THE GOSPELS – Chapter 1: announcement of the births of Yeshua the Messiah and John the Baptist – Luke & John

23 August 2024

We are proceeding with our study of the GOSPELS. Last week we commenced to speak about the ANNOUNCEMENT of the BIRTHS of John the Baptist and YESHUA THE MESSIAH as reflected in the GOSPELS of MATTHEW AND MARK and today we are going to look at it in the GOSPELS OF LUKE AND JOHN. We are mainly reading from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians with cross references to other Bible versions. As well as the Nelson’s Foundational Bible Dictionary.

We are using the Hebrew names of God the Father, namely YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD is used in standard versions of the Bible, and we will also use the description Heavenly Father and Abba Father.  We also use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Luke introduces Yeshua as the SON OF MAN and in chapter 1:1-56 he tells us about the events proceeding the BIRTH of YESHUA the MESSIAH.

Luke first announces the birth of John the Baptist and thereafter the birth of Yeshua is announced. John the Baptist is therefore also sometimes called the FORERUNNER of Yeshua the Messiah.

We read in Luke 1:5-7 “In the days of Herod, King of Judah, there was a PRIEST named Zechariah who belonged to the Abia division. His wife was a descendent of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God (YHVH), observing all the mitzvot (that is the commandments) and ordinances of YHVH blamelessly. But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice explains: “The Jewish Priests (from the tribe of Judah and Benjamin, the South Kingdom) worked in the temple. They did the maintenance work and led the worship services. At that stage there were about 20,000 priests in the land. And because they were so many, they did not all perform temple service at the same time. For this reason, they were divided in groups of 24 of roughly 1000 priests each. The guidelines for this classification were given by King David (see 1 Chronicles 24:3-19). Zechariah was in Abia’s group, the eight’ division and had to do duty that week. The priests had to go each morning into the Holy Place of the Temple to burn incense and that morning it was Zechariah’s turn. The Herod Luke is taking about in verse 5 is king Herod (Herod) the Great. He was appointed by the Roman senate as king of the Jews (therefore the tribe of Judah and Benjamin). Herod was only partly Jewish his father was an Edomite / Idumean – the Greek name for Edom (therefore a descendant of Esau), his ancestors converted to Judaism and his mother was an Arab princess from Nabataea, therefore Herod’s background was Arab on both sides, and he wanted to please the Roman government. Although he was a cruel and tyrannical (oppressive, autocratic) king, he was a good administrator who had beautiful buildings erected, including the second temple in Jerusalem. Thereby he wanted to win the Jews’ favor because they never fully accepted him.

We read that both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were righteous before God (YHVH), observing all the mitzvot (the commandments) and ordinances of YHVH blamelessly

The Jewish Study Bible explains: The New Testament teaches that the Torah of Moses offers RIGHTEOUSNESS, this is explained by Yeshua in Matthew 5:17-20 saying to the crowds: “Don’t think that I have come to abolish (eliminate, stop, end) the Torah (that is Genesis to Deuteronomy and summarized in the Ten Commandments) or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete (some Bible versions say to fulfill). Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud (that is the smallest letter in the Alefbet – with other words the Hebrew Alphabet) or a stroke will pass from the Torah – not until everything that must happen has happened. So, whoever disobey the least of these mitzvot (that is the commandments) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that unless YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS FAR GREATER THAN THAT OF THE TORAH-TEACHERS AND PHARISEES, you will CERTAINLY NOT enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

So, to be considered RIGHTEOUSS before God (YHVH), Zachariah and Elizabeth had to LOVE GOD (YHVH) and HUMANITY, TRUST GOD and BELIEVE HIS WORD. As EVIDENCE of this LOVE and TRUST, they observed all the rules of behavior God had ordained, including those that demanded repentance and a blood sacrifice as a sin offering when they fell short of full obedience which was of course later replaced by the offering of Yeshua our Messiah, the Lamb of God the Father for the sins of all mankind on the cross once and for all.  The Afrikaans Bible in Practice adds here that Zechariah and Elizabeth’s obedience to God was not and empty ritualistic display but was sincere and came from within. Inner and sincere obedience to the spirit of God’s law indicates that one understands God’s purpose and will and wants to be obedient to Him. To only follow the letter of the law misses the point.

