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1. Is temptation only merely inevitable, or is it necessary to our growth as disciples? We all will face temptation of one kind or other. There are those that are sent from God to test the reality of our faith and to produce likeness to Jesus Christ. These could be called holy trials, and they are necessary to our growth as believers. They are designed to bring the best out of us, and a lot can be learnt from our reactions to these holy trials. We should try to see the hand of God in all that comes to us and learn from them. Be grateful to the Lord, knowing that they are making us more obedient and better able to serve our heavenly Father – to bring glory to Him. We can indulge in self-pity and seek sympathy, and/or complain bitterly against the misfortunes of life, or we can rejoice and thank the Lord for them, and/or forget about self and concentrate on being of service to others. These trials are there to remind us of our own weakness and our dependence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. On the other hand, there are unholy temptations that are designed to bring out the worst in us. They come from within us and lead to sin. They come uninvited and unexpected, and may come singly and sometimes in droves. They are inevitable. But of one thing we can be sure of, is that no temptation to sin ever comes from God. God may test or try us, as far as our faith is concerned, but He never tempts a us to commit any form of evil. The best way to handle unholy temptations is to learn from our Lord Jesus who used the Word of God as a weapon against all temptations. Also, we can remember: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31). To be tempted is not a sin. Tempting others or giving in to temptation is sin.

6. Did Jesus become the Messiah at this point? Or become divine? Or how do you understand this decisive event? When Jesus came into the world and started His ministry, He set aside the independent use of His divine attributes. He didn't cease to be God, He didn't stop being what He was, He just set aside any independent use of His own attributes and He yielded Himself to the power of the Holy Spirit. He did not have a beginning Himself, but existed from all eternity. He never was created. In Isaiah 42:1 we read: "Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen One in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations”. The Jewish people knew this as a messianic prophecy. And here He was for all to see. On the day that Jesus is inaugurated into His ministry, God symbolically sends the Holy Spirit who comes upon Him in a form that is visible to all. In Isaiah 61:1 we read: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”. Both say that when the Messiah comes He will have the Holy Spirit upon Him. And that is exactly what happens, and it's critical that it happened to fulfil messianic prophecy. So, we have the testimony of the Old Testament prophets fulfilled indicating this is the Messiah. We also have the testimony of John, who says this is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Then we have the testimony of the Holy Spirit, and we have the testimony of God the Father affirming the messiahship of Jesus.

5. How did Jesus interpret the Voice that sounded from heaven? “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased”. This was the acknowledgement and encouragement He needed from His heavenly Father for the task ahead.

4. What was the significance of the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus at this time in His life? This is a symbolic act indicating the Spirit's involvement in Jesus’ life. And this was done for all to see so that they will know that His ministry is in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was given the Spirit with unlimited power. This is not telling us that up to this point the Son of God was without the Holy Spirit, not at all. With the divine nature of Jesus, we know that the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are One. It is the same on the human side we know that the Holy Spirit was with Jesus from conception.

3. Why do you think God staged the dove to descend in a visible way? (verse 22) It is a symbolic act for all to see that the Holy Spirit is involved in Jesus’ life – that His ministry is in the power of the Holy Spirit. Here God used a visible symbol, a dove, for the invisible Spirit. In this way all would know that the Spirit of God was on Jesus. Also, God spoke to John the Baptist and told him he would know the Messiah - when baptized the Spirit will descend on Him and remain on Him. This is exactly what happened. When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. This was the confirmation - the fulfillment of the prophecy that was given to John the Baptist, as recorded in John’s gospel (John 1:33).

2. Why would Jesus be baptized along with all the sin-laden people at the river that day? Wasn't He in danger of mis-communicating to them who He was? Jesus was baptized to fulfil all righteousness; to do what God required to be done in a perfectly righteous life. We know that Jesus died on the cross not only to bear our sins, but also that God would credit to our account the perfect life of Christ, and treat us as if we lived His perfect life. That is the wondrous reality of grace and imputed righteousness. Jesus Himself said “it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness" (Matt 3:15). Jesus is not a sinner, but He wanted to do everything that God defined as righteous. To be baptized by John was what righteous people were to do, what God asked them to do. Since Jesus would live a life of perfect righteousness He went to be baptized by John. He would satisfy the demands of divine justice and provide a righteous basis by which sinners could be justified. There was no danger of them not understanding who He was, because at the very time that Jesus is praying and coming up out of the water, the Holy Spirit comes down, and out of heaven they hear God’s voice "You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased." They now knew that He is the promised Messiah.

1. What do you think Jesus was saying to the Father as He was praying after His baptism? (verse 21) Christ as the Son of Man was ever dependent on God the Father. In the gospels we often read about Jesus praying, and here we read that He prayed at the outset of His public ministry. We can only imagine what He prayed: that the Father’s will be done, that the Father be glorified, as He prayed for the salvation of the world.

1. How good a change-motivator is the warning of future judgment? What other motivators might people respond to in addition to this? Or better than this? Pride and continual sin can easily harden the heart, the conscious is deadened, so that there is no awareness or fear of any future judgment. However, for us this fear is a good motivator. Who wants to spend eternity in hell? Careful study of the Word increases our faith and trust. This drives away all fear as we get to know the attributes of God better, and experience His love and working in our lives. Spending time in prayer and worship develops a relationship with our heavenly Father and we become aware of other motivators that are available to us. Of course, the promise of eternal life with our Lord Jesus Christ is a big motivator. But there are so many blessings that are available to us as motivators while here on earth. The burden of sin is taken away and we have the peace of Jesus. We have the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, and Guide. We are new creatures and once regenerated our salvation is secure and can never be taken away.

1. We may be afraid of "fire-of-judgment" kind of language, but what should our response be to warnings of terrible judgment? We should be most grateful that He chose us before creation to be His, and thank Him for His great mercy and gracious love in that our names appear in the Book of Life, thereby escaping this terrible judgment. On the other hand, we need to pray for the lost. My family and friends who have not put their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. I also think of those that have been led astray by false teachers and think they are on the straight and narrow way. That they have been led astray and are of the opinion they have been saved.

