Today’s reading is Luke chapter 1.
Luke chapter 1 begins with the story of the birth of John the Baptist. An angel tells Zacharias that he and his wife, Elisabeth, will have a son, even in their old age, and they should call him John.
Meanwhile, Mary is also visited by an angel and learns that she will be the mother of the Son of God.
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest… and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end… therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:32-33, 35
Jesus is the Son of God.
The angel tells Mary that her cousin, Elisabeth, has also conceived a child in her old age, “for with God nothing shall be impossible.” I love that the Lord prepared a friend for Mary who could understand a little bit about what she was going through!
After John’s birth, Zacharias prophesies about John, saying, “And thou child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways.”
John would prepare the way for Jesus, teaching the people about salvation and the remission of sins.
