Well, we're 10 posts in. Please let me know if you're finding these notes helpful. Creating the blog is a little more trouble than I originally thought, since I can't just cut and paste from my wordprocessor in E-Sword. (For some reason, of totally fouls up the scriptures and it can be a royal pain to get things looking half-way correct.)

01-05B

A truly humble person is humbled by praise. This seems to be Mary's reaction to Elizabeth's affirmation. Mary simply pondered these items in her heart.

Luke 1:52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Luke 1:53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Luke 1:54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

Mary seems to be identifying herself with "the lowly", "the hungry", "His servant".

Luke 1:55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

She saw what was happening her in womb as a fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise. (v55)

It should be observed that Mary was well educated in the promises given to Abraham, even at this tender age. There is a sense (v52) that she had this same generic Jewish idea that the Messiah was coming to overthrow Roman oppression. (Apparently JTB fell victim to the same false understanding, and was discouraged by it in when he was in prison.

Mat 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

Mat 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Mary, and Zechariahs, and JTB all knew that Jesus was the Messiah... it was implied in their prophecies, but they probably did not fully understand what the Messiah was about to do.

Mary was often perplexed by what Jesus did. These guys didn't quite grasp what His mission was. Their insight is mixed with misunderstanding.

Mar 3:21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

...

Mar 3:31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

At one point Mary and her other sons even thought that Jesus was out of his mind.

Luke 1:56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Mary seems to have remained with Elizabeth until the birth of John.

Luke 1:57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

Luke 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Luke 1:59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zechariahs, after the name of his father.

It appears that they didn't name the child until the 8th day, on the same day as the circumcision. The modern practice of christening probably has its origin in this.

Luke 1:60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

The neighbors were probably sincere in trying to look after Zechariahs who could not speak, and who, in his old age, had no son to carry on his name.

Luke 1:61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

Luke 1:62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

v62 is a funny revelation of human nature. They made signs to him... as if he was deaf. He's not deaf... he's mute.

Luke 1:63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marveled all.

They marveled at Zechariahs' choice. For one thing, Zechariahs is a great name. There are 36 biblical characters that bear some form of this name. Furthermore it was the father's name. John is not even an OT biblical name. John may even be a Greek name. Lots of John's in the NT, but none in the OT. There's no Israelite tradition in this name.

v69 This cannot be a reference to JTB, because JTB was of the house of Levi. Zechariahs was Levite, and so was Elizabeth (from Aaron). Normally, JTB would have, by Jewish tradition, become a Levitical priest at age 30. But instead he was called into the wilderness to be a prophet. There was precedent for this in Jeremiah, and in Ezekiel, and in the Zechariah of the OT. In the very years that they would have become priests, they became, instead prophets. (In Ezekiel's case it would have been tough to be a Levitical priest since Israel was in captivity at the time.)

Luke 1:64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed,
and he spake, and praised God.

Luke 1:65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings
were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

Luke 1:66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Luke 1:67 And his father Zechariahs was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied,
saying,

Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, Luke 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

v69 must be referring to Christ in Mary, and this reinforces the idea that the genealogy given in Luke 3, is the genealogy of Mary not Joseph.

Remember that Zechariahs being struck dumb is a parallel to the prophetic silence in Israel between the testaments. As soon as Zechariahs' dumbness is lifted he begins to prophecy, not of JTB, but of Christ. The silence ends with the coming of JTB, and it ends with a message about Christ.

"Horn" is symbolic of power, usually political or military power. Hannah mentioned a "horn".

Again Zechariahs may have been looking for a political savior.

Note also that it's common in prophecy to speak in the prophetic perfect tense. That is to say, that even though he's speaking as though it already happened, it hasn't been fulfilled at the time of the speaking. The profit can see things so clearly and so certainly that they refer to them as though they've already happened. Jesus hasn't even been born at this time.

Luke 1:70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

Were there prophets since the world began?

Act 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

It must have been exciting to live in the time that was so important that not one prophet had neglected to prophecy about your generation. Most biblical scholars think of this as our generation, but most prophecies find their fulfillment in Christ.

Luke 1:73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

Again the coming of Christ is interpreted as a fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

Luke 1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

Luke 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Zechariahs seems to be thinking of this as a deliverance of Roman oppression. It is not certain that Zechariahs (and earlier Mary) interpreted these prophecies this way, but it seems likely. But even if they misinterpreted the prophecies that they themselves were giving, it is still important to remember that the words themselves are inspired. (v67) He was filled with the HS and prophesied.

