DOCSLIB.ORG

Hospitality & Justice: Manifesto Luke 4:14-30

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hospitality & Justice: Manifesto Luke 4:14-30 1 FGBC: Hospitality & Justice: Manifesto Luke 4:14-30 February 17, 2019 Dan Hoffman I want to start with a statement today. Here it is: People inside and outside the church think Christianity is about being nice, but it’s actually about disruptively flipping the world on its head and challenging the status quo. … We are starting a new series today called Hospitality & Justice. We are going to look at one of the central themes in Scripture which involves the call for Jesus followers to make the world we live in a better place. I’ve said it before, but the fact is Palestine 2000 years ago was a better place because Jesus showed up. People were having their physical bodies healed, their financial situations healed, their emotional problems healed, and their relational difficulties healed. And on top of all of this people were getting right with their Creator and as a result found themselves living the abundant life God designed us to enjoy – All this happened because Jesus was walking around. And then Jesus told us to “Go out and do likewise.” Jesus was the Saviour and yet He tells us “You guys are the light of the world.” So Jesus followers, Christians, are people who give themselves to using the abilities we’ve been given to point humanity towards God’s gift of abundant life. And one of the main ways we do this is by bringing all the abundant life we can into the situation we find ourselves in. Tim Hortons should be a better place because you work there or drink coffee there.. UNBC should be a better place because you attend there or teach there. Prince George should be a better place because we live here. … Now I’m excited about this series, but I’m also a bit nervous. And that’s because while everyone wants to make the world a better place, not all humanity agrees on what this means. And one of the biggest ways injustice breaks into a society is through blindness. All humanity from all time has been culturally indoctrinated to be blind to our own injustice. So I just finished reading a biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was a passionate Jesus follower that lived during World War 2. And most of the book is about the difficult struggle to convince genuine Christians that racism against Jews doesn’t line up with what Jesus taught. Most people in the church thought this was totally fine. Or if you look at the life of William Wilberforce who opposed the slave trade in England in the 19th century and was a passionate Jesus lover. His main fight was against other Christians who couldn’t see the problem with owning slaves. 2 Now both these issues are blatantly wrong to us, but only an ignorant person would say they were bad people and we’re better. The fact is everyone is blind to their own brokenness. And so throughout this series we are going to work to bring out topics that are going to make us uncomfortable – I anticipate being uncomfortable, and I suspect you will be as well. But if we are going to not just listen to the words of Jesus, but actually do them, we have to allow His hard words to pierce our hearts and change our behaviour. … So if you’ve got a Bible on your phone or see one in the pew in front of you grab it and open it up to Luke chapter 4. We are going to start this series were Jesus started His ministry. Luke chapter 4, starting in verse 14. [Read Luke 4:14-15] So at this point in the story Jesus is about 30 years old. Up until now He has been working as a carpenter, first under His assumed dad Joseph. But then after Joseph’s death He would have been using this trade to take care of His mom and siblings. And then all of a sudden something changes. John the Baptist shows up and starts calling Israel to repent. And this is Jesus’ cue, it’s the fulfillment of prophecy He was waiting for, to switch from “carpenter Jesus” to “Savior Jesus.” And so Jesus goes out to John and gets baptized. And while He is in the water a dove descends from Heaven and a voice speaks “This is My Son in whom I am well pleased.” Let me tell you that has never happened to any baptism I’ve been part of so that’s a big deal. And then the Holy Spirit drives Jesus into the desert where He spends 40 days fasting, being tempted, and overcoming Satan. And then we get our text today. So this is the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus comes out of the desert and heads back to Nazareth which was His home town, not as a carpenter, but as a rabbi, a guru. And everyone praised Him. Look at verse 16: [Read Luke 4:16-22] Now if you are a 21st century Canadian then everything Jesus says here sounds nice. And at first everyone in the synagogue that day assumed Jesus was speaking nice too. That’s what we get in verse 22 – “everyone spoke well of Him.” But Jesus isn’t working to expand His fan base here. He is defining everything His ministry is going to be about, and it’s nothing like anyone expected. What He gives here is an offensive truth claim and radical battle cry against injustice. So let’s unpack this a little. In verses 18 and 19 Jesus is quoting the Old Testament book of Isaiah – chapter 61. And this is one of the big Messianic prophecies. God is going to send someone to save His people. 