Luke 1

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0:00 Okay, we're working through the Christmas story from the Gospel. We did, this one that we did first, Mark first, and then John. Last week we did Matthew where he talked about Emmanuel, God with us. And this week we're going to look at Luke. And Luke tells us the most about the first, like the beginning, the Christmas story. And Luke's Gospel is super fun because of the way Luke likes,

0:31 and you can see right at the very beginning, if you want to read as long as you read the beginning of chapter 1. Because inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning will eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us. It seems that to me also, having followed all these things closely for some time to ask to write an orderly account for you, once that's on the alphabet, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

1:04 I love that Luke tells us why he's writing it. John does that a little bit at the end of the book of Revelation. But I love that it's a reminder. I think that maybe Luke, a lot of people think that Luke was a physician, who's Greek is the Gulf's Greek of the four Gospel writers. And Luke also wrote the Octavia Apostles. It's kind of a continuation of his Gospel. And at one point in the Octavia Apostles, he starts using the first person, like weaves.

1:37 So we think that maybe Luke's journey, Luke's Paul and Barnadeth, around Ethan Minor a little bit, and interacting with that first century church. A lot of Christians tell us also that because of the stories and the way that Luke writes the verses of this beginning, that Luke maybe went once to marry to get her version of the story. It's really interesting to think about Luke as a physician and an educated Greek who has traveled with Paul, who has been on the streets maybe of Ephesus or Corinth,

2:10 who has heard Paul try and translate the story of this Jewish Messiah to a growing Greek world, who stood in synagogues and told people that their long-awaited Messiah has come, and who has been on boats and walk through towns and been in marketplaces with Paul. Then hearing the story of this person, Jesus, and maybe not having ever met him himself, decides that what needs to happen here is that we need an account that tells the story of the way of Jesus

2:45 from the beginning, all the way through his ascension, his impartation of the Holy Spirit, and the launching of the people of the way out of Antioch and Jerusalem, the diaphragm. And so it's fun to imagine Luke going back to find Mary. Isn't it interesting that Mary doesn't have a gospel? Mary doesn't write her account.

3:18 We read about the acts of the apostles and we don't hear the stories of Mary's past that I've faded the morning of the resurrection where she's there with the women. We don't hear did she stay in Jerusalem there at Pentecost when all the believers were gathered and shared everything in common? Was she still there that period of time after the resurrection or did she then haven't seen the resurrection,

3:51 recognized her stuff, did she just go back home, teach her mom, his mom, maybe she's unimpressed, just go home and get back to work, whatever it worked in. I think that maybe she went back to Nazareth eventually, she certainly didn't move to Antioch or somewhere Luke that goes up on her doorstep and finds Mary.

4:21 Certainly she's not alone, right? She's like Joseph is gone because after crucifixion Jesus gives John to Mary. And we know that John has like an interesting history, he ends up persecuted in God. She's saved by Mary's side but certainly he wouldn't have left her uncared for the widow without a son. But I love the idea that Luke showed up and hears the story from Mary.

4:55 This life Luke has a little phrase, Mary took all these things and pondered them in her heart. Because when you read the story of Christmas, it sounds like a prison story when you read it from Luke, but if you take a step back and look at that and the angel Gabriel appears to Zachariah quietly and then to Mary on her own, right? Of his prose, young woman on the wrong side of the desert all by herself.

5:28 And that her and Joseph together walk all the way to Bethlehem and nobody even cares to put them up in place. And she's got this weird dichotomy of apparently Gabriel's death and the spirits giving me capacity to believe that I carry the savior of the world. And also no one else seems to care. The shepherds gather and then what they go home and Mary and Joseph go about to Nazareth.

6:05 So she pondered all this things in her heart. So I love the idea of Luke coming back to aging Mary and getting the story for a hand. And she's like, I'm going to go talk to Elizabeth. You got to go talk to Elizabeth. So Luke, he's going to go talk to Elizabeth's story as well, which we don't get in place. Oh, Paul, I think Mary was like, look from old, barren woman, too young, virgin, cousins come up.

6:39 Remember that Jesus said that John the Baptist, there was no person born a woman greater than John the Baptist. And so these two women get together, different ages, different places in life. One too old, one too young. And they go through that like pregnancy period together. We get the story from Luke. Let's just look at it. We'll just kind of think through it.

7:10 In the days of her, the King of Judea, there was a pre-trained Zachariah of the season of Abadiza. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God walking blameless, being the commander from statue to the Lord, but they had no time because Elizabeth was born and both were advanced in years. And now, while he was serving as a priest before God, when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by law to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

7:44 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord's skin is the right side of the altar of incense. And Zachariah was troubled when he saw him and feared cellophonic, but the angel said to him, Do not be afraid Zachariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your life Elizabeth will bear you a sense and you shall cause men to own. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice to the first.

