raising the dead. Discerningly, Luke draws our attention to Christ’s great compassion and kind mercy so that we may see the source of his power originating only from the divine mercy.
Luke was especially interested in the body of him who was raised from the dead that he questioned eyewitnesses about strange details which we do not find in such clarity in the other gospels: Christ asked his disciples to touch him with their hands in order that they might feel that he was not a ghost but flesh and blood. He also ate before their eyes to overcome their unbelief.
Who is the Receiver of This Message?
Luke states the name of the receiver. It is Theophilus (lover of God) whom he calls (most excellent) or (noble), a magisterial designation also given to Felix, the Roman governor of Judea and Festus who succeeded him (Acts 23:20; 24:3; 26:25). Theophilus was probably a prominent Roman official of high rank who once ruled Antioch and knew that region and Italy accurately, but needed wide clarifications about all the places and customs of Palestine and Greece which were strange to him. Theophilus was probably near to the first church in Antioch and had consecrated, under the name of that church, his palaces and dedicated them to the meetings of the believers as we find in the traditional information about this person. Then he was transferred to Rome and there he wanted to gain a just conception of the progress of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome, the capital. This is the historical password of Luke’s report which is composed of two parts: the first one is his Gospel in which he tells us how the Savior of the world completed his way from Bethlehem to Nazareth, Capernaum and Jerusalem where the salvation of the world was completed.
And the second part of his report is the Acts of the Apostles in which Luke shows us how the kingdom of God spread out immediately from Jerusalem to Samaria, Antioch, Asia Minor, Greece and Rome and was also prepared to reach Spain.
By these purposes, Luke did not compose a limited gospel for the believers of the Jewish nation, but preached all the nations with the divine salvation in the widest manner as Paul did. Luke did not present a Jesus Christ promised only to the Jews, but a Savior, Founder and Proprietor of the world, giving peace to the whole world, and preaching God’s pleasure with the repenting sinners, for the only true Savior has overcome all the distresses, diseases and the power of death with its cause that is sin as well as the temptations of the devil which prompt us to disobey God. Christ is the Victor and the Lord of Peace to all nations. This is the keynote of Luke’s gospel.
The astonishing thing is that Luke’s gospel and the Acts of the Apostles were not written to the public, but to the edification of one person so that this official of high rank might continue in faith, receive new insight for his social duties, be just and merciful toward the poor and confine the carelessness of the rich who deserve God’s wrath because of their hard hearts. Luke shows us that Christ does not only save us from our sins, but also qualifies us to practice love and help to the poor. We therefore realize that Luke’s gospel has a practical social characteristic.
Analysis of Luke’s Gospel
Appearance of Christ 1:1 - 4:13
Galilean Campaign 4:14 - 9:50
Voyage to Jerusalem 9:51 - 18:30
Ministry in Jerusalem until Christ's death 18:31 – 23:56
Reports of Christ’s resurrection 24
If you follow the steps of Jesus, through your deep penetration into Luke’s gospel, you will receive a great power and divine motive to preach the nations, for Luke was a preacher with the apostle Paul filled with love and the Holy Spirit. Pray and listen to the Spirit of the Lord through his servant Luke.
QUESTION 1: What are the different characteristics of the four gospels?
QUESTION 2: What do you know about the life of the evangelist Luke?
QUESTION 3: How did Luke write his gospel?
QUESTION 4: Who was the receiver of Luke’s gospel?
QUESTION 5: How was Luke’s gospel divided?
The Introduction of the Evangelist
LUKE 1:1-4
1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
The Savior of the world was truly born. He lived among us and was openly crucified, and then he rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. Those were the things, which had been fulfilled among his followers who received the gift of the great Holy Spirit through their faith.
This Spirit came out of them and prompted them to publish the good news of salvation all around the world. Many have written letters and books to clarify the unique person Jesus Christ to the public. All true reports about Jesus signify a gospel. This significance is rather more exact than that of the word “gospel” which was originally used in the house of Roman Caesar for official announcements, i.e. when a child was born to him, or when he won victory over the enemies. You have the right and the privilege to spread the good news of Christ’s birth and victory in the world.
When Theophilus, the Roman governor had heard much about the King of kings and Lord of lords, he wanted to know every thing exactly about the chronological events covering the Lord’s birth, death and unique resurrection. Luke, the Greek physician traveled to meet the eyewitnesses in Christ’s company and asked them about the whole details. He did not begin his gospel with the baptism of Christ at the hands of John the Baptist, but examined the mysteries of Christ’s birth carefully and traced up his life with great attention. Our faith is founded not on ideologies or philosophical ideas, but on a living person who had exerted an open and clear influence on the history of mankind.
Luke found a collection of Jesus’ sayings gathered by the apostles, the ministers of the word, and translated by them from Aramaic into Greek with all exactness and carefulness. Today, we do not have the mother of all those gospels in Aramaic. However they appear clearly in the first three gospels with power and great glory. Luke added to these sayings the reports and parables of the eyewitnesses whom he had visited and searched until he extracted, through his diligence, the precious words of Christ, which are not found in the other gospels.
We thank our Lord Jesus Christ who through his Holy Spirit guided the Greek physician Luke to write his gospel, for in his diligence the objective work becomes accurately united with the power of inspiration and the world traveler’s insight with the simple faith in God’s mercy which is the foundation of Christ’s peace to all humans.
Luke wrote his gospel to confirm to the spiritual student governor what he had learned about the incidents of Christ, not only historically, but spiritually first, so that he might be filled with God’s joy and gladness. You may also obtain this through studying the gospel if you read it with continuous prayer.
PRAYER: Our Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you because you rose from the dead and live and reign with the Father in one essence. We glorify you because you guided your servant Luke and many to write your gospel accurately. Please help us to hear you in their words, understand your intents, believe in your kindness, do your will, convey your salvation to others and tell them that you are the Savior of the world who preaches us personally in his unequalled gospel.
QUESTION 6: What were the principles adopted by Luke in writing his gospel?
PART I
HISTORICAL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH
CHRIST'S BIRTH
(Luke 1:5 - 2:52)
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF JOHN THE BAPTIST'S BIRTH
(Luke 1:5-25)
LUKE 1:5-7
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
Herod, the First, was a ruthless cruel king who came from Edom and reigned over the Jews. He helped the Romans in their battle in Egypt, and by subtle flattery and timely support, won the imperial favor as their agent, which made him bitterly hated by his people. Herod was well-known to the Roman officials, for he flattered Caesar and built cities under his name in the Greek fashion thus sucking the funds of his people whom he terrified though he had built the glorious temple to flatter them.
