Luke 9:35

Verse of the Day Devotion: Luke 9:35

“Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, this is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” – Luke 9:35

This passage is found at the end of what is called the transfiguration.  Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him up onto a mountain to pray.  While Jesus was praying, it says that something changed with Him.  He was transfigured.  “And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming.”  Luke 9-29.  Matthew gives us a more detailed description of the change in Jesus.  “And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.”  Matthew 17:2. And with Him stood two other men, also appearing in glory, Elijah and Moses.

After a time, the voice of God the Father came from out of the clouds saying, ‘Listen to my Son, the chosen one.’  This is key.  As the disciples were told to listen to Jesus, we are to as well.  Too often we only listen to pastors and teachers when it comes to theological issues, and just accept what they say.  This is where heretical teachings and practices arise.  The question we should ask is, ‘Does what they are saying line up with the Word of God?’  If it does, then accept it and follow it.  If it does not, then reject it.

Paul spoke of the Bereans in Acts 17, and this should be our mindset.  “Now these (Jews from Berea) were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”  Acts 17:11.   They did not take what Paul said without checking it out first.  We also should not accept what someone tells us, even if they are greatly credentialed, without checking it out ourselves.  There are some things that are obvious, however, if you have not heard it before or are questioning the accuracy of the interpretation, look it up.  And while checking it out, pray that God will reveal the truth to you.  Let Christ be the one who validates what men say.

Now this does require discipline.  We must be willing and desirous of knowing the reality of what is being said.  Let Him show you the truth.  He will never lead you astray and will always guide you, through His Spirit, into all truth.  And is not the truth what we are striving for?

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Luke 1:57

Verse of the Day Devotion: Luke 1:57

“Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.” – Luke 1:57

The time had finally come for Mary’s cousin Elizabeth to give birth to John.  “Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.”  Luke 1:58.  This was a time of celebration.  She had lived beyond the age where she could have children, however, the Lord caused her to give birth to the one who would cry out in the wilderness declaring the coming of the Messiah to His ministry. “He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” John 1:23 This is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah where he said, “A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3

As was the custom regarding the law, on the eighth day, they circumcised the child.  Everyone who was visiting was thinking the child should be named Zacharias, after the father.  Another part of Jewish tradition was that the child was named when he was circumcised, and ordinarily the name of the father was given to the first-born son.  So, this made sense to everyone there.  But Elizabeth interjected, “But his mother answered and said, “No; indeed, but he shall be called John.” Luke 1:60.  This of course was the name the angel told Zacharias to give him. “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.” Luke 1:13.

This was not the norm, thus, “And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” Luke 1:61. Again, this was important in regard to tradition.  Their reasoning was that the Jewish tribes customarily kept their families sacredly distinct, and this included family names.  They would name their children the name of an ancestor that was found in the line of the tribe, partly because of reverence for them, but also partly to avoid confusion in the genealogical tables, which for the sake of distinguishing the inheritances, were carefully preserved.  It seems that because John never appeared in the family line of Levi, they argued it was not a good name to give.

They then asked the father Zacharias what he wanted to name the child.  “And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, His name is John. And they were all astonished.” Luke 1:63. Therefore, he declared what the angel said.  Now Zacharias was unable to speak because he doubted the words of the Lord spoken through the angel. “Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” Luke 1:18-20.  However, now that he obeyed the words of God by going against tradition, he received his voice back.

Then Zacharias prophesied saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant—As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old— Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”  Luke 1:68-80.

Now, he who is the forerunner of the Messiah has been born.  And he will prepare the way for the Messiah, who shall be born fairly soon.  Zacharias dropped all traditions of men to obey God.  Jesus rebuked those who followed traditions of men rather then God. “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” Mark 7:8. Let us not fall into this trap, just as Zacharias did not.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Luke 1:41

Verse of the Day Devotion: Luke 1:41

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” – Luke 1:41

After her visit from Gabriel, Mary prepared herself to visit Elizabeth who lived in the hill county of Judea. “Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.” Luke 1:39-40.  She was anxious to visit her relative in order to see what the Lord has done for her.  Gabriel told her that Elizabeth would conceive a son in her old age. “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.” Luke 1:36. In fact, as noted in the verse 36, she has been pregnant for the last six months.  What an opportunity to see the hand of God working in Elizabeth’s life, which could well give evidence that what the angel said is true for her as well.

