Read Luke 1:1-38
You have just completed an extraordinary journey: the Walk to Emmaus. Now I’d like you to join me on another journey, back into the world with Jesus. We’ll be using Luke as our guide.
Like us, Luke never met Jesus. Instead, he took time out from his busy medical practice, and later, his missionary travels to learn the truth about Jesus. Imagine him standing beside you on Thursday evening as you began your walk, introducing himself as your new friend! And imagine how your friendship would have grown, sitting at the same table, listening to the talks, sharing in the conversations, enthusiastically singing “De Colores” as you made your way to meals. Imagine him kneeling at the altar with a bit of bread; imagine him walking with you into candlelight.
Now Luke is going to tell us the story as he knows it. His books (Luke and Acts) are addressed to the mysterious Theophilus (1:1). Sadly, his identity has been lost to history. In fact, it isn’t even certain that Theophilus was a single individual. Since Theophilus literally means “friend of God,” Luke might be referring to you!
We might look at verse 37 as the key learning from today’s lesson, “For nothing is impossible with God.” The angel of the Lord visits two people. One gets it, the other doesn’t.
The first, Zechariah, should have known that. A direct descendant of Moses’ brother Aaron, from the priestly order of Abijah (see 1 Chronicles 24:3-19 for details), Zechariah served in the Temple two weeks a year. On one occasion, he was chosen by lots to burn incense. As he performed his ritual responsibility, an angel appeared with fantastic news: Zechariah and Elizabeth were going to have a child. Their families and friends undoubtedly thought of this as a sign of God’s kindness and care. Despite his holiness, however, the news took Zechariah by surprise. He knew what he knew, and this was impossible. He and Elizabeth may have been renowned for their righteousness (1:6), but they were simply too old. He hadn’t grasped today’s principle: “Nothing is impossible with God.”
Mary’s response to Gabriel is invariably contrasted with Zechariah’s. Like Zechariah, she realizes that there are problems attached to Gabriel’s remarkable message. After all, she is a virgin. But, since God’s involved, she’s ready. “I am the Lord’s servant,” she responded, “and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true.”
Did you hear God’s voice on your Walk to Emmaus? Did you catch a fresh vision of God’s plan for your life? Did you renew your commitment to follow Jesus? Today is your day to begin! Not everyone will welcome your excitement. Not everyone will be interested in your new commitment. Some people you’ll meet today don’t even believe in God, but God knows the way forward from here. So it’s time to get started! Remember: “Nothing is impossible with God!”