Devotions

The Son of the Most High

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Gabriel is sent by God. It is time. The plan begins with the birth of John the Baptist. An answered prayer for Zachariah and his barren wife Elizabeth. They thought it was too late for them and then, as Zechariah is performing his duties, he has and angelic visitation. Elizabeth becomes pregnant and all is quiet for six months. Then, Gabriel is sent again, to Mary, saying “you have found favor with God”.When Mary hears the news, and about Elizabeth, she rushes to greet Elizabeth and spends three months with her. This is a place of encouragement as Elizabeth greets her with “blessed is she who believed that there will be a fulfillment”, and Mary needs the wisdom of Elizabeth at her side.

To Take Away My Disgrace

Luke 1:21–25
Zechariah was a faithful man, a servant of God, performing his duty on his regular schedule. This was routine for him, and in Luke 1:21 it was routine also for the people who were wondering that he was delayed. Something must have happened, where is he? Then in Luke 1:22 he came out to the people gesturing to them. But he couldn’t speak as they begin to understand that he had a visitation. Nothing seemed to change, except that he could not speak. He finished his duty. In Luke 1:23 “the days of his service came to an end, and he went away to his home”. And once he was home, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. It isn’t that they had not tried before because a Elizabeth says, in Luke 1:25 “the Lord … concerned himself with me … to take away my disgrace among people”. 

The Son of the Most High

Luke 1:26–38
Gabriel is a busy angel. He is again “was sent from God” in Luke 1:26. Gabriel went to the city, Nazareth but not to the leaders of the city. Gabriel might have gone to Joseph in Luke 1:27, the man Mary was betrothed to because he was already the head according to their culture. Gabriel went instead in Luke 1:28 to the innocent virgin woman that was little more than a child. And his message to her is “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you” and continues “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God”. Then Gabriel declares God’s message, a prophetic word to usher in the savior of the world in Luke 1:31-33 ”And behold, you will conceive in the womb and will give birth to a son, and you will call his name Jesus. 32 This one will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end”.

Mary questioned Gabriel, not about the throne, not about the work or kingdom of Jesús, but about how she could become pregnant. Gabriel answered, in Luke 1:35 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the one to be born will be called holy, the Son of God”. But Gabriel went on to tell her more, “your relative Elizabeth—she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her” which is a way of confirming God’s promise to Mary and also an instruction to her so she can get the help she needs through this transition. 

There Will be a Fulfillment

Luke 1:39–45
Mary responds to the message and in Luke 1:39 “Mary set out and traveled with haste into the hill country, to a town of Judah, 40 and entered into the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elizabeth”. You likely know these verses, the six month old fetus, this baby, the one that will prepare the way of the Lord, lept in the womb of Elizabeth and she cried out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”

Luke 1:45 And blessed is she who believed that there will be a fulfillment to what was spoken to her from the Lord!”

 

The Mighty One Has Done Great Things For Me

Luke 1:46–56
Mary responds with praise. First about what God has done for her in Luke 1:46 “all generations will consider me blessed”. Then in Luke 1:50-55 “his mercy is for generations … he has dispersed the proud … has exalted the lowly … filled those who are hungry … helped Israel his servant … just as he spoke t our fathers”. Mary and Elizabeth communed together as Mary’s pregnancy began and as Elizabeth’s came to full term. Then in Luke 1:56 “Mary … returned to her home”. It seems odd to me that Mary would leave before the birth of John, and I suppose we don’t need to know, some say “it seems more likely that he means that Mary left before John was born (though Marshall thinks she probably stayed)”.1

He Will Be Named John

Luke 1:57–66

The Prophet of the Most High

Luke 1:67–80

He Will Save His People From Their Sins

Matthew 1:18–25

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Luke 1:1-80
  • Matthew 1:18–25

The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels

This series follows the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You which ends in Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

References

  • 1. Morris, L. (1988). Luke: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 3). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.