3 And so when Jesus puts the scroll down and says, verse 21, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” What He is saying is “The Messiah is here and I’m Him.” … Now this is big, but it wouldn’t have hit His first listeners as big as it hits us. Interestingly there were several people running around in Jesus’ day claiming to be the Messiah, or at least one of God’s messiahs. And the Jews loved these guys. And that’s because Israel was under the control of Rome and so all sorts of terrible things were going on in society. So Rome was employing Jewish tax collectors to get money out of the Jews. And they were being encouraged to gouge their brothers to get rich – this was injustice. And Rome set up kings like Herod who were essentially Jewish, but were used by Rome to keep Israel in line. And so they ruled for their own benefit instead of the people’s – this was injustice. And when people pushed back against this kind of rule Rome would come in and shut them down. Whole cities of men, women and children would get crucified because of a little uprising – this was injustice. And so under this kind of oppression the people were longing for someone to organize them and fight back. So about 160 years before Jesus a guy named Mattathias Maccabees and his son Judah temporarily fought off the Seleucids who were forcing the Jews worship other gods. These guys were heroes. And there was a guy named Judas of Galilee, who right around the time Jesus was born, incited the Jews not to register with the Romans and pay tax – he was pretty popular too. A little later another guy named Theudas led a similar revolt. And the Jews loved these guys because they were fighting injustice. And now all of a sudden Jesus comes on the scene. And He’s brilliant and godly, everyone can tell that. And He starts speaking about justice and so the people are excited. But they are a little nervous too because when these revolts go bad people pay. And so, verse 22, they all spoke well of Him, but at the same time they were wondering – isn’t this Joseph’s boy the carpenter? It’s like the Canadian Tire employee turned Messiah. “Hey Fred, didn’t Jesus make that dining room set you bought a couple years ago? And now He’s going to fight off the Romans… with His hammer?” But they listen because Jesus starts out saying all the things they think they want to hear. So in verse 18 Jesus comes out of the gate proclaiming good news for the poor. And everyone likes someone to take care of the poor especially if you consider yourself to be close to this side of the spectrum. 4 So if I asked for a show of hands of everyone who feels the financial crunch and wishes they had a bit more money I’d probably get some hands. Right? But this was even more the case in 1st century Rome because there was no middle class. So about 5% of the population was incredibly wealthy, and everyone else was dirt poor. So proclaiming good news to the poor is like walking into CNC and offering free food for students. Everyone’s interested! And then Jesus says He’s come to proclaim freedom for prisoners. Now Jesus isn’t talking about jail break here. That might be good news for some people, but most of us would not be happy about that. What Jesus promises here is freedom for captives or slaves. And again in Jesus’ day this was huge. If you weren’t part of the Roman elite you were a part of the working peasant class which lived essentially as indentured servants.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Gospel According to Luke, Isaiah, and Origen
    Lumen et Vita 9:2 (2019), doi: 10.6017/lv.v9i2.11125 “To Evangelize the Poor:” The Gospel According to Luke, Isaiah, and Origen James E. Kelly Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (Brighton, MA) Abstract In this essay, I will examine the scriptural basis for Origen’s interpretation of Luke 4:18-19 as an allusion to Jesus’ identity as savior, not as a call to social justice. I argue that this interpretation is consistent with the intentions of the gospel writer. The essay begins with an analysis of the gospel writer’s redaction of Mark 1 in Luke 3-5. Based on that redaction, I hypothesize that Luke intends to emphasize Jesus’s identity with the anointed one mentioned in Isaiah 61:1-2. This excerpt from Isaiah not only gives Luke 4:18-19 its Christological significance but also clarifies Luke’s understanding of poverty in relation to the Gospel. I then examine Origen’s application of the Lucan passage for his pastoral purposes. To conclude, I suggest that we, like Luke and Origen, read Scripture Christocentrically in order to better facilitate the church’s encounter with Christ during the liturgy. Text If you want to see what it means to preach the Gospel, look at Jesus in the Nazareth synagogue. Within the Gospel of Luke,1 this occasion marks the first time Jesus preaches—and the first time he is rejected—during his public ministry. The other three evangelists don’t seem to remember it well. For Matthew and Mark, the rejection at Nazareth pales in comparison to the many miracles Jesus previously performed throughout Galilee; for John, this event goes unmentioned.2 What matters to Luke is the message Jesus preaches in the Nazareth synagogue, an excerpt from the book of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, on account of which He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
