Theophilus, a non-Jewish person (Gentile), was a new believer. Luke writes his carefully investigated narrative to reassure him that he belongs in this racially mixed, & predominantly Jewish community. In his Gospel, Luke shows how God takes “outsiders,” & makes them “insiders,” those who are both involved with, & even related to God through Jesus. God also wants us to know that we belong in his community even though we may have no history with him or his people. It’s that kind of message that Luke is communicating to us through his Gospel. Do you feel like you don’t fit in at church? When you hear others’ stories of their encounters with Jesus, does it sound strange to you? When you think about how you were raised, do you feel disadvantaged? Well, what Luke writes in his Gospel is for you. But maybe you’ve been thinking lately that you’re drifting away from Jesus; feeling cold toward him. This book is for you. And maybe you’re someone who has no idea who Jesus is. Luke is definitely a great introduction to him, & you’re going to get lots out of this journey we’re about to launch.

Luke, writing as a careful historian, anchors his account during the reign of Herod the Great—a violent and paranoid ruler— underscoring the harsh reality of Roman rule over Israel. The Jewish people longed for deliverance after the so-called “400 years of silence,” though events like the Maccabean revolt and the Septuagint’s translation reveal that God was still at work; indeed, ‘God never stops working.’ The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth showcases God’s faithfulness as He chooses a humble, righteous couple to miraculously bear John the Baptist in their old age. Zechariah’s name —“God remembers”— underscores that no prayer is forgotten, even when our hope fades. God often works through ordinary folk with faithful hearts. John’s role as the forerunner of Christ bridges the Old and New Testaments; born in the old era, he fulfills Malachi’s prophecy (four centuries earlier) of an Elijah-figure, preparing the way for Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah and Redeemer.

This message explores how God works through lowly individuals, focusing on the biblical annunciations to Zechariah and Mary. Zechariah, a humble priest, and Mary, a poor, young rural woman, both receive divine calls despite their low status. Zechariah has low a status, Mary’s status is lower. Their contrasting responses to the angel Gabriel are highlighted: Zechariah doubts and is silenced as a result, while Mary trusts fully and accepts her role with faith. The text emphasizes Mary’s profound trust, expressed in her praise-song, ‘the Magnificat,” showcasing her intimate knowledge of Scripture and God’s faithfulness. Mary’s calling is costly, involving social shame and danger, yet she remains faithful throughout her life. The passage encourages believers at all social levels to respond with humble trust to God’s call, following examples like Mary, Zechariah, Barnabas, and Lydia. Mary’s example underscores the importance of contemplating Scripture to deepen trust in God’s promises & invites readers to live faithfully with the assurance that God works powerfully through the humble.

“400 Years of Silence?” We’ve all heard it—God stopped speaking after Malachi. The Spirit withdrew. No prophets, just silence. But Scripture says otherwise. Luke’s Gospel opens, not with silence, but with prophecy from key figures. Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary speak by the Spirit, announcing the Messiah. And John the Baptist? He’s not the first voice after silence—he’s the climax in a long line of Spirit-filled prophets pointing to Christ. So where did the idea of “silence” come from? It’s a convenient myth, crafted between the testaments, to dismiss voices challenging religious and political power. This oft-repeated myth became a deeply-entrenched ‘historical fact.’ But God’s prophets never fit neatly into institutions. They spoke truth to kings, priests, scribes, Pharisees—anyone who opposed God’s ways. And when John and Jesus came, that same myth was used to discredit them. Here’s the truth: God never stopped working. His Spirit never stopped moving. Prophecy never died out. The real question is—are we listening? Jesus’ followers are called to tune in to His voice, welcome His Spirit, and courageously speak His truth. Even when the world resists.

What kind of life does God invite us into as Christians? Does it merely line up with the typical Western European model of work like mad for 40+ years, & then spend your older years relaxing &/or travelling until your health slowly gives out? Unfortunately, many Christians may think that way. But, the Bible shows us a different, & even a better way. In Luke 2:21-40, we see a young couple, Joseph & Mary, faithfully living their lives for God according to his word. In addition, we see an old man & an old woman living their last days faithfully serving God by blessing others. While many dream about retirement, these two old people give us another way to finish our earthly lives well. They allowed the Holy Spirit to rewire their thinking about their own pleasure in order to serve God until their final breath. You & I have this choice too. Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to rewire you so that your whole life is lived faithfully serving the Lord?

This is the only place in scripture where an event in Jesus’ life is recorded between his birth and beginning his ministry at the age of 30. This simple story indicates to the reader that Jesus knew his identity at the age of 12. He referred to God as his father and indicated that to be involved with the Father in the temple was necessary for him. At this age he knew his identity and he knew his purpose. Yet at the same time he submitted to his parents showing his proper humanity. His growth in wisdom continued until he began his ministry. We are not Jesus but we can learn a lot about how we should journey with Jesus. Knowing our identity, knowing our purpose, living a proper humanity in submission and always advancing in our faith should be how we journey with Jesus.

•John the Baptist was a prophetic ‘voice’ calling for radical repentance, a creative innovator launching his unique baptism in the Jordan, and a way-maker who personally immersed the multitudes who responded, thereby preparing the way for Jesus. John was a foundational witness to Jesus’ identity as God’s Messiah and the Spirit-baptizer. He challenged existing religious norms, shifting the focus from animal-sacrifices to personal repentance and from the Temple cult to the direct experience of God’s presence. For fearlessly ‘speaking truth to power’ he was imprisoned by Herod, becoming a martyr.

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Temptation is a very common, if not daily experience for each & every human being. From the biblical perspective, temptation & giving in to it, has a long, storied history. The very first humans were tempted to follow their own path, their own wisdom rather than God’s. That temptation worked, & the pattern was set. Abram & Sarai, the nation of Israel, the kings & prophets, the poets & priests, all walked the same path at some point. But God had promised that a human would come one day who would not give in to the Tempter’s ways. Would that be Jesus, the one called Son of God, & who we read about at the beginning of Luke’s Gospel? In his encounter with the devil during his 40 days without food in the wilderness (Lk. 4:1-13), Jesus remained faithful to God through each & every temptation. But how does that help us? Having suffered when he was tempted, he sympathizes with us & helps us as we go through our temptations. He gives us a way to escape as we’re being tempted, & that way is to hold to Scripture & to him (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:15-16; 1 Cor. 10:13).