An Angelic Surprise

The Passage

Luke 1:5-25

"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. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

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 altar 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."

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, he 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 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.""

A Little Background

The central focus of all the Bible is Jesus.  As we saw in John 1, Jesus, the Word made flesh, was in the beginning with God and was God.  Creation was made through Him and for Him.  If we were to go back to Genesis, we would see that when Adam and Eve sinned, they were separated from fellowship with God.  But God promised a “Seed” or a descendant who would crush Satan (Gen. 3:15).  From that point on, the Bible records the events of human history anticipating and preparing for the time when Jesus would come to rescue mankind from Satan’s power and restore, redeem or reconcile man back to God.   

Luke 1:1-4 and John 1:1-18 laid a foundation telling us why the Gospels were written and who Jesus is.  Now we begin the history of Jesus’ earthly life.  It really begins with Zacharias and Elizabeth.  “And they were both [Zacharias and Elizabeth] righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”  This elderly couple was part of the tribe of Levi, and Zacharias served as a priest in the temple.   In the last post, I mentioned the Old Testament tabernacle.  It was a simple tent that could be moved about for worship through animal sacrifices.  Later, the tabernacle would be replaced by a temple, a permanent dwelling.  The temple in today’s passage is the temple that Herod had commissioned to be built.

Some Explanation

It was Zacharias’ turn, as priest, to serve at the altar of incense in the Holy Place inside the temple.  Notice Zacharias’ response when he saw the angel Gabriel and the angel’s response to him.  Whenever a person in the Bible has an encounter with an angel or with God, their response is fear and trembling, often falling face down; the reply from the angel or from God is, “Do not fear.”   Zacharias and Elizabeth had prayed for a son.  Gabriel was sent as God’s messenger to tell them that their prayers would be answered.  He also told Zacharias that they would not have an ordinary child.  Their son would be set apart for one specific calling—to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord Himself.  Gabriel told Zacharias to name the child, John.  He also explained what John would do:

1. He would be great in the sight of the Lord
2. He was not to drink wine or strong drink
3. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb
4. He would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God
5. He would go before Him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah to

• turn the hearts of the fathers to the children (prophecy of Malachi 4:5,6)
• turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just 
• make ready a people prepared for the Lord

Zacharias and Elizabeth are described as being righteous and blameless before God because they obeyed the commandments and laws of the Lord.  This does not mean that they were sinless.  It’s not a contradiction of Romans 3:10 (Ps. 14:3) which says that “there is none righteous, no, not one.”  It simply means that they were careful to observe all the commandments of the law in an attitude of faith in God.  The law required them to offer sacrifices for their sins which they apparently acknowledged and were faithful to do.  Raising a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah would require parents whose hearts were sent on diligent obedience. 

Observations and Insights

It’s hard for me to understand Zacharias’ response to Gabriel’s announcement.  If Gabriel’s sudden appearance caused this devout man to fear, why would he then doubt the angel’s message?   He obviously believed the angel he was seeing was real for he was talking to him.  While Gabriel was talking, he certainly commanded Zacharias’ attention.  But instead of praising God for His faithfulness to consider and answer his prayer, Zacharias looks at himself and Elizabeth, and sees the obvious problem of their age.   "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."   When he looked at himself, he allowed doubt and unbelief to overtake the truth of Gabriel’s message.  Like Zacharias, when I focus on self instead of God’s Word (in Zacharias’ case, the message delivered by Gabriel) I lose faith.  Self-focus is the enemy’s tool for unbelief.  Instead, may I fix my eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2).  
Next:       Luke 1:26-38

Old Rotted Windows

Over the course of my life, I had often thought about reading through the Gospels chronologically, but never actually did it until mid-August of 2012.  But it wasn’t until December, when my husband, Bruce, began a long overdue Do-It-Yourself project, that the Holy Spirit brought the truth of John 1:1-18 to light for me in a personal way.  Now, our DIY project was no small thing.  Although his father is a skilled carpenter, Bruce never inherited his father’s expertise.  He can do some basic tasks, but he most certainly does not enjoy home projects.  And this was a doozey!  We have owned our home since 1995.  It’s a small fixer-upper (I know...he doesn’t like DIY projects, so why a fixer-upper?  Well, that’s another story...)  And since we don’t DIY, the old second-story window had remained broken and rotted all those 17 years.  I hated it.  It faced the road for all to see surrounded by old green shingles on the siding of the second story.  When I say that I hated it, I mean I really did. I have allowed myself to live under my own reproach for the condition of our home.  It seems like no matter how much we do to improve it, there’s always something else to go wrong.  The window was just one symptom of many.