In the midst of hatred, colonization and clamorous currents, the priests of God lived in humility and offered daily sacrifices to God in order to reconcile the sinful nation with him knowing that the wrath of the Holy One is revealed against all ungodliness of men. One thousand years before Christ, King David divided the priests into 24 groups each one of which officiated day and night for a complete week before God to atone for the sinners. The eighth of those was that of Abijah of the middle rank, which was not responsible for administering all priestly ceremonies.
Zacharias, the priest whose name signifies “God remembers” was married to Elizabeth “God is my oath” who was herself of priestly lineage, of the daughters of Aaron, Moses’ brother. Zacharias’ family was blessed with the justification of daily sacrifices, for no man is righteous of himself.
Their piety and love to God appeared in their wise walking in the commandments of the Lord according to the Law and its interpretation. Thus they lived in humility praying and serving. Their neighbors honored and loved this family out of which the blessing of the Lord came to others. It is a happy thing when those who are joined to each other in marriage are both joined to the Lord. Grace for grace comes out of this couple to those around them.
No sanctification without keeping the commandments, and no justification without sacrifice. Through these principles of the Old Testament: sanctification and justification Luke leads us to the faith of the New Testament which is in front of that of the old, for Christ justified us by his sacrifice and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us to keep the commandments.
Luke began his gospel with a report around the temple and ended it (Luke 24:53) inside the temple, showing reverence towards the “house” or dwelling of God in the Old Testament until the Jews refused the reconciliation in Christ and the Romans ruined the temple entirely when God had left it according to the prophecy in the Book of Ezekiel.
During their prayers, Zacharias and Elizabeth felt the coming wrath of God several times, for he did not give them children. They suffered from their loneness in their old age and considered their barrenness as a shame on them. Yet in their particular daily brokenness they remained righteous. They did not walk arrogantly because of their own righteousness, but laid their hope completely upon the grace. God does not leave the humble prayer, but knows the cries of his heart and answers him in due time.
PRAYER: Our Lord, we thank you for your saints in the Old Testament who walked before you in broken hearts and believed in their sanctification through sacrifices. Please forgive us our haughtiness and help us in your coming wrath for the sake of the sacrifice of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
QUESTION 7: How did Luke arrange his gospel in relation to the Old Testament?
LUKE 1:8-17
8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the alter of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “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. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Public worships were attended at the temple of the Lord every day at nine o’clock in the morning before making the burnt offering and at three o’clock in the afternoon after the same offering (Acts 3:1). During both occasions many prayers met to praise altogether the glory of the Holy One and to pour their hearts before him. It occurred that the eighth priestly division stayed for a complete week in Jerusalem to perform all the services of the temple.
The Lord chose Zacharias by lot to minister at the alter and make the offering of incense in the temple. As the people joined in hymns of prayer, the elder moved forward to the holy place and burnt the incense in token of their prayers and praises ascending to the Lord (Psalms 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4). However, the ministering priest fell down in adoration to the near All-Hearing God, summing up in ritual words the communal pleas. He had the privilege of bringing sacred personal pleas before the Lord. God answered his prayer in a wonderful way. The elder immediately saw a luminous angel standing in bright glory on the right side of the alter out of which the smell of incense ascended in the midst of the darkness of the holy room. And then the priest was troubled, for any appearance of a spiritual person signified punishment and judgment. None is righteous of himself before God. So do not ask your Lord for the appearance of angels or Christ, but repent as long as it is called “Today” and believe in Christ so that he may fill you with his Holy Spirit who is God himself.
The angel did not come for judgment, but gave good tidings to Zacharias of the beginning of the age of God’s grace. No man can realize the principle change in his Lord’s plan, therefore God sent an angel in order that Zacharias might realize the spiritual change to come. The brilliant angel comforted the troubled priest and ordered him not to be afraid. The statement, “Do not be afraid” appears 365 times in the Holy Bible. It orders us according to the number of the days of the year not to be afraid at all.
The reporter confirmed that God answers prayers maybe late according to our feeling, but punctually according to his prudent loving will. Then rest assured that no word or statement of your prayers is forgotten. The good Father does not neglect the pressing needs of his children, but answers in prudence and due time. Do you believe that each word of your pleas is answered according to the will of your Lord’s mercy?
The angel was a person speaking understandable words. He brought us good tidings of days of joy and gladness, for the meaning of the name “John” is the Lord is gracious. The Creator healed the sick body of Elizabeth so that she might be able to conceive. Would that the Lord touches the dry bodies of churches so that they might be filled and the children of God be multiplied.
Many promises of the Old Testament had their accomplishment in the coming of John the Baptist (Malachi 3:1,23,24; Isaiah 40:1-4). All angels and believers rejoiced at his coming, for his appearance indicated a new age in the entire creation of God. Since childhood, John was devoted, consecrated and engaged to the Holy God who filled the forerunner of his Son with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb so that he might be able to carry out his hard service. Thus John was the greatest among those born of women. He surpassed philosophers, kings and prophets. Yet, in spite of his excellence, he was not born of the Holy Spirit, but in a normal manner of Zacharias his father. He who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the great.
God had prepared two services for the Baptist: First he had to call the multitudes to repentance so that they might discover their sins, and to baptize the brokenhearted with the baptism of forgiveness in the Jordan. So John cultivated all the people with his sharp word, prepared the hearts for the new plant and kindled the great movement of repentance. Here his second service began. He did not call himself Christ or founder of a new age, but confessed that he was only a forerunner in the hands of the coming Lord to guide people to him. He taught all the Jews that a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah should be sent before the day of the Lord. Later on Jesus testified openly that the spirit and power of Elijah worked in the Baptist as an indication of the truth of Christ (Matthew 17:11-13).
The Holy Spirit led those prepared of the elders who were deep-rooted in the Law into conversion that they might follow the new generation following Christ and enter altogether into the open doors of the age of grace.
At the same time, the Holy Spirit broke the obstinacy of disobedient young people and led them into God-fearing, humility and obedience. In this manner, the Spirit of the Lord calls you to repentance and conversion so that you may please God by accepting the Gospel. He who realizes his sins, confesses them penitently and forsakes them by accepting Christ’s salvation becomes a living member of the people of God who are spread in all nations and tongues that are called today Christians. Are you a servant of the Lord in your surroundings distinguished in humility and activity?
PRAYER: Thank you Lord for sending John the Baptist and opening the age of grace through him. Please lead us to true repentance so that we may be converted and filled with your Spirit and become living members of your holy people.
