Chapter 1:
Observation

• Angel Gabriel speaks twice in this passage
• Luke is writing to Theophilus
• there are two songs
• Mary sings and praises God for blessing her to be with child
• Zechariah prophesies about his son John (the Baptist)
• every time the angel Gabriel speaks it contains Scripture
• Mary and Zechariah both quote the Old Testament, the Scriptures (prophecy or Psalms or Torah)
• v15 - John will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from the womb
• v41 - Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
• v67 - Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit
• Mary and Elizabeth are relatives v36
• v66 - neighbours and all of the hill country of Judea people have high expectations
• v7 - Elizabeth had no child, because she was barren - not because she was cursed!  Luke knew this
• Elizabeth is old
• Zechariah was a priest
• Luke wrote this so that people could have certainty about what was being taught about Jesus
• which side is the right side? v11
• v13 - Zechariah was praying for a child!
• v20 - Zechariah didn’t believe the angel’s words
• v19 - Gabriel was sent by God himself!

Interpretation

• John’s birth is the best miracle that could happen EVER
• Jesus’ birth was the worst miracle that could happen EVER
• Everyone was well versed with Scriptures, they knew it real well so much that it laced their conversations
• Luke wanted Theophilus to have certainty because there was uncertainty at the time
• Angels are intimidating, that’s why Zechariah (the priest) and Mary (the young girl) were both afraid
• Elizabeth just knew that Mary was pregnant from being filled with the Holy Spirit
• the Holy Spirit gives power to prophesy v67
• the Holy Spirit gives power to praise God and praise others v42

Application

• I need to know the Bible and the Scriptures and word of God way better
• I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to do his work, and to praise him, and to prophesy (tell of God’s work)
• I can have certainty about the events from reading Luke’s account
• God can work his mighty hand and sovereign grace even through good miracles and bad miracles

Chapter 2

Observation:

• Joseph is from Nazareth (in Galilee) but originally from the house of David (Bethlehem)
• David’s home town was Bethlehem
• Joseph was betrothed to Mary, she was already with child
• Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, put him in a manger - no inn so they stayed in the stable
• Angel who speaks to shepherds quotes Scripture
• Angels praising God speak Scriptures
• Shepherds identified and correlated the Angels praising and message to something “the Lord made known” to them
• Shepherds circulated the news around Bethlehem
• There is a law in the Exodus 2 that specifies the holiness of the firstborn male
• Simeon had the Holy Spirit upon him
• The Holy Spirit revealed that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Christ
• He came into the Spirit in the temple
• Simeon quotes Scripture when he praises God about Jesus
• Simeon quotes about bringing salvation to all peoples and even a light to the Gentiles
• Anna the prophetess was there in the temple, she worshiped and fasted night and day
• she spoke about the redemption of Jerusalem to everyone
• Matthew quotes Scripture when he talks about Jesus becoming strong and growing in wisdom, and the favour of God being upon him (like Samuel and Hannah)
• Jesus’ first recorded speech in Luke is when he is age 12 and had remained at the temple
• Jesus says something totally original
• Nobody (either his parents or the teachers there) understood what he was saying
• Jesus submitted to his parents
• Mary treasured all these things in her heart
• Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man just like Samuel

Interpretation

• Mary treasured many things in her heart because she knew that great things were in store for Jesus but also great sorrow
• If Jesus grew in wisdom and favour with God and man, we should too
• Jesus submitted to his parents, we should also submit
• The Scriptures were naturally in people’s hearts at the time
• Jesus’ parents cared for him (great distress over his unknown whereabouts)
• The Holy Spirit was active in people’s lives even before Pentecost
• Even old people like Anna can be worshipping and fasting and praising God and speaking of Christ to others

Application

• I need to know my Bible even better
• speaking of Christ to others should be an important part of my lifestyle as long as I live
• Do I care about where Jesus is right now?
• I should be submitting to my authorities
• the Holy Spirit should be evident in my life, at least to other people if not myself.  Matthew knew it was evident in Simeon’s life.