Theological Commentary: Click Here
After the
chapters of the Pentateuch, this first chapter of Luke is unbelievably
long. I remember from years past how
different it is to blog on the New Testament than the Old. In the Old Testament, each chapter typically
has one theme and a central story. In
the New Testament, each chapter typically contains multiple stories with
potentially multiple themes.
However,
Luke is a great place to begin as we come off of the Old Testament. We’ve spent months being reminded of the
power of God. Especially recently, we’ve
heard Joshua speak about how the Hebrew people are in the position that they
are in because God is great and powerful.
This same
theme runs through Luke 1. Look upon the
story of Zechariah. He’s an average priest. He doesn’t even live in Jerusalem. His lot for serving in the temple comes up
and he heads to Jerusalem to do his service.
He wasn’t there for any great reason.
Yet, while doing his routine service, he finds himself being visited by
one of the Lord’s angels and a great witness is given to him. John is born into a regular normal family
through the extraordinary means of a mighty and powerful God.
Or, take
Mary. Here is a young virgin, betrothed
to a man but not yet wed to him. She
doesn’t come from any great line. Her
husband isn’t any special man, either.
These are two regular people just going about their life. It is God who breaks into their life. It is God who comes to Mary and embodies
Himself within Mary. Mary and Joseph are
in this position because of God and His desire to be there.
Don’t get me
wrong. I’m not trying to take anything
away from Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, or Joseph. They are all fine people. They are certainly all God-fearers. Their life has gotten God’s attention – or at
the very least hasn’t pushed God away and turned His eyes to another. But they aren’t chosen because of their own
glory. They are chosen because God is
great and God has come to impart Himself into the lives of each of these
people.
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