Luke 1

SECTION 1.

The Birth and Growth To Maturity Of John And Jesus (Luke 1-2).

This first section of Luke’s Gospel can be analysed as below. It will be noted that the analysis, as we would expect, centres on the birth of Jesus. This is what all in the section is preparing for and leading up to, and what then follows puts its stamp on His uniqueness and glory. So central to the whole is Jesus, and this is what the chiasmus brings out.

a Introduction - wisdom is being offered to Theophilus (lover of God), who represents all God lovers, so that they might ‘know’ the truth (Luke 1:1-4).

b Zacharias goes up to the Temple and is promised a son, John, who will prepare the way for God’s Messiah, and he is made dumb in God’s presence (Luke 1:5-25).

c Mary receives the promise that she will bear the Messiah and she responds in obedience (Luke 1:26-38).

d Mary visits Elizabeth who prophesies by the Holy Spirit over Jesus and Mary and rejoices and worships God (Luke 1:39-56).

e Elisabeth’s child is born and is circumcised (Luke 1:57-60).

f Zacharias’s tongue is loosed and the news of the remarkable events go round the neighbourhood (Luke 1:61-66).

g Zacharias prophesies by the Holy Spirit concerning the coming of the Messiah, and his own son’s part in preparing the way for the Messiah. (Luke 1:67-80).

h Jesus is born in Bethlehem among the domestic animals, being laid in a manger (Luke 2:1-7).

g The angels declare the coming of the Messiah and bless God for His goodness in sending the Messiah, and appear to the shepherds in the fields to prepare the way for His coming (Luke 2:8-14).

f The shepherds see Him and filled with wonder give thanks to God and spread the word around the neighbourhood (Luke 2:15-20).

e Jesus is circumcised and presented at the Temple (Luke 2:21-24).

d Simeon, inspired by the Spirit, blesses God and prophesies over Jesus, and rejoices and worships God (Luke 2:25-35).

c Anna the prophetess comes to where Jesus is in the Temple and gives thanks to God and spreads the news (Luke 2:36-40).

b Jesus goes up to the Temple and receives understanding in the things of God in His Father’s presence (Luke 2:41-51).

a ‘And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man’ (Luke 2:52).

Note that in ‘a’ wisdom is offered to all God-lovers that they might grow in it and enjoy God’s favour, and in the parallel Jesus grows in wisdom and in favour with God and men. In ‘b’ Zacharias goes up to the Temple and receives a word from God, and in the parallel Jesus does the same. In ‘c’ Mary receives the promise of the Messiah, and in the parallel Anna comes to the promised Messiah and spreads news of Him all around. In ‘d’ Elizabeth prophesies over Jesus and praises and blesses God, and in the parallel Simon prophesies over Jesus and praises and blesses God. In ‘e’ John is circumcised and in the parallel Jesus is circumcised. All is rooted in the promise to Abraham. In ‘f’ Zacharias’s tongue is loosed and the word goes round the neighbourhood, and in the parallel the shepherds spread the word around the neighbourhood. In ‘g’ Zacharias prophesies the coming of the Messiah and in the parallel the angels do the same. And in ‘h’ the Messiah comes.