So, finally, it was time to replace that ugly old window.  Bruce was working hard to not only replace it, which included some construction issues, but to install new siding, too.  I went to check on him knowing I would be asked to help.  There I stood waiting for the next command and thinking in my heart how glad I was to be rid of that shameful eyesore when suddenly a thought came to my mind that deeply humbled me. 

What did God the Son, Jesus, think of His earthly home.....?   Is it really possible for the human heart to grasp what the King of Kings did for us?  By leaving his heavenly glory to dwell in a human body, God the Son, labored in the hot sun, He sweat, he got hungry.  Not to be disgusting but...these bodies of ours have to eliminate waste.  Do we really comprehend what that meant for God in flesh? 

Oh, how humbling and piercing that thought was to my heart.  How could I be ashamed of my home?  How could I cry and stomp commanding bigger, prettier, classier?  Oh, what a foolish, selfish demanding brat I had been!  Immediately God took the bitterness of those years and the shame that I felt for them and replaced it with a joy in Jesus I had not known before.  The impact of that hit me in a new way.  I realized how shallow my values are.  So what of my house!  So what of my position in life!  So what of the clothes I wear! 

John 1:14 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelled among us.  The Greek word for dwell in this verse is skēnoō which means “1. to fix one's tabernacle, have one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent), tabernacle 2. to dwell.”  In the Old Testament, God required the Israelites to worship Him by a system of sacrifices at a tent or tabernacle.  The tabernacle was a small, rough, simple construction on the outside.  However, inside were silver supports, intricate tapestries and golden pieces of furniture.  It housed the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies.   It was in these times of worship that God’s presence came to the people as He dwelled temporarily with them.  That tabernacle was a picture or foreshadow of Jesus.  He is God “tabernacle-ing” with us, Immanuel.  And because of that I can be content with the things that I have for He Himself has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

I have so greatly enjoyed my journey through the Gospels and the Holy Spirit’s bringing light to my heart.  Thank you for joining me.  May you also be richly blessed as you read and worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
Next:          Luke 1:5-25

Glory

John 1:1-18 (part 3)

"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...”  Hush...think...consider this...  God the Son, full of glory, dominion, and power, co-equal with God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit, did not think it robbing His essence to leave His exalted estate and take on human flesh to become a servant.  The realization of this truth takes my breath away!  God in humble, corruptible flesh, submitted Himself to the death of the cross.  (Philippians 2:5-8) 

God Himself—God the Son—bore God’s own punishment on Himself.  What an amazing truth! 

This is grace.  Grace—His great kindness to give us what we don’t deserve, that is mercy.  Mercy—pardon from what we do deserve, that is, the wrath and judgment of God for our rebellion, the sin and darkness of our hearts.    

“And we beheld His glory...”   Jesus told the disciple, Philip, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father,” for Jesus is the express image of the Father.  The Apostle John literally saw Jesus with his own eyes for three years.  We can see Him by faith as we know Him through the Word, and as we do, we see God the Father.  

And of His fullness we have all [those who have received Him] received, and grace for grace.  These three days we’ve read and re-read this amazing Scripture describing the fullness of Christ’s glory, yet He shares this glory with us.  Grace for grace.  This phrase has captured my attention for several years now.  To me it is the very heart of this passage.  We receive grace because of grace.  We receive grace through grace.  And we receive grace to give grace.  I don’t know about you, but I fail at this miserably.  But still He gives more grace and more opportunities to grow in it. 

John 1:1-18 stands in the crossroad of human history.  Before this time, the law given through Moses stood to judge mankind.  Under the demands of the law, no one could stand under the condemnation of judgment.  Enter the Lord Jesus Christ bringing grace and truth, revealing God to us—He is the centerpiece of human history, the glory of God in human flesh, given to us by grace.  My prayer is that we will all receive of His fullness that we may pour out grace as He so generously pours it out to us.  
Next

Brilliance

John 1:1-18  (part 2)

"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."

