Congregational Bible Experience Day #16: Luke 1-2

It might seem strange to read the familiar Christmas stories without the familiar Christmas songs and carols playing in the background, but that's no bad thing.  It encourages us to read and think through the teaching and relevance of these stories more deeply than perhaps the busyness of Christmas allows. 

While similar to Matthew and Mark, Luke's Gospel is clearly very different.  His style of writing is more classical and formal than conversational and homely (think - Financial Times rather than Coleraine Times!). He includes parables and stories that the other Gospels do not have.  His approach is more methodical and attentive to detail (1:1-4).

In the opening chapters he earths the coming and arrival of Jesus into the routine, everyday lives of God's faithful people.  After hundreds of years of God having become quiet, life was going as normal with no real expectation of anything out of the ordinary about to happen. Probably like most people's expectation of attending church today.

But then… angels start appearing (v11,26), surprise and awkward pregnancies are announced (v24-25, 31), feelings of fear (v12,30), panic (v29) and unbelief (v18-20) are stirred: others respond to God's direct intervention with curiosity (v34), obedient faith (v38) and worship (v46-55). And having been previously chastised for his lack of faith, an old priest realises his failing, repents and displays a renewed heart for God's word (v63), God's will (v74-75) and God's ways (v76-79).  Little wonder then under his spiritual influence, his "child grew and became strong in spirit" (v80) and became a blessing to so many.

Similarly, the birth of Jesus is described in a verifiable, historical context (2:1-2). The Gospel events are not fairy stories invented to tell moral tales; the events that will unfold through the Gospel actually happened. Jesus was real, we have  historical records to prove it.

So much of the following narrative is familiar:  the journey to Bethlehem, the manger, the birth of the child, the angels and the shepherds, Simeon and Anna, Jesus' appearance at the Temple. So much happening, so much excitement, so much to take in, so much trouble and travail to come, all because of Jesus. 

And two elderly saints, after a lifetime of waiting, can now rest in peace, for the promised Saviour has come (v25-38).  Today, whoever, wherever, rest in peace - Jesus has come. Everything will be alright.