QUESTION 8: How did the angel appear to Zacharias?
QUESTION 9: What are the promises of the Old Testament for John the Baptist?
QUESTION 10: What are the principles of his service?
LUKE 1:18-25
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, and could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. 23 And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
The holy Creator honors those who pray and speaks to them through the Holy Bible, his faithful witnesses and ministering angels. Do you believe in the speaking of the Most High? Do you submit to his call? Do you accept his promises joyfully? God himself comes to you through his word. He who doubts his statements accuses God of lying. He who refuses his word refuses the All-Ruling himself.
Do you believe that your prayers are answered? Zacharias prayed, but his ministry became a priestly custom. He did not wholeheartedly believe that his petitions would be answered, but believed in his own experiences and in the principles of nature rather than he trusted the All-Ruling Creator. The priest doubted the word of the Lord and did not immediately realize that the appearance of the angel was the guarantee of accomplishment of God’s promise. In this manner many believers do not trust completely the word of Christ, for they do not realize that the Crucified One is the unique guarantee of accomplishment of his Father’s promises. Would that we do not refuse God’s promises or let our hearts be like the stones which refuse the water that is brought to it, but accept and receive them immediately thanking God for them in faith, which can never be shaken.
When doubt appeared in the priest, the angel became angry in his holiness and said, “Behold, I am present. Do you not see me and notice that God is speaking to you personally through me and has chosen you and authorized you giving you a sign, which is beyond human understanding? I represent God’s omnipotence and am coming from the glorious throne to you, sinning elder, in the midst of the darkness of your world, to bring you glad tidings of great joy. Do you not believe? This shows that you are a hardhearted priest in spite of your apparent piety and prayers.
Dear brother, do you believe in the words of the Lord addressed to you? Do you harden your heart against his drawing love? Believe and do not be late lest the grace of God is changed into fury poured on those who doubt and are slow to believe.
The herald smote the priest’s tongue with muteness. He did not destroy him, but punished him in grace to leave for him the opportunity to consider the revelations of God’s ambassador to him. The word of God is full of grace. It creates a life of love and punishes the disobedient violently. Yet, the design of God’s mercy does not fall forever. The Holy One carries out the plan of his love precisely. Your Savior will complete his way with you if you devote your self to him and do not object against his word intentionally.
While the angel and the frightened priest were engaged in conversation, the people stayed in the courtyard expecting Zacharias to come out of the temple, because he was to pronounce the blessing upon them. Now observe that he who lives without the blessing of the Mediator between the Most High and men falls into temptation and condemnation. However, the poor priest was now speechless because of his unbelief. He could not pronounce the blessing because God punished him. Unfortunately, we find today many ministers who are good speakers, but their words are empty and dead because of their unbelief in the complete word of God. Their blessings are nothing but a powerless ritual veil, for the hand of Christ does not support them, but punishes them because of their hypocrisy, selfishness and doubts. Does the power of God for joy come out of you? Do you look like a weak, silent, mute priest that is void of the Spirit of God?
PRAYER: My Lord, declare your word to me. Demand unconditional faith from me. Forgive me every delay in accepting your word and strengthen my little faith so that I may trust completely that many spiritual children of our nation are born to you and become mature in your blessings.
QUESTION 11: How did God nourish the priest in full trust?
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST'S
BIRTH
(Luke 1:26-38)
LUKE 1:26-33
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 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. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
The name of the city of Nazareth does not appear at all in the Old Testament, for God’s triumph became clear only in the New Testament. The pious Jews called Galilee with contempt “the circuit of backward Gentiles” (Isaiah 9:1). However, God, in his design, intended to reveal his glory in thick darkness. The coming of Christ did not take place in the temple and its clamor, but in a simple house on the outlying areas of the town. Today, the angel of the Lord does not reveal the design of the Holy One only in capitals and churches, but also in village caves and nomad tents. He often finds more obedience of faith with the simple and the lowly than with the clever, rich and religious.
Mary was a virgin of the tribe of David. We do not know much about her past. However, her name signifies in Hebrew “bitterness” or “sorrow”. Her father probably so called her because she did not have a child. He was not aware that God’s promise was revealed from the beginning and that the long-expected Messiah was to be born of a woman and not of a man (Genesis 3:16). Mary was a true woman representing our troubles and sorrows. We all went astray. There is none who does good, no, not one. Christ said, “No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Luke 18:19).
Yet, there is a great difference between Mary and us. Our hearts are hard, whereas her heart was prepared to believe and hear the word of God and to obey his Spirit. Mary took power from the Scriptures and continued as pure virgin expecting God’s guidance. She agreed to be betrothed in the city of Nazareth to Joseph, the carpenter who was also a son of the same royal family of King David like her. Both of them were worthy of participating in God’s promises to this seed (2 Samuel 7:12,14). The angel of God entered into the house of Mary and prepared her to accept the mother of all miracles, to listen to the word of the Lord, believe it and accept it, for Christ is born only of the word of God in which the Virgin believed.
The first two words of the divine herald sounded as if the door of heaven was opened wide, for the messenger of God testified peace and grace to the world as a foundation for the New Testament as all the other evangelists did in the beginning of their gospels. Mary was highly favored and chosen by God among all mortal women to bear the Eternal One down her heart. All the blessings of heaven and the fullness of the Godhead centered and dwelt in her fetus. Christ was not filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb as John the Baptist was, but was practically God himself with Mary. Until now, God is near to men, but hidden. However, Mary began her powerful new communion with God, which indicates that Christ resides in our hearts through faith.
Mary was not perfect in herself like Christ who spoke with the angels as his ministers, but became troubled and afraid, because the light of God uncovered all her humanity. However she did not speak quickly, but kept silent and thought as quick as lightning of what this wonderful salutation could mean. Would that all humans hear God’s call quickly and consider it prayerfully so that they may receive from the Holy One a more profound and clear answer than what they heard in the first call.
The angel knew the Virgin’s thoughts and confirmed to her that she found favor with the Holy One. She was not the spring of all favors, but God’s favor was made incarnate in her child. This is why the angel suggested to her that she should not be afraid of the mighty angel who takes revenge and judges, but should cast all fear and embrace his grace and love. Mary sought the living God Throughout her life until she received the fruits of her prayers and yearnings.
Mary perfected her trust in God and laid her hope completely on grace trusting God’s pure love and holy protection.
At this certain faith, the angel revealed to her seven secrets about her coming child:
- That her child would not be a daughter but a son who is known before his birth and a reason for her great joy.