8:17 Or he will be great before the Lord. And you must not drink wine or strong drink, and will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. I read that this morning, that's when I reminded myself that there was no person born of men braided into an abacity. So that his incitement not to drink wine was specific to the greatest one ever born of men. It's not necessarily my calling.

8:47 Verse 16, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah the turn part of the fathers, the children, the disobedience of the wisdom, the drugs, to make ready for the Lord's people prepared. 18 and Zachariah said to the angel, How shall I know the shrine, and the old man, and my wife has advanced in years? And the angel said that this is a great one, own Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.

9:18 And I was sent to speak to you on bringing the good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time. I love that John, remember, gives us a vision of what God looks like in his throne room. He's like this great vaulted God. All these people ascended, assembled beforehand. He sits on the throne, he describes the throne, it's like all that's obsidian,

9:50 and it's cool, like a significant imagery, and it's big eternal book, and it's angels that fly around them, covering their eyes and their feet, so they don't stain themselves, it's crying out all the time how amazing this God is. It doesn't stop it and decrees it, it's that people can't help but imagine and behold how great he is. And Gabriel says, I stand in the presence of this God, and I come to you now. And Dr. Rylus, standing in the Holy of Holy, with all the priests praying for him out in the other room,

10:26 beholding the presence of Gabriel who stood in the presence of God, gives this announcement, and can't really believe it. Zachariah, man, I don't know. One of the things we're going to see in Luke's account of the gospel is that perhaps more than three while I do in this gospel, the man who I just told you.

10:58 You didn't mean Zachariah? You're in the Holy of Holy, Gabriel who stands in the presence of God who's in front of you and telling you God will accomplish this, and then you know how? I don't know. How can that be? Does it make a lot of sense, Gabriel? Yes. There's a lot of explanations. He's all that could be seen things. He knows how things work. He can't imagine how this is going to work.

11:28 Guys, sometimes we believe that. God does what he wants. He just got Gabriel from his very present to go speak with Zachariah in the Holy of Holy, to announce the fulfillment of the plan from time immemorial. From the from ways out of the east, left the garden, God has been orchestrating events

12:02 and they are reaching the culmination in the person of Zachariah. And instead of being overjoyed and amazed, I would God is willing to accomplish through him his humanity bubbles up and his lack of faith, presence, and he's like, look, Gabriel, this doesn't make any sense at all. Look, do you want Gabriel now? You just be quiet and God's going to do it anyway.

12:34 How about it? It comes up again. Let's look at it. Hello. I'm Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. And I would send to speak to you to bring you this good news and the whole view will be silent and unable to speak and put the day that these things take place because you did not believe my words will be fulfilled in their time. And the people were waiting for Zachariah and were wondering how this delay in the temple and when they came out he was unable to speak to them and he realized that he had seen a vision

13:06 in the temple and kept making signs for them and remained mute. And when his time for the service had ended he went home and after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and proposed months he kept herself hidden, saying, thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked upon me to take away my reproach among people. Now, in the sixth month, an angel Gabriel was sent from God to the city of Galilee named Nazar to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name is Joseph of the Master David.

13:38 And the virgin thinks men and he can get her and said, three of those who favored one, the Lord is with you. But she was greatly troubled at the same time he discerned what sort of dream this might be. And the angel said, there don't be a friend man, for he has found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear suddenly. And you shall call his name Jesus and he will be great and will be called the son of the most high. So the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign of the house of Jacob forever.

14:13 And every kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said, how can it speak when I still version? I hear what you're saying and I do not understand it. How can it be? And the angel answered her, the Holy Spirit will come upon you. The power will be held over the shadow of you therefore the power will be born. It will be called holy, the son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth is with old age and also can see the sun. And in six months, you called bear and for nothing is impossible with God.

14:46 He said, how can this be? Like Zachariah said, and I don't think this makes any sense Gabriel. And he said, hey man, I'm Gabriel before you. No explanation. Mary is like, hey, how can it speak? And he gives some explanation but it's not satisfactory. Really look. She said how can it be?

15:16 And he said, the Holy Spirit will come upon you. Okay. The power of the most high will over-shadow you. These things mean actually they don't really mean anything. What does that even really mean? The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the Holy Spirit will over-shadow you. How is he supposed to understand? He's not explaining the mechanics of what's happening here. He doesn't get a full explanation. And then, and the child will be conceived, will be born in the Holy Son of God and behold, your Elizabeth.

15:46 This is an explanation, verse point seven for nothing is impossible to count. And then, and Mary said, behold I am your chosen as a Lord. Let it be from your according to your word and the use of the parts in her. Apparently, that was enough of an explanation for her. You know what I mean? Like, it's not really a very good explanation. Right?

16:17 Hey, how can it be? Look, the Holy Spirit's going to come over you. This is the status of you and you have the baby. What's interesting to me is that that is honestly enough for Mary. Something happens where she doesn't need any purple explanation.

