Day 243 – Jesus’ Conception

 Readings

  • Luke 1:26-56
  • John 1:1-14
  • 1 John 1:1-5

Prayer

Pray… and thank God that nothing is impossible with Him. Pray that you will understand what this means to live as a Christian and that you will continue to lean on this great truth throughout your life.

Day 243 – Jesus’ Conception

John the Baptist’s conception & birth

 

  • Today’s events in Luke occur alongside the readings that we looked at yesterday. Elizabeth is six months pregnant with John at the moment the angel appeared to Mary.
  • From the famous words, often said at Christmas Eve services around the country, of Luke 1, describe the way that Mary heard that she was going to have a baby. What was her response? Was it a good response?
  • Mary would have been a young teenager, perhaps 13 or 14 years old. That’s about your age… or even younger! She was “betrothed” to Joseph – this is like an engagement that you can’t break. They weren’t married, and hadn’t slept together. Imagine being in her situation as you read the words of Luke.
  • Who did Mary go to visit after the visit from the angel? What encouraged both women whilst they were with each other? Do you think an unborn baby could feel “joy”?
  • How did Mary praise God? This song is now known as the “Magnificat” and is often played in churches, although more regularly in Catholic services.
  • Mary was just a simple, young, unmarried girl from the country. God used her in an amazing way. Using the words of the song she sings, how can you tell she understand that what was happening was bigger than “just her”?
  • Catholics put great emphasis on the importance of Mary. They consider her one of the greatest saints and give her a status of “mother of God”. Whilst Mary indeed played an important part in Jesus’ appearance on earth, you should guard against putting too much emphasis on her. We pray to Jesus, not Mary. Jesus saves – not Mary. The scriptures never puts Mary on such a platform, and nor should you.
  • The opening verses of John’s gospel are among some of the most wonderful of the whole New Testament. You’ll know them, for we read them on Day 1, but read them again carefully. What do the opening words remind us of?
  • Why is Jesus referred to as the “Word”?
  • What does John 1:1 tell us about the Trinity? How does it describe one God in three Persons?
  • All things (except God) were created by Jesus, through Him and for Him. Jesus has always been. Always remember that as you read the account of the Gospels and see Jesus interacting with the world and being rejected by the people, that He himself made them all.
  • John 1:9-13 tells us that not everyone will accept Him – not then, and not now. Does this comfort you or distress you? What wonderful news is there for those who do “believe in His name”?

 

Oh what verses we read today! Probably some of the most famous of all in Luke (apart from those of his birth, which we’ll read soon!) and those wonderful words that John opens his gospel with, which proclaim just how great Jesus is.

 

Whilst many didn’t spot it at the time, Jesus is the person that the Old Testament scriptures have been talking about all the way through, and here we are, about to read about him. This is such a pivotal moment in the history of mankind, and mankind’s relationship with God. That sounds like I’m overblowing it. I’m not! I’m really not!

 

You’re going to read stuff over the next couple of weeks that you know well. Don’t let that be a barrier to you drinking in the enormity of what it is to know that our God came to the world to become our Saviour. It’s *huge*.

 

You’re allowed to have a massive grin on your face as you think about it. You should! Jesus is utterly awesome and all we need, and we’re going to find out all about him as we feast on the message of the gospel writers. Onwards!


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