- That his name was Jesus which means “God’s help and salvation” as the motto of the new age.
- That he was great before God not as John was but as a divine person of the Godhead.
- That he is the Son of God in person. God from God. Light from light. True God from the true God. Begotten, not created, in one essence with the Father.
- That he was appointed as a king according to the promises given to David the Psalmist who was anointed with the Spirit of God.
- That Jesus was of David’s seed lawfully and bodily, for Luke calls Mary’s father as Joseph’s father (Luke 3:23). Thus Mary and Joseph are the king’s descendants and Jesus was a true man from a true man. He was not a ghost or a traveling spirit.
- That the kingdom of Christ is not temporal or earthly like David’s, but spiritual and everlasting as Jesus confessed before Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world… For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:36-37). However, most of the Jews did not want to hear the voice of God, and they crucified their king. Yet, the Lord can submit to himself this obstinate people in order that they should kneel before him and worship the one whom they have pierced.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are my King and I am your unprofitable servant. Please forgive all my unbelief and teach me the true faith in your divinity, birth and humanity so that I may consider your words and accept them immediately upon hearing them and your power may become greater in my weakness.
QUESTION 12: What is the meaning of the angel’s salutation to Mary?
QUESTION 13: What is the difference between Jesus and John?
LUKE 1:34-38
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “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. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
When the angel announced the promise to Zacharias, the latter doubted and wondered, “How shall I know this?” (1:18) though he had seen the glorious herald and heard his clear words. Yet, Mary did not doubt, but asked the angel, “How can this be?” She believed, understood and trembled in humanity at the impossible thing. Gabriel did not consider her question as doubt, but as an inquiry concerning the way and manner how the miracle should be made. Only God is qualified to answer such a question. It is not impermissible to ask God to clarify his ways in your life if you did not object to his designs.
For the sake of Mary’s obedient preparedness the angel revealed the secret of incarnation of the Holy Spirit in Christ, that is the Spirit of God himself with all his powers, abilities and glories was determined to dwell as a fetus in her. The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in the Son and the Holy Spirit himself was his essence. Man! Did you know that all the Holy Trinity was participant when the Savior of the world dwelt in the Virgin Mary? Our language is unable to express this culmination of human history and our mind is so small to realize how God loved us that he clothed his Son with the sufferings of the world and was embodied in flesh. Worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One God, and love him with all your heart, for his love for the corrupt humans was the only motive and reason for the conception of Christ.
There was neither lust, nor sin, nor selfishness, nor impurity in this miracle, for the Holy God appeared in the Holy Christ who was in himself full of holiness and void of inherited sin. Even all the sinful motives of the seed of his father David and his followers that were found in Mary were overcome and changed into complete purity, divine power and eternal truth.
Man cannot realize the mystery of this moment without the Holy Spirit. Those who are not born of the love of God blaspheme on Christ and say that he was born of a human being. Yet, he who was renewed in repentance and received everlasting life from the word of the Gospel worships God the Father who sent to us his Son in the form of flesh.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is a true man from a true man and true God from the true God. He did not need a second spiritual birth. He is the Life-Giver who offers us, justified, his life through faith in him in order that we may become by his power children of God looking forward to his imminent coming which is our certain hope.
The strong angel gave the frightened Mary a clear sign so that she could believe what was impossible to believe, for the blessed one thought how could it be possible for a creature to conceive the Creator of the world in her womb. The angel showed her the divine miracle in Elizabeth her relative who was not of the house of David and became pregnant though she was barren. This was a further encouragement to her faith, which prepared Mary for the decisive word of the Lord.
Is anything impossible with God? Dear brother, do you believe in God’s unlimited power in your life, church and nation? Then do not give the lie to God and do not cheat yourself with human thoughts. Do you believe in God’s absolute power? Did you put yourself, your mind, diseases, friends and enemies before the throne of grace committing yourself in the hands of the Highest? Where is your love for him? How true is your faith? Take hold of God, and set your love upon him, for he is the Almighty who wants to save and is able to make salvation. He practically saves according to your faith. You are the door through which the grace of God is willing to enter into your surroundings.
Mary believed in the omnipotence of her Lord and opened herself to the will of love. Christ did not dwell in her without her consent. Through her humble submission she fulfilled the designs of the Highest. If Mary hesitated at that moment or refused the word of God, the world would fall and we would remain in our sins, reprobate and condemned by God. Yet, the Virgin was deep-rooted in the Old Testament obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit in her life. She believed the prophecies and was able to accept Christ, the present of God to the world.
By her spiritual consent, Mary washed the shame attributed to woman since the fall of Eve and changed her weakness into glory. The Virgin suffered a lot for the Son of God who was placed in her heart. However, she bore the shame of accusation with patience, faith and thankfulness to her Lord throughout her life.
PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, we worship you because you gave birth to Christ with all holiness of your love in your maidservant Mary. We are prayerfully astonished at the miracle of your dwelling. Please renew us all so that we may immediately believe in your word addressed to us trusting that you change and renew, through our faith, our unfair surroundings.
QUESTION 14: How did the Virgin become pregnant with Christ? (1:34-38)
MARY'S VISIT TO ELIZABETH
(Luke 1:39-56)
LUKE 1:39-45
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
The Virgin Mary turned with her flowing heart to her compassionate big friend in a city unknown to us today, to tell her of her secrets seeking encouragement for her faith through common prayers, being unable to tell any body in her town, Nazareth, about her miracle. She was thankful to the angel who showed her a way out of her trouble. So she hastened away to Elizabeth who lived in a town in south Jerusalem, 100 kilometers away from her town Nazareth. The Holy Spirit confirmed to Mary her obedience of faith and comforted her warmly when she arrived at the house of the priest. At the same time, he revealed to the old Elizabeth a clarification of the mother of all miracles before the virgin revealed her secret. The priest’s wife became filled with the Holy Spirit who gave her the power of prediction and revealed to her secrets that would not come to human’s mind.
The prophetical spirit let Elizabeth’s tongue utter a wonderful salutation to Mary who had saluted her using the customary tokens of affectionate salutation. Elizabeth was not alone in hearing those words, which were filled with the power of God, but her fetus also leaped joyfully, for John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb and was then given to understand that Christ, the incarnate divine Spirit was at hand. The Holy Spirit does not need human ears, eyes and senses to know and witness. He feels immediately with unperceivable depths and reveals secrets that are beyond our understandings. Through the apparent power of the Spirit, Elizabeth immediately knew the secrets of Mary without being informed by anybody.