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice explains that: The problem with the Pharisees was that it was good enough for them just to live the law outwardly – meaning they did not allow the LAW, also called the INSTRUCTIONS of YHVH to change their hearts and attitudes. Yeshua however explained that the quality of people’s faithfulness should be more than that of the Pharisees. We have to be faithful because we love YHVH our God and not just to impress other people. We can pretend to be very pious but still be far from the Kingdom of YHVH our God. Abba Father judges our HEARTS as well as our DEEDS to see if we are really faithful to Him. Therefore, we should be just as concerned about our THOUGHTS (that no one can see) as we are about our actions that are visible to everyone. Therefore our faithfulness to YHVH our God must spring from what He does in us and not from what we can do ourselves, secondly: YHVH must be the CENTER of our lives and not ourselves and thirdly: our faithfulness must be based on our respect, honor and worship for YHVH our God and nothing with the approval of other people and our RELATIONSHIP with Him must go deeper than superficial obedience to the law, because we must actually love the principles behind the law.

We further read in Luke 1:8-17 “One time when Zechariah was fulfilling his duties as priest during his division’s period of service before God, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense. All the people were outside, praying at the time of the incense burning, when there appeared to him an angel of YHVH standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was startled and terrified at the sight. But the angel said to him: Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you are to name him John. He will be A JOY and a DELIGHT to you and MANY PEOPLE WILL REJOICE when his born, for he will be great in the sight of YHVH. He is never to drink wine or other liquor, and he will be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) even from his mother’s womb.

Paul also tells us something about this in Ephesians 5:18 saying: “Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit”.

So, John was special in the way that he had the Holy Spirit in him even before birth while believers have to be born again when they hear the Gospel and accept Yeshua the Messiah as their savior and follow Him (Romans 10:9-17)

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice further explains: “Twice a day incense was burned in the temple. While the people prayed in the outer court of the temple the priest brought the incense offering on the altar inside the Holy Place, including a short prayer and then he went out to bless the people. The incense was symbolic of the people’s prayers that ascended to God’s throne. We also read a about this in Psalm 141:1-2 and Revelation 8:3-4. Angels are spiritual beings that remains in God the Father’s presence and do His will. Only two angels are named in the Bible namely Michael and Gabriel. However, there are many other angels who are also messengers of God. It was Gabriel who brought God’s message to Zechariah. He did not have a dream or vision; the angel appeared visibly to him and spoke audibly to him. Zechariah prayed at the altar while bringing an incense offering – maybe he asked God for a son because Elizabeth was barren or maybe he prayed for the coming of the Messiah.  If this was his prayer, then God heard his prayer because the angel Gabriel informed him that he would shortly have a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah. God answer our prayers in His way and His time. In the case of Zechariah and Elizabeth, God used an impossible situation to fulfill the prophecies about the first coming of the Messiah. When we ask God to answer our prayers, we must be prepared that He can sometimes use impossible situations, and we must wait on Him because He does all things in His perfect timing and way.  The name JOHN means “GOD (YHVH) IS MERCIFUL” and YESHUA means “GOD (YHVH) SAVES”. We see that both names were chosen by God the Father and not their earthly parents. And we see the clear message in all four the GOSPELS that GOD IS MERCIFUL and HE GIVES SALVATION.

John was set apart for a particular service to God and we see that he was not allowed to drink any wine or strong liquor. This may be part of the Nazarite oath to confirm complete commitment to God as we read in numbers 6:1-4. And we also see in the case of Samson in Judges 13 and possibly also Samuel in 1 Samuel 1:11.

It is also Luke’s first reference to the Holy Spirt and he says here that people have to be filled with the Holy Spirit to perform a specific task. We see this also in the Old Testament many examples, like Bezalel in Exodus 31:3, filled with the Holy Spirit, with WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING and KNOWLEDGE in every kind of artisanry to be able to make everything for the Tabernacle according to YHVH’s specifications as showed to Moses o the mountain. Joshua in Numbers 27:18 who received some of the authority of Moses so that the entire community of Israel will obey him, Otniel in Judges 3:10 who judged Israel and made war and prevailed over other kings, Gideon in Judges 6:34 who were clothed with the Spirit of YHVH and soldiers united around him, Samson in Judges 14:6 &19 could tear a lion to pieces and struck down thirty men of the town Ashkelon, Saul in 1 Samuel 10:6-10 who prophesied and turned into another man, David was filled with the Holy Spirit in 1 Samuel 16:13 after being anointed by Samuel, Nehemiah confirmed that YHVH Holy Spirit instructed the Israelites in the desert – see Nehemiah 9:20, the Prophets, read 2 Peter 1:21 and Micah 3:8 and many more, and thereafter in Acts 2:2-4 during the Feast of Pentecost after the ascension of Yeshua the Messiah we know that the Holy Spirit came down on the 120 disciples in the upper room and thereafter they preached the Word of God boldly and fearlessly. And this same powerful Holy Spirit of YHVH is available to all believers in Yeshua who follow Him in obedience to the Word of Abba Father.

