Luke 1

I decided I wanted to summarize some things I learned in regard to Luke 1 by retelling the story and adding some commentary.

Let me start by talking about Herod the Great.  He was at the end of his reign—one filled with terror for many.  He was not a descendant of Israel, meaning Jacob.  Rather he was a descendant of Jacob’s brother Esau.  From the Old Testament we know Esau was an Edomite or an Idumean.  Was there anything redeeming about the man?  He was known for his spectacular building programs.  Beyond that he was better known for his paranoid cruelty.  This led to the execution of many of the members of his family.

This is the world in which Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth lived.  They were righteous and obedient, yet also stigmatized by their inability to have a child.  Zacharias according to the custom of the priesthood had the distinct honor of burning incense in the temple.  Only priests of a certain lineage could serve in the temple.  It is estimated that over the years the number of priests multiplied and likely at the time of Jesus there were as many as 20,000 priests.  In order to determine which priests would serve and when and where, lots were drawn.  The lot to serve might fall to a priest only once in his life.

In this context, then to a godly man like Zacharias this would be a tremendous privilege for him.  He must have entered the temple filled with wonder of all the possibilities that might occur for a unique spiritual experience—enormous anticipation.

According to the Law of Moses incense was offered to God on the golden altar every morning and every evening.  By this time there was an established procedure.

1.       There would have been several lots cast to determine who did each ritual at the morning sacrifice.  There would have been a lot to determine who would cleanse the altar and prepare the fire.  The second lot would determine which priest would kill the sacrifice and sprinkle the altar, the golden candlestick, and the altar of incense.  The third lot would determine the priest who would offer the incense.  These priests would repeat their duties at the evening sacrifice. The incense burning truly was the most privileged duty.  Another priest would offer the incense in the evening.  Therefore, we see to offer the incense was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

2.       Hundreds of worshippers would gather at the temple before dawn.  The morning sacrifice began when the incense priest walked toward the temple.  He would go through the outer court to strike a gong-like instrument called the Magrephah.  When the gone sounded the Levites would assemble and got ready to lead the gathered people in songs of worship to God.

3.       The two priests assigned to perform the other rituals would walk up to the temple and would stand on each side of the incense priest.  All three would enter the temple together.  One priest set burning coals on the golden altar while the other priest arranged the incense so everything was ready to go.  Then those two priests left the temple, leaving the incense priest alone in the holy place.

4.       The priest would be standing in front of the golden altar of incense.  This altar was 18 inches square and 3 feet high.  On this altar would be the burning coals, wisps of smoke rising.  It was ready for the incense.  Behind the golden altar there would be a huge, floor to ceiling curtain hiding the Holy of Holies, which was the Most Holy Place.  No man could enter, except the high priest.  The priest could only enter on the Day of Atonement.  To the right of the altar as he faced it would be the table of showbread.  To the left would be the golden lampstand.  This provided the only light for the holy place.

5.       Outside the people would see the two priests exiting the temple. This signified the time to offer the incense had come.  The people would either bow or kneel before the Lord and would spread their hands out in silent prayer.  They knew at that moment the incense priest prayed in the presence of God for the entire nation.

6.       Zacharias lingered in prayer and there would have been several minutes of dead silence in all parts of the temple.  In our day the connection between the burning of incense and prayer might seem strange to us as this is not part of our culture.  But for these people it was a strong picture of prayer.

7.       We do not know what Zacharias prayed for, but I can see him thinking carefully about it beforehand.  He would have known how long to pray, because he had attended the morning sacrifice as a worshipper many times before.  He knew how long the incense priest would have stayed in the temple.  He likely prayed for both of the needs of the nation of Israel.  They were occupied and oppressed by the Romans and they needed the promised Messiah.  Did he throw in his prayer for his personal needs at such a moment?

8.       The angel Gabriel appeared, standing on the right side of the altar telling him to not be fearful and that his prayer had been heard.  Perhaps Zacharias had given up on the prayer for a son.  To hear he was going to be a father must have been very confusing to him.  He was told the name of the child was to be John and their son would be specially consecrated to God all the days of his life.  This is likely a reference to the vow of a Nazarite.  Because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, even before birth, he would do a great work that would prepare the way of the Messiah and would turn hearts to him.

9.       Zacharias wanted to know how this was going to happen because he was an old man and his wife also beyond child bearing years.  I believe he is protecting himself from disappointment by keeping the expectations low.  This is probably robbing me of many miracles.  He did not think about the doctrine that nothing is impossible for God to accomplish.  Gabriel stands next to God and Adam.  Zacharias did not think about who he was talking to. Which hold more weight?  I am an old man and I am Gabriel, an angel of the Lord and I bring you nothing but good news.  Not only will you have a son, but he will have a significant role in the plan of salvation.

10.   Zacharias pays a price for not believing him.  He did not believe the promise, but God did not rescind the promise.  The custom was for the priest to come from the temple as soon as he was finished praying, to assure the people that he had not been struck dead.  His delay made the crowd quite nervous.  After the incense priest finished the morning prayer, he would have come through the doors of the temple to meet the other two priests.  The incense priest would raise his hands and bless the people.  The hundreds of gathered worshippers knew what to do and how to respond.  They would say, “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

11.   The end would be the Levites got the worship singers and musicians started with a blast special silver trumpets.  The priest would strike the cymbals, and the choir of Levites would sing the Psalm of the day.  The choir was made up of not less than twelve voices, which would mingle young and old for a full range of sound and great harmonies.