When Elizabeth heard Mary, a couple amazing things happened.  “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” Luke 1:41.  First, the baby within her leaped in her womb.  This baby, who would be named John, responded to the fact that the Messiah, who was now in the womb of Mary, was nearby.  This, I believe, was on account of the second event, which was the infilling of Elizabeth by the Holy Spirit.  However, it was not just Elizabeth who was filled by the Holy Spirit.  Back when Zechariah, a priest in Israel, was performing his priestly duties, he was visited by an angel who prophesied saying, “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” Luke 1:14. And now the next verse.  “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.” Luke 1:15. Not only was Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit, so was John, and this was why he leaped in the womb.

Then Elizabeth, after being filled by the Spirit. Prophesies over Mary.  “And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”  Luke 1:42. She declares that Mary is blessed of the Lord, and the baby in her as well. Then she reveals something that only God could have told her.  “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” Luke 1:43-45.  She was not there when the angle talked to her, and there was no way Mary could have sent a message to her this quickly.  For she knew that the Lord had told Mary she would give birth to the Messiah.

Then Mary spoke out in praise and gave glory to God.  “And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond slave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones and has exalted those who were humble. HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.” Luke 1:46-55.  What a great declaration of the mighty and great works done by God.  Mary, after all this, remained with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. What is worth noting here is that God not only told Mary, and previously to Zechariah and Elizabeth, what was going to happen, but He also gave them evidence of what He declared.  And God will do the same for us when required.  He did this via the first meeting between John the Baptist and the Messiah, when both were in their respective wombs.  God always make clear to all what He is going to do, and what He has already done in the lives of His people.  It is up to us to accept and believe what He tells us.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Luke 1:38

Verse of the Day Devotion: Luke 1:38

“And Mary said, “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” – Luke 1:38  

Mary, the chosen mother of Christ, was visited by the archangel Gabriel and brought a message from the Lord to her. “And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28. Now, this confused her, and she pondered in her mind what was said to her and what could it mean.  It appears she feared Gabriel. “The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 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; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:30-33.

Now, this was again confusing to her, for she had never laid with a man up to this point, so she wondered how this could possibly be.  She had followed the law faithfully. So, what was he saying?  Therefore, “Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:34.  In response to this question, “The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35. It would not be Joseph who she was currently engaged to who would be the father.  She would be a mother not by any man, but by God Himself. This is prophesied by Isaiah when he said, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14. Matthew clarifies this by stating Immanuel in the Hebrew means ‘God with Us’. (Found in Matthew 1:23).  This child she will give birth to is God.  Now, she probably was questioning this in her mind, so Gabriel says to her, “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.” Luke 1:36.  This was probably told to her to give her confidence that if God could cause Elizabeth to have a baby in her old age, then He could cause her to have a child with the promise given her. He then ends his words with, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37.

Without any more questions, she says through the focus verse, “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38. This was an expression of giving herself over to the will of God.  This shows us the commitment Mary had to God and why she was chosen for this purpose.  For her to have a child by someone other than Joseph, to whom she was engaged to, would have had her ostracized because she broke the law by committing adultery. She knew what this meant regarding her reputation, but she followed the will of God completely, no matter the consequences.  My question to all of us here is, would we do the same?  Would we follow what God tells us no matter how anyone thinks of us, or what we would look like in their eyes?  Are we willing to be humiliated before men to be found pleasing before God?  Something to think about.  Is how God sees us more important than how man sees us?  Sometimes He calls us to do things that are not acceptable to the ways of men.  And we, as Mary did, should be willing to go against the ways of man to obey Him.  It is hard but think about it.  Who is more important?  This will give us the answer we need.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Luke 6:46

Verse of the Day – Luke 6:46

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” – Luke 6:46

This is a fair question brought forth by Jesus.  Especially when we look at what the word Lord actually means.  According to Strong’s Greek dictionary, the word translated ‘Lord’ in this passage is the Greek word ‘Kurios’ which means ‘that which is supreme in authority’.  Anyone who is rightly designated Kurios by someone is essentially the owner of that person and their property; the one who has control of the person.”  Jesus affirmed His lordship when He said to the disciples at the last supper, “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.”  John 13:13.