1. What does it mean to be "Spirit-filled"? How would our lives be different if we were truly filled and flooded with the Holy Spirit? On salvation we receive the sealing and permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, and Guide (John 14:16). To be filled with the Spirit means that we allow Him to occupy every part of our lives. We have Him in charge of our lives – guiding and controlling us. He will help us understand and interpret God’s Word. He is then not only involved in our actions but also in our innermost thoughts and motives. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). The more active He is the more will the fruit of the Spirit start to manifest itself, and His presence is seen in our lives - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

1. What does John's comparison of water baptism to Spirit baptism tell us about what Spirit baptism means? John baptised with water and his baptism was external and physical. Whereas Spiritual baptism is baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire, and is internal and spiritual. Water is used as a symbol of cleansing. The Holy Spirit on the other hand actually cleans and empowers, and places us into union with Christ. This is not salvation by baptism, but rather it identifies us with Christ and with the community of believers.

1. Isn't John the Baptist's humble statement, "the thongs of whose sandals I am unworthy to untie," a bit overstated? Are we unworthy to serve Christ? If so, why? If not, why not? No, not overstated at all. As unbelievers we are not worthy of serving our Lord and our only ultimate destination is eternal damnation. To be able to serve Him, we need to become new creatures. Once we have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and have truly repented and put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we become new creatures (2 Cor 5:17) in Christ. Now only to we start to progress in the Christian life to ultimately become more and more like Jesus.

1. Why do you think John the Baptist calls people a brood of vipers, a den of snakes? He used harsh words to try and shock them into action/repentance. He knew that the majority of them came only as spectators and had no hunger or thirst for righteousness. 2. How did the Jews' religious pride in Abraham keep them from taking John's call for repentance seriously? How could religious pride have that same effect on us? The Jews thought that being descendants of Abraham was enough to ensure salvation. They saw no need for a personal relationship with God, never mind our Lord Jesus. The same with us; we have to make a personal decision to put our trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. The danger is that pride keeps our thoughts away from God. “In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God (Ps 10:4)”. Our pride blinds us and we think that there is no need for God. 3. In what way does sharing clothing and food with the poor constitute meaningful repentance? What ways do you find to do this in your everyday life? It is outward evidence that their hearts are truly right before God – it proves their sincerity in that they had repented. As we know faith without works is dead. We are to love our neighbours as ourselves, and to offer assistance where ever we see a true need. All is done in obedience to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 4. Tax collectors were tempted to collect more than was due them. How does this same temptation show up in your line of work or education or home? The tax collectors were dishonest in their exploitation of the tax payers. Dishonesty takes on many forms - man’s mind is so evil that they are always thinking of new ideas to get rich quickly, and these show up in all forms of business, work, education, home, or anywhere man is present. Greed and corruption is everywhere in the country I live. They range from pyramid schemes involving hundreds of millions to lies, and cheating on one’s spouse. All forms of dishonesty, be it: blackmail, bribery, cheating, exploitation, extortion, fraud, stealing, false witness, lies, dishonest scales, underpaying wages, false teachings are all contrary to the will and nature of God. 5. How will we know when we have repented? What are the fruits of genuine repentance? There is a change of behaviour. After exposure to the Word of God we find that the things we enjoyed doing, we no longer enjoy or even want to do. We have put our faith in our Saviour Jesus Christ and the righteousness He provides. Overtime we notice changes in our actions, thoughts, and attitudes. We become less selfish and more loving towards others. There is more self-control, patience, gentleness, kindness (Gal 5:22), and the peace of Jesus comes over us (John 14:27). 6. How does discontent with our lot in life cause us to sin? What would constitute repentance in this circumstance? If we have enough we should be content, but our problem is that we never know when enough is enough. We need to differentiate between what we need and what we want. We must trust our Lord and be content even when we have not got everything we want. If not we can find ourselves caught in an endless cycle that only leads to ruin and destruction. There must be complete trust in Jesus and acknowledging that He is control and that He knows what our needs are and that He will provide. We repent of the love of money or of materialism and learn to be satisfied with what our Lord has provided. As Paul mentioned – the combination of godliness with contentment is great gain. This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honour God and centre our desires on Him (Mat 6:33), and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives (Php 4:11-13).

1. What sources does Luke use as he prepares his Gospel? (1:2) In these first two verses, Luke reveals himself as a historian. He describes the source materials to which he had access and the method he followed. From the human standpoint he had two types of source materials - written accounts of the life of Christ and oral reports by those who were eye-witnesses of the events in His life. The written accounts that he most probably used were Mark’s Gospel and perhaps Matthew’s Gospel as well. Luke was not an eyewitness of any of the events of the earthly life of Jesus, but he received accurate information from those who were. No doubt Luke spoke with as many of those who were directly involved in the events of Jesus' life as possible - all who were still living at the time in which he undertook his writing. For example, it is very likely that Luke conferred with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Of all the Gospel writers, he alone mentions the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary before the birth of Jesus, the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem, and other details connected with the birth and infancy of Jesus. Luke could also have spoken to some of the women who supported Jesus' ministry, as well to Jesus' brothers. 2. What does it mean to be a "servant of the word"? (1:2) What does such a servant do? How does such a servant act? What is the "word" he serves? To be a servant of the Word is to be subservient and obedient to the Word at all times; with Jesus as our Master. As a servant, we are to serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Our actions are to try and imitate Jesus in all things, and at all times. The Word is the Gospel message. 3. What makes Luke an especially good narrator of Jesus' life? How has he prepared for this task? (1:3) Luke was well prepared to write his Gospel. There were several factors that contributed to him being equipped for the task. He was a believer, and a well-educated man; accustomed to dealing with facts. As a physician (Paul calls him "our dear friend Luke, the doctor" in Colossians 4:14), Luke recognized the importance of getting all relevant information and getting it accurately. We see that his research was intensive; investigating everything related to the life story of Jesus. He wrote from the direct testimony of eyewitnesses rather than rely on hearsay. We also notice that Luke's testimony sprang from the totally unselfish motive of a man who was sure of his convictions and stood by them, not for personal gain, but because he had a vital message to share. We must also remember the brief period between Jesus’ death and the writing of this gospel – within 30 years – so a lot of eyewitnesses were still alive and would substantiate the facts. 4. Is there any way to find "certainty" about the Christian faith? How certain is the Gospel of Luke? What is the certainty we seek? Why do we seek certainty? (1:4) Recently it has been fashionable to question the historical reliability of the four biographers of Jesus; namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The assumptions are that ancient historians lacked the objectivity that is essential to accurate reporting. It is also felt that they were moved by emotional, doctrinal, or legendary motives and sources than by an impartial, investigative technique. How certain is the Gospel of Luke? Those who view the stories of Jesus as legends or myths have to reckon with the fact that there was but a brief period of time between when the events took place and when the written works began to appear. There were people alive who could verify the truthfulness of the Gospel accounts. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written within about thirty years of Jesus' death. It takes much longer than thirty years to create a legend. The Gospel accounts are not accumulations or collections of such legends. They are records written by men inspired of God, two of whom (Matthew and John) were themselves with Jesus and two (Mark and Luke) who most surely conferred with eyewitnesses. So, we know for sure that Luke has recorded historical facts (100% certainty), based on eyewitness accounts. Eyewitnesses who have seen Jesus, spoken to Him, witnessed the Crucifixion, met and spoke to the resurrected Jesus.