And we further read in Luke 1:16-17 “He will TURN MANY OF THE PEOPLE of ISRAEL to YHVH their God. He will go out ahead of YHVH in the (small letter) spirit and power of Elijah to TURN the HEARTS of FATHERS to their CHILDREN, and the DISOBEDIENT to the WISDOM of the RIGHTEOUSS, to make ready for YHVH a people prepared (equipped, ready).

So, this was also John the Baptist’s PURPOSE.

The Jewish Study Bible explains: This follows Isaiah 40:3-5, which Luke quotes in chapter 3:4-6 saying: “It was just as had been written in the Book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah: ‘The voice of someone crying out in the desert prepare the way for YHVH! Make straight paths for Him! Every valley must be filled in, every mountain and hill leveled off; the winding roads must be straightened and the rough ways made smooth. Then all humanity will see God’s deliverance.” Though John is NOT Elijah, he will function with his SAME SPIRIT and POWER to clear the way before God (also read Malachi 3:1) and announce the Messiah’s coming. That is the reason why there is a Jewish tradition to set a place for Elijah at the Pesach Seder (Passover meal) table because they view him as the forerunner of the Messiah.

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice further explains: “John’s role was similar to that of the Old Testament prophets: he had to call people to turn away from their sin and turn to God to prepare them for the FIRST COMING of YESHUA THE MESSIAH. He had to change stone hearts of adults into soft receptive hearts as those of children. Hearts in which change is easily accepted. We see more information on these heart transplants in Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:25-29.

Then we further read in Luke 1:18-25 “Zechariah said to the angel, how can I be sure of this? For I am an old man; my wife to is well on in years. I am Gabriel the angel answered him, and I stand in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to give you this GOOD NEWS. Now because you, didn’t believe what I said, which will be fulfilled when the time comes, you will be silent, unable to speak until the day these things take place. Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah; they were surprised at him being so long in the Temple. But when he came out unable to talk to them, they realized that he had seen a vision in the Temple; speechless, he communicates to them with signs. When the period of his Temple service was over, he returned home. Following this Elizabeth, his wife conceived, and she remained five months in seclusion, saying: YHVH has done this for me; He has shown me favor at this time, so as to remove my public disgrace.”

So, Gabriel must have been a CHERIBUM angel – the angels standing in Abba Father’s throne room as described in Revelation 4:6-11 so it is no wonder that Zechariah had a fright when he saw him. We however know that angels could appear to people as men as Gabriel did to Daniel 8:15 & 9:21 and Mary. We further see that Zechariah’s unbelieve had a negative consequence – He could not speak until the birth of John.

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice further explains: It is easy to misunderstand the things God wants to do in our lives, or to doubt it. Sometimes we depend more on our own understanding or experience than on Abba Father. We have to look at things from Abba Father’s perspective if we are tempted to think that His promises are impossible. He is not bound by human limitations. God our Father always keeps His promises and even if it does not happen today or tomorrow, we can be sure it will happen at His perfect timing which is always the right time. And therefore, we should not try to prescribe to Him but rather TRUST that He knows what He is doing – in His perfect time He fulfills His promises and blesses people.

And then we read in Luke 1:26-56 the birth of Yeshua the Messiah announced.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilea called Nazareth, to a woman engaged to a man named Joseph, of the HOUSE OF DAVID; the virgin’s name was Mary. Approaching her, the angel said, shalom! (meaning greetings) favored lady. YHVH is with you! She was deeply troubled (anxious, distressed, worried) by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, don’t be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. Look! You will become pregnant; you will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Yeshua. He will be great; He will be called Son of the Most High. YHVH will give Him the throne of His forefather David; and He will RULE THE HOUSE OF JACOB (also called Israel) forever – there will be no end to His kingdom. How could this be, asked Mary of the angel, since I am a virgin? The angel answered (quoting the prophecy in Malachi 3:23-24 and 4:5-6. The Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) will come over you, the power of the Almighty will cover you. Therefore, the holy child born to you will be called THE SON OF GOD.

