Faith

Every person lives by faith. Someone may deny it saying, “I don’t believe in God or ghosts or life after death!” Nevertheless, each of us utilizes faith in some way. For instance, if we see the doctor who orders a prescription, we take the medicine, believing the pharmacist has followed the doctor’s orders. When we take our car on the road, we trust that the other drivers are going to follow the rules of the road and not hit us. We go to work and do our best, believing that we will be paid on time. Every day we exercise faith.

The word believe is used twice in Luke 1 (believe is the verb form of the noun faith). First, Gabriel told Zechariah he would be unable to speak until his son was born because he “did not believe” (v. 20). Second, when Mary reached Elizabeth’s house to visit, Elizabeth proclaimed, “Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said” (v. 45). Zechariah and Mary each had an opportunity to respond to God in faith. His failure to believe cost Zechariah his speaking privileges for just over nine months. Mary’s submissive act of faith brought glory to God, salvation to sinners, and honor to her.

What distinguishes faith in God from faith in the pharmacist? Why do we wrestle with God’s will for our lives but we drive into expressway traffic without a worry? Using Zechariah and Mary as examples, let’s explore this experience of faith in God.

Faith focuses on promises, not explanations. In response to the news that he would be a father, Zechariah asked, “How can I be sure of this?” (v. 18). He was convinced that he and his wife were too old and he missed Gabriel’s words about this being an answer to prayer (v. 13). Instead of rejoicing in the good news, he wanted details about the process. His lack of faith rendered him silent.

Mary posed a similar question to Gabriel when he visited her: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (v. 34). This question was not born of doubt, but rather of concern for purity. Mary was engaged to Joseph, she knew where babies came from, and she knew marriage should come before having children. Gabriel did in fact explain the process by which she would become pregnant: the Holy Spirit would “overshadow” her (v. 35).

There is more to reality than we can see, feel, or think. Therefore our limitations don’t limit God, who is infinitely original. Sometimes faith must go beyond reason. An older couple having a child is unusual but not impossible (think of Abraham and Sarah). Zechariah believed that being old eliminated him and Elizabeth from becoming parents—that was the “reasonable” approach. In the end, he was glad to be wrong.

Mary believed God could cause her to conceive in her womb apart from sexual activity and that God could convince those who needed to know the truth. She heard Gabriel’s words about the identity of her son and about the activity of the Holy Spirit and she responded with faith: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (v. 38). And it was.

Faith rests on the character of God. After Gabriel told Mary about the Spirit’s overshadowing and that her relative Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age, he proclaimed, “Nothing is impossible with God” (v. 37).

Mary knew who God is and what He is like. Her Magnificat (vv. 46–55) exalts the attributes and activity of the God she trusted, powerfully expressing Mary’s deep faith. But faith is only as good as its object. Because she knew God’s character, she took Him at His word. So Elizabeth greeted Mary saying, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” (v. 45).

Zechariah focused on the “how” and lost sight of “Who” was speaking to him. During his enforced silence, Zechariah’s faith bloomed again and was beautifully communicated in his Benedictus (vv. 67–79). Faith requires the right content, and Zechariah’s song majestically celebrates who God is and what He does.

Faith sees the risks but focuses on the rewards. Mary knew her pregnancy would raise questions and invite gossip. She also knew that the Lord was with her, that her Child would be the promised Messiah, and that nothing was impossible with God. Mary submitted to God’s plan. Trusting Him, she faced the heart-wrenching difficulties with Joseph and her family, she endured the comments and looks from the villagers, and she withstood the charge that Jesus was illegitimate. When she held the promised Child in her arms, she felt joy because God had kept His promise.

People of faith don’t expect trusting God to make life uncomplicated or convenient. God has unusual ways of shaping our lives and getting us to where He wants us to be. He doesn’t tell us ahead of time what He’s doing. He wants us to rest in His hands, enjoy the adventure, and be surprised by what He accomplishes.

Faith is vindicated by God’s action. It took time, but eventually Gabriel’s words to Zechariah came true (v. 20). Zechariah didn’t believe Gabriel when they spoke in the temple, but once Elizabeth became pregnant, how could he deny it? John the Baptist was born, grew up, and prepared the way for the Lord.

Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Then they were forced to travel to Egypt to avoid Herod’s murderous rage. Finally they returned to the Holy Land and settled in Nazareth. At age twelve, Jesus demonstrated his awareness of being God’s Son (2:41–52). At about thirty, He was baptized and began His public ministry as the Messiah. Three and a half years later, He was crucified. He rose again. All the promises made by God were fulfilled in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Mary was right to believe in God.

