The Gospel Period of Time

As we enter the gospel period of time in our Wednesday study, we are introduced to two families; Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth and Mary and her betrothed Joseph.

It is a very wonderful time, to say the least, because we read of supernatural events taking place which causes great excitement in these families and their communities. God sends an angel; Gabriel, to Zachariah and to Mary, to announce to them that God would bless them with a child. To Zachariah, his wife who was barren would be blessed with a child that would be the 'Elijah' that was to come and make straight paths for the Messiah and to Mary he told her that she would bear the Son of the Most High and that God would give him the throne of his father David and that his kingdom would have no end. It may have even been the angel Gabriel who came to Joseph in a dream after he had contemplated divorcing his wife quietly and explained to him that the baby conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit and that the child would save his people from their sins.

The lives of these four people would be changed forever as well as the lives of the people of the whole world. I would highly encourage you to read these particular stories from the gospel because they are an excellent revealing of our Christian history, they can be found in; Luke 1:5-56 and Mat. 1:18-25. They aren’t only just lessons in history for us but there are lessons we too can apply in our lives. One such lesson is about belief.

In Zachariah’s case, he doubted when Gabriel told him God’s plan, he said to Gabriel,

“How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

He was immediately punished for his disbelief by being struck mute.

Mary had an attitude that should be emulated by all believers, her response was,

“Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”

And Joseph too was faithful in his due diligence and took Mary as his wife. Let’s have good and positive attitudes in our lives and service to our Lord as we seek to serve him too.

For his glory!

— Jim