16:53 Okay, God will figure it out. Great. I'll just be here. Whatever you want. I'll just be here. Is that Gariya can doubt and it doesn't slow God down you and I are allowed to be skeptical? If Mary can wonder and be confused and doubt you and I are allowed to wonder if you can

17:31 be confused and doubt. And these dudes every time someone sees an angel in the storage picture, first thing, they're allowed. Right? Something about angels, they're scary. First thing. Zacheriah was already trepidated, that said, what his number was called to go into the room.

18:04 Right? And some of you have heard it's a tricky thing to walk into the Holy room there of God because God's presence repels people who think that they know as much as God or paris in them. And so it would be a regular church where someone would walk into the Holy room and be repel, they would just die. It got to a point you can read in some of the time what it's called where they enquire a rope around their ankle to pull them out in case they died in there.

18:36 That's why when it took them longer they were starting to get worried. It's certainly not, remember when we got that one at the second moment? Because they were like, maybe Zacheriah didn't make it, bootlock gets met. I'm trying to tell you that because Zacheriah walked into that room already trepidated and nervous. Then a scary Gabriel appeared in front of them and he doesn't know who it is from the angel of the Lord. It could be his end.

19:07 In the midst of fear and awe and trepidation still Zacheriah has the courage and the air to press forward with questions. Danger for us when we start to consider the reality of faith isn't our doubt, it's our after-sings.

19:38 We quit caring about the questions that we have. We quit pressing forward. The story of Christmas becomes cute and about general generosity and love. And quit being about the God of creation and life. They got it Abraham, I didn't joke up. Finally they got a Christ in their church, accomplishing a miraculous man who revives

20:08 again the humanity he created. It becomes such a sweet story because you and I have lost the pain, the concern, or the courage. So boys, doubts to the devil. Zacheriah and Mary facing down Gabriel himself. Again how that makes sense.

20:48 Look at them just quickly. We'll go through a little bit of the two because I want to point out that is how the spray of the complexity of your life. In those days the decree went out from Caesar Augustus and all the world should be registered. This was the registration of Bernie, the governor of Syria and all went to be registered each year. This is a very great spiritual book.

21:21 This tells us about the beginning of the world and the end. It outlines angels and demons, it talks about God and spirit and also about emperors and taxes and censuses. Luke is telling us about the incarnation of the God and in order to communicate that to us he's telling us about some emperor who's like telling the question or taxes and moving

21:53 people around and in the midst of the taxes and the census and the moving comes in favor of the world. If you have a lot going on and there are a lot of questions about whether you'll have enough money for this thing or that thing. Whether someone will perceive your actions this way or that way.

22:23 Whether your preparation for this coming season will be enough or not. A lot of questions and also all those questions are there. Caesar wants taxes, people have to move and he got his taxes and the census was taken and also the savior of the world. He didn't have a place to stay, that's fine, we find a danger.

22:53 He couldn't find the right, he found just the right woman. He found a one to old and one to young. Nobody knew what's happening, that's okay, he clues in the separate. The local kings don't care, that's fine, we'll bring in the foreign king. It doesn't matter, God gives his purpose a call. The only trick is will you and I have the courage to ask the question, to persist until we get all things married, got some kind of measure of the spirit to believe.

23:24 And in his mute treatment, Dr. Ia did as well. They never got an explanation of how the spirit incarnated Mary or empowered Dr. Ia and those the best to get present, they didn't get the explanation. But in the end, they didn't need it. Faith is a free gift that comes at the dispatch of the God. And it's available to those who are interested. The problem isn't your doubt, it's your atmosphere.

23:55 The faith in God makes all things possible, so that a virgin woman and barren woman can see, so that an uncreated infinite God binds in finite flesh, so that joy can come amongst suffering, so that provision can come amongst poverty, so that peace can come amongst strife, so that love can come amongst anger, God makes all things possible. The only thing exhibiting you from entering into the impossible with the possible doubt

24:30 is the apathy, the love of instance, the creeping, self-satiating escapism of your life. If Christmas can do you anything, it's awaiting your doubt, and your courage gives you an avenue that preps in to the God who can accomplish all things.

25:01 In fact, the God who has accomplished all things. Faith the world out of nothing states humanity when no one thought comes, recreates the world and is prepared to take for me and me for all. This is what Christmas means. If it's preposterous and unexplainable and welcomes your doubt, doubt it, question it,

25:32 do it, prep in with confusion and skepticism and doubt. I can take it, and it's worth it. The unexplainable faith that comes, opens up all impossible things to be possible. It's worth it. You got some questions. Let's pray.

26:04 Hey Lord, make us people like Zachariah and Mary with code to question. The reality is to continue. In fact, you are the only one who can adopt all concerns and resolve all the duties and settle our doubts and provide our futures.

26:39 So meet us and learn to do the thing we play.