1. Why do you think God chose someone like John to be Jesus' forerunner? It had to be someone who would not succumb to the religious and political pressures of the day. Someone who was eccentric enough to proclaim the word and be the forerunner of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. John was this man. A unique person who stood out from the crowd - a man with heroic qualities; fearless and uncompromising, very direct calling a spade a spade. On top of this he was a Nazirite, one set apart for God’s service. Used to living a hard life. He knew he had a specific role to play as the forerunner to Jesus and he put all his energy into this task - becoming a popular and powerful preacher. A man of integrity proclaiming his message of repentance and forgiveness forthrightly and forcefully. He was the last OT prophet, and as such it is easy to miss the greatness and the many qualities of this unique individual. 2. How can we be sure that all our personal differences are part of God's plan and purpose? Can't some be patterns of sinful reactions to past events? (Let's resist the temptation to get too deep into the mystery of predestination. Grin.) God has made us ‘different’ for a specific purpose. It does not matter what our nationality, race, social standing, or political position is. Once we have given our life to the Lord and have the love of Jesus in our hearts, out goes all the baggage of our past life, and any doubts we presently have. In comes our Lord Jesus to reign for eternity. 3. John was raised in the desert. What kinds of circumstances has God used as a training ground for your preparation? Having been brought up in a non-Christian home, the Lord had to start from ground zero with me. During my 20’s He started me getting interested in religion, but it was only when I was 44 yo that I became born-again. I became a new creature with a lot of baggage and a lot to learn and understand. From then on His sanctifying work began in earnest. Over the years He got me into leadership positions in church. But now in my 80’s I have taken a backseat in church affairs and concentrate on reading and studying His Word. That is why I’m so thankful for people like Dr Ralph who make these Bible lessons available, helping me grow in my faith. God is Sovereign and nothing happens by accident. I’m so grateful that the Lord has had so much patience with me and has, and is still busy, getting rid of all the rough edges and preparing me for eternity. 4. How dependent are you upon what others think and say about you? How can you change this without becoming callous? It’s not all about me, it’s all about our Lord Jesus Christ and the glory we can bring to God our Father. In the world today we see an exaggerated sense of self-importance. There should be a dying to self and more of humility and fear of the Lord (Prov 22:4). We should rather clothe ourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5). Jesus Christ is the perfect example for us to try and emulate - He did not come to earth to be served, but to serve. If we follow Jesus, there will be more dependence on God and service to others – no thinking of self and no arrogance or callousness. 5. What would you say to a person suffering from chronic guilt over past sins? How can guilt be healthy? How can guilt be unhealthy? Chronic guilt over our past sins occurs when we keep on remembering them. All I can say is to take the promise of God seriously that He will forgive sin and remove guilt based on the blood of Christ. Once we put our trust in Jesus all past, present, and future sins are forgiven. Now we must believe this and move on! (1 John 1:9; Rom 8:1). While writing this I was listening to Christian music, and the Hymn “There’s power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb”, came on, how appropriate! Guilt can be healthy in that it can drive us to seek forgiveness. The moment we turn from sin to our Lord Jesus Christ in faith, our sins are forgiven. Guilt can be unhealthy when we continue remembering past sins that have been forgiven. We forget that these sins have been confessed, repented of, and forgiven. Now it is time to trust in God’s promise of forgiveness, and believe that we are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). 6. Why is humbling (such as repentance and baptism in John's day) necessary to form disciples of Jesus? Pride gets in the way of our relationship with God. James 4:6 tells us that He resists the prideful but gives grace to the humble. Pride makes us self- centred and leads us to be self-sufficient, and takes our focus away from the Lord. We must resist our in-bred pride and humbly abandon ourselves to the will of God. If we don’t He will do it for us; and this may be a very unpleasant experience. To become one of His disciples we must approach Him in humility. 7. What kind of cutting, filling, straightening, and smoothing work has God been doing in your life? What does He still need to do? Why is this necessary preparation for disciples? God has been busy preparing the way by getting rid of every occurrence of false humility as well as every attitude of pride and arrogance. Sly, perverse, deceitful habits must be broken. Disobedience, indifference, doubt, unconcern must all make way for genuine interest and obedience. Anything that obstructs the Lord's entrance into my heart; it could be self-love, apathy, ****, unbelief, all have to be removed. I need to do a real search of my heart, and reflect on my personal sin, and confess all unconfessed sin. There must be on my part true repentance in preparation for discipleship. He still has so much to do, and will only stop when I go to be with Him; when I will be made perfect, and spend eternity with Him!

