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The Savior Who Came To Us

Posted by Becky Brown on December 19, 2021

Doctor Luke was not a Jew.  He was a friend and travel companion of the Apostle Paul.  He was thought to be a Gentile, possibly of Greek decent.  God used this great man to write two vital books in the New Testament.  Luke was the author of a two-volume set:  The Gospel According to Luke and The Book of Acts.  

Both of these Holy Spirit inspired books are penned to “Theophilus.”  Some have said this was a person by that name, possibly even a Roman official.  Others have said these volumes were written to all those who are (or need to become) “friends of God” since in the language of Greek  “theos” means God and “philos” means friend. Whatever the case, we come to these two volumes to read the account of the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and promised return of Jesus and the history of the birth of the early church.  

Matthew wrote to insure that readers connected the prophetic “dots” through the Old Testament to the life of Jesus.  Luke’s purpose for writing was to compose a research-oriented account as he interviewed witnesses and set events in order to record facts for future generations of readers. God used the unique gifts and circumstances of the lives of each writer to reveal the complete gospel story.  

In our first two lessons, we have seen that God is WITH us and His name is Jesus, Our Emmanuel.  As the light of the world, Jesus came and brought light and life into darkness and death.  Today’s lesson reminds us that when we were far away from God and separated from Him because of our sinfulness, He came to us.  

After four hundred years with no word from the Lord, the angel Gabriel was dispatched from God to deliver two major birth announcements:  one to Zechariah and Elizabeth who would become the parents of John the Baptizer and one to Mary (espoused to Joseph) who would become the mother of Jesus.  “Zecharias” means God remembers.  “Elizabeth” means my oath or my promise.  “John” means gift.  “Mary” means bitter sorrow.  “Joseph” means add to me.  “Jesus” means salvation.  Just reading those name definitions tells the story of the Old Testament connection to the New Testament.  God remembers his oath and promise with a gift.  In our sorrow, God adds to us salvation.  The Covenant Maker is the Covenant Keeper.  God sent Jesus to save us from our sins.  

Jesus came!  I pray that we never get over that amazing truth. The circumstances of the birth of Jesus are recorded in Matthew 1&2 and Luke 1&2.  Please read both accounts as you study.  The journey to Bethlehem was all a part of God’s plan.  The town of David of the tribe of Judah.  The shepherd hills where the Lamb of God would be born.  The manger, the star, the angels, the shepherds, the wise men (who came later…).  A profound phrase is found here “…and so it was…” as God planned!  Never forget that God wrote this whole story before the foundation of the world.  

Jesus came and departed this life as a gift.  He was wrapped in swaddling clothes at His birth and swathing cloths at His death.  The typical night sounds of bleating sheep and crickets and the steady breeze were broken by the shouts of angels to shepherds.  Darkness fled away as the hillside was flooded with light. The first words of angels are most often, “Do not be afraid!”  Good news was provided for ALL, not some, of the people. The shepherds came to that manger and saw the proof.  They left to share the news of the birth of this Savior Who had been BORN king.  

The Roman census taker stopped by the manger and added two to the registration paperwork.  Then they pointed to the child in that manger. He must have recorded a plus One.  Oh, what a ONE!!!  One Son.  One King.  One Savior.  One Victor over all.  This Child in the manger didn’t send a messenger to do His work.  He came TO us!  Believe it!  

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