Good morning! It's almost noon time here though. Today we are finishing up chapter one of Luke, beginning in verse 57.
Elisabeth gave birth to a son, and everyone rejoiced. On the eighth day the child was circumcised and the neighbors and cousins took it upon themselves to name him Zacharias, after his father. Elisabeth said no, his name is John. Not so, said the others. No one in the family is named John! So they asked Zacharias what the child's name is. He asked for a writing tablet and he wrote, his name is John. At that point Zacharias could speak again! And speak he did! The holy spirit came upon him and he began to prophesy, praising God and foretelling that John would be a prophet who prepared the people for the Lord.
Showing posts with label chapter one. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chapter one. Show all posts
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
A Morning Cup of Tea: Behold the Handmaid of the Lord
In Elisabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, Gabriel the angel was sent to Nazareth to speak with Elisabeth's cousin, a young girl named Mary. We don't know how old Mary was, only that she was young. She was betrothed, or in modern terms, engaged to be married, to Joseph.
28. And the angel cam in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Mary didn't know what to think of this. It scared her, plain and simple! She wondered what this could mean.
Gabriel told her, Fear not, Mary. You have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30) He told her that she would conceive a son, and his name would be Jesus. His kingdom would last forever.
Mary, being the good girl she was, had never been with a man, not even the one to whom she was betrothed, so she was quite rightly confused as to how she could have a baby when she was a virgin.
Gabriel explained to her how this would be, and told her that her cousin was with child. Mary accepted this honor with grace. She was willing to accept God's plan for her, as she said in verse 38: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
After the angel left, Mary went and visited Elisabeth for three months. Whether she was there when Elisabeth gave birth we do not know. But when Elisabeth saw her young cousin, the baby leaped in her womb. Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke praises.
Can you imagine being Mary? Here she was, just a young girl preparing to marry. The angel of the Lord appears and tells her she is going to give birth to the Son of God. I think she understood that this was a wondrous thing, especially having never known a man at this point, but I wonder if she truly knew what was in store for her son? What truly makes Mary special is her willingness to accept God's will for her. This will be discussed at another point, but she had to have known that being pregnant during betrothal was not a good thing. Chastity was expected and fornication was not taken lightly during this time. But she accepted God's will.
28. And the angel cam in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Mary didn't know what to think of this. It scared her, plain and simple! She wondered what this could mean.
Gabriel told her, Fear not, Mary. You have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30) He told her that she would conceive a son, and his name would be Jesus. His kingdom would last forever.
Mary, being the good girl she was, had never been with a man, not even the one to whom she was betrothed, so she was quite rightly confused as to how she could have a baby when she was a virgin.
Gabriel explained to her how this would be, and told her that her cousin was with child. Mary accepted this honor with grace. She was willing to accept God's plan for her, as she said in verse 38: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
After the angel left, Mary went and visited Elisabeth for three months. Whether she was there when Elisabeth gave birth we do not know. But when Elisabeth saw her young cousin, the baby leaped in her womb. Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke praises.
Can you imagine being Mary? Here she was, just a young girl preparing to marry. The angel of the Lord appears and tells her she is going to give birth to the Son of God. I think she understood that this was a wondrous thing, especially having never known a man at this point, but I wonder if she truly knew what was in store for her son? What truly makes Mary special is her willingness to accept God's will for her. This will be discussed at another point, but she had to have known that being pregnant during betrothal was not a good thing. Chastity was expected and fornication was not taken lightly during this time. But she accepted God's will.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
A Morning Cup of Tea: The Birth of John the Baptizer Foretold
Good morning! Once again I'm having to type around a grouchy furball. It's a little chilly and she wants to be right here with me, but she doesn't want me to move.
Today we begin the book of Luke. I've been looking forward to this one. The bible does not tell us the time of year when Jesus was born, although some have concluded that it may have been spring or fall, because Christmas is in December, that is when we most times read or hear the account of the virgin birth from Luke. I think anytime is good to hear those words. Today, however, we are beginning in chapter one, where another baby's birth is foretold...
In the time of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias. He and his wife, Elisabeth, had no children because Elisabeth was barren. They were fairly old and resigned to the fact that no children would be theirs. They were good people, living by the commandments as they should.
Zacharias was doing his job as priest, near the altar of incense when an angel appeared to him. Angels weren't an every day occurrence so the old man was frightened. Gabriel, the angel, reassured him. Don't be afraid, Zacharias, he said. You and your wife Elisabeth are going to have a son, and you will name him John. There will be much rejoicing at his birth. He will be filled with the holy spirit even in the womb, and will prepare the people for the Lord.
Zacharias knew he and his wife were fairly old and probably beyond child bearing years. He doubted what Gabriel had come to tell him. Gabriel told him that all of this was true, and because of his unbelief Zacharias would be struck dumb. He would not be able to speak until after the birth of John.
Zacharias finished up his duties and set off for home. Elisabeth did conceive, and kept herself away from others for five months.
Can you imagine being older, most likely beyond child bearing years, and finding out that not only are you going to have a child, but one who is important to God's plan of salvation? That had to have given Zacharias much to think about, and Elisabeth too.
Today we begin the book of Luke. I've been looking forward to this one. The bible does not tell us the time of year when Jesus was born, although some have concluded that it may have been spring or fall, because Christmas is in December, that is when we most times read or hear the account of the virgin birth from Luke. I think anytime is good to hear those words. Today, however, we are beginning in chapter one, where another baby's birth is foretold...
