29 lines
1.3 KiB
Markdown
29 lines
1.3 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Luke 1:5–17"
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date = "2022-10-16"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk1.5-17)
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Luke's account begins with a priest. This priest, Zechariah, and his wife
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Elizabeth are blameless and upright before the Lord, and yet they have no
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children. This is an important detail, because to first-century Jews this would
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be a contradiction. But then Zechariah is chosen for a special priestly duty.
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On this particular day, he is chosen at random to be the one to burn incense
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before the Lord while everyone else prays outside the temple. While he is doing
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this, an angel appears beside the incense altar and tells him he and his wife
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will have a son in their old age. But he isn't just any child, but one that is
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full of the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will go forth and prepare
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the people of Israel for the Lord who is coming into their midst.
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The angel mentions that John will come in the spirit and power of Elijah.
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Today, when Jews celebrate Passover, they set an extra place for Elijah because
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he is prophesied to come back at any point (_Mal 3:1, 4:5_), and they want to
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be ready in case he comes to their house. However, the angel and, later, Jesus
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identify John as the fulfillment of this prophecy.
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* * *
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We toss the dice or flip the coin, but You determine the outcome, O Lord. You
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rule sovereignly over every detail of our lives.
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