Luke was known as “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:1414Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. (Colossians 4:14)), and he often accompanied the Apostle Paul in his travels. God also used him to write the third book in the New Testament. His name means “a light,” but he tells us of One who came as “a light to lighten the Gentiles.”
About 400 years had passed since God last communicated with His people. When Zacharias saw an angel, he was troubled and fear fell upon him. However, he and his wife were godly and kept the commandments and ordinances, so joy and gladness was to fill Zacharias’s heart at the birth of John. Then the angel Gabriel was sent to Nazareth where Mary lived. She was to have a child and to name Him Jesus. He was holy and to be called the Son of God.
Zacharias didn’t believe what the angel said, but Mary did. She then went to visit her cousin in the hill country of Judah. How happy these dear women were! Elisabeth blessed Mary because she believed those things that were told her from the Lord. Then Mary’s heart broke forth in praise to God her Saviour. In her song she relates the goodness of God in remembering His people Israel. He would fill the hungry among the people, and the rich who afflicted them would be sent away empty.
When John was born, the power of speech was returned to his father Zacharias, who then praised God for visiting and redeeming His people Israel. Redemption was not yet accomplished, but it certainly would be. Then he spoke of the child John, who would go before the face of the Lord and prepare the people to receive Him. John was a light in a dark place, shining among people who were sitting “in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
How thankful we should be that Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
1. What does it say about Zacharias and Elisabeth concerning the ____________ and ordinances of the Lord? Luke 1:___
And
2. The same angel that appeared to Zacharias was also sent to a city of Galilee named ____________ . What was the angel’s name? Luke 1:___
And
3. Because Mary ____________ what the angel told her, what did Elisabeth say that reassured her as to the performance of these things? Luke 1:___
And
4. What did Mary say the Lord has done for the hungry and to the ____________ ? Luke 1:___
He
5. What was John going to give to those who sat in ____________ and the shadow of death? Luke 1:___
To