In the time of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias. He and his wife, Elisabeth, had no children because Elisabeth was barren. They were fairly old and resigned to the fact that no children would be theirs. They were good people, living by the commandments as they should.
Zacharias was doing his job as priest, near the altar of incense when an angel appeared to him. Angels weren't an every day occurrence so the old man was frightened. Gabriel, the angel, reassured him. Don't be afraid, Zacharias, he said. You and your wife Elisabeth are going to have a son, and you will name him John. There will be much rejoicing at his birth. He will be filled with the holy spirit even in the womb, and will prepare the people for the Lord.
Zacharias knew he and his wife were fairly old and probably beyond child bearing years. He doubted what Gabriel had come to tell him. Gabriel told him that all of this was true, and because of his unbelief Zacharias would be struck dumb. He would not be able to speak until after the birth of John.
Zacharias finished up his duties and set off for home. Elisabeth did conceive, and kept herself away from others for five months.
Can you imagine being older, most likely beyond child bearing years, and finding out that not only are you going to have a child, but one who is important to God's plan of salvation? That had to have given Zacharias much to think about, and Elisabeth too.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
A Morning Cup of Tea: Jesus Begins His Ministry According to Mark
Today we begin the book of Mark, which, at 16 chapters, is the shortest of the four gospels. From what I read in the Thomson Chain Reference in the back of my bible, this book was written for the Roman, or gentile people.
Mark opens the the first chapter by beginning with John the baptizer, the one who came before Jesus.
2. As it is written in the prophets, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John baptized (immersed) people for the remission of sins. (v4). He lived in the wilderness, and his clothing was of camel hair. His food was locusts and wild honey. I think most of this was because his mission was so urgent, he didn't give much thought to food or anything else. He preached that Jesus was coming, and he was such that John felt he was not worthy enough even to bend down and unlatch Jesus' shoes.
Jesus came of course, to be baptized by John. 10. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Jesus went from there to the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days and was tempted of Satan, then the angels ministered to him. Mark does not go into detail about the temptations.
After this John was put into prison and Jesus came into Galilee, preaching.
15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark chapter one also tells of the first four disciples being called: Simon and Andrew, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. From there they went to Capernaum, where on the Sabbath Jesus taught in the synagogue. The people were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught as that had authority, not as one of the scribes. (v22)
It was here that Jesus drove out an unclean spirit from a man in the synagogue. The spirit inside him knew who Jesus was. (v23-26) The people were amazed that he could tell an unclean spirit to come out of a man, and the man would be healed. Jesus' fame spread through the countryside.
After this Jesus healed Simon's mother in law, and many others. Mark continues telling of Jesus healing others, and trying to find solitude so he could pray. While there were followers who wanted to hear what Jesus had to say, or had a loved one (or themselves) who needed to be healed, I'm sure like celebrities of today there were people following him simply because of his fame. But even Jesus, Son of God, needed to be alone at times to pray and perhaps collect his thoughts. He was, after all, in human form here on earth. He had human needs just as we do.
Mark seems to be going at a rather fast clip telling of Jesus, doesn't he? I'm not the best by any means of retelling the events, so I do hope you will read along with me. Each writer of the gospel tells the life of Jesus in their own way, yet each has the same message. The "story" (dislike that word here, makes it sound like fiction) remains the same. I hope you'll join me tomorrow for chapter 2.
Mark opens the the first chapter by beginning with John the baptizer, the one who came before Jesus.
2. As it is written in the prophets, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John baptized (immersed) people for the remission of sins. (v4). He lived in the wilderness, and his clothing was of camel hair. His food was locusts and wild honey. I think most of this was because his mission was so urgent, he didn't give much thought to food or anything else. He preached that Jesus was coming, and he was such that John felt he was not worthy enough even to bend down and unlatch Jesus' shoes.
Jesus came of course, to be baptized by John. 10. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Jesus went from there to the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days and was tempted of Satan, then the angels ministered to him. Mark does not go into detail about the temptations.
After this John was put into prison and Jesus came into Galilee, preaching.
15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark chapter one also tells of the first four disciples being called: Simon and Andrew, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. From there they went to Capernaum, where on the Sabbath Jesus taught in the synagogue. The people were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught as that had authority, not as one of the scribes. (v22)
It was here that Jesus drove out an unclean spirit from a man in the synagogue. The spirit inside him knew who Jesus was. (v23-26) The people were amazed that he could tell an unclean spirit to come out of a man, and the man would be healed. Jesus' fame spread through the countryside.
After this Jesus healed Simon's mother in law, and many others. Mark continues telling of Jesus healing others, and trying to find solitude so he could pray. While there were followers who wanted to hear what Jesus had to say, or had a loved one (or themselves) who needed to be healed, I'm sure like celebrities of today there were people following him simply because of his fame. But even Jesus, Son of God, needed to be alone at times to pray and perhaps collect his thoughts. He was, after all, in human form here on earth. He had human needs just as we do.
Mark seems to be going at a rather fast clip telling of Jesus, doesn't he? I'm not the best by any means of retelling the events, so I do hope you will read along with me. Each writer of the gospel tells the life of Jesus in their own way, yet each has the same message. The "story" (dislike that word here, makes it sound like fiction) remains the same. I hope you'll join me tomorrow for chapter 2.
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