Therefore, Jesus is rightly our Lord.  Everything we are and have are His.  If we believe He is our Lord, then we are to completely obey Him in everything.  Now, if we call Him Lord and we do not obey, or as the focus verse says, do not do what He says, then do we really believe He is Lord?  We cannot believe He is Lord and go about our business ignoring what He has said.

Actually, whatever or whoever we listen to and obey other than Jesus, is who we designate as Lord.  For instance, Jesus said that we are to love our enemies.  “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44.  If we do not love our enemies and our persecutors, we are obeying someone else other than Jesus.  Whoever we obey here is our lord here.  And what about this one, you will not steal?  Jesus upheld this when He listed this in His answer to the rich young ruler.  “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness”. Matthew 19:18. So, if we steal something, we are not following Jesus, but another whom you are obeying.

We need to examine ourselves and see if we are following Jesus in every aspect of our lives.  Yes, there will be times when we fail in this, however, if we see it as a regular practice, this can be trouble.  Consciously disobeying Him should make us examine whether He truly is our Lord.  And if it is not Jesus, then who is it.  Is it ourselves?  In conclusion, Jesus said the following, “But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”  Luke 6:49. We cannot stand if He is not Lord.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Verse of the Day Devotion: Luke 6:46

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” – Luke 6:46

This is a fair question brought forth by Jesus.  Especially when we look at what the word Lord actually means.  According to Strong’s Greek dictionary, the word translated ‘Lord’ in this passage is the Greek word ‘Kurios’ which means ‘that which is supreme in authority’.  Anyone who is rightly designated Kurios by someone is essentially the owner of that person and their property; the one who has control of the person.”  Jesus affirmed His lordship when He said to the disciples at the last supper, “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.”  John 13:13.

Therefore, Jesus is rightly our Lord.  Everything we are and have are His.  If we believe He is our Lord, then we are to completely obey Him in everything.  Now, if we call Him Lord and we do not obey, or as the focus verse says, do not do what He says, then do we really believe He is Lord?  We cannot believe He is Lord and go about our business ignoring what He has said.

Actually, whatever or whoever we listen to and obey other than Jesus, is who we designate as Lord.  For instance, Jesus said that we are to love our enemies.  “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44.  If we do not love our enemies and our persecutors, we are obeying someone else other than Jesus.  Whoever we obey here is our lord here.  And what about this one, you will not steal?  Jesus upheld this when He listed this in His answer to the rich young ruler.  “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness”. Matthew 19:18. So, if we steal something, we are not following Jesus, but another whom you are obeying.

We need to examine ourselves and see if we are following Jesus in every aspect of our lives.  Yes, there will be times when we fail in this, however, if we see it as a regular practice, this can be trouble.  Consciously disobeying Him should make us examine whether He truly is our Lord.  And if it is not Jesus, then who is it.  Is it ourselves?  In conclusion, Jesus said the following, “But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”  Luke 6:49. We cannot stand if He is not Lord.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Luke 1:1-2:21

Verse of the Day Devotion: Luke 1:1-2:21

“Merry Christmas to all who are reading this.  Every year, just prior to the opening of our gifts, I read the Christmas Story to all who are celebrating Christmas with us.  I pray you find this encouraging and possibly choose to read it on Christmas every year as well, to tell the story of the coming of the promised Messiah.” – Luke 1:1-2:21

Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,

Luke 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,

Luke 1:3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus.

Luke 1:4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

Luke 1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Luke 1:6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

Luke 1:7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

Luke 1:8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

Luke 1:9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

Luke 1:11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

Luke 1:12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

Luke 1:14 “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Luke 1:15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.

Luke 1:16 “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.

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.”

Luke 1:18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

Luke 1:19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Luke 1:20 “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

Luke 1:21 The people were waiting for Zacharias and were wondering at his delay in the temple.

Luke 1:22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them and remained mute.

Luke 1:23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

Luke 1:24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,

Luke 1:25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

Birth of Jesus Foretold

Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,

Luke 1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Luke 1:28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

Luke 1:29 But she was very perplexed at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

Luke 1:30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

Luke 1:31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

Luke 1:32 “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.