So, even if vv 71, 74-75 Weren't speaking of Roman oppression, they are still inspired by the HS and therefore must be true. So even though they may not have been delivered from their political enemies, we are certainly delivered from our spiritual enemies.

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Sin is certainly a more sinister enemy than the Romans.

Mic 7:14 Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

Mic 7:15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.

An analog of the Exodus is being drawn.

Mic 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Remember that the Egyptians, the oppressors of God's people, were drowned in the depths of the Red Sea. Now a similar fate is described for our sins.

Luke 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

Luke 9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

If the word "decease" were to remain untranslated, it would be "exodus". This is the second exodus. An analog to the Israelites coming out of Egypt.

Jesus death eclipses the Exodus. The Passover meal thus became a memory of Christ’s sacrifice, then, rather than a commemoration of the Exodus.

Luke 1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

Luke 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

This statement is true in the sense that we can be delivered from our sins, and serve God in holiness and true righteousness all the days of our life. Many Christians don't expect or believe this--that we can be delivered from our sins.

Luke 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

Now he turns and prophecies to JTB.

Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

He does grasp here that salvation is a matter of remission of sins, as opposed to political deliverance.

Isa 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

Isa 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

There is a way of peace. This has to be learned. The wicked don't know it. But JTB was to guide our feet into this way.

To understand "dayspring" it's best to look back at the parallel to this in Malachi.

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Parallels v76

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

So "dayspring" means sunrise. And is associated with Christ's coming.

Isa 9:1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

Isa 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

And this prophecy fulfilled in...

Mat 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

Mat 4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Mat 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1:80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

JTB probably went off into the desert around the age of 12 or 13 or, in any case, from a fairly early age, until the time his ministry began.

01-05A

This is still prior to the birth of Jesus.

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Had this happened after she was married, Mary would not have had nearly the same problem. No doubt Mary had to live with a certain stigma all the days of her life, for there would always be those who would claim that she had become pregnant out of wedlock (which, in fact, she had). We have no news of Mary's parents.

Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah

Mary travels to visit Elizabeth, who's usually referred to as a cousin, but we don't know for sure. The angel seemed to suggest this trip. Elizabeth hid herself for 5 months, but by the time the angel came to Mary it had been six months, so it's almost certain that the family knew of Elizabeth's condition. We don't know whether Mary had yet shared information of her situation with her family. If anyone could sympathize with Mary, it would be Elizabeth. They had a lot in common. We don't know how, or even whether, Mary was kept out of hot water with her parents, but it was probably Elizabeth and Zechariahs who stood up to Mary's defense.

We're not told what city it was, but it was probably a Levitical city. Zechariahs was part of the Levitical priesthood. 48 Cities were designated throughout all the other territories as Levitical cities. The Levites were priests and city dwellers. Mary was from Nazareth. A trip to Judea would be a journey of a week or so. Did she make this trip through dangerous country alone? This is a major journey. She would have procure lodging along the way.

She went with haste. She probably needed to unburden herself of her secret.

Luke 1:40 And entered into the house of Zechariahs, and saluted Elisabeth.

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

It was predicted that the baby would be filled with the HS (v15), but it here says that Elizabeth was filled with the HS. This was apparently not one of those normal baby kicks, but a leap associated with the inspiration of the HS.

Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Luke 1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Luke 1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

If Mary went down to Elizabeth for encouragement, this must have been it. Mary didn't even get to tell the story, and she wasn't even showing yet. Mary barely got "hi" out before Elizabeth was prophesying about her condition. Also, this is in a loud voice. The secret is definitely out now.

Mary is called blessed among women. We don't venerate Mary in the same way the RCC does. We don't pray to her, nor do we consider her a co-redemptress with Christ, nor our intercessor. But it is biblical to say that she is blessed among all women. She was chosen as the mother of Christ. She's the most famous mother ever. Mary's generation was probably aware that this was the generation in which Christ would come, and it's possible that there was hope among the women in Israel that they would be selected as the mother of the Messiah.

She was not perfect. She was saved by grace just like the rest of us. But God wasn't random in His selection of a family. It's okay to honor Mary... not to the degree the RCC does, but among biblical heroes, she's certainly up there. She laid her life and her reputation on the line.

