CHRISTMAS’ SURPRISING BEGINNING (1 OF 5)
by Scott Maze
Scripture: Luke 1:5-25
This content is part of a series.
Christmas’ Surprising Beginning (1 of 5)
Series: The Christmas Story
Scott Maze
Luke 1:5-25
Read Luke 1:5-25
Luke presents the Christmas story by announcing both the births of John the Baptist as well as Jesus. Luke is the only gospel writer who recounts the birth of John the Baptist. He places the two babies side by side so you will compare them closely. He begins in Luke 1:5-25 with the announcement of John's birth to Zechariah, his father. Then in Luke 1:26-38 comes the announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary, his mother. Then in Luke 1:39-56 a connection between the two is made as Mary goes to visit Elizabeth and magnifies the Lord. Then in Luke 1:57-80 comes the birth of John and his father's song of praise. Lastly, this is followed in Luke 2:1-20 by the birth of Jesus and the song of the angels. So there is clearly a pattern in Luke's presentation. Announcement of John - Announcement of Jesus; Birth of John - Birth of Jesus; A link between the two pairs as Mary and Elizabeth, pregnant with these two unexpected children, meet each other. Again, Luke wants the reader to compare and contrast Jesus and John the Baptist. Both children are announced in advance by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:11, 28), both births are miraculous, and in both cases the angel tells what the name should be (Luke 1:13, 31).
But the Luke doesn't simply wish to show us the similarities between the two, he also wants to show us the differences. Where John will be something in the days to come, Jesus is already someone at His birth. The first two chapters then form a section within Luke, as both tell us of the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. This is a story about an old man in the Temple while Luke will later tell us about a young man in the Temple in Luke 2:41-51, the twelve-year old Jesus. And the narrative of Luke's story of these two babies' birth begins in the Temple and it will end in the Temple. Luke records for us the reactions of Zechariah, his wife Elizabeth, and ...
Series: The Christmas Story
Scott Maze
Luke 1:5-25
Read Luke 1:5-25
Luke presents the Christmas story by announcing both the births of John the Baptist as well as Jesus. Luke is the only gospel writer who recounts the birth of John the Baptist. He places the two babies side by side so you will compare them closely. He begins in Luke 1:5-25 with the announcement of John's birth to Zechariah, his father. Then in Luke 1:26-38 comes the announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary, his mother. Then in Luke 1:39-56 a connection between the two is made as Mary goes to visit Elizabeth and magnifies the Lord. Then in Luke 1:57-80 comes the birth of John and his father's song of praise. Lastly, this is followed in Luke 2:1-20 by the birth of Jesus and the song of the angels. So there is clearly a pattern in Luke's presentation. Announcement of John - Announcement of Jesus; Birth of John - Birth of Jesus; A link between the two pairs as Mary and Elizabeth, pregnant with these two unexpected children, meet each other. Again, Luke wants the reader to compare and contrast Jesus and John the Baptist. Both children are announced in advance by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:11, 28), both births are miraculous, and in both cases the angel tells what the name should be (Luke 1:13, 31).
But the Luke doesn't simply wish to show us the similarities between the two, he also wants to show us the differences. Where John will be something in the days to come, Jesus is already someone at His birth. The first two chapters then form a section within Luke, as both tell us of the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. This is a story about an old man in the Temple while Luke will later tell us about a young man in the Temple in Luke 2:41-51, the twelve-year old Jesus. And the narrative of Luke's story of these two babies' birth begins in the Temple and it will end in the Temple. Luke records for us the reactions of Zechariah, his wife Elizabeth, and ...
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