Many have participated in putting together the account of what so many of us believe, there were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word. I think we should have a perfect understanding of all of this, in the proper order, most excellent Theophilus. You might know certain things that you’ve been told. Okay, Theo there who our gospel is addressed to could be a guy or it could be translated as friend of God. And Luke’s opening… well it sure had a lot of words. I mean a lot of words. I’m a little scared of how many words it had.
Back in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, the baby killer, there was a priest named Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth, who was a daughter of Aaron. They were good folks in they eyes of God, following the commandments and whatnot. But they couldn’t have a child because Elisabeth was barren and now they were both old. Zacharias was in charge of burning the incense at the temple. While a whole bunch of people were waiting outside there when, an angel of the Lord appeared next to the altar of incense. When our pal Zach saw the angel he was afraid. But the angel said, don’t be afraid, you prayer was heard and your wife will bear you a son, you will call him John. A fine name. You will be happy, many will be happy when he is born.
He will be great in God’s eyes, and won’t drink wine or the harder stuff, and he will be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother womb. He will bring God to many of the children of Israel. He will go with the power of Elias to turn the hearts of fathers to the children, the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to prepare people for the Lord. Zach asks the angel, how will I know? I am old man, and my wife is old too. The angel introduces himself, I am Gabriel, I stand in God’s presence, I was sent to talk to you and give these glad tidings. You will not be able to talk about these things until these events unfold. That’s because you don’t believe me. It’s kind of a punishment.
The people outside were wondering what happened to old Zach, he was taking a long time in the temple. When he came out he couldn’t speak to them. They figured out he had seen a vision in the temple because he beckoned to them but couldn’t speak. So as soon as his work day was over he went home. He must have figured it was time to get things started because he sick of not able to talk about this. A few days later much to her surprise Elisabeth was with child. She hid herself for five months saying, the lord has given me this in response to all of the criticism men have had for me for being barren.
Six months later God sent Gabriel to the city of Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary who was joined to be married to a man named Joseph who was of the house of David. Gabriel came to Mary and told her that the Lord is with her and she is highly favored and blessed among women. When she saw him she was troubled by what he was saying, imagining all sorts of thing might be about to happen to her. Gabe tells her not to be afraid, she’s found favor with God. Now don’t worry Mary, you will soon have a baby, and call him JESUS (in all capital letters). Oh nothing to worry about there! He will be great, called the Son of the Highest and God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will have no end.
Mary asks the angel, how can this happen, I’ve never known a man, if you know what I mean… Gabriel tells her, The Holy Ghost will come to you and the power of the highest will overshadow you, and a holy thing will be born of you, called the Son of God. What no dinner? No snuggling? None of the fun and l of the responsibility. Your cousin Elisabeth who was barren is now six months pregnant with a baby boy! Nothing is impossible for god. Mary answers that she give her word to be the Lord’s handmaid. And with that Gabriel leaves.
Mary took of the hill country to the city of Juda to visit her cousin Elisabeth. When Mary came in and greeted her cousin the baby inside of Elisabeth leaped and Elisabeth was willed with the Holy Ghost. She spoke in a loud voice, telling Mary that she was blessed amongst women and the fruit of her womb was blessed too.
Elisabeth asks why Mary “the mother of my Lord” has come to visit. She told her about how her baby leapt for joy, when she heard her cousin. Elisabeth was blessed for believing what the lord told her.
Mary told her, my soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoiced in God my Savior. Because even though, I am the lowest handmaiden will be called blessed for all generations from this time forward. He has done great things to me, and holy is his name. Ugh that last line was a little creepy to me. It sounds so brainwashed by a cult.
Okay and here the part that she talks about god.
His mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. Uh scary a little? Are we suppose to be afraid? He’s showed strength with his are, he’s scattered the proud in the imaginations of their hearts. Um. Maybe that means he’s set aside their pride so they can feel what their heart really desires. He’s taken the mighty from their seats and raised the lowest to great heights. He’s fed the hungry well and sent the rich away empty. He helped his servant Israel, in memory of his mercy. I guess it’s Israel’s mercy he’s talking about. He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his progeny forever.
When Elisabeth was ready to have the baby, she had a son. Her neighbors and family hear how the Lord had shown mercy on her and they rejoiced. I think his mercy was letting her have a baby because we all know if you don’t breed you don’t count in this world. Wait a minute did Jesus end up having kids? I forget.
After eight days, they circumcised the baby and called him Zacharias after his father. But Elisabeth objected telling them his name is John. But you don’t have any Johns in your family! I guess that’s a big deal. They gesture to Zach, what would he call this kid? Zach asks for a writing tablet and wrote his name is John. I thought Zach would be able to talk by now. They thought that was amazing. But wait! Zach opened his mouth and after nine long months of not saying a word he spoke and praised God!
Everyone was afraid; all through the hills of Judea the people were afraid. Those who heard asked what kind of child will this be. The hand of the Lord was with them. Zach was suddenly filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesized saying, the Lord God of Israel is blessed because he’s redeemed his people, and has raised a horn of salvation for us, David’s servants. We should be saved from our enemies, from all who hate us. We’ll be merciful as we promised our father and to remember his holey covenant. The oath that we swore to our father Abraham, having been delivered from our enemies, we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, for all of our days. And you child will be the prophet of the Highest, for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his way. To let people know that they will have salvation by the remission of their sins. The tender mercy of our God as the sun rises upon us to give light to those who sit in the darkness and the shadow of death to guide us into the way of peace. See that’s a whole lot of words to say John is preparing the way for Jesus and to tell the world about the salvation that is coming.
And John grew strong in spirit and was in the deserts until he was ready to show Israel.
Is anything scarier than immaculate conception? I mean really!
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