I’ve read this passage perhaps dozens of times throughout my life.  But now as I write about it, I am seeing it as though it were a beautiful gem commanding all our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ in all His brilliance. In fact, John tells us that Jesus is the Light—the Light that shone into darkness (vs. 17).  Our world system, in fact, every person’s heart is in darkness because of sin.  There is no inherent goodness, no inner light, no divine spark—just darkness.  When I say “no inherent goodness”, I mean that in our heart of hearts, in relationship to God, none of us is good, not even one (Romans 3:10).  Humanity can and surely does do “good” deeds, even those who are not Christian.  I am certainly thankful for even atheist doctors who do good to all who come to them.  It is a good thing that honors God when we respect, and do “good” to one another regardless of our faith.  But none of this “good” is enough to merit God’s favor.  He sees into the depth of my heart and knows the depravity that is there.  This is the darkness that Jesus came to  Light.  

Then, in the middle of this description comes a “parenthesis”...   Our gaze is briefly interrupted to introduce John the Baptizer*, the Jewish people, and ultimately us. 

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John...” The Jewish people of Jesus’ day were eagerly anticipating the arrival of the prophesied One known as Messiah (anointed one, Christ).  God also told the Israelites through the prophet, Malachi, that another prophet would come who would announce the soon arrival of the Messiah.  John (the Baptizer) would also prepare the people to receive Jesus’ message.  We’ll be seeing more about what that meant in the coming days.

“He came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him.”  In Genesis God separated out a group of people that would be dedicated to Him.  In time God would send the promised One who would crush Satan.   God called Abram (Abraham) out of Ur of the Chaldees (a city in modern-day Iraq) to begin a nation from his family.  Abraham’s son Isaac, Isaac’s son Jacob, and finally Jacob’s twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of Israel.  Initially, Jesus came for these “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).  Israel was Jesus’ “own people” because Israel was God’s chosen people.  Jesus was—is Jewish.  Although His earthly life would be spent among His own people who would reject him, Jesus came to bring salvation to the whole world.   

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name...”  How thankful I am for this verse!  That’s me!  But what does it mean to receive Jesus and believe on His name?  To answer that we need to understand what the Bible says about Jesus in its full context.  Just believing about Jesus is not the whole picture.  Just using His name doesn’t cut it, either—obviously, many take His name in vain.  Even the demons believe, and they tremble at His word.  Believing on Jesus includes embracing and receiving by faith what the Bible says about Jesus and what He did--that is His "cross-work".  It is this saving faith that gives us the right, the power, and the authority to become a child of God.

The Bible uses many word pictures (metaphors) to describe what our relationship to God is like.  Birth is one of those pictures.  We are born into the Kingdom of God by saving faith.  It is not by our timing, our own will, but the will of God Himself.  If this sounds new to you, it’s not by accident that you are here reading this blog.  Ask God for this faith.  He loves you and is drawing you to Himself.  Continue reading the Bible.  The Gospels are a great place to start. 

Next:        John 1:1-18 (part 3)

*This John is not the apostle John, the writer of the Gospel.

Crown Jewel

John 1:1-18

"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." NKJV

John 1:1-18 is arguably one of the most profound passages in the entire Bible.  To me it is the “crown jewel” of the Scriptures.   I am not an Augustine, Luther, or Spurgeon.  I am just a simple sheep desiring to read and share the life of Jesus Christ with other sheep of my flock.  It is not possible for me to plumb the depths of all the wealth of this treasure.  Nor is it possible or wise to take only one day on it; in truth, we could sit and gaze at this passage for a lifetime and never truly comprehend its splendor.  We will take at least three days to just skim the surface. 

“In the beginning was the Word....”  The Apostle John, by the Holy Spirit gets right down to business from the very start focusing our attention on Jesus.  Jesus Christ is the very Word of God in human flesh.  We call this the “incarnation” (in flesh).  As God reveals Himself in Scripture, He shows us that what He speaks is Who He is.  Psalm 138:2 tells us, "I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name."  God’s name is holy and righteous, yet He magnifies His Word above His name. 

Jesus, the very Word of God came to earth as God the Son, God in flesh, the express image of the Father, the image of the invisible God. (Hebrews 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-17).  All things were made by Him, through Him, and for Him.  He upholds all things by the Word of His power and by Him all things consist.  This is our pre-eminent, superior God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

But we walk in darkness, enemies and separated from God in our minds by our wicked works, dead in sin, without life, without hope...until the light shone in the darkness and God Himself came in Jesus Christ.  The absolutely astounding miracle that Jesus would come into my darkness is a wonder that I cannot fathom.  As I write this, the impossibility of this miracle nearly takes my breath away, for I am not worthy of it.  All I can do is marvel at its profound beauty.  For this God in flesh who was Life itself.....died..... and rose again to give me life.  What an amazing wonder!  May this amazing truth shine in your darkness today and bring you light, and life and hope.  

