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Read: Luke 1:26-45
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. - Isaiah 9:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Photographers who develop their own film must enter a special darkroom where they roll exposed film on a special spool, which is immersed into various chemicals. Any light would ruin the film during this process. Even experienced photographers admit that their eyes never stop searching for light while working in this darkroom. That's because human eyes never fully adjust to complete darkness.
An even more profound darkness existed in the years before Jesus' birth. The Roman Empire ruled Palestine, and many Jewish religious leaders were corrupt. Devout Jews were straining in the darkness, hoping for some glimpse of light, just as the prophet Isaiah had predicted.
Among those devout Jews were Elizabeth and Mary. The first part of Luke 1 describes how Zechariah and Elizabeth found out that they would be the parents of John, who would go before the Lord and would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth. The rest of Luke 1 announces an even more remarkable birth. It's natural that Mary was troubled at Gabriel's greeting. Not only was the sight of an angel overwhelming, but Mary was a young girl living in a poor village. In what way could she be highly favored?
Even more astounding was that her child would reign on the throne of David . . . forever. Interestingly, Mary didn't question Gabriel about this or seek a sign as Zechariah had done. Instead, she asked a logistical question: how could a virgin conceive a child? Gabriel's response showed that Jesus' birth was only possible because of the creative activity of God's Holy Spirit.
Jesus' birth was like no other human birth. The wording here echoes the description of the Spirit's work at creation, hovering over the formless void and then breathing life into Adam. Just as the first human's existence was possible only through God's direct involvement, so too the birth of the perfect human being, Jesus, was only possible through God (v. 37).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Luke's Gospel gives great attention to the Holy Spirit. Luke's account of Jesus' birth reveals the Spirit's involvement at every stage. Read through Luke 1-2, noting the role of the Holy Spirit.
Notice how the Spirit fills Mary with tremendous faith, and fills Elizabeth with overflowing joy. These are evidences of the Spirit's presence in the life a believer. What other characteristics of the indwelling Spirit can you find? How are these reflected in your own life?
Today in the Word From Moody
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