Now, the power of God exploded through the words of the prophetess. Her tongue cried unconsciously and the Spirit of God testified through her saying, “You, young Mary, are greater than I am. You are not great in yourself, but the glory of your fetus lights you and his blessings make you more blessed than all women.” Yet, these blessings were not of her but of her child, the stream of all blessings.
Elizabeth immediately called Jesus Lord, for the Holy Spirit revealed to her that God, the Lord dwelt in Mary. She trembled in her heart because of her approach to God, for the Holy Spirit in her sensed his union with the Son. The great old woman bowed before the humble virgin for the Holy Spirit reveals the secrets to the believer who opens himself to his directions. The divine herald revealed to Elizabeth the essential worthiness in Mary through which she became an example to us. The Virgin believed unconditionally the word of God. Through her obedience of faith, the things, which were impossible, became possible. This is her honor, privilege and right. Mary’s faith was the door through which the Son of God came to our evil world.
Today, your faith is the means by which Christ prevails in you and around you. Do you follow the mother of Jesus according to her effectual faith?
Then you will hear the same words of Elizabeth of which she told Mary: that what God had already said be done. You do not have to do God’s will in your weakness. He will complete it through your acquiescence in his will. So let the Holy Spirit release you from your doubts, sins and personal ability. Be firm in the trust, chastity and power of your Lord. Adhere to Christ so that he may let his Spirit flow in you as the juice of the vine flows into the branches creating leaves and fruits. Blessed is he who believes and becomes united with Christ with the bond of love in his heart. This is the first beatification in the Holy Bible.
PRAYER: Holy Lord, we worship you because you move the believers with your Spirit as you wish, preparing their ways and revealing to them your secrets. Forgive us all tattling, backbiting and perjury; and help us into purity and truthfulness in the communion of saints.
QUESTION 15: Why did Elizabeth beatify Mary?
LUKE 1:46-50
46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
Mary’s praises are the crown of the psalms of the Old Testament and a glorious beginning of all the joys of the New Testament. The Holy Spirit spoke through Mary and revealed the secrets of God’s judgment in the simple words of the Virgin. The past of mankind met in these words. Our future is clarified through the words of the Holy Spirit, and God’s church harmonizes everywhere in Mary’s song of thankfulness, for the aim of all the revelation and realization of salvation is to glorify the holy God out of an undivided heart.
Mary’s words, which reached us in the New Testament, were very few (Luke 1:34,38; 2:48; John 2:3,5). This is why her saying here deserves all our attention, wherein we find familiar statements from the Old Testament and the Psalms which indicates that the Virgin penetrated deeply into the word of her Lord, kept his verses and lived them. The Holy Spirit united the treasures hidden in them for great praise to God.
Do you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit? He glorifies God and declares that man is small. The joy of the knowledge of God is so great. The peace of God covers the believer so that his soul does not move haughtily but glorifies the Lord. As such the spirit rejoices, for the pleasure of God is revealed to it and no sorrow disturbs it. Do you rejoice in your mind? Are you sad? He who is sad cares for himself, but he who is glad lives for God and becomes free from his selfishness, for God is love and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Dear brother, come to your Lord so that he may fill you with his Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not found in man out of his nature. Mary confessed openly that God was her Savior from her distresses. Mary is not the Savior of the world. God has saved the mother of Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not lie. All those who magnify themselves and other selves are foolish; for the heavenly Illuminator shows us corruption in our humanity and at the same time draws us up to the faithful love of God.
We are not worthy to be called servants of God, for we are sinners. However, the Holy Spirit confirms to us that the Lord accepted us and overcame the sin inherited in us by grace. All those that are highly favored bow down to the dust, worship to their Savior, kiss his feet, and put themselves at his disposal for everlasting service. Are you an independent master and lord in your life, or a lowly servant to your Lord? Humble yourself as Mary who called herself the maidservant of the Lord. The Holy Spirit wants to break your pride and release yourself from haughtiness.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Mary experienced this principle of the Spirit of God, for when she had confessed her need to God’s salvation as the maidservant of the Lord, God exalted her so that she might receive joy for joy and grace for grace.
Yet, her way in this world was full of bitterness, despise, and accusation, for her fiancé and parents knew nothing about her conception of the Holy Spirit. But God himself justified and guided her (Matthew 1:18). Her child was born in an awful stable, while the angels’ storm of praises broke out in heaven. The Magi worshiped to the newborn child of the manger who fled after a while with his parents to Egypt. Mary stood sorrowfully under the cross of her son. Yet, she saw him who was raised from the dead prevailing and ruling the worlds. She remained together with the disciples expecting the promise of the Father and was filled with them with the Holy Spirit of God on the Day of Pentecost. She abided in Christ forever, for he who believes in him, though he may die, he shall live; and all those living who believe in him shall never die. We beatify Mary with all those renewed in Christ, for they live as children of God in everlasting gladness.
Dear brother, can you pronounce Mary’s words in faith? Dare and pronounce in faith the words of the Holy Spirit: “He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation” (1:49).
Mary did not take lessons in theology, but the Holy Spirit revealed to her the essence of God as merciful and holy according to her own experiences. Would that all the nations accept this revelation of the Holy Spirit from the Virgin’s mouth. Our God is like a consuming fire, which burns all sins and unrepentant humans. Yet, the heart of his holiness is love and nothing but love. He who follows the right way and submits to the Spirit of God accepting Christ as a Savior, will be drawn to the holiness of God’s love, for Christ’s birth had no other design but to make of you a saint filled with the love of God (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 1:4).
PRAYER: Our Holy Father, we praise you, worship you, love you, and magnify you because of your many great things also because you saved us in your Son Jesus Christ. You did not reject us for our faults, but sanctified us and filled us with your love. Please keep us in Christ’s humility so that we may not fall from the grace, which surpasses all understanding.
QUESTION 16: How do we know that Mary was humble?
QUESTION 17: What names and attributes of God did the Virgin make apparent in her song?
LUKE 1:51-56
51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, 55 as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
God is not an incomprehensible far-away mighty spirit. He interferes in the history of the world. His characteristics are not a logical conception, but are practically apparent in the lives of humans. God does not sleep, but works. Since humanity fell in sin, the Holy One has restlessly been saving, asking and working for the salvation of the world.
Study God’s ruling of the world on Mary’s mouth, and penetrate deeply into the mightiness of his work according to the nine verbs mentioned in the second part of the Virgin’s praise, and then you will be more cognizant than those who hold diplomas in sociology or sciences.