12.   But Zacharias could not pronounce the priestly blessing on the people.  They only knew he had some kind of vision. Elisabeth conceived as God was their partner.  For the first few months she spent her time meditating on the destiny of the child she was carrying.  Most women do this—imagining what her child would be like and what would the child do in life.  This might be considered a miraculous conception, just not on the scale of the messiah’s conception.

This whole segment about the incense was my retelling from David Guzik.  He knows many things in regard to Israel’s culture.

Let’s look at Mary’s experience with Gabriel.   In the sixth month of Elisabeth’s pregnancy, Gab riel appeared in a village in Galilee named Nazareth.  This is the first time Nazareth is mentioned.  It is a pretty unremarkable place.  It is about 15 miles from the Sea of Galilee and about six miles from the closest major road.  They had no good water supply—a fairly weak well in the center of the village.  We know Jesus will forever be identified with this place.  His followers would be called Nazarenes.

Mary was betrothed to Joseph.  There were three stages to a Jewish wedding in that time frame.  The engagement was a formal agreement made by the fathers.  Betrothal is the ceremony where mutual promises were made and the marriage followed about one year later when the bridegroom came for his bride at an unexpected time.  With the betrothal the couple was under obligations of faithfulness and a divorce was required to break that betrothal.  It was not a casual promise.

We know Mary was said to be a virgin.  This means she had never had sexual relations with any man.  According to Pate the name Mary is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam, the sister of Moses.  It means “exalted one,” a fitting description of the soon-to-be mother of the Messiah.

Gabriel said three things to Mary:  she was highly favored, the Lord was with her, and she was blessed.  She was troubled by the things he said, showing her humility.  She was surprised to hear such extravagant words said of her.

Mary was a woman who knew the word of God.  When Gabriel said the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, she knew he was quoting Isaiah.  Mary’s question was logical and it was the same question Zacharias was asked.  The difference was Zacharias asked with skepticism and unbelief while Mary asked with wonder-filled faith.

She would be overshadowed, which means “to cover with a cloud.”  Remember the Shekinah glory in Exodus.  This was a cloud—a visible manifestation of the glory and presence of God.  This indicated the same power of God that was with Moses and others in the Old Testament was now going to do a unique work in the life of Mary.

He would be called the Son of God.  Mary and all other Jewish people from her culture knew what this meant.  This child would be equal to God, because he was the Son of God.

With such an amazing promise, Gabriel also brought evidence.  He explains that Elisabeth was pregnant.  If God could do that, He could do what He promised for Mary.

How did Mary respond?  She agreed that she was the maidservant of the Lord, and she was not going to debate with her Master.  She accepted what he said.  She accepted that this was ordained for her by God and she humbly accepted with patient faith and trust in the Lord.  Mary agreed to receive a pregnancy that would be seen as suspicious, and this in a culture that had a potential death penalty for adultery.

Mary heard from Gabriel that her relative Elisabeth was pregnant.  So she went the considerable distance about 80-100 miles to the hill country of Judea for a visit.  Do you wonder why she went there?  It could be that not many people would or could understand her experience with Gabriel and unusual or miraculous conceptions.  Elisabeth would understand.

When Mary enters Elisabeth’s presence the unborn child leaped within Elisabeth’s womb as he had spiritual awareness.  Why would anyone even think of abortion knowing this?

Think of Elisabeth’s profound faith. She believed the word of God given to her husband and of the promises that John would prepare a people to meet the Lord.  Now she also believed the baby Mary carried was the Lord.  She also recognized Mary’s faith played an active role in receiving the promises.

Verses 46-56 is Mary’s song of praise to the Lord.  It is called the Magnificant.   It resembles Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2.  It contains at least 12 allusions to the Old Testament, which is another indication that she was well versed in the scriptures.

Some highlights of her song included the following:

1.        She rejoiced in God as her Savior, which indicates she knew she needed a savior.

2.       She celebrated God’s goodness, faithfulness, and power.  She did not trust in herself, political entities, or riches.  She was blessed by being the mother of the Son of God.  I think of how great a blessing it is to have a child and how the death of a child pierces the heart of a mother (and father) beyond anything imaginable.

Promises made were fulfilled as God always keeps His promises.  When the time of the birth of John was near at hand, friends and local musicians gathered near the house.  When the birth was announced and if it were a boy, the musicians would break into song, followed by universal congratulation and rejoicing.  Now a girl was a different story.  The musicians went silently and regretfully away. (William Barclay)

Both Zacharias and Elisabeth knew the name of the child had to be John.  Zacharias responded in total faith.  He had failed once before, but he returned from the point of unbelief by declaring the name of his son to be John as Gabriel declared.  His first words were praise to God.  It is interesting to realize his chastisement for disobedience did not make him bitter.  Instead he trust God.

Verses 67-80 is Zacharias’ prophecy.  The prophetic voice of the Lord had been silent for 400 years.  But now through Gabriel, through Elizabeth, through Mary and now through Zacharias, the Lord speaks.  Zacharias’ song has been called the Benedictus.  The first focus of this prophecy is the unborn Jesus and not Zacharias’ new son John.  He then spoke of his new-born son and his place in the great plan.

(Site David Guzik for his insights)