Today’s passage: Luke 1:26-33

Helpful thoughts:

• Mary was shown favor…she was a favored one.  This means Mary was not given the role of mother to Jesus because she was full of grace to bestow, but because God poured out favor/grace on her.  Mary needed a savior just like we all do.
• Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
• The mention of Joseph being of the house of David was a hint at who Jesus was going to be (Joseph adopted Jesus as his own, therefore Jesus was Joseph’s legal heir).  Then, verses 31-33 come right out and tell us exactly who Jesus is!
  • Jesus means, Jehovah (Or Yahweh) saves.  Jesus is our salvation!
  • Jesus is the Son of God, God the Son.
  • Jesus is the King of Kings.
  • Jesus is King forever!

Questions to consider:

1. What made Mary special?  What did Gabriel tell her?
2. What did Gabriel tell Mary about the baby she was going to have?  What is Jesus?  Who is Jesus?
3. What was Jesus going to do before he reigned forever?  How was He to become our savior? (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

Today’s passage: Luke 1:1-25

Helpful thoughts:

• The goal of this gospel? That you might have certainty (Exact truth) concerning the things you have been taught.
  • Luke compiled the content of his gospel carefully from the eyewitnesses (The Apostles) and wrote everything out in an “orderly manner.”
• This gospel was initially written to one person!  Theophilus was (And we are) able to read the Gospel of Luke knowing that we are reading a detailed, historically accurate, precisely depicted account of the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Our faith should be strengthened as a result!
• John the Baptist was to have a ministry of repentance.  Israel was not ready for their Messiah to come.   They needed to return to the Lord.

Questions to consider:

1. What can we learn from Luke’s painstaking attention to detail when seeking to communicate these important truths?
2. What can we learn from the size of the original intended audience?  How many people do we need to like our posts, watch our videos, attend our talks, in order for them to be worth putting forth 100% effort?
3. John the Baptist was great in the sight of the Lord.  What made John the Baptist great?  What makes a person “great in the sight of the Lord” and what do those characteristics do for our reputation here on earth?  How can this encourage our boldness to proclaim the Gospel?