1. Since Jesus was already the Son of God, why did he have to "grow" in understanding and wisdom? (2:40, 52) We read in Philippians 2 that Jesus in His incarnation set aside the independent use of His own divine attributes and submitted Himself wholly to the Father. “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Phil 2:6-7). Therefore, although being the Son of God, as a human and as a young boy, He still had to develop physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. There are deep mysteries here that no one can fully understand or explain, but we have no problem accepting them by faith. 2. How do you evaluate Jesus' carelessness in not going home with his parents when they left Jerusalem? (2:43-44) Was Jesus at fault or they? What is the difference between an error in judgment and sin, if any? Remembering that Jesus was a boy of 12 years and still growing to maturity; I cannot think that Jesus was careless in His actions. At the age of twelve, Jesus was nearing a point in life where Jewish boys were expected to become aware of their spiritual duties. Jewish literature outside the Bible states that the age of 13 was the point at which Jewish boys became obligated to the law of Moses. Therefore, it is more likely He was totally absorbed and enwrapped in the teachings at the Temple. An error in judgment is done unwittingly - not on purpose, whereas sin is done intentionally and is rebellion against God. 3. Why was Jesus so engrossed in the Temple? (2:46-49) How was this interaction with Jerusalem's top teachers important for his own development? How did this represent something that was absolutely necessary for him to do? How did this relate to his calling? Most likely Jesus did not fully understand at this point in his life all that God the Father had given him to do. But his response does suggest his understanding that he had a divine purpose to fulfil. The spiritual maturity that Jesus displayed amazed the teachers who heard him. It was not just that Jesus was able to ask profound questions (v. 46), but that he also provided answers to questions - answers that revealed an unusual depth of understanding for one so young. This certainly will not be the last time in Luke's Gospel that Jesus causes such astonishment (see Luke 4:22, 32, 36; 5:26; 9:43; 11:14). Since Jesus "increased in wisdom" (Luke 2:52), we wonder how much He understood God's divine plan at that time. We must not assume that at the age of twelve He was omniscient. Certainly, He grew in His comprehension of those mysteries as He communed with His Father and was taught by the Spirit. 4. Why did Jesus have to obey parents who were his spiritual inferiors? (2:51) How can our inability to submit to authority be crucial in our spiritual relationship with God? Jesus had to comply with God’s plans for the present and submit and obey His parents. Yes, we are told to submit to authority. It is a command and any disobedience will anger God, and endanger our spiritual relationship with our Heavenly Father.

1. In what ways do Mary's and Joseph's consecration of Jesus set an example for us? Mary and Joseph acknowledged that the child belonged to God, who alone has the power to give life. We would do well to follow their example by devoting our children to God, asking that they honour the Lord, glorify Him, and serve Him. Originally, God had decreed that the firstborn sons belonged to Him; they were to form the priestly class (Exo 13:2). Later, He set aside the tribe of Levi to serve as priests (Exo 28:1-2). The ceremony included buying back - "redeeming" - the child from God through an offering. Jesus, born into the world as an Israelite, He was therefore born under the law, however, Jesus Himself had no personal guilt but by His own free will took upon Himself the sin of the world. 2. If Simeon and Anna had never seen the Messiah, in what ways might their lives have been important? In what might your life be important to God? Even if Simeon and Anna had not seen the Messiah their lives would have been important as they both made themselves available for God to use and speak to; they both allowed the Holy Spirit of God to impart to them God's word and they both believed. We too can be important in God's kingdom by availing ourselves for God's eternal will to be done through us. 3. What did Simeon's and Anna's righteousness, devotion, and praise have to do with their sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's voice? What are some of the reasons that we can't hear God? They showed their dedication to God by being obedient and believing in His Word. The reason why we do not hear God's voice is because we are too preoccupied with other thoughts; even ignoring the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. We as human beings get too wrapped up in worldly situations and things that we just totally ignore God, and God being a jealous God, is not pleased with such actions. 4. What place do praise and thanksgiving have in Simeon's and Anna's lives? What does this say about them? How do we nurture these in our lives? Why does our culture see long periods spent in prayer as wasted? How did Anna see it? Praise and thanksgiving was the main priority in Simeon's and Anna's daily lives. This is proved by their faith, hope, patience and obedience. In my own life I can say that I was not always thankful for what Jesus has done for me. This has however recently changed; I try every day to thank Him for saving me from eternal death. We should be thanking Him more often and dedicate more time to be spent with Him. In our world today material things have replaced Christ in many families. We see this in the rush to live our lives and fewer people stop to take time to enjoy God's creation (flowers, a beautiful sunset, the change of seasons, spring, winter, birds singing, etc). Churches have been replaced by TV preachers, more and more people are spending Sundays home. On the contrary, Anna and Simeon spent all day long in the temple worshipping God and waiting patiently for the answer to their prayers. 5. What expectations do Simeon and Anna have of the Messiah's salvation? What does this have to do with Jerusalem? With the Gentiles? With Jesus' own life? What kind(s) of salvation does Jesus offer today? Conditions for God's people at this time in history were bad. Things were bad politically because the Israelites had little to say about their lives and laws, which were dictated by Rome. Things were bad religiously because Jerusalem was controlled by a coalition of scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, whose internal differences were forgotten only when they had a common enemy. Otherwise, their hypocrisy, legalism, laxity, and traditionalism on various points were notorious. Both Simeon and Anna knew they needed the Messiah’s salvation to get their nation out of this mess. Simeon also understood and spoke of the Messiah's salvation being for all people. It would shine as a revealing light to the gentiles, showing them their sins and need of a saviour. It would be the glory of Israel - that they would be chosen to provide this salvation. Anna also recognised Jesus for who He was and shared this news with those who looked forward to the "redemption in Jerusalem". So, they knew that they needed to be redeemed and they expected this to occur in Jerusalem. Jesus offers us salvation from our sins and from the penalty of death that those sins give us. We are saved from death and given life. We are also saved from ourselves - from our sin nature that makes it impossible for us to be always good no matter how hard we try. Once Jesus has completed His work of salvation in us we will have complete victory over sin.

