The current issue of AP (Alternative Press) Magazine has a "virtual panel" of people talking about and discussing Christianity and punk rock. They broke up each panelist's statements into a section called "The Story of..." followed by the name of the person doing the "talking" or story telling. In a similar way, of course, the Gospels were written. The Gospel of Luke was written by a doctor (he also wrote the book of Acts), which explains his attention to detail and his particular "angle" on things.
I've read the book many times, but starting in chapter 1 I'm often so anxious to get to the story of Jesus and His life, ministry, and death and resurrection that I pass over the interesting details about Zechariah and Elizabeth and their desire to have a child. The details about Zechariah's angelic visitation are uncanny:
"...Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear."
I love Luke and his details. He was the one who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, of course, wrote that a certain man lived on Strait Street (in the book of Acts).
The angel of the Lord told Zechariah that his old wife, Elizabeth, will bear him a son, and he is to give this son the name of John. "He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth..."
This was not an easy thing to believe, for not since Abraham and Sarah had an old woman had a child when she was passed her "childbearing years." But if it did take place, it would be easy to agree that this child would bring joy and delight, even causing others to rejoice at their "good fortune." However, the angel goes on to declare that John will be "great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth."
Wow. Now that is an amazing thing. In those times God's Spirit wasn't as liberal and free/accessible to God's people as it is in this age (the "church age of grace"), at least according to my limited understanding of theology. This was one of the miraculous and revolutionary moves that God did for His people later -- after the resurrection and the Day of Pentecost.
It's funny that Zechariah didn't believe. Perhaps it was the same angel messenger who overheard Sarah laugh at the pronouncement that she would have a child. Perhaps this angel had a long memory and a bit of a vengeful streak? That could explain why he was quick to "punish" Zechariah by keeping him mute until John was born, "because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."
All Zechariah said was, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years?" He was, in essence, I guess, asking for a "sign" that this would take place (as if seeing an angel wasn't a sign enough).
Another interesting detail was that, after Elizabeth became pregnant, she remained in seclusion for five months. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days He has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people." Indeed.
I love what happened later...
But first we hear about the angel Gabriel being sent to Nazareth. Before there was a hard rock band named Nazareth ("Miss Misery," "Love Hurts," the curiously named "Hair of the Dog"), there was a town in Galilee. The angel went to Mary and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
It's hilarious how Mary responded: "Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be."
Those details are priceless.
"But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the Name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.'"
Now this was some amazing news. God was going to give Him the throne of His father David? Gabriel was a little more lenient towards this human than the other (?) angel was towards Zechariah: "'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'" The angel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that she would be "overshadowed" by the Most High. "So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God." And the angel told her that even her relative Elizabeth would have a child soon, "For nothing is impossible with God."
Mary had a good response to all this: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."
"At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."
Isn't that amazing? It seems to figure that God would get Elizabeth involved, since she was "involved," but wow...filled with the Holy Spirit? That's another amazing pre-Pentecost filling...
"In a loud voice she exclaimed: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!'"
Now, it is always a good idea to pay attention to someone and the first words out of their mouth when they are suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit... She immediately declared how blessed Mary was. Indeed. It's funny to see perhaps a needling/ribbing to Zechariah for not necessarily believing that what the Lord said would be accomplished... It is cool to see a messianic foretelling here: "...why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Wow. Once again the identity of this Man -- Jesus -- was explained. Yet it was so hard for people to believe in Him while He was on earth. Even the disciples... Even John the Baptist (this same John who was filled with the Holy Spirit) had wondered out loud and asked Jesus questions about His identity and role.
In hindsight it is always a little easier to understand, but one thing is clear: we humans are dense and dumb animals.
Mary had a wonderful response to Elizabeth's Spirit-filled declaration. She had one of her own, which is a beautiful song we sometimes sing (John Michael Talbot did a fantastic adaptation of this). It says later on in chapter one that Elizabeth had her baby and finally Zechariah was able to talk when he affirmed that the baby's name was to be John. It says: "The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, 'What then is this child going to be?'"
That must've been a cool time -- knowing that something was up. It reminds me of those Omen movies, where people figure out that the anti-christ has been born. Another unrelated thought I have while reading these passages are the couple references to "the hill country." Austin, Texas and the surrounding communities to the West are called "the hill country." I sure like this place.
Zechariah was also filled with the Holy Spirit and has his own little prophecy. He declared that God was bringing salvation and that his little son would be a prophet, "going on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him." John was a man after my own heart, as it says he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.
In chapter two we see more (irrelevant?) details: "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)" In my mind, it adds to the validity and the authenticity of the Bible as historical text. The very inclusion of small details, like politicians, places, even streets, gives the book a contemporary feel that can be investigated and confirmed.
Luke mentions that Jesus was Mary's firstborn, which is another clue that she was not a "perpetual virgin" (but that's a side issue, to be sure).
