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Luke

Luke 
Day 
Day 8

Luke 1:5-80 "THE THINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN FULFILLED" Luke 1:1"

Day 8 – Luke 1

Text: Luke 1:5-80

“THE THINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN FULFILLED…” Luke 1:1

The longest chapter in the Gospel of Luke is actually the first chapter. We have a total of 80 verses! Whenever we read the Scriptures, we must train ourselves to ask some very basic questions.

First, we must not allow ourselves to forget what Luke said in his prologue (Luke 1:1-4). One of the things that stood out in his mind as he did his research for the writing of his narrative, was the fact that there were “things which had been fulfilled.”

Secondly, we need to ask ourselves what these things were. Luke highlighted two births as worthy of careful study. Both births were in fulfillment of what the Scriptures had foretold! Luke being a physician would have seen a lot of babies being born (There were no specialists in those days. Midwives were the main people who assisted in the delivery of babies). What must have fascinated him would be the circumstances in which both babies were conceived!

Thirdly, we have to evaluate the evidence as they are gathered. We will need to form some kind of a conclusion as to what the evidences amounted to. Luke formed his own opinion, and wrote his Gospel as his conclusion- as his statement of faith.

Let’s evaluate what Luke amassed for his research. Let’s see what conclusion we will personally arrive at, after we have carefully studied the material.

THE PEOPLE CHOSEN BY GOD TO BECOME PARENTS OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER

We tend to take the matter of birth and death for granted. We tend to assume that the matter of having children is a normal or natural phase of life. The story of Zacharias and Elizabeth reminds us that we dare not take the matter of having children for granted. (The news reports that we sometimes come across, of severe falls in birth rates, help us appreciate the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth even more).

Luke described the lives of both Zacharias and Elizabeth with the highest words of praise. “They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). These are not words that can be easily applied to people easily. We are reminded of a similar set of words that were used to describe Job, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8).
Zacharias and Elizabeth “were both well advanced in years” and Luke noted that “Elizabeth was barren” and thus their likelihood of becoming parents was nil!

Nevertheless, in God’s dispensation, in God’s will, an angel was sent to announce to Zacharias that he and Elizabeth would become parents. The son that would be born to them however, would be no ordinary child. He would “be great in the sight of the Lord… and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from the mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15)!

The Gospel that Luke wrote would contain many “miracles”! The modern mind finds it hard to believe in “miracles.” The birth of John the Baptizer would require nothing less than a supernatural act from God! Sadly, many today scoff at the miracles recorded in the Gospels. They are dismissed as fanciful stories invented by people because they wanted to believe in miracles.

DOES OUR FAITH IN GOD ENABLE US TO ALLOW FOR MIRACLES TO HAPPEN?

Luke mentioned a number of things that would defy the human logic that he was accustomed to using in evaluating facts. Medically, he knew that having children at an advanced age, and especially when Elizabeth was barren, would be impossible! Yet, it happened!

How many times would one meet with an angel? Luke specifically mentioned that the Angel Gabriel was sent to deliver an important message to Zacharias. The son that would be born to them will fulfill a special prophecy! He would become the forerunner of the Messiah. He would be specially empowered. He would “go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17).

THE STRUGGLE TO BELIEVE IN GOD

Why do we struggle with “miracles?” What is the basic problem? Is it the concept of the miracle in itself, or is our basic struggle with our faith in God?

The best of us will struggle with one or more tenets of our faith, from time to time. Zacharias was described as “righteous before God, walking in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6), nevertheless, when given a special announcement from the Lord, he faltered and could not bring himself to believe in the miracle that God wanted him to be a part of the miracle He was going to work out!

Do we not also struggle with our faith in God? Do we also not allow unbelief to rule our life? Has not unbelief hurt our relationship with God badly? What can we do to overcome the problem of unbelief?

WHAT STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE TO OVERCOME UNBELIEF AND ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAITH INSTEAD?

“Behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because YOU DID NOT BELIEVE MY WORDS which will be fulfilled in their own time” (Luke 1:20) Those were the solemn words that the angel Gabriel spoke with great authority to Zacharias.

Here are some steps we can take, to build up our faith in God:-

1. Let us learn to have a high and healthy regard for God’s Word.

2. Let us recognize that there is great power and authority behind God’s Word.

3. Let us practise exercising faith in the Word of God.

The Thessalonian Church was highly praised by the Apostle Paul for their correct regard for the Word of the Lord.

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thes. 2:13).