1. Why do you think the message of Jesus' birth comes to shepherds, of all people? (2:8) What point is God making? The point God is making is that Jesus comes to all who have a heart humble enough to accept Him. The shepherds were considered as the lowest of the low of society, yet they were chosen to announce the greatest event in the history. Jesus accepts us as we are. It makes no difference who we are, or what we do, He comes to all. Jesus came to be our shepherd; He came in all humility to serve, to save. The conditions of His birth were intentional, so that He would be approachable by all of us, even the poorest of the poor. He came to save all who believed in Him. He died for us, ascended to heaven, and will return to earth as King of kings. Although born into poor and humble circumstances, He will rule the world and judge us individually according to our belief in Him. 2. What is the "glory of God" that the shepherds glimpsed? (2:9, 13-14) Is this glory present if we can't see it? Why are we so conditioned to look to the temporal rather than the eternal? (2 Corinthians 4:18) It is the revelation of God’s power and characteristics, sometimes accompanied by visible phenomena. It is always present even when we don’t see, being an attribute of God. “Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” (Psalm 24:7-8). It can be His honour or the bright light that surrounds His presence. We seem to attach more importance to things and conditions that are seen, rather than those that are eternal. For example our hardships, trials, and sufferings take centre stage forgetting more important things like our union with Christ, and guaranteed rewards that await us in eternity. 3. What are the three titles of Jesus given in 2:11? What does each mean? What does this tell us about Jesus' true identity? Saviour, Christ, Lord. He is a Saviour, which is expressed in His name Jesus. Salvation comes only from our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. Then He is Christ, the Anointed of God, the Messiah of Israel. The title was applied to that future one whom God would raise up. The Jews were awaiting this special deliverer, one who would be the anointed one of God, the Messiah, the Christ. He is Lord, referring to His deity, God manifest in the flesh. This all tells us Jesus’ true identity - He is God who had arrived here on earth in human form. The One for whom all Israel had been waiting. 4. Extra Credit: In what way is the Good News universal? (2:10) In what way is it restricted? (2:14b) We have all sinned and the penalty of sin is death, but Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins. The Good News is an invitation to respond to Christ personally in repentance and faith. It promises forgiveness and eternal life. It is universal in that it is available to all who will hear – it knows no barriers and goes out freely to each and everyone. But unfortunately, few respond. In a sense it is restricted, in that those whom God had elected before creation will hear it. Their response is guaranteed – they will ultimately hear and respond accepting Jesus as their Saviour. 5. Which of the responses to the Good News are present in your life? In what manner do they show themselves? (Great joy, praise, curiosity, amazement, telling others, thoughtful meditation) If some are missing, why? What can you do to recover these responses? I responded to the Good News 48 years ago and have since then been on this journey with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Through all these years He has been busy growing me spiritually. Helping me grow in faith, and being sanctified with the help of the Holy Spirit. A lot still has to be done. The fact that God chose me humbles me and makes me truly grateful. It always invokes responses of unbelievable praise, gratitude, and thanks. Then there is the promise of an inheritance kept in heaven for me (1 Pet 1:4); more responses of great joy, more praise, curiosity, amazement (why me Lord), telling others, thoughtful meditation, utter gratitude, and thankfulness.

1. Why does Luke name the Roman rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making? For us to know that the Bible records actual history and real events, and is not a “once upon a time” story. This is real and can be dated as falling in the reign of Caesar Augustus who ruled from 27 BC until 14 AD. Herod the Great’s reign ended in 4 BC. It has been determined that Jesus was born between 6 and 4 BC. Luke is making the point that Jesus Christ is a historical person and not some made-up myth or fictious person. 2. What is the significance of Joseph being a descendant of David? (2:4) What is the significance of Bethlehem in Messianic prophecy (Micah 5:2)? We see that all the circumstances surrounding the birth of the Messiah are firmly in the hand of God’s providence. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies that the Messiah would be born in David's royal line (see, for example, Isa 11:1; Jer 33:15; Eze 37:24; Hos 3:5). Caesar Augustus made a decree that a census should be taken throughout his empire. To register, everyone had to go to their ancestral city. In Joseph’s case this city was Bethlehem, called the city of David since it was his place of birth. Joseph and Mary were both descendants of David. And so, it was that Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem in Judea to register, along with Mary who was engaged to him and was with child. The Messiah was going to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). This was predicted hundreds of years before Jesus was born. We see how God got Joseph a humble carpenter from Nazareth in the right place at the right time so that Micah’s prophecy could be fulfilled. 3. What is the scandal in verse 5? What hardship is Mary experiencing? What about Joseph? Mary had gone to be with Elizabeth for 3 months, but after returning to her village she must been obviously pregnant. This must have been a most difficult time for her being exposed to so much shame, gossip, and scorn. Just imagine her trying to explain this to her parents, let alone to other villagers. Joseph must have been totally confused. He knew Mary to be a godly young girl, yet she was going to have a child, even though she was a virgin. He must have wondered what to do. Break the engagement or even whether to stone her to death. To him the only possible explanation was that she had been unfaithful to him. Fortunately, an angel of the Lord appeared to him (Matt 1:19-21) and explained that the baby was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, and the baby would be the King, the Saviour, the Son of God - God in human flesh. 4. Why do you think the journey to Bethlehem was difficult for Mary? Is pleasure an indication that we are in God's will or not? Any examples from your life? Being 9 months pregnant, the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem over about 120 km took them about 4 days, and must have been most difficult and uncomfortable. Especially over the hills surrounding Jerusalem. And when they came to Bethlehem there was no room for them. I don’t think pleasure is an indication that we are in God’s will; perhaps just the contrary. I know from personal experience my best times of growing and drawing closer to our Lord, have been when undergoing trying circumstances. I’m sure we are often tested for our own good – God preparing us for eternity. Being a Christian does not guarantee an easy life of prosperity and having all that we want. God refines us and disciplines us all for our own good. I would not have it any other way! We have to trust God in all we do and surrender all to Him. He is not opposed to pleasure for He created this world and everything in it, the good things and the bad things, for us to experience, but not to the detriment of our relationship with Him. More importantly we were created to glorify God and to delight in Him (Ps 37:4). All I know is that if we are disobedient we can find ourselves feeling miserable, and separated from our Heavenly Father. 5. Extra Credit: Argue for or against this proposition: "Being a consistent Christian causes more hardships than just going with the flow." Being a consistent Christian is no guarantee that we will not experience discomfort, inconvenience, struggles, and tribulations or even worse. But of one thing we can be certain is that they will develop our perseverance; which will strengthen our faith and character, as well as deepening our trust in God. We can be sure Jesus will never leave us to face our struggles alone, with His help and that of the Holy Spirit we will overcome. 6. To what do you attribute Messiah's birth in a stable - poor planning? (2:7) What message does the manger convey to modern-day disciples? Just the opposite! God is sovereign and He planned His Son’s birth long before creation, in the finest detail. Just as foretold in the OT hundreds of years before. Although He is the true King, He came to earth in humble circumstances, and this was all to show that He came to serve. To die on the cross so that our sins will be forgiven and that we can spend eternity with Him. He is the perfect example of lowly service, coming into the world not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. It’s so amazing to think that the exalted Lord humbled Himself to the manger and to the cross. His greatness was manifested in the depth of His humiliation. He gave His life a ransom for many (Matt 20:28). His death satisfied all God's righteous demands against sin. It was sufficient to put away all the sins of all those who accept Him as Lord and Saviour. 7. If our culture is enamoured with bigness and success, and humility runs across the grain, what appeal can the humble Jesus have to people today? True Christianity demands humility and is not only necessary to enter the kingdom, it is also necessary to be great in the kingdom (Matt 20:26-27). The humble Jesus is our model. He was always obedient to the Father and so should the humble Christian be willing to put aside all selfishness and submit in obedience to God and His Word. True humility produces godliness, contentment, and security. God has promised to give grace to the humble, while He opposes the proud (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5). Therefore, we must confess and put away pride. If we exalt ourselves, we place ourselves in opposition to God who will, in His grace and for our own good, humble us. But if we humble ourselves, God gives us more grace and exalts us (Luke 14:11). 8. Extra Credit: How far do you think Jesus "emptied Himself" by being born a human? What aspects of His divinity did He retain during His time in human flesh? What aspects did He lay aside? Jesus Christ was humble, willing to “empty Himself” by giving up His rights in order to obey God and serve people. We note that He has always existed with God, He is equal to God because He is God, yet Jesus became a man in order to fulfil God's plan of salvation for all people. He did not just have the appearance of being a man, but actually became human to identify with our sins. He did not give up His deity to become human, He was still omniscient (all-knowing), He was still omnipresent (present in all places at one and the same time), and He was still omnipotent (all powerful). What He did was to empty Himself of His positional equality with God and to veil the glory of Deity in a body of human flesh. The glory was all there, though hidden, but it did shine forth on occasions, such as on the Mount of Transfiguration. There was no moment in His life on earth when He did not possess all the attributes of God.