    [Show full text]
  • “From Rejoicing to Rejecting” Passage: Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 62:1-2
    Luke Sermon Series Supports Session 8: Rejected Sermon Title: “From Rejoicing to Rejecting” Passage: Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 62:1-2 Connection to Luke 4 When given the opportunity to address the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus read Isaiah 62:1-2. This passage points to the arrival of the Messiah. Introduction/Opening The Lord Jesus came to Nazareth, the town where he grew up. On the Sabbath, as usual, He went to the synagogue. As a respected member of the community and of the synagogue, He stood up to read and found the place in the prophet Isaiah. He read from Isaiah 61:1-2. There is nothing in Luke that indicates the Lord Jesus was in the habit of reading in the synagogue. It may have been the first time He read in Nazareth. He revealed to the people of His hometown the mission and purpose for His Incarnation. His calling and His mission was to preach the good news of the gospel and for that work the Holy Spirit had anointed Him. The proclamation of the gospel has, for the Lord Jesus, specific implications. The passage identified five actions that would define the work of Jesus. Outline 1. He would preach the good news to the poor. a. The word “poor” is used in Matthew 5:3 and there refers to one who recognizes his or her spiritual poverty. In Luke it also carries a connotation of economic status. b. The preaching of the good news then, has a social aspect as well. Not that the gospel message means that those who receive Christ will also receive economic prosperit, but the gospel includes the well being of the whole person.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Full of the Spirit Luke 4:1-13 a Sermon Preached in Page
    Full of the Spirit Luke 4:1-13 A Sermon preached in Page Auditorium on February 14, 2016 by the Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” and we all want to be “full of the Holy Spirit.” Don’t we? This is one time it would be okay for someone to tell us, “You are full of it.” Wouldn’t it be great that when someone left our presence they had the feeling that they were in the Presence? Wouldn’t it be great to light up someone’s life so much that they use the words of Stevie Wonder to tell us, “You are the sunshine of my life”? We want to bear this kind of fruit as a sign that we are full of the Spirit although we may not be so sure what that means. Some argue that a ‘Spirit-filled’ person has to be engaged in hand-clapping, foot-stomping, body-swaying, head- bobbing, knees-shaking, sweat-flying, amen-calling worship or silent-making, candle-lighting, cross-signing, genuflecting, ordered liturgy. Notice that Jesus is “full of the Holy Spirit” and none of this happens. What occurs may actually surprise you compared to what we might normally expect from the Holy Spirit—the Spirit leads Jesus to the wilderness, a desert. Not a 14th century British gothic cathedral or a Cistercian monastery in France or a storefront church in the South called “The Fire Next Time Revival Tabernacle of the Most High God of Holiness.” The Spirit doesn’t lead Jesus to a building structure full of people but because he is “full of the Holy Spirit,” he is led to a desert, only occupied by him and his opponent, the devil.
    [Show full text]
  • The Magnificat Luke 1:39-56 This Is a Marvelous Song, the First Song of The
    The Magnificat Luke 1:39-56 This is a marvelous song, the first song of the incarnation, from Mary. • The lyrical depth is very edifying. • At IDC, we like songs that have rich theological content (except when dancing!) • We try to avoid the type of songs that Mike Bird says go a bit like this: “Jesus, Jesus, you’re terrific // For you I’d swim the Pacific // Yeah baby, yeah baby, yeah, yeah, yeah.” Only, they’re not that deep! • While a lot of Xmas songs are very rich, others are often very sentimental, and lullaby- sounding. • But Mary’s song blends God-centered theology with beautiful, artistic poetry. If you’re not a Christian, this is a wonderful passage for anyone interested in the Christian faith. One pastor calls this “Mary on the Christian Life.” • She alludes to many important themes of the Christian life in her song. • Luke itself is a good book to study (1:3). He’s a careful researcher/historian. If you’re a teenager, you have a wonderful example in Mary to follow. • Of course, Mary is a great model for any Christian, but esp. for teenagers!! • Prefer Mary over Miley a role model! • Teenagers struggle w/ basic heart questions like: • “Does anyone care about me?” Does anyone see me?” • “Will anything satisfy my soul?” “What’s my purpose in life?” • Young person, Mary gives you answers. • She knows that God cares for her and sees her! • “He has looked upon the humble estate of his servant” • She’s a teenager who has found satisfaction – in God! • “God fills the hungry with good things.” • She’s a teenager that has found purpose! • Westminster: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” • She’s expressing that purpose in this little song - magnify/rejoice.
