Dr. Doug Bookman

A. The Announcement to Mary

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56

Notes: It is hard to imagine how shocking must have been the angelic visit and the message concerning the child to be born to her. But consider the cost to be borne by Mary. It was an awful disgrace in that culture to conceive a child before the wedding day. All of the joy and delights of the wedding day,anticipated by every young woman, would be forfeited by Mary. Much was being offered her, but much was being asked of her as well.

Questions/Observations:

1. About how old was Mary when the angel appeared to her?
2. Notice that Mary was betrothed to Joseph. In that culture, they were legally and permanently man and wife, but for the period of the betrothal they did not come together physically. During that period the groom’s job was to prepare a home where they would live; the bride’s job was to make herself beautiful for her wedding day. On the wedding day the groom would simply fetch his bride and take her to the home he had prepared (amidst much rejoicing and merry-making).
3. The song sung by Mary is one of the most remarkable expressions of theologically informed praise and delight in all of literature. Notice the degree to which she deliberately patterns her response after that of Hannah (1 Samuel 1).

B. The Announcement to Joseph

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Notes: This appearance to Joseph is timely. Mary has been “found to be with child.” She would have been hard pressed to convince her betrothed husband of what had, in fact, happened; thus, the angelic intervention.

Questions/Observations

1. Joseph’s family home was Bethlehem (south of Jerusalem); his family of artisans had probably re-settled in Nazareth (in Galilee, to the north) because work was readily found nearby (probably in the burgeoning town of Sepphoris just down the hill).
2. Notice the significance of the name to be given to the child to be born to Mary – and the significance of that name as defined by the angel.

Adapted from the Life of Christ study notes of Dr. Doug Bookman, professor of NewTestament Exposition at Shepherds Theological Seminary (used by permission)

Dr. Doug Bookman

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Luke 1:5-25

Notes: The last prophetic voice to Israel fell silent over 400 years before this incident. This is the first time God speaks in the NT era. With regard to the longings of the levitical family of Zecharias and Elisabeth, and with regard to the long silence endured by the covenant nation of God, this incident is unspeakably dramatic.

Questions/Observations:

1. Notice that Luke introduces this incident as happening “in the days of Herod.” Bring what you know about that man to your reading of this incident.
2. Notice that both Zecharias and Elisabeth were levitical – part of that tribe which was to serve in the temple and eat the tithes of the Lord’s people. This reality made the barrenness of Elisabeth even more distressing.
3. Aged Zecharias had been chosen by lot to burn incense in the Holy Place at the hour of morning prayer. Do some research on this particular priestly assignment, and the incident that occurs in the midst of the duty will be the more meaningful.
4. Zecharias is told that the child to be born is to “drink no wine or liquor” – i.e., to take nothing from the vine. This is usually taken to mean he was to be a lifetime Nazirite (Numbers 6:1-7). Can you name two other men in Scripture who were lifetime Nazirites? What was the three-fold restriction placed upon a Nazirite?

Adapted from the Life of Christ study notes of Dr. Doug Bookman, professor of New Testament Exposition at Shepherds Theological Seminary (used by permission).

 

