LUKE 1:23-80 RELIABILITY, RESPONSE, RECOGNITION, RESULTS To be able to see the signs of the times and be willing to faithfully do our work for the Lord in difficult times, is a positive testimony to those around us. In spite of a brief period of doubt on the part of Zacharias, he and Elizabeth still testify to the faithfulness of this spiritually united couple. When Gabriel told Zacharias the child's name would be "John" (the Lord is gracious), he didn't try to change that to his own name as was expected. The special work John would do was described in advance to be that of a consecrated Nazarite. The Holy Spirit is mentioned first in Luke in relation to John being filled with the Spirit before he was born. Personhood is clearly taught as being real before birth. Later we read of John's reaction in the womb when Mary came to visit. This special son was the bringer of joy, gladness and rejoicing to many people. He was great in the Lord's sight and was separated to God to bring blessing to the nation of Israel.
The Holy Spirit is mentioned more times in Luke than in the other Gospel accounts. John needed the Holy Spirit to fill Him for the work ahead of him. We need the same Holy Spirit to empower us for the work God has for us to do in our day. The work of the Holy Spirit is often made quite evident to us. He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. He reveals Christ to us. He gives us information about things yet to come. he leads and guides us in our service for the Lord. In that way we are separated from the world to God. The warnings and instructions John gave to the people of that day are part of our responsibility to the people around us. It is entirely unfair for us to know the consequences of sin and not seek in some Spirit guided way to make them known to others.
The promises of God made then and now, are reliable. They will be kept at the appointed time of God's choosing. As that responsive couple learned to trust God and their faith was placed in Him, so ours should be as well today. The recognition of what God was doing then is a lesson for us. We all need to know God's will even though it may be outside the area of anything we have previously experienced. We need to remember God uses people who are clean vessels before Him and the world. Ease is not promised if we live godly. Persecution is promised. Reproach and righteousness go together. To doubt God is a result of "the sin that doth so easily beset us" - unbelief. The promises of God can always be counted on. Faith and full surrender to God's will go together even if we don't understand the circumstances surrounding the events going on.
God knows when we need encouragement and He is able to strengthen us in our faith in ways that are most unusual. Gabriel appeared to Mary a little later than he did to Zacharias with a message of similar impact. Any message from God is important. This time, in a very clear way, Gabriel told Mary she had found favor with God and was going to be used in a unique way by God. Mary was young, a female and perhaps poor, but was surrendered and available to God for a special work for Him. It is wrong for us to limit God. Our inability does not make us unusable. Mary would be ridiculed, Joseph was close to leaving her, but in her innate humility she was able to be used as a surrendered person whose words of worship of the Lord have been read by millions of people. Submission may bring sorrow and difficulty but as long as we know it is in God's plan, it is right. Who would ever have conceived of using a virgin birth as a means of blessing except God Himself. He is the only One who could bring this about.
Luke, the beloved physician would know the normal course of life from birth to death. He would know this was not some fictional account but was a divine intervention in the course of natural life to bring about blessing to us all. He was used to record these miraculous events in a way that convinces us of their reality. The sinless Son of God was born holy and as such could become our Sinless Substitute. He was free from a sinful nature passed on through two human parents. He was born without any kind or trace of sin. As the only One of hypostatic union with a human and divine nature, He has power to deliver us from sin, even though He understands our humanity. He has experienced human life in its physical sense including the limitations of daily living that affect us.
The submission of Mary to willingly obey God, her response to the Lord's demands, indicates a real servant- hood that God desires in His people. Sharing the experience with Elizabeth seemed to be the right thing to do. In doing so, she produced the spirit and words of worship that have been read for 2000 years. One woman experiencing miraculous child-birth after child-bearing age, and another experiencing motherhood as a virgin seem way beyond our natural ability to believe. Yet it came to pass as God intended and has established an affirmation of our confidence in God today.
The Sovereign God brought things to pass just as He promised. Elizabeth and Zacharias had a son named John. God was working through frail mortal people to bring about the greatest of all blessings to us. God can use who He chooses, to do what He wants. We need to commit ourselves to be faithful to Him in everything we do today. The human experience cannot always be explained In ways that are common to all. In spite of the unusual, our faith is maintained Because we trust God on whom we call. Doubts may be a problem from time to time Because of things unknown to us. Like Zacharias, we need to keep in mind The nature of the One we trust.
How would I handle the very strange news; So far removed from my reality - That God in His will would this weak person choose To bring blessing to others through me. Elizabeth knew God well enough to know What He said would come to pass. The events promised would happen because God said so There was no reason to doubt or to ask.
Not much more than a child but one God favored Mary was God's chosen vessel to use. The moment of visitation would be one she savored But not the ones of coming suffering she would choose. A "vessel unto honor" needs to always remember There is a purpose behind God's every act. The ultimate goal we are called to consider Before it's done, to God is an accomplished fact.
John probably didn't know what at first moved him To respond before birth to Mary's visit that day.
But the two women shared the news between them Some unusual sons were coming that way. Both John and Jesus in the same place - Both unseen there at the same time - Were evidence that God in great acts of grace, Was working out salvation's plan sublime.
We have come into the good of what happened then, The messenger and the Message have come. One came as a prophet to give warning to men, The Message-Redeemer who came was God's Son. Those parents were people the same as we are Living a life that was normal to them. Through them we are motivated by faith-living to aspire To be a channel of blessing for Him.
"I thank Thee. Father, for those who in their own time, place and way were vessels ready to be filled for Thy use. May this servant be always ready in whatever task I am called, to act in faith without hesitation or needing a whole lot of explanation. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."