Luke 1 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. There’s an expectancy in it, filled with hope that God is about to act on behalf of His people. And I find it fascinating that twice in this chapter people burst into songs of praise in response. It’s almost as if the moment is so intense that they must break out in joy for what God is doing – because these events, as Zechariah says at the birth of John, are about giving, “knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God. . . .”
A little background is in order. Luke, unlike the other authors of the New Testament, is a Gentile. He did not grow up in Jewish family, but as some point in his life he heard God’s Word and the Good News about God’s intervention into history, and he became a believer in Jesus. He was an educated man, a doctor by trade. We also know he was educated by his vocabulary. His gospel and Acts (which he also wrote) have some of the most difficult vocabulary and grammar of the whole New Testament. Dr. Luke was also a traveling companion of St. Paul’s. It is very possible that it was during Paul’s two year imprisonment at Caesarea (Acts 23-25) that Luke took the time to research Jesus life and interview people to gather his information to write this book. And it would seem that one of the people whom he must have interviewed was Mary, Jesus’ mother, for how else could he have gotten the information from the first two chapters?
The beginning of this gospel is about a year to year-and-a-half before Jesus’ birth. Notice the painstaking detail that God put into place to get ready for the birth of His Son. Notice the way he does the impossible as the Life Giver! He makes a barren woman who is old and a virgin conceive! One could say that this whole chapter is pregnant with the hope of salvation!
There are two announcements that are made to prospective parents in Luke 1, and the rest of the chapter is a sort of compare-and-contrast exercise. The first announcement was made to Zechariah in the Temple. Zechariah was a priest who is getting up in years, and has no children. He is simply going about his work when the angel Gabriel appears to him to let him know that his wife, Elizabeth, who is also from a priestly family and is also up in years, will conceive and give birth to a son. Take note of Zechariah’s response, “How shall I know this?” Gabriel basically tells him, “Because God has said so,” but as an added bonus, Zechariah is blessed with muteness until the day his son is born. (That gave him lots of time to ponder God’s miracle of salvation!)
The second announcement was made to Elizabeth’s young cousin, Mary. Judging by marriage customs of the time, Mary was probably in her middle teen years – 14-17 years old. (Which would also explain how she could still be alive for Luke to interview 40-50 years later.) Gabriel appeared to her, much as he had to Zechariah, and announced that she would be the mother of a son; and not just any son! He would be the Son of the Most High – the Son of God. Mary asks, “How will this be?” But she doesn’t receive the gift of muteness for asking! Why?
The difference is the source of the question. “How shall I know this?” was born from doubt. It doesn’t matter how we know. God is at work. “How will this be?” was born from faith. Mary had no doubt that God would accomplish the plan of his salvation. And the world has been blessed through her faithful obedience ever since!
Which question are you asking God when it comes to his salvation?
Father in Heaven, I thank and praise you for sending Jesus into this world to be my savior. Thank you for Gabriel and his conversations with Zechariah and Mary. Help me to respond in faith to your promises, and live in the hope that You can accomplish everything you say You will do; through Jesus, Your Son, my Lord. Amen.
A little background is in order. Luke, unlike the other authors of the New Testament, is a Gentile. He did not grow up in Jewish family, but as some point in his life he heard God’s Word and the Good News about God’s intervention into history, and he became a believer in Jesus. He was an educated man, a doctor by trade. We also know he was educated by his vocabulary. His gospel and Acts (which he also wrote) have some of the most difficult vocabulary and grammar of the whole New Testament. Dr. Luke was also a traveling companion of St. Paul’s. It is very possible that it was during Paul’s two year imprisonment at Caesarea (Acts 23-25) that Luke took the time to research Jesus life and interview people to gather his information to write this book. And it would seem that one of the people whom he must have interviewed was Mary, Jesus’ mother, for how else could he have gotten the information from the first two chapters?
The beginning of this gospel is about a year to year-and-a-half before Jesus’ birth. Notice the painstaking detail that God put into place to get ready for the birth of His Son. Notice the way he does the impossible as the Life Giver! He makes a barren woman who is old and a virgin conceive! One could say that this whole chapter is pregnant with the hope of salvation!
There are two announcements that are made to prospective parents in Luke 1, and the rest of the chapter is a sort of compare-and-contrast exercise. The first announcement was made to Zechariah in the Temple. Zechariah was a priest who is getting up in years, and has no children. He is simply going about his work when the angel Gabriel appears to him to let him know that his wife, Elizabeth, who is also from a priestly family and is also up in years, will conceive and give birth to a son. Take note of Zechariah’s response, “How shall I know this?” Gabriel basically tells him, “Because God has said so,” but as an added bonus, Zechariah is blessed with muteness until the day his son is born. (That gave him lots of time to ponder God’s miracle of salvation!)
The second announcement was made to Elizabeth’s young cousin, Mary. Judging by marriage customs of the time, Mary was probably in her middle teen years – 14-17 years old. (Which would also explain how she could still be alive for Luke to interview 40-50 years later.) Gabriel appeared to her, much as he had to Zechariah, and announced that she would be the mother of a son; and not just any son! He would be the Son of the Most High – the Son of God. Mary asks, “How will this be?” But she doesn’t receive the gift of muteness for asking! Why?
The difference is the source of the question. “How shall I know this?” was born from doubt. It doesn’t matter how we know. God is at work. “How will this be?” was born from faith. Mary had no doubt that God would accomplish the plan of his salvation. And the world has been blessed through her faithful obedience ever since!
Which question are you asking God when it comes to his salvation?
Father in Heaven, I thank and praise you for sending Jesus into this world to be my savior. Thank you for Gabriel and his conversations with Zechariah and Mary. Help me to respond in faith to your promises, and live in the hope that You can accomplish everything you say You will do; through Jesus, Your Son, my Lord. Amen.
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