Thoughts for the Day

Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea … Encouraged by Gabriel to check this demonstration that “nothing is impossible with God”, Mary will set off to visit Elizabeth, a journey of around 80-100 miles taking maybe a week on foot, less if she…

Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Yesterday’s focus was on how this question was pivotal for Mary’s understanding of how she would become pregnant. Today I note that it is also pivotal to our understanding of the nature of Jesus.  Conception requires a father, and God…

Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” This is a pivotal question on which we will spend two days.  And there is something curious about it. Gabriel tells Mary she will give birth to a son and name him Jesus (a good Jewish name).  There is nothing…

Luke 1:26-33 …Gabriel greeted [Mary], “Good morning! … God has a surprise for you … “ Have you had the experience of reading a child their favourite bedtime story for the umpteenth time?  You know where it is going and surely they must too, but woe betide you miss out a single detail.  Somehow it…

Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Here begins a conundrum.  If (A) Jewish tribal lineage is traced through the male…

Luke 1:25 ‘’The Lord has done this for me,” Elizabeth said.  “In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.” I’m struck by Luke’s description of Zechariah and Elizabeth.  Both were descendants of Aaron, both were upright in the sight of God, both observed all the Lord’s commandments…

Luke 1:23-24 When his time of service was complete, he returned home.  After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. What a home coming that must have been for Zechariah!  Had news travelled ahead of him?  Perhaps not, but I can also imagine Elizabeth hearing rumours that Zechariah had…

Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? …” Poor Zechariah.  He can’t believe his eyes or his ears.  The message has come as a bolt out of the blue.  It promises to turn the world upside down starting with the impossibility of a child in his own home.  How…

Luke 1:17 And he will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. I’m sure Zechariah knew his scriptures well enough to recognise…

Luke 1:13a But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard…”  “Your prayer has been heard.”   Imagine that!  Imagine you’ve been praying, and Gabriel appears and tells you your prayer has been heard.  How would you react?  If at this moment there had been time to pause and…