JTB apparently recognized Jesus even from the womb, even though Christ had only recently been conceived.

Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

Luke 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

Mary was a sinner like anyone else and, as such, needed a Savior just like the rest of us.

Luke 1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luke 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

Luke 1:50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Luke 1:51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

This speech of Mary's is called The Magnificat. This is similar to Hannah's speech.

1Sa 2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

1Sa 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

1Sa 2:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

1Sa 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

1Sa 2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1Sa 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

1Sa 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

1Sa 2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Both speeches begin with glorifying God, and then they talk about how God sets low the haughty, and exalts the lowly. Both of them prophetically declare something that God is doing. When Hannah lived, there were no kings in Israel. Hanna's son Samuel anointed the first king of Israel. 1 Sa 2:10 is probably also predicting the Christ. She saw in her own circumstance a type of what God does generally. God eventually takes up the cause of the underdogs.

This is a general biblical theme. God resists the proud and exalts the humble.

Now Mary was different than Hannah, but apparently she saw herself as downtrodden. In v48 she describes herself as lowly, humble slave.

Luke 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

Luke 17:8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

Luke 17:9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

This is the mentality of the Christian who has been 100% obedient. If you haven't been 100% obedient, then you should be even more humble.

This is Jesus' teaching about self-esteem. View yourself as unprofitable even when you're fully obedient. When you find yourself doing better than other people, more consistent, more faithful than others, more godly than others... then you can congratulate yourself as an unworthy servant. The servant should have lowly expectations. God is not our servant. This flies in the face of health-wealth.

Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Luke 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

This kind of contradicts 17:7-10, but not really. 17:7-10, speaks of what our expectations should be... what our attitude should be like. We are not to have an entitlement mentality. Christ will take up our cause, and will take care of us, but it's not because we're entitled to anything. It's because of his great love and mercy and grace to usward.

Luke 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

The point is, Mary saw herself in a lowly and humble way. She acknowledges that she is blessed, but not because of her own greatness. She gives God credit.

Luke 11:27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Does this imply that Mary was not always keeping the word? He may not be saying this, He may be saying, "not only that". But either way, Mary was correct when she said that people would call her blessed, here's a fulfillment of that.

Mary was a Jewish mom who had great occasion to boast. But, she doesn't boast of herself. When the shepherds reported that the sky was full of angels praising Mary's son...

Luke 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

01-04B

Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

So John was probably given over to be a Nazarite, and filled with the HS from the womb, even though the HS was not to become available generally until after the crucifixion on Pentecost.

From the womb, could mean "in" the womb. Later he leaps in the womb, when Mary, having recently become pregnant with Jesus, comes to Elizabeth's house.

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

If the babe could leap for joy from within the womb, this should give us some direction about when life begins. JTB's personhood and even his emotional state was acknowledge prior to his birth.

Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.

Does the spirit of Elijah mean that John was a reincarnation of Elijah? Elijah presumably never died, so if he's being reincarnated here, then this would require that he's now being given a second body. This is not evidence of reincarnation! However, there are unmistakably many parallels between JTB and Elijah.

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

1) They dressed similarly. In John's culture, a leather belt was unusual. In general, the Israelite tied a rope or string around their waste. Leather belts were generally military in nature, since you hung your accoutrements of war from them.

2) Both had probably taken the Nazarite vow.

3) Elijah was sent to call the Northern kingdom of Israel to repentance during a time when it was backsliding, and when the nation was facing disaster. John's message was also one of repentance and he appears on the scene about 40 years prior to 70 A.D.

4) Both spent a good deal of time in the wilderness.

5) Both were persecuted by a hen-pecked king.

These similarities were not lost on the Jews of the day, but John was not Elijah the Tishbite in the literal sense.

John 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Jesus also highlighted the similarities between JTB and Elijah.

Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

This is a reference to:

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

So in a way, it appears that Jesus is disagreeing with JTB on this point. Notice that Jesus said, "if you will receive it".

1Co 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This is the fulfillment of the very last words of the OT, and JTB is the first ministry of the NT. The OT ends with a prediction, and the NT begins with the fulfillment of that prediction.

So why did JTB say that he was not Elijah?

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

...

