As we proceed from the third chapter of Genesis through the rest of the Old Testament, we see evidence of God’s sovereign preservation of individuals, such as Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and then a people, Israel, chosen by God with prophetic purpose to fulfill his promise. But we also see Satan’s sinister attempts to unravel the mystery, to destroy the woman’s offspring, to thwart God’s plan.
Category Archives: Luke
Truly God and Truly Man
We can read through Jesus’ genealogy and find encouragement and inspiration from some of the names on the list, but there is only one who saves, only one who lives in us, only one to whom we may draw near, and he is at the top of the list.
How Deep the Father’s Love
In our passage today, he comes. But he comes not with the fanfare of a king but in the humility of a man among the people, Jesus of Nazareth.
Pointing to Christ
For those who had ears to hear, John called to repentance, but for those who would not, he promised judgement. To some the seismic message of the gospel was indeed good news, evidenced by the multitude of people who were repenting of their sins and being baptized. But others were merely present, not repenting but observing, neither hearing nor believing.
The Forerunner
Living as an ascetic, John waited in the wilderness, wearing a garment of camel’s hair with a leather belt and eating locusts and wild honey.[3] Filled with the Holy Spirit since his mother’s womb, he knew his purpose but awaited the Word of the Lord.
Our Father’s Business
Though born in Bethlehem, Jesus did not grow up there. Though born King of the Jews,[2] he was not raised in Jerusalem. Instead, he was raised in the region of Galilee in the tiny town of Nazareth where, Luke tells us, he “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). He had an ordinary childhood, as ordinary as a sinless child could have.[3] So unremarkable were his years in Nazareth, years later he would be remembered only for his parents and siblings.[4]
Nunc Dimittis
The child Jesus was consecrated in the temple that day, and he would grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. He would mature to manhood that as fully God and fully man, he might live life righteously, die sacrificially, and resurrect victoriously that we too, like Simeon, may say one day, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,” for we have peace with God forever through faith in Jesus Christ. And for this gift of God’s grace let us give thanks and rejoice.
Fallen yet Faithful Servants of God
Congruent with his righteousness and devotion, we are told that Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel,” which implies a patient trust in the providence of God. A Christian who lives a righteous and devout life doesn’t get entangled with the worldly worries of the age but patiently waits upon the Lord. In Simeon’s case, he had received God’s special revelation telling him that “he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (26), so his patient trust was also an expectant one.
A Sign of the Covenant
When we hear the word covenant today, (in addition to the name of our church!) we may think of something like a contract or agreement. But the biblical understanding of the word is something richer, relational, and remaining. A covenant commits a person to another person, typically involving a verbal oath and sometimes a visible symbol. To break a covenant involves a violation of the terms of the covenant resulting in due consequences.
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Luke tells us that it was neither leaders of church nor rulers of state who received the angelic announcement but shepherds in a field near Bethlehem, “keeping watch over their flock by night” (2:8). Who are these shepherds? What are their names? We do not know. They are remembered not for who they are but of whom they hear and who they will worship. Their identity is revealed only in the revelation of God to them of the incarnation of the Son of God.
Planter, Pastor, Preacher 