23 October

Bible In 365 Days

Luke 1-2

Luke 1

Luke brings us face to face with the Son of Man and the Savior of the world. The apostle first gives an account of how he did his work. He then tells of Gabriel's visit to Zacharias announcing the birth of the Herald of the Lord, following it immediately with the august account of the coming of this same Gabriel to Mary, and the great annunciation. Her reception of that announcement was in faith and submission to the divine will. Thus we see her co-operating in the purpose of God.

Luke records the first two songs of the new dispensation, the first being a salutation by Elisabeth of Mary as the mother of the Lord, and the second the great Magnificat of Mary herself.

The faith of Zacharias, which had trembled in the presence of the divine promise, was restored when he wrote on the slate the name of the babe. This was a return from the point of unbelief, and the exercise of will in the appointed way.

This chapter ends with the third song of the new era, and it takes the form of a prophetic benediction from the lips of a priest of the chosen people. It was a song of salvation, and has within it truth - deeper than most likely the singer then understood.

Luke 2

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, under the yoke of an oppressor. Moreover, by the exigency of the circumstances, He was born amid the homeless crowd. This was according to the divine arrangement and foretelling.

The message of the angel and the chorus of the heavenly host are of special interest as revealing heaven's outlook on the birth of Jesus. That may be stated by citing two brief sentences.

1. "Glory to God in the highest,"

2. "Peace on earth among men in whom He is well pleased."

Simeon and Anna were representatives of the remnant of Israel who were true to the divine ideal and purpose. Simeon in song, and Anna in speech, set forth the praises of God.

The final paragraph covers a period of thirty years in the life of our Lord, giving us a picture of the Boy dedicated to the things of His Father, telling, first, of His growth, and then of His advancement until He had arrived at maturity and readiness for His mission.