Luke 1
Luke, in his gospel, traces the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ back to Adam. The moral teachings of this gospel take in all of mankind, not being limited to any nation or class. God faithfully shows His special interest in Israel by setting forth details concerning the birth and life of Jesus found nowhere else. He fulfills His promise to mankind-"thou shalt bruise His heel." Gen. 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15). It is the only gospel written to a man-"most excellent Theophilus."
Jesus is the subject of the gospel. Grace and peace are in connection with the Son of man as He made His way through this world which He had made. He was rejected, but dispensed grace and mercy with compassion on every hand. Surely the Son of God was here in this world displaying moral power in man.
The events and teachings of this gospel are arranged in a moral order, this order being implanted in the heart of Luke by the Holy Spirit. In Mark's gospel the story is given in chronological order.
The gospel has a moral character, for in it the depths of man's heart, the hidden moral springs, are opened. As hearts in all of their wickedness are exposed, Jesus, where there is faith in His Person, brings grace to bind up each heart and meet the need of each sin that is exposed. The deeper the sin is, the greater His grace.
The moral character of man is exposed, not for God who knows all things, but for us who do not know our own hearts. Only when we see ourselves as we are before the eye of God, can we appreciate grace in its fullness. And when we see ourselves as God sees us, we are made more humble.
What is written in Luke is the truth that is "surely believed among us" who are saved. Luke made sure that Theophilus was instructed in things that are given of God, not just by men. Luke learned from eyewitnesses and those who were ministers of the Word, yet what he wrote was divinely inspired.
The Son of man goes forth as the Evangelist to all, both Jew and Gentile, to open before all the heart of God and the heart of man. The gospel records a testimony from God, which is open to all mankind. Luke himself was probably a Gentile, and we see in this gospel several Gentiles who are the objects of the grace of God through Christ Jesus. Not only are hearts opened, and a testimony open to all, but there are many other things open to our gaze in the gospel. Several of them will be found in chapter 24. (To highlight these two themes, the words Gentile and open are in italics.)
Zacharias and Elisabeth
There was a certain priest named Zacharias. He and his wife, Elisabeth, were righteous before God and blameless in keeping the ordinances. In Zacharias, God was showing His faithfulness to Israel by having a priest in the temple at the time of the birth of Christ. Both of them were old and Elisabeth was barren; not to have a son to carry on the inheritance was a reproach in Israel.
While Zacharias was in the temple burning incense and the people outside were praying, the angel Gabriel appeared, standing by the right side of the altar. Fear fell on Zacharias when he saw him. The angel said: "Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.... Many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb."
Zacharias asked, "Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." The angel answered the doubting Zacharias by telling him that he would be dumb until the child was born. When he left the temple, the people realized that he had seen a vision. Zacharias went to his own house and Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself for five months. Their child was to be called John the Baptist, and his work was to prepare a people ready for the Lord through repentance.
Gabriel Sent to Mary
In the sixth month Gabriel was sent to Nazareth to Mary, who, being a virgin, was espoused to Joseph of David's lineage. The angel addressed Mary as one highly favored of the Lord: "Blessed art thou among women." Mary was troubled, but the angel said, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God," for she was to bring forth a son and "call His name Jesus."
Being great, Jesus, the "Son of the Highest," would reign on the throne of Israel, and of His kingdom there would be no end. In this we see God's faithfulness to Israel in fulfilling what He had said to Adam and Eve and later to Abraham and to David.
In Matthew's account the angel came to Joseph in a dream; in Luke all was open. Both Zacharias and Mary were occupied with their regular duties; all was so natural. We receive hints here as to the character of this gospel-the spirit of openness.
Mary inquired how such a birth could come to pass, seeing that she did not know a man. Gabriel answered, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Mary responded, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."
It was never said of Adam that he was holy. No man can claim holiness in himself. Only Christ is holy, and that from His birth in this world as a man. He is the same as the One of whom it is said, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa. 57:1515For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15).
Jesus is the only man of whom it can be said, He came in flesh. Every other man was born here without a former existence. Jesus existed from eternity, taking a body which He never had before. He was God when He lay in the womb of Mary. Not one drop of Adam's blood was in His veins, because He was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Mary’s Visit to Elisabeth
Mary was told that her cousin Elisabeth had been with child for six months. When Mary visited her, Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, saying, "Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."
Mary, from the fullness of her heart, mellowed in the presence of God, said: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.... He hath holpen [helped] His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever." The seed spoken of is Christ (Gal. 3:1616Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)). The setting is Jewish. God, in His faithfulness, is answering the cry of the remnant of Israel, "How long?'
Birth of John the Baptist
When John was born, some tried to persuade Elisabeth to name him after his father, but Zacharias called for a writing pad and wrote the name of John. From the time Gabriel had spoken to him in the temple nine months before, to that moment, Zacharias had not been able to speak.
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.... And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
John grew, and, being strong in spirit, he lived in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.