This evening will be a little different. We will have more singing. We will have more Scripture readings than usual. Each reading will come from the first two chapters in the book of Luke. I will share with you some thoughts from each reading. My objective will be to challenge you to think.
Our first reading is from Luke 1:5-17.
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was
a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from
the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous
in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and
requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren,
and they were both advanced in years. Now it happened that while he was
performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his
division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot
to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of
the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. And an
angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of
incense. Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has
been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him
the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his
birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no
wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his
mother's womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord
their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and
the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people
prepared for the Lord."
[Songs]
I seriously doubt that Zacharias had any real idea of what God would do through this son!
Reading: Luke 2:8-20
In the same region there were some shepherds
staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an
angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will
be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for
you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will
find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there
appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and
saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom
He is pleased." When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the
shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then,
and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So
they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as
He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement
which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at
the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these
things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and
praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
[Songs]
As happy and excited as they were, I wonder if they had any idea of what they had just seen.
Reading: Luke 2:22-38
And when the days for their purification
according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem
to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every
firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), and to
offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A pair
of turtledoves or two young pigeons." And there was a man in Jerusalem whose
name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the
consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been
revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had
seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when
the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the
Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, "Now Lord, You
are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence
of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your
people Israel." And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were
being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother,
"Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and
for a sign to be opposed-- and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the
end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." And there was a
prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was
advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her
marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the
temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment
she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to
all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
[Songs]
When you look at Jesus in your life, do you understand what you see?
Link to other Writings of David Chadwell