A Story Much Bigger than Ourselves (Luke 1:26-56)




Journey with Jesus to the Cross: Thursday, March 3 

Read Luke 1:26-56

Let us suppose you are a brand new Christian. You want to read about Jesus. You open a Bible, and are shocked to discover that Jesus doesn’t even enter the story until page 1300! Why so much ancient history? Is all this really necessary? 

Yes, in fact, it is. Without the historical backstory to Jesus, we are bound to be as confused about him as I was the other day when reading the report of a cricket match in England. I understood all the words, but I didn’t know what they meant.

By way of illustration, look at it this way. Imagine watching only the final scene of your favorite movie -- say, for example, Casablanca. Just before she boards the plane, Rick says to Ilsa, "We'll always have Paris," and a few moments later, "Here's looking at you, kid." If you don't know the whole story you will see (and feel) the emotion in the characters,  but you have have no idea what it's really all about.

In fact, I had this happen to me just yesterday. My son is a film editor who, because of his broken arm, asked a friend to help him fix a few shots in a movie he is working on. I walked in as they were reviewing the final scene. A young man was shot and died in someone's ams. "I just ruined the whole movie for you, Dad," he said with an apologetic grin. Only he really hadn't. I don't know who these folks were, why this man died, and why I should care. Again, I know what happened, but I don't know what it means.

Unfortunately, many Christians have a similar approach to the story of Jesus. They know little of the 2000 year history leading up to Jesus, and the great religious tradition which shaped his ministry. They consider his teaching and observe his work with little or no attention to the historical context in which he lived. Consequently, they shrink, misinterpret, or overlook much of what is important about his life. 

Luke wants his readers to avoid this mistake. He includes numerous Old Testament references and allusions as he introduces us to Jesus’ life and ministry. The Annunciation (26-38), and The Magnificat (39-56) are pregnant (pardon the pun!) with allusions to the longings and aspirations of the people of Israel and the affirmation that Jesus is the fulfillment of their hopes.

We learn that the child to be born is of the house of David (27). He is to be a King whose reign will never end (32-33). When Mary and Elizabeth meet, they sing songs deeply rooted in their religious tradition. At last, God is fulfilling his promise to redeem his people. The long story of Israel is reaching its climax: “My soul magnifies the Lord!” Mary’s song of praise echoes the song of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2, whose unexpected son was also a gift from God to his people.

Mary and Elizabeth instinctively knew that their story was not theirs alone. They were part of the big story God was writing for the whole world. They were thrilled to see that their lives fit into a story that was bigger than themselves. 

What about us? Are we living in a story that is bigger than ourselves? Or is life mostly just about us? Our family? Our finances? Our vacations? How much richer and fuller our lives would be if we saw a bigger story than that! The good news is this: God is still using ordinary men and women whose ordinary lives are living the big story that King Jesus is in charge of the world.

Lord, help me to see my story in the context of the larger story you are telling in the world.