Week One September 26-October 2:
Bible Text: Luke 1:26-56
Key Verse: Luke 1:31-33
1:26-28 Nazareth: This is a small town in southern Galilee, a region in northern Palestine that included the Sea of Galilee. Most of Jesus’ ministry takes place in this region. Joseph is a descendant of David, the youngest son Jesse, who became King of Israel. God had promised that David’s throne or kingship would go on forever.
1:31 Jesus: This name means “The Lord saves” in Hebrew.
1:36 your relative Elizabeth: The word translated as “relative” does not indicate the exact relationship between Mary and Elizabeth, it only establishes them as “kinswomen”. Luke is the only Gospel writer to suggest that the mothers of John and Jesus are related.
1:39 went with haste: Luke does not give reasons for Mary’s quick departure. Some texts from around this period suggest that a woman in Mary’s position might be stoned to death.
1:46-55 My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God: Mary’s song, often called the Magnificat, reveals key themes in Luke’s story. Faithful Jews had been waiting for God to keep ancient promises and repair the damaged creation. This would require putting down the powerful, lifting up the lowly, feeding the hungry, and sending the rich away empty.
All scripture descriptions are taken either in full text or edited text from “Lutheran Study Bible” from Augsburg Fortress.
