Well, we’re just over a week into our listening program, and we’ve already cleared the first two books of the New Testament! A lot of the stories were the same in Matthew and Mark (and will be in Luke, too), but listen for the emphasis and perspective of each writer.
Here’s a great example: what is the main difference (from the writer’s viewpoint) in Mark’s and Luke’s account of this story? (Pay special attention to the footnotes.)
Onto today’s chapters.
Saralynn: Love the reminder that “everything will take place when it is supposed to” (Luke 1:20)
- Jesus’ mom and dad lost him in Jerusalem
- the angels left heaven and came to the shepherds to tell them about Jesus
Nathan: Angels came to at least three different people, and Gabriel gave a blessing to Mary.
- I think Zechariah was just going through the motions; he didn’t really expect to meet God in the temple. We won’t hear God if we’re not listening for him.
- I wonder if Mary made up her little speech (the Magnificat) or if it was a compilation of her favorite OT passages
- It seems to me that there is an intentional contrast between Zechariah and Simeon, who really expected to hear from God
- Truth divides; Jesus was going to be a divider. Every time we decide to stand up for truth and right, someone will get mad at us.
- Was this John’s way of saying that they were dumber than a box of rocks?
- Do you think that maybe Jesus had been meditating on Deuteronomy during the 40 days before his temptation? All of his answers to Satan were from Deuteronomy.
- I wonder what it means that he tested Jesus “in every way possible”.
- Luke (a physician) is the only writer to make a reference to the challenge, “Doctor, heal yourself”.