God is the power, as Christ testified to the essence of his Father during the last trial before the Jews (Matthew 26:64). He is the only positive and constructive power in the world. By his power he created the world. It is wise to worship the Creator when you penetrate deeply into the mysteries of his creation during your physical, chemical, and biological courses, for all sciences reveal the great, beautiful, and mighty power of God.
Man became haughty in Satan’s temptations and God drove him away from his nearness, for whoever separates himself from his source becomes an enemy of the Creator in his mind. Blessed are you when you realize that all humans are disobedient, for the spirit of Satan works in them (Ephesians 2:1-5). This is why we became the children of wrath, given up to the lusts of our hearts. The history of mankind is a revelation of God’s waves of wrath on us (Romans 1:18; Revelation 6:17).
God’s condemnation upon all haughtiness and lust is more effective than you know. The Holy One gave man a chance to live in the fear of God according to his redemptive plan. Yet, he who becomes haughty and does not put his gifts, money, and ability at God’s disposal will fall down from his illusory seat to shame, dislike, and destruction. Did you realize how the simple Virgin condemned the kings, leaders, great and fanciful people through her words given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit?
She confessed in her discernment that he who is lowly will participate in government with God, and he who is meek will own the earth. God will have mercy upon you if you continue patient, gentle, and regarding your enemies better than yourself. Christ’s way is humility. This is why God has highly exalted him (Philippians 2:5-11). If God exalted you, and gave you blessings, gifts, and success, do you continue lowly and simple as a child of the Lord, or do you become haughty as other creatures, thinking you are quite something? The Holy Spirit teaches you to die to yourself and live for God alone.
Now observe how God blesses you disobedient, and gives you bread abundantly. He is our Father and Provider who would not destroy us quickly though we deserve his wrath. Would that people turn to their Creator, see his blessings and multiply them. Unfortunately, countries make out of these blessings exorbitantly expensive weapons. It is to be mentioned that the price of one warplane is sufficient to satisfy the needs of millions of human beings. As such people waste the gifts of the Provider who enriches us with his riches. However, selfishness makes the rich poor, for they destroy themselves given up to their lust according to the wrath of God.
The people of wilderness knew how God filled them with his providence and brought down to them manna and quails. Yet, they complained against their Provider and did not understand the drawing of his Spirit to make of them a holy nation, but fell in his wrath. However, the Lord did not destroy his adversaries entirely in spite of his continuous punishments throughout centuries, which indicates that he would not end or annul his grace with us, for he remains merciful in the midst of his fairness, holiness, and wrath.
God is faithful to his promises, which he gave to Abraham, and the fathers of faith and to their followers. What was the worthiness of those fathers? It was their faith. They heard the word of God and held fast to his promise faithfully and trustfully, and this faith was accounted to them for righteousness. Because of this faith, God dealt with them, and he would never change his words for he is faithful.
Did you realize the deep secrets, which the Holy Spirit crystallized in Mary? Open yourself to the voice of God, without hatred or haughtiness, so that you may listen to reason and see God working in the midst of the disorder of our distant world.
As it was time for Elizabeth, the prophetess to give birth to her son, Mary came back trusting that God would guard her, guide her, and care much for her.
She experienced his unrecognizable providence. Nevertheless, Mary’s way remained the way of striving and faithful patience so that the God’s strength might be made perfect in our weakness.
PRAYER: Our Lord, the Highest, I am fool. I do not realize your ways of ruling the world as you see them. Please forgive me my short prudence and illuminate me with your Holy Spirit of humility so that I may walk according to your love and truth, and avoid your wrath, holding fast your directions, and obeying your words every day.
QUESTION 18: What does God do in his management of the world?
THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
(Luke 1:57-80)
LUKE 1:57-66
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. 59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father -- what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
The grace of God develops gradually in the life of the elect, and nobody can stop it. John, who was filled with the Spirit, was born of a barren mother. In this manner the forerunner of Christ who prepared the way of his Lord was found, and the greatest among those born of women appeared. The relatives and neighbors rejoiced deeply at the mercy of God who granted the mute priest an offspring to succeed him. They glorified God and rejoiced at his favor. Then the boy was duly received in his nation through the accustomed rites of circumcising and naming the newborn child. Those present marveled when the mother asked, on behalf of her mute husband, that her child be called John, instead of Zacharias, contrary their customs. Why would that woman break the rule of her people? Zacharias was a nice name meaning “God has remembered us”. The neighbors were very upset and asked the mute father to speak or to express his opinion in signs. The poor father had been mute for nine months in the school of the Holy Spirit keeping his secrets into his heart. However, from the beginning of his muteness, he wrote to his wife in brief on a writing tablet what the angel told him to do. Both Zacharias and his wife were pleased when the mother became pregnant. Thus John, before his birth, became his father’s preacher of repentance. The blessing became a reproach. Zacharias penetrated deeply into the scriptures and prayed continuously, knowing that his disease signified a punishment from God for his unbelief.
Zacharias also knew that the impediment of his tongue would be loosed when his child, given by God, is born. Yet, when the child was born and his tongue remained unloosed, he doubted: Could his faith be untrue, and his prayers unanswered? But the child was brought to express the work of grace. The father decided, according to the angel’s order, to avoid all human opinions, and to place his hope completely on grace. So he wrote on the tablet that the name of his firstborn child should be John as an emblem of the age of grace to come.
Having held fast to God’s promises and command, Zacharias passed the last exam of faith and the impediment of his tongue was loosed. His imprisoned words dashed out easily and gracefully praising the Lord from the innermost recesses of his heart. Zacharias glorified God, revealed the secrets of his child’s birth, told those present about the angel and his words, and showed them how God interfered in his life.
Thereupon, the people became afraid for they knew from their own history that God created children in strange ways before making radical changes in the course of their nation’s life, the same as he had created Isaac, Moses, and Samuel. Whereas the motto of the angel’s revelation was the coming of Christ whose way should be prepared by John, the religious and politicians became frightened at the designs of God about to happen. Some of them wished repentance, renewal, justice, and raising of the dead in their nation when Christ came. Others rejoiced in themselves and hoped they would be delivered from the yoke of occupation. They did not realize at all that Christ does not build his kingdom on weapons and armies but through the pouring of the Holy Spirit who created repentance, conversion, and renewal of hearts by his grace.
The birth of the Baptist resulted in a deep movement in the holy land before he began to speak the words of his message.