    [Show full text]
  • The Day Jesus Came to Church Luke 4:14-30
    May 8, 2016 DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS THE DAY JESUS CAME TO CHURCH LUKE 4:14-30 INTRODUCTION: One of the greatest ironies of all is that so many people are offended by the foundational teaching of Christianity: God’s offer of forgiveness through Christ. We should not be surprised when people react negatively to the message of God’s grace . just as they reacted to Jesus’ message the day Jesus went to church. I. Jesus’ Arrival In Nazareth (Luke 4:14-16) Luke 4:14-15 “14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit; and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.” Luke 4:16 “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.” Hebrews 10:24-25 “24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” II. Jesus’ Message (Luke 4:17-28) A. Components of a Synagogue Service 1. Invocation 2. Reading of Scripture 3. Instruction 1 THE DAY JESUS CAME TO CHURCH Luke 4:14-30 May 8, 2016 | DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS Luke 4:17 “And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,” Luke 4:18-19 “18 THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
    [Show full text]
  • Origen's Interpretation of Luke 1:35: “The Power of the Most High Will
    Emmanuel Hirschauer Notre-Dame de Vie Institute Philippines ORIGEN’S INTERPRETATION OF LUKE 1:35: “THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL OVERSHADOW YOU” Introduction Origen has been considered a Marian doctor by the Latin 12th cen- tury.1 According to him, Mary is the type, the model of the spiritual, the “pneumatic.” The words of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary, answer- ing her question on how the conception of Jesus might occur, oě er a key passage to enter Origen’s Mariology: “The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God’” (Lk 1:35). We will focus on these words: “The power of the Most High will overshadow you.” According to Origen what is this “power”? What does its “overshadowing” Mary mean? Our method will consist in reading the most signię cant passages where Lk 1:35 is quoted and in- terpreted by Origen. We will start with the Homilies on Saint Luke and then, following in chronological order, we will open the Peri Archon, the Commentary and Homilies on the Song of Songs and the Homilies on Joshua. 1. Homilies on Luke Let us ę rst listen to the third-century teacher as he comments in his Homilies on Luke. Actually the only homilies on the New Testa- ment which we have from Origen are the 39 homilies on Luke which survived in Jerome’s Latin translation. This translation is remarkably faithful.2 Origen also wrote a Commentary on Luke in ę ve books, which (1) Cf.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rejection at Nazareth: Luke 4:14-30
    THE REJECTION AT NAZARETH: LUKE 4:14-30 Luke's presentation of the scene at Nazareth has long vexed the exegetes.1 The chronology and geography of the account, as well as some of its essential details, differ greatly from Mark or Matthew. In Mark, the scene is located just before the end of the Galilean ministry (6,1-6); in Matthew, it comes at the climax of the Galilean ministry (13,53-58). In Luke, on the other hand, it is a kind of inauguration scene, prefacing Jesus' ministry. Whether Luke has used Mark or a special source remains a difficult question. 2 For our purposes, it suffices to notice that in recounting or constructing the scene, Luke involves himself in some inconsistencies. Verse 23 presupposes healings already performed in Capharnaum, but Luke has related none of them. The short summary in v. 15 had spoken only of teaching. Further, the gap between vv. 22 and 24 is quite noticeable: the attitude of the people changes too suddenly from acceptance to hostility. The effect is that the Lucan narrative seems somewhat badly contrived; Luke has, seem­ ingly, constructed it somewhat carelessly.3 This fact has led commentators to inquire into the meaning of the scene. It has been suggested that Luke intends the scene to telescope the career ofJesus, and to bear a symbolic meaning.4 But this may be true in ways which have not hitherto received notice. If this is so, the scene may have more importance than has been suspected for understanding Luke's interpretation of the person and mission of Christ.
    [Show full text]
  • The Spirit Motif in Luke 4:14-30; Acts 1:8 and the Church Today
    Koech The Spirit Motifin Luke: 14-30: Acts 1:8 155 THE SPIRIT MOTIF IN LUKE 4:14-30; ACTS 1:8 AND THE CHURCH TODAY Joseph Koech Introduction Luke has been termed the Gospel of the Spirit. This is seen in how he highlights the place of the Spirit in the life and ministry of Jesus in the Gospel and in the early church as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The authorship of both books has been unanimously attributed to Luke and many times treated as one two-volume work. Luke 4:14-30 is the key passage in the Gospel with regard to the ministry of Jesus. In the Acts of the Apostles (also dubbed the 'Acts of the Holy Spirit') the power of the Spirit is seen through the activities of the early church especially in preaching and in the working of miracles. Jesus gave the mandate to the disciples to carry out the work He began not through their own power but the Spirit's power (Acts 1:8). The Spirit upon Jesus was for several purposes, some unique to Him alone and others duplicated through the early church as depicted in the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus through the power of the Spirit was prophet and charismatic; proclaimer and demonstrator; and preacher and healer. The Holy Spirit upon Jesus was first for the purpose of the fulfilment of the functions of the Messiah. Second, it was for proclamation, the working of miracles and other liberating activities. Only in the office of the Messiah is the church not able to duplicate.