Next: John 1:1-18 (Part 2)

Knowing

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."

As I sit here tonight writing this blog entry, I am anticipating the upcoming birth of my fourth grandchild.  I say grandchild because I don’t know if it will be a boy or a girl.  Unlike my son and daughter-in-law, most parents today want to know the sex of their baby before it’s born.  Like so many things in life, we need to know.  We need to know what the weather will be tomorrow.  We need to know the traffic report before we head out the door in the morning.  We need to know that our paycheck is coming so that we can pay our bills. 

From the very beginning, Luke tells us why he wrote his gospel, “...that we may know the certainty of the things we have been taught.”  Like two pieces of bread on a great sandwich, John closes the gospels taking this truth even further, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31).  Later, in John’s first epistle, he makes this same truth even clearer, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)

I remember when I was just a little girl with questions about how to know God.  I also remember, later on, how inadequate I felt when others around me seemed to have profound experiences that I did not have.  With tears, I sought to have these mystical experiences, too.  “Was I being left out?” I wondered.  I grasped on to every little inkling that I could and amplified it.  Would it qualify as a valid spiritual experience?  Was I missing a vibrant relationship with God if I didn’t experience what others were?      

Through an admittedly minor trial, God began to open my eyes to truth again.  As I began to read His Word as it is, not as it was re-interpreted to mean, but as it is truly written, I began to understand.  As I continue in the Word, I have been blessed by a growing assurance of faith, settled in my heart.  It’s not worked up, or something that I must convince myself of.  It is a reality.  The Bible is a precious gift to me.  It is God’s specific revelation of Himself so that we may know—not wander about in a misty cloud of unknowing—not doubting a subjective experience or a fleeting feeling—but truly know what He has revealed so that we may be reconciled to Him and experience true, abundant, eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Next:  John 1:1-18

Introduction-Part B

I will be using A Simplified Harmony of the Gospels, by George W. Wright.  Although it is a “book” with a “human author”, it’s actually the Gospels pieced together in chronological form with the intent to be a “seamless” narrative of the Gospel account.  The book uses a fairly new Bible version, The Holman Christian Standard Bible*.  I will use the book as our chronological guide, but I will quote from the version I prefer which is the New King James Version.

As we go along, I may refer to the human author of a passage, for example, “John writes....”  When we talk about the inspiration of Scripture, I believe that God used human writers to communicate His very words to us.  Only in Exodus 24, 34, and Daniel 5 do we find God Himself actually writing a message to humans.  However, I do not believe that God took possession of the writers or their hands controlling their motions as they wrote.  As I’ve read the Bible, it is obvious to me that God used the personalities of each human writer in the various books. The humans may be the writers, but the Author is God Himself, by the Holy Spirit as He “carried” them along (2 Peter 1:21).  I may also reference a particular “story”; however, the Bible is not fiction or myth.  It is a factual account, infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts.  For excellent articles on the inspiration of Scripture and its inerrancy, see:

http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-inspired.html

http://www.gotquestions.org/Biblical-inerrancy.html

If you’ve been a believer for very many years, you may be tempted to read a passage quickly thinking, “Oh, I know this passage.  I already know what it means.”  Please don’t read past it quickly.  I encourage you read it several times.  My prayer is that as we read the Gospels, we will read like we’re seeing it for the first time.  Ask the Lord, by the Holy Spirit, to let its truth dwell in you richly.  Slow down and read it carefully and think about what it’s saying.

I will copy the passage at the beginning of the blog entry.  Here’s a confession...when I read a devotional, I often give in to the temptation to skip over the verse and go right to the commentary.  (Surely you don’t do that, though... ;)  )  I am not writing this to be a casual devotional.  Please don’t read it that way.  Really read the passage, think about it.  In fact, don’t feel obligated to read my words at all; they are inconsequential.   It is the Word of God that is living and powerful. (Hebrews 4:12)  The Holy spirit will bring life to you as you read in faith believing.  And as you read, your faith will increase. (Romans 10:17)

And that is enough introduction.  The next blog entry will begin our study on the harmony of the Gospels.

*The New King James Version (NKJV) is my preferred Bible translation.  I was raised with the King James Version (KJV) and particularly love its beautiful and comprehensive language.  I now use the NKJV because it retains the strength of the KJV without thee’s, thou’s and –th’s.   This reading of the Simplified Harmony is my first exposure to the HCSB.  I appreciate the experience reading it, but prefer to use the NKJV in my blog discussions.