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TWO LITTLE BOYS [Luke 1:5-56]

 Appropriately, Luke begins his story about Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple, God's symbolic dwelling place. The first 2 chapters of this story, told by Luke, tells us about the birth of 2 boys. It's clear that Luke wants us to contrast these 2 boys, as he deliberately sets their births side by side...


[Read Luke 1:5-38]


How do we see the origins stories of these 2 boys compared / contrasted in these key events?
The announcements?

The miraculous circumstances?

The parents responses?


First, Luke introduces us to Elizabeth and Zechariah... then he shifts 100 kilometres north, to Nazareth, where a young girl named Mary is engaged to be married...

In both these scenes, what do both women have?


Compare verses 18 & 34.
Both Zechariah and Mary question the words of the angel.
Why is Zechariah rebuked and Mary not?


What comforts can we take from the promise in verse 37, that "no word from God will ever fail"?


[Read Luke 1:39-56]


These 2 boys are described... 1 is a prophet of God and 1 is the Son of God.
There is a strong connection to the 2 boys, even before they're born.
How?


In the Magnificat (Mary's song) she responds by both praising God and preaching the gospel.
How does Mary do both these things within her song?

Mary's song (verses 46-55) demonstrates that God's kindness to her is a reflection of God's kindness to God's people, Israel. 
In what way do we experience these 'divine mercies'? 

Both John and Mary give us examples of how we respond to Jesus.
How do they're responses differ?
What do you relate to more?


One of the striking features of Luke's gospel is the importance he places on women.
What is Luke teaching us through the godly examples of Elizabeth and Mary?



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