Welcome to the New Testament

Whew!   I'm going to give you Patricia's blog input because she includes some good history.   One thing I caught that I never noticed before is that Peter and John seemed to be disciples of John the Baptist before they went to Jesus......I'll have to research that further...OK...Here's Patricia:

 JUST in case there are some new readers I am going to give a small recap…skip if you want.
The O.T. (Old Testament) leaves off with the Jews under a Persian Empire, after years of warning to repent from their sins from Prophets,  God finally pulled them out of the Promise Land that Joshua brought them into  as a punishment of correction to get their attention.  King Cyrus (Persian King) released them out of this captivity  to go back to Jerusalem.  Not many went back but the ones that did were mostly Levites and Benjaminties (Temple caretakers) , those that would rebuild the temple.  Since then,  Persia fell to the Greeks under Alexander the Great and eventually the Roman Empire was dominant.  This is where we pick up.  The political figure in Rome was Caesar Augustus, but the appointed leader in Judah (Jerusalem) was Herod the Great).  The Jews were a self governing body as long as they remained peaceful and quiet.  Jesus, the Messiah is being born, and that will stir things up for sure.
Anyway, Priests (from the tribe of Levi)  took turns taking care of the temple, chosen by a  “lot system” (like dice that God controlled) to see whose turn it is daily.  Part of taking care of the temple was burning incense which represented prayer (the smoke going up to the Heavens like our prayers do).  So this day it was Priest Zechariah’s  day chosen by God.  It is noted that Zechariah is a descendant of Aaron.   Aaron was Moses brother, which meant Zechariah came from a line of High Priests (great importance).
OK, back to Luke.  Theophilus may have been Luke’s friend, his lawyer, his financer,  but I think of it this way…Theopholus means “one who loves God” in Greek.  So when it is said Luke  is writing it to Theophilus,  I think the Book is written to me, (and you).  So Gabriel the Angel comes down again to be a messenger for the Lord.  I say again because we might recall he spoke to Daniel.  He must be a top angel because he speaks to Daniel, John the Baptist’s Father,  and Mary.  Anyway, Gabriel tells him that his barren wife who is beyond years will give birth to a son named John.  John will be dedicated to the Lord by not drinking wine or fermented drink.  Do you remember this? Go way back in the brain to Numbers 6 (click here) , the Nazarite Vow.  A parent could dedicate their child to the Lord and in return the child must never cut their hair, drink wine alcohol or touch anything dead.  Other Nazarites in the Bible included Sampson and  Samuel.  So we see the birth of the Prophet, filled with the Holy Spirit, who will proclaim and pave the way for the Messiah to come! (Just as Scriptures said they would)  John is coming in the spirit of Elijah!
In the same time,  Gabriel now speaks to Mary about Jesus being  born through her.  Jesus, the Greek word for Joshua in Hebrew means “the Lord Saves”. Do notice that Mary believes Gabriel not just because an angel is before her but because she is a woman of faith, and KNEW the Word of God through studying scripture.

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 Mary Praised the Lord through a song called the Magnificat (which parts of it were from the song Moses sand just after the parting of the Red Sea) and Zechariah praised God through a song too called the Benedictus.  I am sure it did not surprise you that on the exact day as according to law,  John was circumcised as part of the Abrahamic Covenant of being set apart is a chosen nation (Gen 17).  Circumcision is a SIGN, just like Baptism is today.  It sets us apart and proclaims our faith for all to see.
(The blogs won’t all be this long, I had history to cover.   I promise!)
John 1, the first 14 Scriptures only.  Now that we have read about the virgin conception we turned to John whose purpose in writing this entire book is stated at the end on  John 20:31

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We may have only read 14 verses in John but here is all that it says:

• Jesus was in the Beginning (He was present at Creation)
• All things are from the Trinity
• Darkness can not overthrow the Light
• JOhn was sent BY God to precede the coming Messiah for ALL
• If you believe in his name, He will make you a child if God**
• God became Flesh, to come dwell with us, full of God’s glory, Grace and Truth.

**Underline John 1:12 in your Bible.  Change HOW you talk about Salvation.  He  chooses us to be a Child of God.   We are not born into it, not by husband’s will, and also not by Human decision.  You don’t decide to become a Christian.    Listen to me, do not say “I asked Jesus to come into my heart”  or “I accepted Jesus into my life”  You can do NOTHING.  By your Faith He SAVED you.  The only thing we can do or have,  is Faith.  He does EVERYTHING ELSE!!!  He CHOOSES TO SAVE YOU….you don’t choose Him.  It’s HIS Covenant, not ours.
FRIENDS this is the Gospel.  Read is Fresh.  This is the most important words you will ever read in your entire life.  Is there is a single verse that you do not understand PLEASE do not pass over it.  Comment or E-mail me directly Pszyman@comcast.net.  There is a lot of Old Testament wrapped up in today’s read so ASK me anything.  Priest?  Temple? Offerings? genealogy? Incense?