‘Things which are most surely believed among us’
Luke 1:1
We have been enjoying our studies in Luke, to follow the footsteps of our precious Lord as He walked on this earth. When we look back to the beginning of the gospel, we understand the purpose of his writing to set out what he had been told by eyewitnesses so that one would know ‘the certainty of those things’ (Luke 1:4).
The virgin birth: the account is given from verses 26 – 38, what an awesome scene, a young woman, betrothed but not married (verse 27), clearly distinguished because of the implications of this for her purity, an angelic visitation and announcement, she seeks clarification (verse 34), she receives an explanation (verse 35), she responds with humility realising that what God has said, He will do (verse 38). As Elisabeth states later in the chapter ‘blessed is she that believed’ (verse 45)
Incarnation: the angel explains that ‘thou shalt bring forth a son’ (verse 31) so the birth was natural. However, the conception was supernatural (verse 35); the baby that was to be born would be a ‘holy thing’ (verse 35). ‘The Holy Ghost….the power of the Highest’ was involved in this process (verse 35). This was a unique event.
The deity of the Lord Jesus: the angel gives details as to the identity of the son that she was to carry. Mary was to call Him ‘Jesus’ (verse 31), ‘He… shall be called the Son of the Highest’ (verse 32), ’the Son of God’ (verse 34). ‘He shall be great,… the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; he shall reign …for ever; of his kingdom there shall be no end’. This establishes Him as Messiah, as Joseph was his legal father once they were married, He became the legal heir to the throne of David. Elisabeth refers to her as ‘the mother of my Lord’ (verse 43). Mary’s response is to praise the Lord (verses 46 – 55) and rejoice in ‘God my Saviour’ a timely reminder that Mary although blessed of the Lord still needed a Saviour.
These are truths that are the foundation of the gospel that ‘the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14)
Paul
We saw Thee not when Thou didst come
To this poor world of sin and death,
Nor yet beheld Thy cottage home,
In that despised Nazareth;
But we believe Thy footsteps trod
Its streets and plains, Thou Son of God.
Gurney