Those shepherds who were out in the fields at night (which kind of time stamps the action as other than December 25, according to weather, climate, etc, but that's another side issue). When angels came to talk to these shepherds, suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared and praised God. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."
I think the angels and heavenly hosts were excited. They had a greater grasp of what was happening. This whole incarnation thing was going to change all of creation, and they kinda new it.
The shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Even though the message came from angels, they refered to the ultimate messenger behind the message as "the Lord." Maybe we would do well to believe and assume that some of the messages we get are indeed "from the Lord."
When the shepherds came, it must've impressed Mary and Joseph. It says that "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." I wonder how strongly (or weakly) she believed (or doubted) about the validity of these words for the next 33 years. That's a long time to hold on to a promise. It really is. It's also a short time, and the sorrow she must've felt as her firstborn Son was tortured and killed must've been intense. It will be neat to see her in heaven and perhaps be with her and hear her stories about that last "passionate" week of her Son's life on earth. She is a blessed woman, and I would love to give her a hug and even weep over the agony of that terrible day. I don't know if that will happen, as the Bible talks about joy and "no more tears" in the kingdom to come, but it also says that Jesus retains the marks of His sacrifice, and those joy-inducing marks are also sorrowful and real. So maybe we will be able to enjoy the dynamic spectrum of emotions there (and not just joy and happiness always).
Verse 21 seems to indicate that Jesus did not receive His Name until the 8th day of His life -- His day of circumcision. Does that mean that He was nameless for 7 days? I guess it does. That's even more normal and real and human, then, isn't it? It must be true that this little baby was vulnerable to disease and the threat of murder from King Herod. He truly did identify with us and our frailties and weaknesses. Just as there was a time when his dad followed a warning in a dream and fled in the night to Egypt, so his dad must've at some point grabbed his son and pulled him into a ditch or a shelter from an impending storm or danger. Surely there were hazards in Galilee's daily life that Jesus and His parents had to look out for and protect Him from. Isn't that a paradox? God was protected by two normal parents. Wow!
I love the story of Simeon that appears in chapter two as well... He was a righteous man who was also filled with the Holy Spirit (I tell ya, there was an epidemic going on there ... of the Holy variety!). The Holy Spirit (Who also happens to be God) told Simeon that he wouldn't die before he saw the Lord's Christ. When he was handed Jesus to be consecrated before the Lord, he took Him in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,
You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to Your people Israel."
Wow. This was another chance for normal people in Israel to get a glimpse into what God was doing -- that an Incarnate God, a Messiah, was among them. Besides the "electricity" that buzzed due to the miracles of the adult Jesus later, I bet the buzz from this excitement was still somewhat around even 25 to 33 years later. I bet that made it a little "easier," if you will, to believe in His message and identity. It was truly a "magical" time in history. I get excited when I think that I may be living in the "Last Days" when Jesus will return. I can only imagine the excitement they felt -- with all these signs and messages. Wow.
I love prophets and prophetesses. After Joseph and Mary had Jesus blessed and consecrated to God from a life-fulilled priest, this prophetess came up to them "at that very moment" and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Wow!
I sure like to welcome prophets and prophetesses. I am as leary as the next guy (I guess), but I also have a big place in my heart for them and want to hear God's voice from whomever and wherever it comes. There is a passage that says, "He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward." (Matthew 10:41) That makes it an even better attitude to keep!
The often-told story of the 12-year old Jesus is also found in this bountiful second chapter of Luke. After realizing -- a day into the return trip -- that Jesus was not with their caravan of relatives and friends, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him. It took them three days to find Him (and that 3 day reference is always amazing how it pops up time and again in Scripture). When they did, it says "they were astonished." This was one of those mixed feelings, because His mother also scolded Him, "Son, why have You treated us like this?" Any parent can relate to the joy mixed with anger of finding a lost child who has wandered off. You are glad they are safe, but you want to put "the fear of God" into them so that they don't wander off again. Even though Jesus kind of stood up for Himself and said, "Didn't you know I had to be in My Father's house?" He also submitted to their parental leadership, being obedient to them. That is a good man (and a good son).
What a treasure of truth! And I only scratched the surface of those two chapters! Wow.
Last night I finished and sent to Kinko's the latest issue of Heaven's Metal Fanzine. I wrapped it up and sent it off via email sometime around 3am. This might be the last issue of Heaven's Metal Fanzine that's printed at Kinko's, as our printer gave us a really low bid on printing them up there in Michigan. If we go that route, the current subscribers to Heaven's Metal (only) will get their copy of Heaven's Metal stitched and a "supplement" to their copy of HM. It'll actually save us money on postage, time, and effort to do this.
Now it's time to follow-up on all the stories for the Jan/Feb issue of HM, most of which are in progress. I'm really digging on some cool new music lately. The new Demon Hunter is great. The new P.O.D. is really good. I like it better than the self-titled album that came out in 2003/2004. And the new album from HIM (my guilty pleasure) is a wonderful sonic pleasure.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at October 18, 2005 11:15 AM