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1).

 See: Elizabeth, God, Mary, Prophecy, Songs, Zechariah

“Fear Not”

In the King James Version of the Bible, the phrase “fear not” is found three times in Luke’s Christmas narrative and four additional times in his Gospel. The New International Version translates it, “Do not be afraid.” The author of this Gospel was a physician—Paul called him “our dear friend Luke, the doctor” (Col. 4:14)—and often doctors have to say to their patients, “Now, don’t be afraid.” No wonder Luke used the phrase seven times in his Gospel!

Fear was a great problem at the time Jesus came into the world. According to Matthew 4:16—a quotation from Isaiah 9:2—the people were “living in darkness . . . in the land of the shadow of death.” Death was a terrible enemy that kept many people in bondage to fear (Heb. 2:14–15), and the pagan religions had no answers or assurances to offer. People lived in spiritual darkness and longed for light. It was not until Jesus “destroyed death and . . . brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10) that the darkness fled and the fear of death vanished for those who believed. When you examine the occasions when an angel or the Lord Jesus Himself said “Do not be afraid,” you will better understand why Christian believers need never fear.

God Answers Prayer (Luke 1:11–25)

The aged priest Zechariah was burning incense in the holy place of the temple in Jerusalem when suddenly the angel Gabriel appeared at the side of the golden altar that stood before the veil. It was such a surprise that the old man was startled and frightened. Had he done something wrong? Was the Lord going to slay him? “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,” the angel said to him, “your prayer has been heard” (v. 13). Throughout their married life, Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, had been praying for a son, but none had been given. Now they could be sure that the son they longed for would be born to them, and not just any son, but the promised forerunner of the Messiah (Mal. 3:1; Luke 1:76). Are you frightened about a situation, a disappointment, a delay in God’s working? Don’t be afraid—God still answers prayer.

God Gives Us Grace (Luke 1:26–38)

Six months later Gabriel came to Nazareth and appeared to Mary, the devoted young virgin God had chosen to be the human channel through whom His Son would come into the world. The angel’s sudden appearance and his greeting greatly troubled Mary. How was she “highly favored”? How would the Lord be “with her” and why? Gabriel calmed her heart by saying, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God” (v. 30). The word translated “favor” is the Greek word for “grace.” A literal translation of the angel’s words would be, “Grace to you who are highly graced! You have found grace with God!”

Mary was not called to an easy task, for she would be misunderstood and would endure much personal sorrow (2:34–35). But God’s grace would always be available and adequate. The word translated “highly favored” in Luke 1:28 is applied to all believers in Ephesians 1:6 and translated “his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” God’s abundant grace is available to us just as it was to Mary! Why should we be afraid?

God Has Good News for Us (Luke 2:8–20)

The work of the shepherds in the fields was pretty much routine. They had to keep watch for predators that might attack the flocks, and there was always the danger of sheep wandering away. But for the most part, the work was uneventful. Perhaps the men were discussing the sad plight of Israel, suffering under the iron heel of the Roman emperor and King Herod. David’s throne was empty and the long-awaited Messiah had not appeared. Imagine the fear the shepherds experienced when the glory of the Lord illumined those familiar fields and an angel spoke to them! “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (v. 10). What was the good news? The promised Savior had been born! The choir of angels from heaven praised God and then all was silent again. The shepherds wasted no time going to Bethlehem to see this Child and then they spread the good news far and wide.

In the darkest night, when circumstances seem at their worst, God sends His messengers with good news. That messenger probably won’t be an angel from heaven. He or she might be a neighbor from up the street, a preacher you hear over the radio, a friend from church, or a total stranger. There is always good news when we keep our eyes of faith open to God’s Word. When you read your Bible, don’t see it as a collection of stories, threats, or laws, but as a series of promises, the good news that God is for us and wants us to succeed for His glory.

There are four remaining “fear not” statements in Luke.

God Is Greater than Our Sins (Luke 5:1–11)

When Peter saw the miracle Jesus performed—the huge catch of fish—he felt so overwhelmed and unworthy that he almost wrecked his future ministry by wanting to abandon his call to discipleship. But Jesus said to him, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men” (v. 10). Think of what a tragedy it would have been if he had missed the very best Jesus had planned for him! Yes, we are unworthy of the least of God’s blessings, and yet He gave us His very best, His Son. Let’s not look at ourselves; let’s keep looking to Jesus (Heb. 12:1–2).

God Is in Control (Luke 8:40–56)

Jesus was willing to go to the home of Jairus to heal his dying daughter, but a woman delayed Jesus; and while He was helping her, news came that the little girl had died. Our Lord said to the distraught father, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (v. 50). Our Lord always has everything in His control, even when there are disappointments and delays. His timing is never wrong.