Doug Bookman

Jesus’ life before His public ministry began	about 30 years	Birth and Silent Years Jesus’ nativity, infancy, boyhood, young adult & early adult life
Public Presentation seeking crowds working countless miracles traveling throughout the lands of the Jews, saturating the area with His claims, and with the proof of those claims by means of miracles	3–5 months	The Opening of the Public Ministry of Jesus Christ The ministry of the forerunner, John the Baptist The baptism and temptation of Jesus the Christ The miracle of water to wine performed at Cana Jesus demonstrates His glory for the first time.
	about 8 months	The Early Judean Ministry of Jesus Christ Jesus cleanses the temple at Jerusalem during Passover season Nicodemus, a seeking Sanhedrinist, comes by night to Jesus Jesus gathers to Himself those who had already believed John’s message John the Baptist is arrested; Jesus departs for Galilee, passes through Samaria on the way, deals with the woman at the well
	18 months	The Great Galilean Ministry of Jesus Christ Many, many miracles during this time Jesus is seeking crowds, traveling throughout Galilee, saturating the land with His two-fold claim (to be Messiah, and to be God come in the flesh), proving the legitimacy of those claims by means of miracles In spite of the undeniable proof Jesus offers in defense of the truth of His claims, Israel finally rejects Him and His offer; Jesus discerns that spirit of disbelief, His disciples/apostles do not. There are two great moments of rejection which bring this phase of Jesus’ ministry to a close: a) The first moment of rejection—the unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:14) b) The final moment of rejection—the feeding of the 5000 (John 6:41)
Private Preparation seeking privacy avoiding miracles fleeing areas populated by Jews	6 months	Training of the Twelve Notice that Jesus’ emphasis and tactics change dramatically at this point: He had been seeking crowds; now He seeks privacy He had been working miracles freely; now He seeks to avoid miracle-working in the attempt to avoid the consequent multitudes of people He had been speaking openly and plainly; now He speaks in parables He had been traveling throughout the land of the Jews; now He begins to move in non-Jewish territories (Syro-Phoenicia, Decapolis, Caesarea-Philippi) Culmination of this period: Jesus finally finds solitude with His apostles, openly foretells His death for the first time; the apostles are horrified and unbelieving To reinforce the stumbling faith of the apostles, Jesus is transfigured before three of them
A time of mixed focus: Jesus presents Himself to the people of Judea and Perea; but all the while continues to prepare His witless disciples for His death.	6 months	In and Around Jerusalem: The Six Months Before His Passion To Jerusalem, for the Feast of Tabernacles (November; cf. Luke 9:51, John 7:1). Then, ministers in Judea for final time, avoiding Jerusalem To Jerusalem, for the Feast of Dedication (December; cf. Luke 13:22, John 10:22). Then, to Perea (John 10:42), ministers until the sister of Lazarus send for Him To Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead (ca. February; cf. John 11:1). To village of Ephraim, remains secreted until He sets out for final Passover
Final Events Final trip to Jerusalem Passion Week Resurrection Ministry	final week; and then 40 days	Jesus Christ’s Passion in Jerusalem, the Resurrection and Ascension The final journey to Jerusalem; Jesus and His disciples travel to the city with a band of Passover pilgrims coming down from Galilee The Passion Week: Jesus dramatically enters Jerusalem (Sunday), cleanses and possesses the temple (Monday/Tuesday), keeps Passover (Thursday afternoon), then is arrested, tried, crucified and buried (Friday) The Ressurection (early Sunday), followed by a 40-day ministry on the earth The Ascension to the Father from the Mount of Olives

Dr. Doug Bookman

1. Prologue to Luke’s Gospel

Scripture: Luke 1:1-4

Luke 1:1-4

Notes: Luke was not an eyewitness to the events he records in his gospel, as he probably became a believer under the influence of the apostle Paul, likely in Antioch of Syria (Acts 13:1). On the other hand, he was a remarkably professional historian. He researched his material carefully (including personal interviews with principal players in the gospel accounts), and he did his work under the careful supervision of Paul.

Questions/Observations: Notice the emphasis placed by Luke upon careful research into the matters he records. This is important to the issue of the historical integrity and accuracy of these gospel records.

2. Prologue to John’s Gospel

Scripture: John 1:1-18

John 1:1-18

Notes: The apostle John is writing late in the first century; he knows three apostolic accounts have already been written and are in circulation, and he knows those accounts well. He introduces his gospel with a tribute to the person of Jesus, articulating and celebrating the deity of that One who was the Word made flesh.

Questions/Observations: Notice carefully the emphasis placed upon the eternality of Jesus. Throughout the OT one of the most distinctive attributes of Yahweh is His eternality; thus, this affirmation by John is a strong statement of Jesus’s deity.

Adapted from the Life of Christ study notes of Dr. Doug Bookman, professor of New Testament Exposition at Shepherds Theological Seminary (used by permission).