Light

Jesus and the Light

The word “light” is used in the description of Jesus himself, his message and his role. Light here conveys the senses of the source of inner enlightenment and, by rolling back the darkness, of making visible what would otherwise not be “seen”.

Nativity

Luke 1: 1-25 Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us.

Mary

Jesus' mother was named Mary. Despite the interest of the Gospel writers in the role of women in the Christ-event, references to this Mary are actually sparse, apart, naturally, from the “birth narratives”. This final NT mention has her in Jerusalem during the waiting period between Jesus’ death and resurrection and his sending of his replacement (the Holy Spirit).

Grace

Long ago, Mary of Nazareth was jolted by the arrival of Gabriel, God’s messenger, telling her she was to bear a son to be named Jesus. A son who would rule forever. She was assured that she had no need to be afraid. God had favoured her and was holding her in that favour.
And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’[b] But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. (Luke 1:28-31, NRSV)

The word “favour“ in this passage is also translated by the word “grace”, or by “blessing”, or by “kindness”. The word we know as “grace” is found over 100 times in the NT.

Faith (v2)

Jesus encountered responses to himself which he judged as "faith".

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer^[b] came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant^[c] lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

Master

I am focussing this post on “Master”, a particular word from from Luke’s Gospel. The old English translations made frequent use of “Master” as address to Jesus. The KJV Gospels include the word 67 times. In the English of today that word is less frequent and raises issues of translation.

However, the name by which we know the Saviour of the World (Jesus) is not really the central issue.

Teacher

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29, ESV)