Luke 1:33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Luke 1:34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

Luke 1:35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:36 “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.

Luke 1:37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1:39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah,

Luke 1:40  and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Luke 1:43 “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?

Luke 1:44 “For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

Luke 1:45 “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat

Luke 1:46 And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,

Luke 1:47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Luke 1:48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

Luke 1:49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.

Luke 1:50 “AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

Luke 1:51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

Luke 1:52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.

Luke 1:53 “HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed.

Luke 1:54 “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy,

Luke 1:55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Luke 1:56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.

Luke 1:58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

Luke 1:59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father.

Luke 1:60 But his mother answered and said, “No; indeed, but he shall be called John.”

Luke 1:61 And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”

Luke 1:62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.

Luke 1:63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.

Luke 1:64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.

Luke 1:65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea.

Luke 1:66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

Luke 1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

Luke 1:69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant—

Luke 1:70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—

Luke 1:71 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US;

Luke 1:72 To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant,

Luke 1:73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

Luke 1:74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,

Luke 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

Luke 1:76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS.

Luke 1:77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins,

Luke 1:78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

Luke 1:79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Luke 1:80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Luke 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

Luke 2:2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Luke 2:3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

Luke 2:4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

Luke 2:5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

Luke 2:6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

Luke 2:8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2:9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.

Luke 2:11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Luke 2:15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

Luke 2:16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

Luke 2:17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

Luke 2:18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.  Luke 2:21  And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Luke 2:6

Verse of the Day Devotion: Luke 2:6:

“While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.” – Luke 2:6 

Jesus was now born, in a manger where the animals were kept because they could not find any room in any of the inns because of the census that was decreed by Caesar. “And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7. This was in the town of Bethlehem, because Joseph was of the family of David and was no doubt born there, for each family was to go to the city where the head of the household was born.  “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,” Luke 2:4

After the birth of Jesus, they were visited by shepherds who were keeping their sheep in the fields in the same region.  ” In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12. This was such a momentous event, that these shepherds were alerted to the birth of the Messiah by angels.  And it was not just one or two either.  “And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:13-14.

This was an incredible declaration.  Angels, whose number could not be counted, told these humble men that the Messiah, the coming King, the Savior of the world, had been born in the city of David, in a humble manger, within this small and what was considered an insignificant town.  I cannot imagine how they must have felt.  No wonder the angel told them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;” Luke 2:10.

When the angels disappeared, they immediately left the sheep to see what they had told them.  “When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.”  Luke 1:15-18. The shepherds eventually went back, glorifying God as they went for all that He had told them.

Mary, on the other hand, pondered all these things.  She no doubt remembered what Gabriel had told her, and along with what she saw with the shepherds and everything else, she thought about them and what all this could mean.  She kept them in her heart and no doubt pondered them often.  She had obeyed God, offered herself as a hand maiden to do the will of God.  And now what was prophesied had now come to fulfillment.  What would this mean going forward?  I am sure this probably came to her mind.

Several years later, they received a visit from magi, known also as astrologers or magicians from the east. “After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11.  These were wise men, who had probably read the prophesies of the coming king and were led there by God using a star as a guide.  They gave very precious gifts and worshipped this child before they left.  God gave them a warning. “And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.” Matthew 2:12.

I close this by again saying this was not a normal event.  God prepared it from before the foundation of the world, and He guided many to observe it and give due worship to this child, the Son of the Living God.  This is what Christmas is about.  And this should be our focus and priority in our celebration of it.  Giving gifts and decorating is not wrong, but it should not be the priority.  Jesus is.  Let us remember this as we rejoice during this holiday season.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Luke 24:01

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Luke 24:1

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.” –  Luke 24:1

In our last verse of the day, Jesus had been buried by Joseph of Arimathea. He laid Him in his own private tomb on Friday after Jesus’ crucifixion. They could not prepare His body for burial because Sabbath had come. “Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed after and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath, they rested according to the commandment.” Luke 23:55-56. However, now it is Sunday, the Sabbath has ended, and they go to prepare His body.

