BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

You might wonder why we read John’s gospel before Luke’s. The author originally designed the books of Luke and Acts as one epic story told in two parts. By organizing the plan this way, we can experience Luke and Acts together as one sweeping story that begins with Jesus’ birth and continues into the early years of Jesus’ Church.

While you engage with today’s reading and video, notice the connections between Luke’s writing and all that you’ve learned from the Hebrew Bible so far, especially places where a story’s details remind you of earlier narratives. Luke primarily employs allusion to link readers with previous ideas, settings (like Egypt), or people (like Moses). These subtle callbacks are clues that help us see where Luke is pointing. He shows us that what’s happening here is like what has happened before, but now Jesus is transforming everything.

For example, consider the introductory story about Elizabeth and Zechariah. Gabriel promises Zechariah that, despite the couple’s infertility, Elizabeth will bear a son. Here we have an allusion to previous miraculous pregnancies in the Hebrew Bible that showed Yahweh at work—Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah.

Despite the long history of Yahweh fulfilling such promises, Zechariah initially doubts the promise. He later regains trust, as evidenced by his insistence that his son be named John. He obviously came to believe that God’s promise of a son was true. Zechariah then bursts forth in a rich song, a tapestry woven with threads from the Hebrew Bible with a clear message: God is on the move, and God’s saving power is near.

Reflection Questions

• Notice the parallels between the stories of Elizabeth’s and Mary’s pregnancies. Where do you see similarities and contrasts? Why do you think Luke sets these women in parallel?
• Compare Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55 with Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, after the birth of Samuel. What thematic similarities can you find? What does this say about God’s concern for the poor and powerless?