PRAYER: Lord! Teach me faith, especially when your directions are not easily understood to me. Help me to testify according to your word when people contradict me, so that I may praise you forever, for your salvation is coming, your kingdom is apparent, and your Spirit renews millions. Thank you for you have begotten us in the age of grace.
QUESTION 19: Why was it necessary for Zacharias to wait until the impediment of his tongue was loosed in order to call his son John?
LUKE 1:67-75
67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 70 as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, 73 the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: 74 to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
The word “Holy Spirit” appears four times in Chapter 1 of Luke’s Gospel (15, 35, 41 and 67), which includes the preparatory period of Christ’s birth. The physician Luke realized clearly that the first role in Christ’s coming was that of God and not of men, for his Spirit revealed the divine designs, drove away the doubts, guided the obedient, and filled the weak with his power. Did you realize how the love of God creates knowledge, faith, and fruits in those who willingly align with the redemptive plan of God? Open yourself to the Spirit of Christ and you will experience miracles in the brokenness of your pride for the sake of glorifying your Lord in your surroundings.
Zacharias kept silent for nine months penetrating deeply into the words of the angel. Then Mary entered into the house of Zacharias. His wife cried in the joy of the Holy Spirit, and the Virgin testified to the old priest how the angel Gabriel appeared before her.
Then Zacharias realized that neither he, nor his wife, nor his child nor Mary were the center of the history of God and of all those heavenly movements, but Mary’s fetus alone was the eternal promised one. At that moment, the priest who was well experienced in the scriptures knew that Christ was coming. This knowledge was like an electric shock in his mind. He forgot himself and his house, and glorified God for the coming of his Spirit for incarnation.
Great was the song of the old priest who recovered the use of his speech, and had, throughout his life, reconciled his wicked people with the Holy One through his sacrifices. He realized that the faraway Glorified One was coming to them in Christ to visit those who were suffering, and that he truly came to them.
This divine coming to men does not signify judgment, destruction, and annihilation in his shining light, but kind grace, merciful salvation, and everlasting redemption. The doubtful old priest experienced this principle in himself, for God had forgiven him his unbelief and deep doubts, and filled him with his Holy Spirit. Therefore, he magnified the grace and drew his hearers to the power of God’s love. Dear brother, are you tongue-tied, or released and praising the grace of God?
The expression “horn of salvation” refers to the eminence or small projection called “horn” on each of the four corners of the Jewish alter. To this persons might flee for safety when in danger of avengers, and be safe. As the sacrifice was burnt the refugees stood under it considering it as a substitute for them in order that they might receive life. As such the experienced priest realized that Jesus was the horn of salvation to all sinners, and whoever took hold of him should not be destroyed in the wrath of God who takes revenge on all sins, but should be justified looking at him who was slain as a substitute for us in Golgotha. Do you hold fast the horn of salvation?
All those spiritual gifts were not immediately poured on us. They have a long story and deep reason, which the prophets had already foretold. In the Holy Spirit, they saw the coming Christ as a unique person and Savior of the world. Their testimony is true. It is gradually coming true, crystallized in us, and made perfect in the glorious coming of Christ.
The fathers of faith trusted the living God. They are now seeing the fruits of their faith, for our God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. They rejoiced in paradise on the day of Christ’s birth, magnified God with thanksgiving for the resurrection of the Crucified One, received him who ascended to heaven, and acclaimed for he sat down in the throne.
They saw that Christ was he who guaranteed the covenant with God, for no man or nation could make a covenant with the Holy God, but the blood of the Son of God cleanses us and qualifies us to come near to God and live with him in a new covenant, which includes us forever with grace and innocence.
God’s oath before Abraham, the faithful Bedouin, who in his obedience to God was prepared to sacrifice his firstborn child Isaac, found its accomplishment in Christ. In this preparedness he was too near to the love of God who gave his only begotten Son on the cross for us. God had sworn to the broken and obedient Abraham that Christ should come of his seed and that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed (Genesis 22:16-17).
Zacharias understood this spiritual plan in the Old Testament, for he was a conversant priest. However, he was wrong in his Jewish opinion that the coming Christ would establish the kingdom of God by force and make Jerusalem the capital center of the world. The priest Zacharias yearned for two things: First, cleansing of the sinful people. Second, the nation’s triumph over the foreign enemy.
In spite of this latter earthly yearning, he did not yearn for riches, welfare, and dignity, but for free public worship and guidance of his nation. He realized the design of the unique coming of Christ as worship for the entire nation, so that all should come near to God in repentance, cleansing, sanctification, and supplication, in the holiness of his truth and divine righteousness. Christ came to us with those two characteristics, which are beyond our human understanding. He who sets his love upon the Son of God is divinely justified, and he who abides in him is filled with the Holy Spirit with complete and everlasting holiness.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we magnify you because of the incarnate Christ who came with hope and universal salvation to men. Please redeem us from all our earthly longings and make us fast in your righteousness and holiness so that we may praise you throughout our life.
QUESTION 20: What are the origins and aims of our salvation?
LUKE 1:76-80
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, 78 through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
The old priest was about to forget his son in his praise to God, for the insight of the history of the love of God and its designs refreshed his spirit. Then he turned to his son John, the symbol of the Lord’s grace, and foretold his essence, job, strength, and fruits.
John was not the Son of the Highest, but his prophet, created of dust, and filled with the Holy Spirit as the other prophets before him. His distinction was that he came at a time when Jesus Christ was about to come; and therefore the Baptist became the forerunner of the Lord who prepared his way, administered baptism to him, and witnessed his glory.
Zacharias realized through the Holy Spirit in all revelations that Mary’s child was the Lord himself. The introductory of the angel and the motives of the Holy Spirit illuminated him into this testimony which was dangerous to declare among the Jews: that the Lord should visit the earth and walk among people, and that John should prepare his way. That was the great revolution in creation, for the Creator comes now to his creatures to examine, save, and finish. Are you prepared to receive him? How is your relation with God? Are you worthy of meeting him? Get ready to his presence soon.
Zacharias knew that no man was worthy of meeting God or in fact to worship to Christ in the manger, for we are all sinners. The most important thing in the Baptist’s ministry was leading people to true and faithful repentance, so that they might realize that they could only obtain salvation by remission of sins. Are your sins forgiven, dear brother? Have you become holy, pure, and acceptable? Examine yourself in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and confess your lies, thefts, laziness, and all kinds of injustice and disgrace. Your knowledge of yourself and your confession openly of your sins is the only way in which you prepare the way of God into your heart. Come and bow down before your Creator and do not cheat yourself, for you are unsuccessful. Confess your sins and ask your Lord’s forgiveness.