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice further explains: Mary was young and poor and some might think that she was unfit for being the earthly mother of the Messiah but as Paul says in Zechariah 4:6-9 and 1 Corinthians 1:27-31 YHVH our God uses the people that seems weak and insignificant to the world precisely because He does NOT need our power but shows His might through us. Therefore, each one of us can know for sure, regardless of who we are or what our circumstances are, Abba Father can use us if we choose to trust and obey Him in the example of Yeshua our Messiah and with the guidance of His Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we must understand that Abba Father’s blessings do not necessarily bring immediate prosperity, fame and favor among men. The blessing that Mary received, namely the privilege to be the mother of Yeshua the Messiah, would cause her a lot of pain. Her fiancé, Joseph, would almost abandon her and her son, Yeshua would be rejected and killed. And yet her son would be the world’s only hope and therefore she is considered as a woman graced by God the Father. Mary’s obedience had positive results for mankind in need of the forgiveness of Abba Father through our Messiah Yeshua. So, if your blessings bring pain, remember Mary and wait patiently on God to carry out His plans with you. Yeshua is similar to the Hebrew name Joshua meaning God is Salvation and was a name many men had at the time. Just as Joshua would lead Israel to the Promised Land (Joshua 1:2) Yeshua would lead His people to eternal life. The people of that time attached great value to names and would have been aware of the symbolism of his name and we know that people are finally healed in His Name, evil spirits were cast out and sins were forgiven.

And we further read from Luke 1:36-38 the angel saying to Mary: “You have a relative, Elizabeth who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant! For with God, nothing is impossible. Mary said, I am the servant of YHVH; may it happen to me as you have said. Then the angel left her

So, in the Luke version we see the angel Gabriel delivered the message of the conception and birth of Yeshua to Mary while in the Matthew version an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to announce the conception and birth of Yeshua.

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice further explains: “Although Mary faced grave danger in the time she lived to be branded as an unmarried mother she was willing to be of service to Abba Father – one can say she was willing to fulfil the purpose He called her too. This is also what is expected of us – to give our lives to Him, like Paul says in Romans 12:1” to offer yourself as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God” in order to execute His will.

We further read in Luke 1:39-45 ‘Without delay, Mary set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of JUDAH where Zechariah lived, entered his house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elizabeth was filled with the Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) and spoke up in a loud voice: “How blessed are you among women! And how blessed is the child in your womb!” But who am I that the mother of my Adonai (Yeshua the Messiah) should come to me? For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the BABY IN MY WOMB LEAPED FOR JOY!  Indeed, you are blessed, because you have trusted (hoped, have faith) that the promise YHVH has made to you will be fulfilled.”

From Luke:46-55 we read Mary’s song: “My soul magnifies YHVH; and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior; who has taken notice of His servant girl in het humble position. For imagine it! From now on ALL GENERATIONS will call me blessed! The Mighty One has done great things for me! Indeed, His Name is holy; and in every generation He has mercy on those who fear Him. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm, routed the secretly proud (the NIV says: He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts), brought down rulers from their thrones, raised up the humble, filled the hungry with good things, but sent the rich away empty. He has taken the part of His SERVANT ISRAEL (the NIV says He has helped His servant Israel), mindful of the mercy which He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever.”

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice further explains that Mary was not prideful about her purpose to be the earthly mother of Yeshua the Messiah but accepted her gift humbly, acknowledging her dependence on God and used her gifts to His credit. Likewise, we should not neglect our gifts but rather thank Abba Father for it and use it to His glory.

And then we read in Luke 1:56 “Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.”

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

John presents Yeshua as the SON OF GOD and in chapter 1:6-8 he tells us about the forerunner of the Messiah.

We read in John 1:6-8 “There was a man sent from God (the Father) whose name was John (referring to John the Baptist). He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through Him, everyone might put his trust in God (the Father) and be faithful to Him. He himself (referring to John the Baptist) was not that light, no. He came to bear witness concerning the light. This was the true light, which gives light to everyone entering the world. ”

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice further explains: “Yeshua the Messiah is the ringer of light. In His light we are able to see ourselves as new people – sinners that received salvation. If we believe in Yeshua the Light, we will be able to see where we are going and will not fall into the traps of sin. He lights our way so we can see how to live. Through His death and resurrection, He removes the darkness of sin from our lives. We must however ALLOW Him to shine His light on our lives to change us. Just like John the Baptist, we are not the source of God’s light, but only the instruments to reflect the light of eternal live. Yeshua the Messiah is the TRUE LIGHT; He helps us to see the path of live to Abba Father and shows us how to walk on this path. He expects us to shine His light in this unbelieving world through our testimonies like John the Baptist.  And to do this, we ourselves have to walk in His light – meaning we have to apply the Word of God in our own lives, following in Yeshua