Overview Luke 1:1-80 - "An Orderly Account Begins" or "In-cube-ation". Today we begin another extraordinary journey fully-illustrated and facilitated by ordinary means. 52 chapters of Luke and Acts in 52 weeks. Let's go.

We begin this incredible journey toward heaven with a precessional of the journey from heaven to earth without which not one of us would have a hope.

We'll encounter through Luke's writing Zacharias and Elizabeth his wife, the angel Gabriel, Mary the mother of Jesus, and John the Baptist. We'll get a chance this week to observe the varied appearances of God's interactions with these various people. He sends His angel to Zecharias and later Mary, He sent a child to both Elizabeth and Mary, and He sent His own Son from eternity to live a life with skin on.

Yet even walking with us, down here on our level, Jesus was still on a whole other level. Let's explore.

Luke 1:1-4 - "A Voice Of Authority" or "The Doctor Is In". What happens when God gets hold of a doctor, gives him a new life and a new consciousness, complete with the realization that people aren't necessarily healthy and whole just because their bodies and minds function properly, even exquisitely--that we are more than just incredible machines? You get the Gospel of Luke and its sequel, The Acts Of The Apostles. These two books, authored by the beloved physician Luke, are written to be coherent, comprehensive, detailed and intricate accounts of the events surrounding the earthly life and work of Jesus of Nazareth, and in Acts the carrying on of that work as His followers are forged to become His Church.

"But what does it mean?" one might ask. Dr. Luke approaches the events as a doctor, he studies them, he studies the people telling him, he studies the before, during, and after, he studies the sicknesses, the psychologies, the wounds, and especially the treatments. It means reading Dr. Luke is not like reading Matthew the taxman who'll tell you what's owed or reading Mark, influenced by Peter the fisherman, and being grabbed at like a fish. It means it's not even like reading John the sage who will engage and even overwhelm you intellectually. Unlike those, reading Dr. Luke is more like reading an interesting pamphlet in the waiting room at the doctor's office, matter-of-factly explaining a spiritual medical condition that is problematic, background information, symptoms observed, and best of all, the Cure.

His voice in these words ring true, and the wise will trust them.

Luke 1:5-7, 8-17, 18-20, 21-23, 24-25. "How Like Abraham" or "Say What?". See also Genesis 18. We meet today a man very devout in Zacharias, very knowledgeable in the Scriptures, very faithful in his service. When he's afraid at the first sight of the angel, perhaps he's recalling the angel that appeared to Joshua. When he hears he is Gabriel, perhaps he's remembering Daniel 8:15 and everything after.

And all during his nine months of silence, perhaps he remembered Psalm 32:9 and Proverbs 13:3. And praised Yahweh for saving him from himself.

And so with us.

Luke 1:26-38 - "Breathe, Mary. Inhale, Mary; Exhale, Mary; Repeat, Mary." or "Say WHAT?!". Today in our reading we meet Mary who will be the mother of Jesus. She's very good like Zacharias and Elizabeth about whom we read yesterday, yet far, far younger. Her lesser experience is one reason Gabriel is more encouraging and explaining what will be happening with her, instead of quick to give consequences the way he was with the very-experienced-in-the-faith Zacharias. To whom much is given, much is expected. But more about that later.
Back to Mary. She was perplexed (greek word dietarachthe, pronounced /dee•eh•tah•RACH•thay/). She was troubled through and through, thoroughly troubled.

And yet she was willing to go with God's plan. This is why she is blessed among women.

Luke 1:39-45, 46-55, 56. "Godly Girl Time". Our portions today feature women being women.
Notice in verses 39-45 Mary rushing to get the inside scoop on Elizabeth, as well as to share what the angel shared with her. Once the Holy Spirit shows up and Elizabeth knows who Mary will be, these two godly women will be having a testimonial fellowship time.
Notice also how Elizabeth's blessing of Mary also serves as an admonition of Zacharias in verse 45. Read that verse aloud, emphasis on the word "believed". See? We could easily picture her looking sideways at him.
In 46-55, it's Mary's turn, and she lays out an extraordinary testimony, boldly spoken as the Holy Spirit leads. And please notice the Mother-of-Jesus-to-be knows her Bible.
In verse 55 notice nurturing nature of women on display as Mary stays to help Elizabeth to full term.

Luke 1:57-58, 59-66, 67-79, 80. "A Voice Cried Out And A Voice Cried Out" or "HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD! GLO-RAY! OHHHH!". As we close out this first glorious chapter of Luke today, we attend the birth and the bris of John the Baptist. He who will be crying out in the wilderness first cries out as he enters the world.
And then drama. It ensues on his eighth day at his circumcision ceremony when his parents insist his name will be John, breaking traditions YET obeying God. And once it is done and the newborn prophet is named, what Gabriel said is done and Zacharias can speak again, and again a voice cries out. Praising and glorifying our great God.

btw "John" is the English form of Ioannis (we pronounce /YOAHN•nayce/) which is the Greek form of the Hebrew YHVKNN (we pronounce /yuh•hoh•CHAH•nahn/). They all mean "YahwehHasBeenGracious".

And p.s. btw, the Sunrise from on high? That's Jesus.

"At the end of hope, the Lord issues an invitation to find in Him all that we cannot find in the world."
-Charles R. Swindoll