11 Feb - Luke 1

Today we are starting a new book of the Bible. We are reading Luke 1. 

1. Luke is a cool book to read for those of us who like facts. It is widely accepted that Luke was a highly educated individual, possibly a doctor. It is also believed that Luke was an apprentice of Paul, who was one of the first leaders in Christianity.
2. The first four verses have a lot of information for those of us who like to know the backstory of what we are reading. We find out that apparently “many” people took the time to try and write an account of the life of Jesus. Also, we see that Luke was not an “eyewitness” but is recording the words of those who were “eyewitnesses” of the life of Jesus. Last we see the book of Luke is written to some dude named Theophilus so that he could know “with certainty” his faith is grounded on truth. (on a side note I love the weird names in the Bible)
3. We also get to read some of the back story on the birth of Jesus’ cousin John “the Baptist.” 
4. Also we read about how Gabriel (one of God’s top angels) tells Mary that she was going to have a son. She was confused because she was still a virgin but Gabriel tells her God is going to work it out and it would be a miracle. 
5. Then Mary went to see Elizabeth (the mother of John the baptist) and this meeting confirmed what the angel had told Mary, then Mary began to sing. Weird? Yes.
6. Elizabeth delivered her son (John) and then Zechariah (John’s father) was able to speak again. Zechariah had been rendered mute for doubting God. Then Zechariah breaks into song. This is starting to read like some episode of Glee. . . 

On a serious note this is an awesome chapter in the Bible. It gives us some background to the greatest event that ever happened, Jesus’ birth - God coming down to earth to live as a part of his creation. It’s amazing to think that God could love us so much that he would create us and then come down to live as one of us in order to restore us back to himself.

Did you learn anything in today’s reading that you didn’t know about before? Does it give you any insight into Mary (Jesus’ mother)? What does this chapter make you think about God?