Mat 17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Mat 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

Mat 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Mat 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Apparently, from verse 10, the scribes understood Malachi to be saying that Elijah would come literally. They thought it would be the same Elijah the Tishbite from the time of Ahab and Jezebel. Jesus indicated that this was to be looked at spiritually.

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.

The angel identifies JTB as the fulfillment of the prophecy in Malachi. Notice that, in quoting Malachi, the angel, instead of saying "children to their fathers" says "disobedient to wisdom of the just".

Luke 1:18 And Zechariahs said to the angel, By what shall I know this? For I am old, and my wife is advanced in her days.

Luke 1:19 And answering, the angel said to him, I am Gabriel, who stands before God. And I am sent to speak to you and to show you these glad tidings.

Luke 1:20 And behold, you shall be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because you did not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their time.

Usually this is interpreted as a rebuke of Zechariahs. But we are told to test the spirits. Zechariahs can hardly be blamed for such an honest straightforward question. So maybe it's not as though Gabriel is saying... "So doubt my word will you? I'll show you! Blam! you're dumb 'till these things are fulfilled." Notice that Gabriel had not identified himself until after the question. Mary asked a similar question when she said, "how can this be, I haven't been with a man." and we don't see the angel striking her dumb.

This isn't a judgment, this is a sign for Zechariahs. He asked an honest question, "How can I know this is for real," and the Gabriel says, in essence, "fair enough... tell you what, here's your proof... " This seems to be more of a sign that something supernatural is afoot. It‘s a sign to Zechariahs, and it’s a sign to others. There was at least a 9 month silence (John was not yet conceived), which was broken 8 days after his son was born (at JTB's circumcision and naming). Remember that Zechariahs represents the priesthood. He’s in the role of the priest, and he’s in role of the prophet, and he is struck dumb. This seems to mirror the silence between the OT and the NT. Both times of prophetic silence were broken at the arrival of JTB.

Luke 1:21 And the people waited for Zechariahs and marveled that he stayed so long in the temple.

Luke 1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them. And they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and remained speechless.

Luke 1:23 And as soon as the days of his service were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

So the people realized that something was up. Notice, too, that Zechariahs was allowed to continue his priestly duties even though he was struck dumb.

Luke 1:24 And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months, saying,

Luke 1:25 So the Lord has dealt with me in the days in which He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

We're not sure why Elizabeth hid herself for five months? She wasn't embarrassed. She saw this as a removal of her reproach. Perhaps she wanted to spend time giving thanks to God and to reflect, and think about these amazing things.

Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Luke 1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.

Luke 1:28 And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, one receiving grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.

Luke 1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what kind of greeting this might be.

Luke 1:30 And the angel said to her, Do not fear, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Luke 1:31 And behold! You shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David.

Luke 1:33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.

Luke 1:34 Then Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I do not know a man?

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you. Therefore also that Holy One which will be born of you shall be called Son of God.

Luke 1:36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

This is the same angel who had appeared to Zechariahs. In the case of JTB the angel went to the husband first, but here he goes to Mary first. This must have created a good deal of anxiety for Mary. In that society, if the man who got her pregnant was known, he had to marry, unless the father refused, in which case the man would have to pay the dowry. But this was only if she was betrothed to the man. If she wasn't betrothed, she was put into the category of an adulteress.

The penalty was death.

How could she persuade her parents of her innocence? This was without precedent, and it is unlikely that the Jews thought that prophecies of a virgin being with child were literal Even if they did, it's unlikely they would believe this lowly young girl was the one the prophecies were about. Imagine it, here's this lowly young girl who's pregnant out of wedlock and her defense is "I'm the one the prophecies are about." v38 is very touching. In indicates that Mary was willing to lay down her life for the will of god. Mary was a woman of unusual faith.

In considering Mary and Joseph, there's no reason to believe that these were run-of-the-mill ordinary people. The parents of JTB where unusually righteous... "blameless". Mary here shows herself to be unusually obedient and faithful. We must conclude that Joseph and Mary were people of unusual piety.

Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah.

Luke 1:40 And she entered into the house of Zechariahs and greeted Elizabeth.

The only "ace in the hole" that Mary had was Elizabeth. The angel even reminded her of it v36. Zechariahs' sign was to be struck dumb, Mary's sign was Elizabeth. These were the first miracles appearing in Israel since the time of Elijah. This must have really shaken things up in the society.

