Reading
SAA Notes
Luke is a Greek medical doctor. Their training was as rigorous as for the modern doctor. Luke never saw Jesus. You and I can get as close as Luke got to Jesus – through the eyes of the eyewitnesses such as Mary. What verse speaks particularly to you?
SJA Notes
* God Above, please teach us today from Your word.
“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
Here Luke draws a connection between John the Baptist, the promised baby in today’s passage, and the Old Testament prophet Elijah.
In Malachi chapter 4, we read God saying,
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, …”
Jesus bore witness to this link, we read in Matthew 17,
“‘But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of the Man will certainly suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.”
John was to turn people’s hearts.
How did he do this? What was his call?
Repent and believe.
This is the message preached by all the prophets.
Repent and believe.
This is the message preached by Jesus Himself.
In Mark 1 we read from Jesus,
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Is this true for us today?
Repent and believe – let us do so!
* Lord God,
Please mould us each day like clay, make us more and more like Jesus – Our Good Shepherd.
Please help us to reflect Your light to those around us, that they would join with us in repentance and belief, for Your kingdom is at hand!
Amen.