Happy New Year–new church year, that is. Advent, the beginning of the new church year, is the first Sunday of this month. We get so focused on the babe in the manger and the angels singing on that first Christmas night, that we forget why Jesus came into this world—to save us from sin, death and the power of the devil.
This church year, the gospel will primarily be from Luke. There are details in his writing that we did not find in Mark’s version. In Luke, we have shepherds and angels and all those things we associate with Christmas. We also have the genealogy of Jesus, through the males of the family. None of that is in Mark’s gospel.
It is from the Gospel of Luke that Linus tells the story of Jesus’ birth in the Charlie Brown Christmas. It is also from here that we have beautiful poetry like Mary’s song, the Magnificat. John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, prophesies in beautiful poetic verse. There are a number of other unique qualities of Luke’s Gospel. This file goes into more detail.
The purpose of Luke’s writing was to give someone named Theophilus “a well-ordered account” (Luke 1:3). Luke references several historical people and events, tying his narrative to history.
I invite you throughout Advent to read the Gospel of Luke. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to see things in the text that you haven’t seen before. Allow God to speak to you through the Word. And if you’re up to it, read the Book of Acts, also by Luke and for Theophilus, which ironically means lover of God.
As God’s people, Luke’s words are for us. They comfort and challenge us, giving us hope when life is hard. There is a Savior to help us and walk beside us. Thanks be to God.
God’s peace,
Pastor Ivy
Pastor's Message
December 2024
Pastor Ivy Gauvin