Luke 1:1-4
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Since the Gospel of Luke is such a long document and a great deal of it is historical narrative, my tentative plans are to take the book paragraph by paragraph. I will highlight a few items in each paragraph for comment. I will still go into detail on specific sections which I think are important for the 21st century.

A Tragic Situation (1:5-7)
When God acts to fulfill His promises, He meets a wide variety of needs. After over 400 years of silence; God acts in the time of Herod the Great to begin fulfilling His plan. Although He is concerned to fulfill His promises to Israel, God is also meeting the personal needs of a righteous couple.

Luke introduces the parents of John as devout, law-abiding people. However despite their blamelessness, they have suffered the disappointment of infertility, a condition Elizabeth will later refer to as a disgrace (v. 25).

Elizabeth’s feelings are completely understandable, but to be barren is not an indication of the presence of sin or of condemnation of God. It may be an opportunity for blessing, whether God grants a child late in life or allows a couple to pursue other opportunities of service.

In Scripture, when God allows a woman to be barren, He often has something special in mind for her.
* Sarah, Genesis 18:11
* Rebekah, Genesis 25:21
* Rachel, Genesis 29:31
* Samson’s mother, Judges 13:2, 5
* Hannah, 1 Samuel 1-2

So in the case of Elizabeth and Zechariah, God’s action parallels the way he often worked among the fathers and mothers of Jewish faith.

His word and plan are coming to pass again.