JESUS is Announced (Luke 1-2)

Luke's writing is more to the Greek - the thinking man.  He begins with Zacharias getting the message from the angel about the son he and his wife would have - John the Baptist...

(Luke 1:17)  “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Elizabeth getting pregnant was a miracle since she was past her child-bearing years.  Then we have Mary getting the message from the angel about having a baby - which was a miracle since she was a virgin - and the Son she would have was Jesus...

(Luke 1:31-33)  “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Next we see the two pregnant woman meeting up with each other, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes what is going on...

(Luke 1:42-45)  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

Now, when John the Baptist was born. Zacharias first gives a prophecy about Jesus, and then about his son, John the Baptist...

(Luke 67-79)  ...his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 Salvation from our enemies,
And from the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Once Jesus was born, God sends the angels to some shepherds in the field to give them a message...

(Luke 2:10-12)  “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Joseph and Mary were both obedient to God and the Law of the Lord, and so went through the proper steps when any son is born.  After the days of purification, they went to Jerusalem to present Jesus to the Lord and offer a sacrifice (of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).  There, Simeon, a righteous and devout man had received a message by the Holy Spirit that before he died, he would see the Lord's Christ...

(Luke 2:27-32)  And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”

Simeon also told Mary (and Joseph)...

(Luke 2:35-36)  “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

This is heavy stuff.  Now, Mary and Joseph, although "believers", were both fallible humans.  After hearing or hearing about all these unique supernatural messages from angels and prophets, they still didn't quite get it.  Remember, even Joseph had an angel bring a message to him after he heard the news that Mary was pregant...

(Matthew 1:20-21)  “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

And I'm not even including all the  messages that they received from angels, but you'd think they would remember that God had His hand in this...

(Luke 2:)  Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

Jesus did not disobey His parents.  This could have been an interesting lesson for Mary and Joseph.  Here they were raising Jesus (fully God and fully human), who was always perfectly obedient.  And because Mary and Joseph had children after Jesus was born - most likely they would have been focusing their attention on the other children.  It's a "thing" in most families, so it would have been so easy to take this Perfect Son for granted - like - He's always good, so He can take care of Himself.  And Jesus' response was like, "Where else would I be?"  You know - "Have you forgotten that I'm God's Son???  

How quickly anyone of us can forget or take God for granted.  This is why we are to thank God for our daily bread.  This is why we are told not to neglect going to church (Hebrews 10:25).  This is why we need to have our daily devotions!  I have learned that my day goes much better when I read and study God's word.  I tend to stay focused on God, and I'm more likely to remember to ask Him for guidance, etc., for - well - everything!!!...

(Joshua 1:7-9)  “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

(Romans 12:1-2)  Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.