2024/01/01 – Luke 1: Gabriel Announces Christ’s Birth

Reading: Luke 1

This is the beginning of a new reading plan for our congregation. We will read one chapter each day, and the daily devotional will be taken from that chapter. Weekdays, we will read from the New Testament. On weekends, we will read from the Psalms, the book that teaches us how to love God and find a relationship with him. We will read the entire New Testament and 105 of the 150 Psalms. We will read one of the gospels each quarter, beginning with Luke. I hope you will enjoy and learn from these readings and devotions as much as I enjoy reading and the scriptures and writing the devotions. Yours in Him, Jerry Starling.

Daily-Devo:

“O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, from you shall come one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2)

Gabriel’s announcement of the birth of the Messiah was not public. He came to Zechariah and Mary privately. The public announcement came later to Shepherds in fields near Bethlehem where He was to be born.

Zechariah was a priest whose wife was Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, who was barren. Both were getting on in years. When he was serving as a priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and make the incense offering.

As he was making this offering, there appeared to him an angel while the people were praying outside. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was terrified. The angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth will have a son; you will name him John, and many will rejoice at his birth. He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; before his birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit and will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zechariah asked, “How will I know this is so? I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The angel said, “I am Gabriel, and I have been sent to bring you this good news. But because you did not believe my words, you will become mute, unable to speak until the day these things occur.”

After this, Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said this is what the Lord has done for me when He looked on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.

In her sixth month, Gabriel was sent to Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin engaged to Joseph, of the house of David. Her name was Mary. Gabriel said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” She was perplexed and wondered what sort of greeting this was.

Gabriel said to her, “You have found favor with God. Now, you will conceive and bear a son; you will name him Jesus. He will be called the Son of the Highest; the Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary asked how this could be since she was a virgin. Gabriel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; the child shall be holy; He shall be called the Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth also conceived and is in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible for God.”

Then Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Mary went with haste to Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea where she entered the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth.

Zechariah did not believe the angel Gabriel and was made mute, unable to speak. Mary asked how it could be since she was a virgin, but when Gabriel told her how she would conceive by the Holy Spirit, Mary said, let it be as you have said, and she set out quickly to visit Elizabeth.

When she entered the house, she greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the babe in her womb leaped for Joy. Elizabeth exclaimed loudly, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why has the mother of my Lord come to me? And blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Mary said in her Magnificat, “My soul magnifies the Lord, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. I will be called blessed by all generations; for God has done great things for me; His Name is Holy. He brings down the powerful from their thrones, and has lifted the lowly according to His promise to Abraham.” Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months then returned to her home.

Elizabeth’s son was born, and her relatives wanted to name him Zachariah, but she said, “His name is John.” They motioned to Zachariah to see what he wanted his name to be. Zachariah wrote on a tablet, his name is John. Then his mouth was opened, and he began to speak, praising God. These things were talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What will this child become?”

Word about a potential Messiah began to spread quietly in Judea’s hill country.