Luke tells us very plainly that Mary was a virgin.

The angel names him Jesus. Jesus means "savior".

Mat 1:21 And she shall bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David.

Luke 1:33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.

This is a summary of the major lines of messianic prophecy.

Isa 9:6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isa 9:7 There is no end of the increase of His government and peace on the throne of David, and on His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will do this.

Luke 1:34 Then Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I do not know a man?

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you. Therefore also that Holy One which will be born of you shall be called Son of God.

This is a spiritual overshadowing. Some suggest a physical sexual union between Mary a godly spirit. If that were the case, she wouldn't have been a virgin. She remained a virgin even after becoming pregnant.

The angel suggests that this is the point in time when the One called the Word first enters into the relationship with God as a son.

01-04A

The opening verses of John tell us of Christ's preexistence. The opening verses of Matthew tell us of Christ's genealogy. The opening verses of Luke tell us of the months leading up to Christ’s birth.

Luke 1:1 Since many took in hand to draw up an account concerning the matters which have been borne out among us,

Luke 1:2 even as those who from the beginning delivered to us, becoming eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word,

Luke 1:3 it seemed good to me also, following all things accurately from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 1:4 so that you might know the certainty of those things in which you have been instructed.

Who was Theophilus? Some feel that this is an individual. Others think that, since the word translates to "lover of God", this book is written generically to anyone who loves God. The book of Acts is addressed to the same person.

Act 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

But here in Luke, he says "Most excellent" which could possibly be the title of a Roman official. It could be that, by the time Acts was written, Theophilus was converted. That would explain why the honorific Roman title is dropped. Festus is addressed by Paul in a similar manner:

Act 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

Luke and Acts may have been written together at the same time prior to Paul's trial and as part of his defense. Acts ends with Paul in prison. Paul spent 4 years in prison, so Luke may have seen the necessity of writing a history to be used in Paul's defense.

In any case, no one knows for sure who Theophilus was other than that he was the recipient of this letter. So the book of Luke is an epistle. This means that 24 of the 27 books of the NT are epistles, leaving only Matthew, Mark, and John that are not.

Although Acts is the sequel to Luke, Acts is written in a less formal style than Luke.

Luke does not claim to be an eyewitness to the events he relates. Rather, he claims to have had access to the eyewitnesses. Luke was a physician, and it's possible that he was Paul's physician. He traveled extensively with Paul. His gospel is the result of paying careful attention to the eyewitness accounts.

Luke claims to have had perfect understanding of the events he records from the beginning. Possibly this is because he had the benefit of the retrospect of the apostles, along with the understanding of Paul to explain the events as they related them.

Luke says the purpose is to give the reader a certainty of the historical facts of the events, and that Theophilus was already instructed in those events. This book was to reinforce Theophilus' certainty of those events.

Luke is at pains to show how historical the events are.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariahs, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

This verse pinpoints a particular period in time.

Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

Notice the pains Luke goes to in order to locate these events in history. He wants to nail down the time period. This is very particular and detailed historical information. As it turns out, it is also possesses a great deal of historical credibility. Historians have striven to find errors in Luke's account, but history bears out Luke’s account. Luke wanted his reader to be absolutely certain, and for his story to have credibility.

Luke goes back further into this historical record than any other gospel writer except John. Luke's genealogy even goes back further. Luke claims that he's had perfect knowledge from the first, and it is to the very first that he takes us.

All 4 gospels agree that the first part of the story is John the Baptist. JTB’s story is clearly the beginning of the story of Jesus. Mary and Elizabeth were related.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariahs, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Luke 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Here we're presented with an aged and barren couple. This may remind us of several other notable aged and barren ladies in scripture.

Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Hannah.

God seems to want it known that the birth of certain people are not simple matters of biology taking its course, and this is also the case with JTB.

Since the New Covenant doesn't really start until Jesus’ death, the events of the gospels are occurring in an OT environment. So JTB is an OT character. Like so many other OT characters, JTB is perhaps a symbolic type of things to come. John was born of an elderly woman who had been barren. The barrenness of these women in the OT are types.

Isa 54:1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

Isa 54:2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;

Isa 54:3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Many of the turning points in Israel's history came from men who were born of elderly women who had been barren.

This “barren one” who is going to bring forth more children is a reference to the gentile nations (see Gal 4:27).