1. Why are the neighbours surprised at Elizabeth's choice of a name for the baby? Why are they so surprised when Zechariah writes "John" on a wooden tablet? (1:60-63) Names were important in the Jewish community, and they just automatically assumed that the child would be given Zechariah’s name or a family name. Both Elizabeth and Zechariah wanted the child to be named John. But what surprised them even more was the fact that as soon as Zechariah wrote “John” on the tablet, his power of speech returned. They know realised that this was no ordinary child but that the LORD was with him. 2. Extra credit: How does the filling of the Holy Spirit relate to prophecy? (1:67) In what sense was the "speaking in other languages" on the day of Pentecost actually prophecy? (Acts 2:4, 11, 17) (This is not the time to get in a discussion about the propriety of speaking in tongues today.) Zechariah has come to the realisation that with God nothing is impossible, and is overwhelmed and filled with the spirit of wonder, love, and joy. Filled with Holy Spirit he gives a prophecy of the coming of a Saviour who would redeem His people. All the OT prophecies were coming true. He speaks under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit about the Messiah. Speaking in other languages in Acts 2:4 prophesied that the church of the future would include people from all nations and languages. 3. Zechariah and his son John were from the house or tribe of Levi. What does it mean when the prophecy refers to "the house of His servant David"? What tribe was He from? How is His lineage significant? (See Genesis 49:10. Also Luke 2:4, 11 and Matthew 2:4-6.) The Old Testament is filled with prophecies that the Messiah would be born in David's royal line. We read this, for example, in Isa 11:1; Jer 33:15, and many others. Also, both Joseph and Mary were descendants of David. Earlier God had promised David that David’s kingdom would last forever (2 Sam 7:16). This promise would be fulfilled with the coming of Jesus, a direct descendant of David, whose kingdom will never end. Zechariah knew that the Messiah would be in the line of David, therefore the remark “the house of His servant David”. Jesus was from the tribe of David - Judah. Zechariah, being a priest was from the tribe of Levi. This lineage is significant, because out of David’s line, will come a King who will reign forever! Jesus Christ is going to reign over the throne that was promised to David and His reign will have no limit and no end. 4. How are the terms "salvation" and "rescue" used in Zechariah's prophecy? (1:69, 71, 74, 77). Do they speak of military or spiritual salvation? Extra credit: When does the Messiah bring spiritual salvation? When do we believe Messiah brings about military deliverance to His people? Zechariah is thinking of military rescue. He has in mind, the same way Israel as a nation was rescued from slavery in Egypt, so will the Messiah rescue them from the yoke of the Romans. The moment we put our faith in our Lord Jesus and repent of our sins will we be saved. And military deliverance occurs at His Second Coming. The moment our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ returns. Come Lord Jesus. Come. 5. What is the purpose of Messiah's salvation in verses 74 and 75? What kind of lives does He expect us to live? The purpose is that we, having been rescued from our enemies, can now serve Him, with the ultimate aim of glorifying Him. We should out of gratitude be worshipping Him, this we can do without fear from our enemies and can be done in holiness and righteousness. 6. What are John the Baptist's chief tasks as outlined in verses 76-77? He is to prepare the way of the Lord. He would be preparing the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord, and proclaiming salvation to His people through the forgiveness of sin. There is much work to be done in getting people to know our Lord. There is the need to explain that they need forgiveness. How Jesus can give them meaning to life, and to remove misconceptions that might prevent them from coming to Christ. 7. What kinds of ministries of preparation do we see in the church today? Why is preparation so important for the future? Extra credit: What does the history of revivals teach us about the importance of preparation? Why do we sometimes get disillusioned with ministries of preparation? We are all sinners, deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. There is none righteous not even one. These are all statements in the NT, and nothing can break the power of sin over us. That is why we cannot be saved by works. Our only hope is a new heart, a new birth, and forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ alone. There must be repentance, a new awareness of sin, and a need to humble themselves. Revivals can change peoples hearts, they experience inward change, become obedient to the Word of God, zealous for God’s work, and delight in worshipping Him.

