Why read the Gospel of Luke during Advent this year? Because what better way to prepare to welcome the Christ-child into the world than to read one of the four gospels that tells the story of Christ. Gospel literally means "good news," add what better good news to read than the story of Christ?
But why Luke? Because it is one of the two gospels (the other is Matthew) that includes the birth story of Christ. Luke is also the Gospel that the confirmation class reads in its entirety each year, so we will be experiencing a bit of what they go through as they prepare to profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
If this is the first day, why are we starting with Chapter 3? We are leaving the first two chapters of Luke, which tell the story of Christ's birth, until the few days immediately before Christmas.
How is this going to work each day? Each day on the blog there will be comments and questions about the reading for the day. You may find other things that interest you about the reading, so be sure and add your questions and comments so that everyone can benefit from what the reading brought to your mind. The daily notes will certainly not cover everything about the readings.
Notes from today's readings:
1. Notice that Chapter 3 begins with specific historical data giving a specific time frame in history in which Jesus will arrive and engage in ministry. This reminds the reader that God is acting in the realm of human history. Christ's story is not a fairy tale of science fiction that is played out in another world, but takes place in the real annals of human history.
2. The Gospel of Luke gives more attention to John the Baptist (including events leading up to his birth that are found in Chapter 1 of Luke) than any of the other gospels.
3. John preaches a baptism of repentance, which signals a new understanding of how one connects with God. Previously, the goal was to show how one was connected to Abraham; now being connected with God occurs through repentance and submission to God's will.
4. Notice that John offends King Herod and will suffer the consequences (3:19), which serves as a precursor to what will happen to Christ when he offends those in authority.
5. John is clear that he is not the Messiah (3:15).
6. When Christ is baptized, the voice from heaven confirms that he is God's son (3:22).
How do you connect repentance with your preparation for the coming of Christ?
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