The
December Gospel of Luke Challenge
– Looking at Luke Look at Jesus: Dec. 1 - Luke 1
Thanks for jumping in on this challenge. The goal is
simple—Learn Jesus.
There are twenty-four chapters in the Gospel of Luke. The
challenge is: beginning on December 1, read Luke 1. Then on each day through
Christmas Eve, read the corresponding chapter with that day’s date.
For additional enrichment, journal or simply list the
highlights of each day’s reading. I will share my own notes some days. My
journaling will be hand written in a notebook and I won’t always have time to
type it into the computer and post it. When I can, I will enjoy doing so.
An introduction and further explanation can be found in
my blog post of November 28, 2017. <>
So now, let the challenge begin.
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December
1 – Luke 1:
Pray,
thanking God for Jesus and for His Word. Read Luke 1, if you haven’t already.
v.
1-4
– Luke lays out his objectives in writing about Jesus: 1- to set in order the
things fulfilled among us—an orderly account; 2- get the eyewitness accounts;
3- get truthful information.
Luke is directing his narrative to “most excellent
Theophilus.” Theophilus means, friend of
God; lover of God. Scholars don’t know if Theophilus was an
actual person to whom Luke entrusted his story and who would see to spreading
the Good News, or if this was a name used by Luke to include all who loved God.
V. 5 –
Luke establishes the time in history of these occurrences.
V.
5-23
–Luke tells of the miraculous conception and birth of John the Baptist to
Zacharias and Elizabeth, a barren couple beyond child-bearing age.
V.
13
- When the angel, Gabriel, appeared Zacharias was startled and fearful. Gabriel
said, “Do not be afraid...”
In
scripture whenever an angel appears to someone, that person is struck with
fear. The angel always says some form of “Fear Not.” I don’t care for
depictions of angels as babies or feminine. That is a wrong representation of
these mighty warrior type messengers of God. I prefer seeing a daunting,
authoritative figure.
v.
19 -
I love this: “I am Gabriel, who
stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these
glad tidings?”
v.
20
– It’s interesting that God decided to mute Zacharias until the birth of John.
v.
26-27 – God sent Gabriel to Nazareth in Galilee to the virgin,
Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph. Joseph was a descendant of King David.
Already
in chapter 1, we’re reminded of the many prophesies about Messiah that are
being fulfilled in the story of Jesus, and He has not even been born yet.
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| Nazareth Village depiction of 1st century carpenter's workshop in Nazareth, Israel -photo by Connie Wohlford |
v.
28
– Gabriel’s greeting to Mary is awesome:
“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among
women!”
v.
29-30 – Naturally Mary was alarmed and Gabriel spoke the
beautiful words, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
v.
31-35 – Gabriel tells Mary how she’ll become pregnant with
God’s own Son. “... that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of
God” (v. 35).
v.
36-37 – Gabriel tells Mary about Elizabeth’s pregnancy, “For
with God nothing will be impossible” (v. 37).
v.
38
– Mary’s famous response to the pronouncement that she has been chosen to be
the mother of the long awaited Jewish Messiah: “Behold the maidservant of the
Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
I
want to reply to God in this same positive way whenever He calls me to do
something. Lord, help me to be like Mary.
v.
39-45 – I love the
account of Mary’s visit with Elizabeth—that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s
voice she was filled with the Holy Spirit and John leaped for joy in her womb. How very exciting!
v.
45-55 known as “The Song
of Mary” begins, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in
God my Savior” (v. 45). She continues on, beautifully and humbly praising God
for His awesomeness and faithfulness; amazed that He chose her to play such a
part in accomplishing His cosmic plan.
v.
56
– Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, then went home.
v.
57-58 – Elizabeth gave birth to a son and her neighbors
rejoiced with her.
v.
59-60 - On the eighth day baby John was circumcised. All
assumed he would be named Zacharias after his father. Elizabeth said, “No; he
shall be called John.”
In
Jewish tradition, a part of the ceremony of circumcision, is the official
recording of the child’s name.
v.
61-63 – The people made signs to Zacharias asking what his
name should be. He wrote on a tablet, “His name is John.” All the people
marveled.
In
Jewish tradition, a baby’s name is to be a family name. Apparently, John was not.
v.
64
– I love this: “Immediately his mouth
was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.”
v.
65-66 – Fear came over the people and the news of the event
spread all over the area. All who heard held it in their hearts and said, “What
kind of child will this be?”
v.
67-79 – Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and
prophesied, saying, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and
redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house
of His servant David ...”
If
you haven’t already, do go read Zacharias’ powerful proclamation.
v.
80
– The child, John, grew and spent time in the desert until his ministry was
revealed to Israel.
*****
There we have it—the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke,
and it was a long one, but full of wonderful information setting the stage for
chapter two, where we’ll read about the birth and infancy of Jesus, the Christ
Child.
Thank you for joining in on this December challenge. I
pray you’ll be blessed in it.
Your comments are welcome below. All who read would enjoy
hearing about the highlights of Luke 1 from your perspective.
God bless you as you meditate on God’s wonder-filled
workings in the lives of Joseph, Mary, Zacharias and Elizabeth.
©Copyright
2017 Connie Wohlford