1. Why do you think Mary wanted to see her kinswoman Elizabeth? What do you think Mary hoped to get out of the visit? Mary had just been told she has been chosen by God to be the mother of Messiah – all very overwhelming! The angel had also told Mary about Elizabeth being 6 months pregnant whom she knew to be barren and elderly. So, this was also a miracle and there was a lot to share with each other. They could compare notes and rejoice together, and being older there must have been a lot Elizabeth could teach Mary. Everything was very hard to believe, especially for such a young girl, and a visit to Elizabeth would confirm what the angel had told her. It wasn’t that Mary did not have any faith, but confirmation would most definitely strengthen her faith. 2. In what sense is Mary blessed among women? Blessed because she was chosen to carry the Saviour of the world. Elizabeth is saying, you are the most blessed because you have the greatest child. Blessed are you, Mary, above all other women, you have been chosen to carry the Saviour of the world. 3. Mary "believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." How did her actions demonstrate this? By declaring that her soul glorifies the Lord, Mary is proclaiming the greatness of Jehovah. Her heart filled to overflowing with thanksgiving for that which God had done for her. She does this joyfully, and enthusiastically, as she adds that her spirit rejoices in God her Saviour. She sings how proud she is that God chose her, and she praises Him for having especially blessed her. 4. How does saying psalms of praise bring benefit to God? How do psalms of praise benefit us? It brings us into an attitude of the heart that is so filled with wonder and gratitude at what God has done. We worship Him for who He is, and what He has done. We glorify our Heavenly Father by our praises. For us, it takes our thoughts away from our personal needs, and helps us focus on God in praise and adoration. 5. In what ways do you think Elizabeth acted as a mentor to Mary? How has someone mentored you in the Lord? How has God used you to mentor others? Being much older and therefore more mature and experienced in life, Elizabeth was able to teach and instruct her. Being 6 months into her pregnancy God had provided Mary with a mentor during the 3 months Mary stayed with her relative. Most probably until the birth of John the Baptist. No, unfortunately no one has ever mentored me, and I have never had the privilege of having been a mentor.

1. What was different about Mary's "How?" question (1:34) to the angel from Zechariah's "How?" question (1:18)? Why was Mary rewarded and Zechariah disciplined? Mary's question, “How can this be?” was one of amazement and not of doubt. She wanted to know how could this be possible as she had never had relations with a man? Zacharias’ question, “How can I be sure of this?” was one of unbelief. He felt that both him and his wife were too old to become parents of a child. And besides Elizabeth was barren, so this promise was an impossibility. 2. Secular people often make fun of the virgin birth. Does this passage actually teach that Jesus was born of a virgin? If so, why is this important to our understanding of who Jesus was and is? Yes, it does teach us the Virgin Birth, and it is important in our understanding of who our Lord Jesus is. Every person born inherited the sin of Adam. Jesus Christ, God's Son, had to be free from this sinful nature passed on to all other human beings by Adam. Because Jesus was born of a woman, He was a human being; but as the Son of God (Joseph was not His father), Jesus was born without any trace of human sin. God Himself would plant life in her womb and as a virgin she would give birth to the Messiah, who is without sin. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, and was conceived of the Holy Spirit. He was born holy. Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. The God-Man - the only begotten Son of God, Jesus, who would save His people from their sins, the divine Redeemer, the holy offspring, the divine King who would reign over a spiritual kingdom that would last forever and ever, was going to be born! Our failure to believe in the virgin birth leads us into confusion and unbelief. If we refuse to accept the Lord Jesus as the Son of God who came into the world through the womb of the virgin we find ourselves compelled to deny all the great truths concerning the Person and work of Christ. He would be human; as Son of the Highest (1:32), He would be the Son of God (1:35). For unto us a Child is Born (His Humanity), unto us a Son is Given (His Deity) (Isa 9:6). 3. Why is Mary frightened? Is her fear reflective of unbelief? The message that Gabriel brought was so unexpected, so sudden, so extraordinary, and was so high an honour, that she must have been having anxious thoughts, and not been able to comprehend what was happening to her. We just have to think if Zechariah, a priest, who must have known about angels was so amazed at the appearance of an angel, how much more might a young virgin be so. Yet she trusted the LORD, in belief wanting to know how? Which the angle gently answered and removed any fear. 4. Why is it so hard for us to accept being a servant? Why do we have such trouble being submissive to God? He created us and we are His creatures. He owns us. And it is only right that we are submissive and obedient to the will of God. Our obedience is out of love for our Saviour. Mary is a good example of understanding her role in our Lord’s birth - she was nothing but a servant. She was not a part of redemption. She was not sinless. She was a simple, humble little girl who was given a privilege. And as a servant she responded and said, "Let it be done to me according to your word." Real humility! 5. Have you had any experiences where God has taught you to be a willing servant? Yes, when I get big-headed and try to give myself credit for what I have achieved in life. I come down with a bump. And it is only when I humble myself and give my Heavenly Father all the credit due to Him, that my fellowship with Jesus is restored. I must say not my will but Thy will be done.

