When the New Testament opens, the heavens had been silent for several hundred years – no angelic visitors, no prophets, no miracles. The Jews were under Roman rule. The conquering general entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple to show Roman dominance over the God of Israel. At the time of Christ’s birth, Herod the King was subservient to Rome.
The Annunciation of John the Baptist
READ Luke 1:5-9
How was Zacharias chosen to administer in
the Temple, out of all the many Priests that were qualified, and why is it
significant?
READ Luke 1:10-11
What does the incense represent and why
is it relevant to understanding the priest’s prayer?
Where does the angel appear?
What is on the other side of the veil?
READ Luke 1:12-13
What was Zacharias praying for?
READ the prayer: “Be graciously pleased,
Jehovah our God with thy people, Israel, and with their prayer. Restore the service to the oracle of Thy
house…Bless us, O our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Thy
countenance. For in the light of Thy
countenance hast Thou, Jehovah our God, given us the law of life, and loving
mercy, and righteousness, and blessing, and compassion, and life, and
peace. (Alfred Edersheim, The Temple,
Its Ministry and Services, p. 129)
So, what is Zacharias praying for?
READ Luke 1:17
How does this prayer result in “being
heard” and Elisabeth bearing a son?
READ Luke 1:18-19
Was Gabriel “free-lancing” with this
message?
How can we know this was true revelation
from God to a man?
Who was Gabriel on earth and why might he
have been selected to announce John’s birth?
What is causing Zacharias to doubt God?
READ Luke 1:20-22
What were the other Priests and people
thinking when Zacharias did not come out of the Holy Place at the appointed
time?
Why was Zacharias really struck dumb?
What would have happened if he had not
been struck dumb and had come out and told the Priests what had happened?
The Annunciation of Jesus of Nazareth:
READ Luke 1:26-30
Why was Mary troubled about Gabriel’s
saying that she was “highly favored”?
READ Luke 1:31-33
How is this child the answer to
Zacharias’ prayer?
READ Luke 1:34-38
While Zacharias had his own challenges to
overcome, what is Mary’s issue with this birth?
How will this problem be resolved?
READ Matthew 1:18-19
Remember that Mary went immediately to
Judea to visit her cousin Elisabeth for the final 3 months of Elisabeth’s
pregnancy (and likely the birth of John).
She was 3 months pregnant herself when she returned home.
What happened when Mary was “found with
child” upon her return to Nazareth?
READ Matthew 1:20-24
When did Joseph marry Mary?
Do you think that dispelled the rumors?
What does that tell you about the man tasked
with raising the Only Begotten Son?
Why did Jesus have to be the begotten son
of God?
Why did His mother have to be mortal?
