Matthew 1-2; Luke
1-2. Jesus is the miracle of God becoming what we are so that we could start becoming what He is.

Luke 2: 41-52

The discussion in the Temple:  a child of promise

• Others might not know who Jesus is, but He does.
• Only of Jesus is it said that God’s grace was on Him.
• Jesus says about Himself what the heavenly voice will say at His baptism.

The reader sees the chronological transition between infancy and ministry.  Also, we see a transition between revelations about Jesus by others and the revelation that Jesus Himself will proclaim.  Here, Jesus speaks for the first time.  What do we “hear” Him say?  And, how are we sure?

Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:21, Luke 2:25-35

The birth: and his name shall be called Jesus, Son of God.  The Lord is with you.

The blessing in the Temple:  the Nunc Dimittis

• Christ is “the glory of Israel.”
• Christ is “the light for all people.”
• Christ is a Presence that will bring about human resistance and rejection.
• Christ offers a “future with hope.”

The birth and the blessing allow us to contemplate the person of the Savior Himself.  Here is found the Messianic hope at its highest.  Old Testament prophecy finds New Testament fulfillment.   The careful reader will discover all kinds of hints as to what the future holds for this One whose Presence cannot simply be ignored.  A response is demanded.

Luke 2:8-20

The Shepherds and the Angels: the Gloria in excelsis Deo

• Finding God in the midst of fear.
• Celebrating God’s peace.
• Enabling us to glance at the significance of this event.

Now, we are beginning to gain some insight into an answer to the eternal question:  Why did God become one of us?  It is not only important to know that God became man, it is also important to know what kind of man He became.  To begin to understand the answer to this is to begin to understand what we might become in Christ.  

Luke 1:46-59

Celebrates the fulfillment of all the expectations and all the promises made by God, giving us a –

·         a new look at God,

·         a new look at the world, and

·         A new look into ourselves.

We see what salvation “looks like” when it enters into history.  “Behold, I am doing a new thing.  Can you see it?” [Isaiah 43:19].  What do we see?  What do we hope to see?  What “blinds’ us?

Luke 1:67-79

Zachariah’s Prophecy:  the Benedictus

With the naming of John the Baptist – meaning “God is gracious” – we begin to see and to understand God’s intentions.

• God has set His people free.
• God has sent a deliverer.
• God is fulfilling His promises.