1. What do we learn about Zechariah and Elizabeth in 1:5-7? What kind of people are they? What is Zechariah's job? Zechariah was a Jewish Priest who worked at the Temple. Elizabeth was his wife who was also a descendant of Aaron (the first high priest of the Jews). They had no children and were both elderly living in the time of Herod the Great (37-4 BC). Both were devout Jews obedient to God. They faithfully observed the OT commandments and regulations. Their obedience was from the heart, so much so that both were upright in the sight of God. As a priest his duties were the upkeep of the Temple, teaching Scriptures, as well as leading worship services. This involved offering incense and prayers on behalf of the Israelite people, as well as the morning and evening sacrifices. He was a member of the order of Abijah (one of 24 groups of priests as divided by David’s instructions), who were on duty this particular week. 2. Why do you think it happened that the "lot" fell upon Zechariah to be the officiating priest for offering incense on this particular day? What does the offering of incense represent? Our LORD is sovereign and nothing happens by accident. Zechariah was chosen by lot to fulfil God’s plan of sending John the Baptist as a prophet into the world. This would be the first prophet for over 400 years, and his message was to encourage people to turn away from sin and back to God. He would also be Christ’s forerunner. God was guiding the events of history to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, His Son, to come to earth. The offering of incense would be for Zechariah a once in a lifetime honour! Incense was burned twice a day, and as the smoke drifted upwards the people prayed - the smoke symbolising the peoples prayers ascending up to heaven. 3. The Angel Gabriel's message involves twelve separate points about John the Baptist's birth and ministry in verses 13-17. Which are most important to you? Which do you think would have been most important to the people of John's time? The announcement of the forerunner of the Messiah is most important to me. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is coming, to redeem us!! “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah” (1:17a), The fact that John would become the Lord’s forerunner, announcing the coming Messiah. This was God’s plan that John would go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him. John was identified with the messenger in Malachi 3:1, a fact that was later confirmed by Jesus in Matt 11:10. To me v.16 which reads: “John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God”, is the most important in John’s time. Because this did happen as crowds of Israelites turned to the Lord through John’s ministry. In Matt 3:5-6 we read: “People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River”. This was confirmed again in Mark 1:4-5: “And so, John came, baptising in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River”. 4. Specifically, which part of this prophecy does Zechariah question and disbelieve? (1:18) Why do you think he can't believe it? What kinds of things are we unable to believe that God does in spite of us today? Zechariah doubted the angel’s word that he would have a son. He felt that because of both his and his wife’s old age it was humanly impossible to have a child. He should have realised that if you want your prayers answered you have to trust God to do what we consider to be impossible situations. His faith let him down in not trusting God to do the “impossible.” Had he forgotten what God did for Abraham and Sarah? (Gen. 18:9–15). We believe that if it’s not possible scientifically, then it’s not possible. Forgetting that God set these scientific laws in place in the first place, and that with God anything is possible, and what He promises He delivers. 5. What are the symptoms of unbelief in a Christian? How does unbelief hurt a disciple's life? What is the cure for unbelief, do you think? Believers have this problem with faith and unbelief. They want to believe, yet find themselves filled with doubt. Lack of trust in God can hurt us in that it might prevent us from receiving His best. This was shown to be the case when the Israelites did not believe that God would help them conquer the giants in Canaan. This resulted in them, instead of entering the Promised Land, God sent them to wander in wilderness for 40 years. The cure. Faith is a gift of God (Eph 2:8-9). We need to grow in faith by the daily renewing of our trust in Jesus. We need to get deeper into His Word and start building a stronger relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 6. Extra credit. What is the difference between unbelief and asking the hard questions? How is the latter necessary to solid faith? The difference depends on the motive for asking these questions. In Matthew 22 we read of the hard questions asked by unbelievers, the Pharisees and Sadducees. They were not looking for answers but only to try and trap Jesus with His answers. However, if as believers, we are truly seeking answers to any hard questions then asking God is the only true source. We approach God in faith, with not a drop of doubt. We believe in His wisdom, His power, His loves and that nothing is impossible with Him. Every day, we have repeated opportunities to trust in our own wisdom or to ask God for His; to live in the flesh or to walk in the Spirit; to be in the slavery of the darkness of sin or to be set free by the light of Jesus Christ. There is a godly wisdom that can be ours only when we come to God recognizing our need for Him and for His wisdom. If we want answers to hard questions we should ask God. It is not necessary for us to face life in our own wisdom, ask and He will give generously (James 1:5). This will ultimately result in strengthening our faith. 7. Extra credit. Compare and contrast Zechariah's reaction to the angel's announcement to Mary's (1:34, 38). What is the difference between her question and his? Mary trusted God understanding that nothing is impossible with God. She knew the birth would happen and only wanted to know how. It is different with Zechariah; he doubts God’s ability questioning how can this happen. 8. Why does God "punish" Zechariah (if that is what you call it)? What effect do you think it has in his life? What effect do you think it has on those observing Elizabeth's pregnancy and birth? How do you categorize this - as punishment, discipline, rebuke, chastisement, or something else? Though we discipline our children, why do you think we resist the concept that God can punish His servants? God disciplined Zechariah as a reminder of his sin of unbelief. It must have frustrated him tremendously as he could not tell this wonderful story. He must have wanted to praise God for this miracle (the first miracle to occur in over 400 years), but was kept silent until John’s birth. Initially, they could not announce Elizabeth’s pregnancy, as everyone knew she was barren and old as well. They would have thought this an impossibility and that she had lost her mind. So, she kept herself in seclusion for 5 months (1:24). It was only after her pregnancy became visible did it become believable. We tend to think God’s punishment can be harsh at times, but we must remember He is sovereign and just in all His dealings with us.

Day 15 Meditation (Psalm 134). What does it mean to you to bless or to praise the Lord? Do you take time in your daily devotions to bless Him, to praise Him? What does it mean to you to receive a blessing from the One who made heaven and earth? I praise the LORD for what He has done for me in Christ Jesus. 1 Pet 1:3-4 says it all for me. Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for my sins and my eternal future is secure. What a Saviour! “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you”. What a privilege it is to praise our Lord. We must remember He is the source of all good things and we need to praise Him for His mercy and grace. It is a joy to receive a blessing from the One who owns everything. We don’t deserve anything and must be grateful for all the gifts He does send our way, acknowledging His greatness, power, glory, majesty, and splendour. “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all” (1 Chron 29:11).

Day 14 Meditation (Psalm 133). Which word pictures in Psalm 133 do you find most compelling? Why do you think lasting unity is so hard to achieve in our world, in our countries, in our churches, in our families? What do you think is the chief obstacle to love in your life? “Unity is like heavy dew” is the word picture I find most attractive. I visualise dew coming down from heaven above upon the earth below, as the spirit of love coming down and being poured into our hearts, by the Holy Spirit. (Rom 5:5b – “God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit”). In the same way as dew descends silently and gently until it covers the whole ground, so is love spread among believers by a quiet and gentle process, until it regenerates all believers, resulting in its effects becoming visible to the world. The result is that there is unity among believers and the Church is edified by the love of many. The Holy Spirit brings new life, so does the Word bring new life. In Scripture, dew symbolizes the life-giving Word of God – “Let My teaching fall like rain and My words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants” (Deut 32:2). This all results in our hearts and minds being filled with love, joy, and peace. Where ever there are people there will always be strife. We are our own downfall and enemies of unity because of always wanting to put self-first - our self-centeredness, me, me, me … This is the chief obstacle to love. I came across an adage: “A lot of problems in the world would disappear if we talk to each other instead of about each other”. There is no time or inclination to think of others. Coupled with this is our bickering, jealousy, backbiting, gossiping, and so on; all enemies of unity. And this is despite being Christians who experience the same spiritual birth, worship the same God, declare the same gospel message, and preach from the same Scriptures. It is only God's Spirit and His promise of eternal life that will break down the sin in our hearts, crucifying our selfishness, and uniting us.