God Considers Us Precious (Luke 12:7)

Jesus was encouraging His disciples not to fear the threats of people or circumstances. If the Father cares for the little sparrows, surely He will care for His own children. “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

God Secures the Future (Luke 12:32)

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” The Father doesn’t give us just a crown or a throne; He gives us the kingdom! The future is not a question mark; it’s an exclamation point! No matter what our trials may be now in this life, we will one day be with the Lord and reign with Him.

 See: Joseph, Mary, Shepherds, Zechariah

Firstborn

Luke 2:7—Mary “gave birth to her firstborn, a son”—is the first of six verses in the New Testament that apply to Jesus the remarkable title “firstborn.” In Jewish family life, the firstborn son was special and received twice as much inheritance from his father as did the other sons (Deut. 21:15–17). “Firstborn” was a title of honor and rank and did not always reflect birth order. Israel was God’s “firstborn” among all the nations that preceded her (Exod. 4:22). David was the eighth son in Jesse’s family (1 Sam. 16:10–13), but God made him His “firstborn” (Ps. 89:27). “Firstborn” implies priority and superiority, the very highest of the high. This is why it is applied to Jesus Christ.

The Firstborn over All Creation (Col. 1:15)

Jesus is not a created being; He is the eternal Son of God, the Creator of everything. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3). Paul’s letter to the Colossian believers emphasizes “that in everything he [Jesus] might have the supremacy” (Col. 1:18), and that applies to believers individually and to the churches to which they belong.

Is it any wonder that this marvelous planet on which we live has gradually been selfishly exploited and wastefully destroyed, when the world has left the Creator out of its plans and purposes? In matters of ecology and stewardship, Jesus Christ is no longer supreme; He is ignored and even defied. Christmas reminds us that Jesus is the Lord of the universe and that we must obey Him if we intend to enjoy and employ His creation for our good and His glory. He is the firstborn—the Supreme One—over all creation.

The Firstborn from among the Dead (Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the seventh such miracle recorded in the Bible, but it is the greatest of them all. The three dead persons raised in the Old Testament (1 Kings 17:22; 2 Kings 4:34–35; 13:20–21) and the three raised in the Gospels (Luke 7:14–15; 8:52–56; John 11:38–44) all came forth with bodies still subject to death, and they died again. But Jesus came forth with a glorified body that could never die again. He lives and ministers in heaven by the “power of an indestructible life” (Heb. 7:16).

How can birth and death be combined in one phrase—“firstborn from among the dead”? Paul answers that question in Acts 13:32–33—“We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’” This is a quotation from Psalm 2:7 and refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and not to His birth. The tomb into which the body of Jesus was placed became as it were a “womb” out of which He was “born” into a new life with a glorified human body. He is the highest and the greatest of all who have been or who will be raised from the dead, and one day all believers will be like Him (Phil. 3:20–21; 1 John 3:1–3).

The Firstborn among Many Brothers (Rom. 8:29)

On resurrection morning, Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, “Go . . . to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17). Hebrews 12:23 calls the family of God “the church of the firstborn.” This means that God’s people hold the highest position and will receive a full inheritance from the Father. Imagine every child in the family, male and female, receiving the inheritance of the firstborn!

One of the obvious facts in Scripture is that God rejects the firstborn (and our first birth) and accepts the second-born (and our second birth). He rejected Cain and chose Abel and then Seth (Genesis 4); He rejected Ishmael and chose Isaac (16; 21:8–21); He rejected Esau and chose Jacob (25:19–34). God slew the firstborn in Egypt, for by our first birth we are condemned (Exodus 12). Those who trust Jesus Christ are born again, and this “new birth” brings salvation (John 3).

Jesus the “Firstborn” Deserves Worship (Heb. 1:6)

“And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’” This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 32:43 in the Greek version of the Old Testament. Some students apply this verse to the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, for the angels did praise Him when He was born (Luke 2), while others emphasize the word “again” in the verse and apply it to His second coming. What a contrast between His first coming and His second coming! He was born in poverty, obscurity, and weakness but He will return in power and great glory and defeat His enemies (Rev. 19:11–21). At His first coming, He brought salvation; but when He comes again, He will judge and condemn those who have rejected the truth. His “firstborn family” will live and reign with Him forever. It is a privilege to be a child of God in the “church of the firstborn,” and we ought to live and serve as those who appreciate that privilege.

 See: Immanuel, Jesus, Messiah, Nazarene