Then, you will know the miracle of God’s love, for the Son came from his heaven to our impure darkness, and the foretokens of his righteousness shone as the glorious sun in our dark night. Open your mind and your subconscious completely to the mercy of God apparent in Christ, so that you may wake up, get up, and praise God in the morning and in the evening.
In Christ alone, the disagreement between you and God ends in your heart, divine peace begins, and you live in complete harmony with the will of your Lord. Then, you would not run like a wild ass motivated by your careless lusts, nor would you quarrel with every man because of your excessive sensitivity, but abandon your rights, forgive your enemies openly, and bear patiently those that are difficult to bear, for Christ’s redemption gives you the ability to do that which is impossible, so that you may die to yourself and God may live in you.
John grew older in years, bodily and spiritually. He isolated himself from the superficial world, with its bitter temptations and shallowness, and prepared himself praying to God. He might have joined the Essenes in Qumran, so that he might be ready to answer the voice of the Highest when he calls him to bear witness to his people. Similarly, we wish you advancement in spirit and in body, in our God’s Sun of righteousness, so that you may become witness of Christ’s power, and guide your surroundings to the Savior of the world.
PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for you supported John as your servant, and sent him to prepare the way of your Son. Please cleanse us from our sins and renew our minds so that we may prepare his way in our surroundings and get ready to his imminent advent.
QUESTION 21: What did Zacharias tell more that the angel told him about his son?
THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN BETHLEHEM
(Luke 2:1-20)
LUKE 2:1-7
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Every country is in need of an abundant supply of money to equip a strong army, organize state departments all around the country, and build grandiose palaces. This is why the Roman state regulated the law of census once every fourteen years, where all people of the entire Roman Empire should be registered with all their properties to enable tax collectors to control and collect the taxes. The governors registered all trees, houses, animals, and men by force and scolding. They spread their spies everywhere to arrest those who might abstain from giving exact numbers, in order to raise the taxation for the coming years taking no consideration of the harvest, death, or other considerations. Thus, grudge and curse grew increasingly in the hearts of many because of that injustice at the time of Christ’s birth. All citizens hated this census, and everyone raced to his homeland and birthplace to be registered there out of fear of severe punishment.
In compliance with the order of the Caesar, Joseph, the carpenter accompanied his fiancée Mary from Nazareth toward the south of the town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem signifies the house of bread; a proper place for him to be born in who is the Bread of life, the Bread that came down from heaven.
Joseph took the trouble of that long journey of 170 kilometers with his fiancé among the mountains, hills, and robbers who lurked to attack the travelers, rob them, and kill them. Joseph was not pleased with this journey with his fiancé who was pregnant in her last days. However, he was required by the government to take this inescapable procedure.
Here, we may find a distinguishing feature of the account of Christ’s birth: that God employed the great Caesar Augustus, who called himself the wonderful savior of the world, to move the officials of his state all around the world, in order to accomplish the promise that was summed up in the Book of Micah that the true Savior of the world should be born in Bethlehem and not in the shining Rome, or Nazareth, or the pious Jerusalem, or the holy temple, but in a despised village, in the solitude of the world. Thus God begins his great things quietly with small things. He employs kings and countries to fulfill his redemptive plan, and reaches the goal of his designs away from those that are great and important in human societies.
When Joseph arrived at his town late, all the houses and inns were overcrowded with the newcomers who came from everywhere because of the census. He could not find a place to sleep. At such hard times, none but those that are rich and notable could find a house to receive them and provide them with food. The Son of Mary was born in an awful stable. From the first day of his birth he looked like those who had no refuge. From his first day he began to face the calamities of our world. His contemptible birth indicates that God has no place in the world of man, for the dislike of the selfish drives away the love of the Eternal One to a place which is not appropriate for him, such as the stable that is filled with microbes and bad smells. However, the mother looked after beloved child and wrapped him in swaddling cloths to keep him warm. Joseph must have probably put straw and hay in the manger, and covered them two nights before the child’s birth, and thus the stable was changed into a home of love, which lighted and overcame all poorness and distress.
The arrival of the Son of God to the stable means not only comfort to men, but also hope to animals, for all creatures expected the revealing of the Son of God and the appearance of the new creation (Romans 8:19-23). The Son of God came down from the glory of his heaven immediately to include in his redemption all the creation even animals.
Thus the Son of the Highest was born, and nine months of spiritual striving around faith and trust in Mary and Joseph ended, for the impossible and wonderful thing, that is the incarnation of the Spirit of God, was beyond the understanding of the Virgin and her fiancé. Yet, both the angel and the Holy Spirit confirmed with all clarity that the fetus in Mary was truly the Son of the living God. He was not a daughter, but a firstborn son. What joy, thankfulness, and hope were sent out around the poor manger!
The fullness of time was now come, when God visited the world, reconciling it to himself. Let us not forget that God’s descending took place in a stable and not in a palace, in order that all men should realize that God comes down and does not require of us to go up. The Holy One seeks those that are sinful, going astray, unsuccessful, and repentant, not those that are content, clever, rich, proud, and pious.
How does your heart look like? Does it look like a stable full of faults and sins, having no comfort but bad smell? Have you become a poor manger prepared for Jesus? No doubt, all people are filled with mud, but when Christ enters into one’s heart, divine cleansing begins, and the Son of God puts in us love, thankfulness, and hope. There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. So prepare your heart as it is so that Christ may dwell in you and sanctify you, and his presence illuminates your mind and your heart be filled with the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: Thank you Christ, for you became a man. We ask forgiveness, for we had only a dirty stable. Please possess me and cleanse my heart so that it may become a manger for you and you may continue in me in your divinity forever.
QUESTION 22: Why was Christ born in a stable?
LUKE 2: 8-12
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Some nomads were warming themselves around the fire, which they lighted in a dark night on the hill of Bethlehem, while their sheep grazed under the open sky. The shepherds chatted and passed the time with conversation that drifted from one topic to another. They talked about their town, which became overcrowded with those people who came from everywhere to be registered with their families in the official count of population. The shepherds saw many of their friends and neighbors who came to this town with many others. Some of the shepherds began to curse the Roman occupation and wish for the coming of the Savior. Then one of them took the rebec and played expressing his longing for the forthcoming Christ.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared in the midst of them as a flash of lightening, making the night as bright as day. His rays pierced their hearts, and they were exceedingly afraid and frightened. Their mouths became dry, and their sins became apparent before t