Before I begin anything, I did want to lay out a challenge to any and all people who may start this venture with me. Keep reading with me. Many may start out reading this post (and more importantly, their own Bible), but it's not about the newness, it's about doing something that will benefit you and your relationship with God.
For the most part this is the way that this will work:
- I will give the scripture that we'll cover in the post. I will also include a link so that you can read it online on biblegateway.com if you don't have your own Bible. I'll be using the New Living Translation, by the way. I definitely recommend you to get your own. If you need a free one, email my buddy Tim at tim@fplive.org!
- I will give some interesting thoughts and points found in the passage that may inspire you to either change your views, attitudes or lifestyle in some way or form.
- You'll notice that I won't go over everything within the passage (that would be overkill and take forever), but if you want/need more information that I don't offer here, ask me either here or on Facebook.
- Finally, I will ask a few questions in review at the end. They will all be open-ended questions. I urge everyone who reads to chime in and give their own thoughts or ask questions.
Read Luke 1:1-45 (find it here)
From the very beginning, Luke (who was a doctor) explains that many others "have set out to write accounts" (Luke 1:1) about Jesus. In fact, did you know that there are several more gospels that didn't make the cut into the Bible that we have today (including the Gospel of James, of Thomas, of Peter, of Judas and more).
Just to give you some further info, the book of Luke, or any of the other gospels (Matthew, Mark & John), were not written while Jesus was alive on earth. The earliest estimates by scholars have the gospels being written at about 40 AD and, at the latest, 100 AD. This means that, at the earliest, people starting writing down the purpose of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus about 25 years after it happened.
So you may ask why? You'll see throughout our journey of the New Testament that Jesus' tone made it seem as if he would be returning much sooner than 25 years. During that span, when nothing was written down, Jesus' disciples preached and taught everything about Jesus. Any people who became followers did the same. Luke, therefore, assures his pupil, Theophilus, that what he writes can be taken as truth (and so should you and I).
As we go through the Bible, and especially in the Old Testament, you'll see people being described as being faithful or righteous in the God's sight (Luke 1:6). Zechariah and Elizabeth had been wanting a child with no success. Out of nowhere, while Zechariah was doing his priestly duty, God shows up in the form of an angel. Of course, Zechariah is freaking out!
The angel of the Lord simply wants him to know that God has been listening to their prayers and that they should now expect a child soon. The angel says that they should name him John and, interestingly enough, that John should never have alcohol. It is immediately noted after that John would be full of the Holy Spirit. Paul, later on in the book of Ephesians (Ephesians 5:18 if you want to look), directly connects being drunk to not having the Holy Spirit. In other words, you can't connect to God if you're mind is not in it's normal functioning state. May seem way outta left field but any other drug that alters your consciousness should probably count the same way.
John is to accomplish great things, as you read. But Zechariah can't believe what he's hearing. So, almost comically, the angel strikes him dumb (which means he's now unable to speak; has nothing to do with intelligence).
Can you imagine how he told Elizabeth this story without words, too? He must have been convincing because Luke 1 says she became pregnant. Maybe when men don't speak, the romantic tendency with their wives naturally increase.
Mary also gets visited by an angel (Gabriel) that tells her that she will become pregnant. Her child has some lofty expectations. Gabriel says that he (Jesus) will be called the "Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32) and "Son of God" (vs. 35)! Imagine the mindjob Mary is having!
Mary accepts and believes but is also thrilled to hear that her cousin, Elizabeth, is pregnant! Their two children together were going to completely change the course of human history. It would be through John and Jesus that God's gospel (which means "good news") would be told to the world.
One of the most defining characteristics of Mary, Elizabeth and most people who made an impact throughout the Bible were people who "believed that the Lord would do what he said." (Luke 1:45) So what did God say? Let's continue on to find out tomorrow.
Questions:
1. If the stories of Jesus weren't written down for at least 25 years after he left earth, what does that make you think? In a way, don't most people who go to church and listen to messages, but not read their own Bible do the same thing? Don't they just take other people's word for it? (That doesn't mean that they can't share what they've learned about Jesus, too, right?)
2. What do you think about the connection that the Bible makes between drinking alcohol and being filled with the Holy Spirit? Does that change your stance at all about drinking? Why or why not?
3. Through our time in this, you'll definitely hear God telling you some things. And you will be challenged like Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary to "believe that the Lord will do what he said." Knowing what you know about the Bible at this moment, do you think God has promised you anything? Has any of it come true? Why or why not?
Post your answers, comments or any questions either here or on Facebook! Let's get into it!
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