Category Archives: Luke

Providentially Perfect

The story is a familiar one: Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem where Jesus is born. Though familiar, it is glorious, for in it we read the second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God “was manifested in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16). He was not only born in humble conditions but humbled himself, as the apostle Paul describes it, “he [who] was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6-7). And such a glorious act of God’s love did not happen by accident but according to the providence of God.

Covenant Faithfulness

The Gospel of John says that John “came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him” (John 1:7). His message was bold but simple, calling for a baptism of repentance, because God is faithful and just to cleanse every sinner from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). But John’s ministry was preparatory, pointing to the one through whom we are forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness, Jesus Christ the righteous. Similarly, we too, as the church, herald the good news of Jesus Christ, calling sinners to repentance, and forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Jesus Christ, preparing the way of his coming again. 

The Magnificat

After the angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary, telling her of God’s favor that she would conceive, bear a son, and name him Jesus, she traveled to visit her elderly relatives, Zechariah and Elizabeth, who Mary learned was also with child. Upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth’s son, John, six months in her womb jumped for joy, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, blessing the mother of her Lord. And in that moment, following Elizabeth’s exhortation and her son’s jubilation, Mary breaks out in song, a Spirit-filled, Scripture-saturated song of praise. Traditionally called the Magnificat,…

The Fullness of Time Had Come

As our confession makes clear, the incarnation of Christ is essential to the Christian faith, including his conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. And yet, it is a doctrine that has been under attack all the way back to the early church heretics, all the way through to today.

The Perfect Purpose of God

Proverbs says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Prov. 16:33). And so, Zechariah’s lot is chosen by chance by God, sending him in sacred service into the sanctuary. Inside he burns incense; outside the people pray. And into this ordinary picture of Old Covenant worship, the extraordinary is introduced.