The gentile nations were barren in terms of bringing forth children of God. This can be construed as the gentile nations bringing forth more children for God than Israel, which certainly seems to be the case today. It's possible that the barren wombs of women (especially Elizabeth) were a symbolic representation of the prophecy that the barren Gentile nations were about to bring forth fruit.

Both of JTB's parents were from the priestly line. Zechariahs was not the high priest, but a priest. One of, perhaps thousands. John’s parents were of impeccable pedigree.

Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Not only were they of impeccable pedigree, they were also of impeccable character. "Blameless" does not mean that there was never sin in their lives. Job is given similar endorsement. What this means that God had nothing against them. They were people of faith, and that faith was imputed as righteousness. So blameless does not mean sinless, it just means that their sins weren't held against them; that they couldn't be blamed for their sins.

However, this is not necessarily a reference to their inner, spiritual life. They were still under the OT covenant, and it was measured against that standard that they were considered blameless. This simply means that they were scrupulous in their keeping of the law. No one could find fault with them. This is discussing their outward conduct.

The bottom line is that JTB had some outstanding parents.

Zechariahs was of the line of Abia, which is the same as Abijah mentioned in Chronicles.

1Ch 24:10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

There was a division of labor for the burning of the incense. This was chosen by casting lots. (v. 9) There were so many priests, and only 2 weeks that a particular priest's division, was up for it. It was a rare privilege. Once the lot indicated that a particular priest was chosen, he would do it every day for a week, and after that he couldn't do it again. It was literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

So we assume that God influenced the casting of the lots.

Pro 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Solomon seems to be saying that there is no such thing as mere chance, but that God's sovereignty is supreme. When the disciples needed to find a replacement for Judas, they used lots to select from the available candidates.

We can be fairly certain that there was more than mere chance at work in the lot falling to Zechariahs for the burning of the incense.

Zechariahs is a common biblical name. There are about 36 of them in the bible.

Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

Incense and prayer are often associated with each other in the bible.

Psa 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Burning of incense corresponds to the prayers of the saints. The smoke of incense was symbolic to the rising of prayers.

So here is Zechariahs who has this rare privilege of burning the incense, and here's this large group gathered outside praying, and it is at this time that the Angel appears to announce the answer to a particular prayer.

Luke 1:11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him as he was standing on the right of the altar of incense.

Luke 1:12 And seeing this, Zacharias was troubled, and fear fell on him.

Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, Do not fear, Zacharias. For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

This is a common formula progression. 1) Angel appears 2). Person is afraid 3) Angel says "Don't be afraid". Almost always the first thing angels says is "Don't be afraid".

Luke 1:13 …For your prayer is heard, …

Zechariahs and Elizabeth were praying for a son. It appears they were praying even into their old age, and perhaps, Zechariahs was praying this even while he was offering the incense. This indicates that they were very full of faith. Abraham and Sarah laughed, because the possibility seemed ridiculous. But Zechariahs may have continued in this prayer even in to his old age. If so, he must not have seen it as ludicrous.

It would reasonable enough for them to have stopped praying for a son once they got past normal child-bearing age... and it may be that they did. If this is the case, then it suggests that God remembers our prayers even long after we've given up hope for them coming true.

Either case is an instructive indicator of how God answers prayer. God waited until, humanly, it seemed to be too late.

Everything about JTB's birth is exceptional.

Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

The Holy Spirit was made accessible even under the old covenant.

The name John is a very common name for us to use these days, but in the bible, JTB is the first one we know of called by this name. It doesn't appear in the OT.

The mention of wine and strong drink is an indication that JTB was, from his birth, considered a Nazarite. A Nazarite was not a place of origin, but rather, a group of people who dedicated themselves to serving the Lord by taking a Nazarite vow. The word "Nazarite" means "separated". A description of the requirements is found in Number 6.

1) No produce of the vine 2) No contact with a dead body 3) Couldn't cut their hair.

Samson was a Nazarite, as was Samuel, and this it seems reasonable to suppose that JTB was as well.

The hair is shaved at the beginning of the vow, and then not cut during the time period of the vow was completed. They then shaved again at the end of the vow, and the hair was burned. It was called "The hair of your separation". Sometimes the Nazarite vow was for a period of time, and sometimes for a lifetime.

