A tale of two families - Luke 1

[Mendalla]

Luke 1 does not open with a genealogy. Rather, it opens with a dedication (common in classical writing) and then the story of the birth of John the Baptist and the story of Mary receiving the prophecy of Jesus' birth. We have the famous Magnificat, and a joyful prophecy from the priest Zechariah after the birth of his John. A more dramatic and exciting piece of storytelling than the genealogy to be sure. Below, I have linked the NRSVUE version of the story from BibleGateway.

Luke 1

Interesting how the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is another tale of a seemingly barren relationship suddenly bearing fruit. Reference to Abraham and Sarah? And also interesting how Gabriel uses the example of Elizabeth being pregnant at an age where one normally should not be to show Mary how it is possible that she could be pregnant when an unwed virgin.

So, good piece of storytelling that dramatically sets up things to come, including the important relationship between Jesus and John. In fact, since this story sets up their respective mothers as relatives, the two of them must be cousins of some degree. And, of course, both become important spiritual teachers who end up dead because of their teaching and preaching.

In some ways, this feels more like mythologized biography than pure mythology like Matthew's genealogy. Why could John and Jesus not be related to some degree? Why could Zechariah and Elizabeth not have had a rare late pregnancy (keep in mind the while it becomes more difficult to conceive with time, as long as she had not passed menopause, a woman can get pregnant)? Even Mary getting pregnant is not unlikely, even if her virginity is. It's the angelic visits and references to prophecy here that pull the story into the realm of myth, even if the connection between Jesus and John is a bit suspiciously convenient given future events.

So, what say you all? What is your take on the parallel tales of Mary and Elizabeth and their respective sons?

 

[Luce NDs]

This Sundat was the usual poor lesson about peace in te given process ... like lfe and putting all you've got into supporting the powers and running down the deficient ... that are deficient because of a number of illegitimate causes ... mostly the strain imposed on folk by lies coming down at them about what they need to know or not.

How many times have you heard a sermon on the evil of the tree of knowledge and a push towards the ignorant sector so that some strong man could practice some mercinary activities to depress the deficient even more ... until the horizon is crossed and then on completion ... they're gone ...

That is a ate of elimination due to concentrated power ... the proposed search goes on for it until it blows up! Such is universal and cosmological expansion of Eire ... a fallacy when read in reverse ... all is left is thin space ...

It suggests the bible may be a technical construct of words that is improperly understood due to exponential drive towards naivete! That's ignorant ...

Like I remember being told so many times I was going to hell by people that knew nothing about me ... pre judicial? This may incarnate differently with folk depending on where they are getting up ...

 

[Mendalla]

This Sundat was the usual poor lesson about peace in te given process ... like lfe and putting all you've got into supporting the powers and running down the deficient ... that are deficient because of a number of illegitimate causes ... mostly the strain imposed on folk by lies coming down at them about what they need to know or not.

How many times have you heard a sermon on the evil of the tree of knowledge and a push towards the ignorant sector so that some strong man could practice some mercinary activities to depress the deficient even more ... until the horizon is crossed and then on completion ... they're gone ...

That is a ate of elimination due to concentrated power ... the proposed search goes on for it until it blows up! Such is universal and cosmological expansion of Eire ... a fallacy when read in reverse ... all is left is thin space ...

It suggests the bible may be a technical construct of words that is improperly understood due to exponential drive towards naivete! That's ignorant ...

Like I remember being told so many times I was going to hell by people that knew nothing about me ... pre judicial? This may incarnate differently with folk depending on where they are getting up ...

And what are your thoughts on the story told in Luke 1, which is the actual subject of this thread?

 

[paradox3]

Luke is a wonderful storyteller. I am still pondering why he wrote this particular story. It is one of many that is unique to his gospel.

The birth narrative In chapter 2 is also unique to Luke. Why did he scribe this lead-in I wonder? To establish the relationship between Jesus and John? To establish the bond between Mary and Elizabeth?

 

[jimkenney12]

The followers of John were a larger community than the people following Jesus, and, I believe, there is still a community of followers of John. I believe Luke created this story to reinforce Jesus as the Messiah and John as preparing the way for him. The community of followers of John were probably competitors with Luke's community for recruits.

The Magnificat reveals Luke as a social activist. The shepherds being the first visitors to the baby added to the theme of God's preference for the poor.

 

[paradox3]

The followers of John were a larger community than the people following Jesus, and, I believe, there is still a community of followers of John. I believe Luke created this story to reinforce Jesus as the Messiah and John as preparing the way for him. The community of followers of John were probably competitors with Luke's community for recruits

Luke was being strategic in his storytelling then?

 

[jimkenney12]

All the evangelists were strategic. I frequently asked how sections of text might have been helpful to the Evangelist in their setting. Each gospel was written for a specific set of purposes.