When they arrive, they were surprised at what they saw. “And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” Luke 24:2-3. The stone that covered the tomb has been rolled away, which no doubt confused them. Then they entered the tomb and could not find the body of Jesus. Now while they were working through this, something remarkable happened. “And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling apparel; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” Luke 24:4-5. These were angels that came to them. Mathew wrote, “And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow; and the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.” Matthew 28:2-4. Now the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. And as they did, the angel said to them “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” Luke 24:5-7. They then remembered what Jesus had told them, and they left there and went back to the disciples to let them know what they had seen, that an angel declared Jesus had risen. The ladies that went back to tell the disciples were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James.

Now, when the disciples heard what the ladies said, they had a hard time believing. “And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.” Luke 24:11. And this is understandable, for opening their hearts to this possibility would have made them susceptible to additional disappointment if this were not true. But next we read, “But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at that which had happened.” Luke 24:12. Now, Peter did not go alone, but John joined him. “And so she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him. Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they were going to the tomb.” John 20:2-3. However, “So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” John 20:8-9.

And finally, Jesus comes into the disciple’s presence. Thomas was not there when Jesus came at that meeting. Jesus shows them proof it was Him, and then breathes on them and they receive the Holy Spirit. Thomas comes to the next meeting and declares “Peace be with you. Then he turns to Thomas and says to him, reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing. Then Thomas believed, saying “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28. He then believed after He saw the wounds of Jesus.

In closing, there are two basic types of unbelievers. First, there are people who refuse to believe no matter the proof.  This, many times, is because it would have a negative affect on their lives. This was the issue with the Jewish and Roman leadership. Then there are those who are open to believe but need help. The disciples desired but struggled with the seeming impossibility of the incident. Two of them went to see the tomb and reported back what they saw. Thomas heard but struggled, and only believed after seeing the wounds. Jesus made it plain that He was raising from the dead, and He also makes it clear He will return for His people.  Let us go out and help those who want to believe understand the truth and become followers of Jesus who will also arise and be with Him forever.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Luke 23:50

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Luke 23:50

“And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man.” – Luke 23:50

Now, our focus verse takes place just after the death of Jesus. “And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, the sun being obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT. And having said this, He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, Certainly this man was innocent. And all the multitudes who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts. And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee, were standing at a distance, seeing these things.” Luke 23:44-49. The past twenty-four hours was constant torture and pain for Him, but now this time is over. He died. Now comes His burial.

A man came up and made this happen. “And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man” Luke 23:50. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, which voted to have Jesus executed, however we see in the next verse he voted against the majority. “(he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God.” Luke 23:51. We also see in John’s and Matthew’s gospels that he had become a disciple of Jesus. “And when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.” Matthew 27:57. And we also see that he was a rich mas as well.

Now, this rich, righteous man who was a follower of Christ went to Pilate. “this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain.” Luke 23:52-53. Now, this was not a random tomb. This tomb was owned by Joseph. “And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.” Matthew 27:59-60. And because it was preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin, they held off the preparation of the body until the next day, Sunday. And He did not go alone. “Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed after and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.” Luke 23:55. These women were undoubtedly the same as those who reported the resurrection to the disciples. “Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.” Luke 24:10. Now these ladies went back to prepare spices and perfumes for His body. “Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed after and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” Luke 23:55-56. They prepared the spices and all that was necessary to prepare the body. They did not want to violate the Sabbath, therefore they left and planned to prepare the body on Sunday.

Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin showed much courage in what he did for Jesus. In fact, he took a tremendous risk in going to both the Sanhedrin and to Pilate. “Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15:43. He took a risk in voting contrary to the vast majority of the Sanhedrin, “he had not consented to their plan and action.” Both of these actions could have brought great trouble on him.  However, he was a follower of Christ. “And after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. He came therefore and took away His body.” John 19:38. He risked much in doing what He did for Christ. I want to encourage us all to do His work no matter the cost.  We can be a true follower of Christ as Joseph was, in secret, without denying Him. However, it is a risk. And if caught, there may be ridicule and hatred now, with far more serious results coming. We must always remember that God is always with us. As the Apostle Paul so clearly said. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.” Galatians 1:3-5. And besides, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” Romans 8:31.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.