    [Show full text]
  • Looking High and Low for Salvation in Luke Matthew L
    Luther Seminary Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary Faculty Publications Faculty & Staff choS larship 2018 Looking High and Low for Salvation in Luke Matthew L. Skinner Luther Seminary, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.luthersem.edu/faculty_articles Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Skinner, Matthew L., "Looking High and Low for Salvation in Luke" (2018). Faculty Publications. 306. https://digitalcommons.luthersem.edu/faculty_articles/306 Published Citation Skinner, Matthew L. “Looking High and Low for Salvation in Luke.” Currents in Theology and Mission 45, no. 4 (September 17, 2018). http://currentsjournal.org/index.php/currents/article/view/147. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty & Staff choS larship at Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Luther Seminary. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Looking High and Low for Salvation in Luke Matthew L. Skinner Professor of New Testament Luther Seminary St. Paul, Minnesota uke’s Gospel, more than any other Gospel, politicizes the salvation God accomplishes through Jesus Christ. he magnitude of Luke’s promises In other words, Luke calls attention to certain politi- Lcal aspects of the “good news” that angels, prophets, John, Jesus, Tabout sociopolitical change and his followers announce and enact. The deeds Jesus performs, has made the book a vital source for the declarations he makes, and even the sheer reality of who he is—these things have social, interpersonal consequences that affect liberative theologies—for good reason the mores and assumptions that undergird people’s interactions and identities.
    [Show full text]
  • The Birth of Jesus
    Second Edition International Orality Institute 3026 Virginia Ave N. Crystal, MN 55427 952-412-1366 [email protected] 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 29. Jesus’ Birth.............................................................. 5 30. Jesus’ Baptism and Temptation .............................. 9 31. The Demon-possessed Man .................................. 16 32. The Parable of the Sower ...................................... 21 33. Feeding of 5,000 and Walking on Water .............. 25 34. Healing Lepers and a Crippled Woman ................ 31 35. The Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Zacchaeus .......... 35 36. Lazarus Raised from the Dead .............................. 39 37. The Unmerciful Servant Parables ......................... 44 38. The Ten Virgins and The Sheep & Goats ............. 48 39. Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem............................ 54 40. The Last Supper and Betrayal ............................... 58 41. Jesus’ Trial, Crucifixion, and Burial ..................... 64 42. Jesus’ Resurrection and Great Commission ......... 71 Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com 3 29. Jesus’ Birth Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew 1 18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
    [Show full text]
  • Magnificat! an Exploration of the God of Mary's Song?
    Magnificat! An exploration of the God of Mary’s song? Nadia Marais Discipline group Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology Faculty of Theology Stellenbosch University 1 Introductory word Luke 4:17 – 19 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to [Jesus]. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” We are gathered today in this same Spirit and in the name of this Jesus to encounter God in the text today and to discover something of the God of Mary’s song. Blessing Preacher: Congregation of Gamkavallei, grace and peace be unto you from God the Father.... Congregation:There is no end to God’s love and justice. Preacher: ...and from God the Son... Congregation:God became human and came to the world to reconcile us with Himself and with each other. Preacher: ...and with God the Holy Spirit. Congregation:God is with us, God makes us new. Introductory remarks Congregation, we are currently in the time in the church year that is called ‘Kingdom time’, which stretches from Pentecost to right before Advent. The meaning of this time points to the work of the church in the world, in the power of the Spirit. The colour of this time is green and the symbol that is used in this time is of a ship on stormy seas.
    [Show full text]
  • SCRIPTURAL ROSARY: GOSPEL of LUKE 1. the Annunciation – Luke 1:26-28, 30-31, 34-35, 38 the Angel Gabriel Was Sent from God To
    St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine Oblates of the Virgin Mary SCRIPTURAL ROSARY: GOSPEL OF LUKE The following Scripture passages from the Gospel of Luke may be read at the beginning of each decade of the Rosary for meditation on each mystery. The text is from the Revised New American Bible, corresponding to the Lectionary readings for Mass. JOYFUL MYSTERIES 1. The Annunciation – Luke 1:26-28, 30-31, 34-35, 38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 2. The Visitation – Luke 1:39-45, 56 Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
    [Show full text]