Luke: The Seeking Savior
A 14-day journey through the Gospel of Luke — the seeking Savior, the upside-down kingdom, the lost who are found, and the cross that became a throne.
Select a Day
Day 1 · God Visits the Barren
The Announcement
Luke 1:1–38
Read the Scripture
Luke 1:1–38Luke 1:1-38
1Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
2even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
4that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division,
9according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
17He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”
18Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
20Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
22When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
23When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
24After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
25“Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”
26Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
29But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’
32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”
34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
36Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”
38Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.
Key Verse
"For nothing will be impossible with God." — Luke 1:37
Today's Study
Luke begins not with a hero but with a promise — written so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. This Gospel is for the convinced and the investigating. Theophilus, the reader, you.
The story opens with the barren — Zechariah and Elizabeth, righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly. And yet childless. Advanced in years. Righteousness had not earned them a child. The silence had not been their fault. Sometimes God's most faithful people wait longest in the place where He seems most absent.
And then an angel — not to a king, but to an old priest burning incense in the temple. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son… and you will be named John. A son who will make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Zechariah's doubt costs him his voice for nine months — a sign of how seriously God treats the unbelief that comes from His own people.
Six months later, the same angel goes to Nazareth — a village so unremarkable it appears nowhere else in Scripture — to a young woman betrothed to a carpenter named Joseph. Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.
And the promise: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.
A virgin, a baby, an eternal throne. Mary's question is not unbelief but wonder: How will this be, since I am a virgin? The answer: The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
And then the great surrender — perhaps the most courageous words ever spoken by a human: I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.
Two announcements. Two women — one old and barren, one young and a virgin. Both impossible. Both on time. God specializes in opening closed wombs and closed doors. The kingdom comes where human strength ends.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Where in your life does it feel like God has been silent for too long — and what does it mean that the silence was not your fault?
- 2.How do Zechariah's doubt and Mary's question differ — and what does that reveal about how God receives our questions?
- 3.What would it look like this week to say with Mary, 'May your word to me be fulfilled'?
👉 Take a Step
Pray
Take 2 minutes right now. Talk to God about what you just read.
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