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

It's possible that Elijah and taken a Nazarite vow, and certainly there are parallels drawn between JTB and Elijah.

01-03B

Luke in the birth narrative always follows Mary's story, Matthew is always concerned with Joseph's side of the story. We're getting the two sides of the story in these two gospels, therefore it would be very natural for Matthew to give Joseph's genealogy, and for Luke to give Mary's.

Moreover, if Luke doesn't give Mary's genealogy, then nobody does, and if nobody does, then how can we say that Christ was descended from David, since He wasn't biologically related to Joseph? One of the precepts of the OT is that the Christ was to be a scion of David.

There's even more. According to Luke's genealogy, Christ's actual bloodline goes back through Nathan. Mary did not come down through the royal line. But back in Matthew, Joseph, did follow the royal line, right down to the last of Israel's king.

Mat 1:12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

The presence of Jeconiah is in the line presents a problem. The problem is a prophecy that was given in Jeremiah.

Jer 22:28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?

Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

Jer 22:30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

Here is a curse on the descendants of Jeconiah. One thing you can do to instantly disqualify yourself from being the messiah is be a descendant of Jeconiah. But it was Joseph who was a descendant of Jeconiah. But Jesus was not the son of Joseph, biologically. So Jesus' actual bloodline to David was through Mary. Yet in society, Jesus’ legal status would of the bloodline. So Jesus, and Jesus alone what the other royal sons of David couldn't avoid, i.e. being a descendant of Jeconiah.

It's possible that Jesus was the only person of his generation, or even in history, who had the genealogical requirements to be the King of the Jews. How many could, by natural rights, claim the throne? How many adopted first born were there in Joseph's line? (Adopted, of necessity, so as not to be in the line of Jeconiah).

Luke's genealogy goes all the way back to God.

Luke 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

This is the only scripture that calls Adam the "son of God". Luke's genealogy goes back even further than the OT genealogies, which go back to Adam (See Gen 5).

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you. Therefore also that Holy One which will be born of you shall be called Son of God.

Luke calls both Jesus and Adam "sons of God".

Luke was a good friend of Paul's. Paul's theology was steeped in this concept of Jesus as the second Adam. He often likens Jesus to, and contrasts Him with Adam.

1Co 15:21 For since death is through man, the resurrection of the dead also is through a Man.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all will be made alive.

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul," the last Adam was a life-giving Spirit.

1Co 15:46 But not the spiritual first, but the natural; afterward the spiritual.

1Co 15:47 The first man was out of earth, earthy; the second Man was the Lord from Heaven.

1Co 15:48 Such the earthy man, such also the earthy ones. And such the heavenly Man, such also the heavenly ones.

1Co 15:49 And according as we bore the image of the earthy man, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Rom 5:12 Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men inasmuch as all sinned:

Rom 5:13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Rom 5:14 But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is the type of Him who was to come;

Rom 5:15 but the free gift shall not be also like the offense. For if by the offense of the one many died, much more the grace of God, and the gift in grace; which is of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

Rom 5:16 And the free gift shall not be as by one having sinned; (for indeed the judgment was of one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses to justification.

Rom 5:17 For if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more they who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.)

Rom 5:18 Therefore as by one offense sentence came on all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came to all men to justification of life.

Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.

This comparison between Adam and Christ is unique to Paul. Paul calls Adam a type of Christ, v14.

Adam was the founder of a race of humans, and his moral choices affected for evil the entire race that was in him.

Christ was also the Founder of a race of humans, and His moral choices affected for good the entire race that was in Him. In Paul's writings we are either in Adam or we are in Christ. We are in the old man, or we are in the new man. If you are in Christ, then Christ's choices are in you. If you are in Adam, then Adam's choices are in you. There is a parallel between Adam and Christ.

Luke was strongly influenced by Paul's way of thinking. In pointing out that both Christ and Adam were sons of god, Luke underscores this same theme that Paul emphasizes.

They are both sons of God and both able to affect for good or ill their descendants.

So we have two messages in these two genealogies.

Matthew's message is that Jesus was unashamed to be associated with sinners, women and gentiles. Luke's message is that Jesus is a like a second Adam. He managed to avoid the curse of Jeconiah, by being adopted by Joseph, thus avoiding the catch 22 of being in the royal family.

All things conspired in Jesus' genealogy to make Him the true Messiah.