Thoughts for the Day

Luke 1:32-38 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”  “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”  The…

Luke 1:28-31 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive…

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 Jewish tribal lineage is traced through the male line…

Luke 1:6-7 Both (Zachariah and Elizabeth) were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.  But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well on in years. Luke 1:25 ‘’The Lord has done this for me,” Elizabeth said.  “In these days he has shown…

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 1:18-22 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this?  I am an old man and my wife is well on in years.”  The angel answer, “I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. …

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 1:11-17a But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.  He will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will…

Luke 1:11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. One can find numerous models and simulated tours of Herod’s temple online.  All I’ve seen show an imposing building with large doors…