WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.870 Henry: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:02.978 --> 00:00:03.488 Day one. 00:00:03.649 --> 00:00:05.569 Intro 1: Luke Acts: Introduction to Messiah. 00:00:07.429 --> 00:00:10.969 The final quarter of the Bible describes the fifth covenant 00:00:10.969 --> 00:00:12.259 that God made with humanity. 00:00:13.219 --> 00:00:16.659 This covenant flows directly from the ones that came before it. 00:00:17.569 --> 00:00:22.369 But at the same time, it presents such a contrast to those old covenants that our 00:00:22.369 --> 00:00:24.859 Bibles are divided into two testaments. 00:00:25.099 --> 00:00:28.309 Another word for covenant to express this difference. 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:33.859 The First Testament comprising three quarters of the Bible, describes the 00:00:33.859 --> 00:00:39.859 life of God's people, Abraham and his descendants, the ancient nation of Israel 00:00:40.189 --> 00:00:45.199 under the first four covenants made with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. 00:00:46.249 --> 00:00:51.319 The New Testament centers on the story of Jesus the Messiah, the culmination 00:00:51.324 --> 00:00:53.359 of the First Testament's long history. 00:00:54.319 --> 00:00:58.459 The work of Jesus resolves all the narrative threads of the Bible as he 00:00:58.459 --> 00:01:03.799 fulfills God's intentions for Israel, for humanity, and for creation. 00:01:05.259 --> 00:01:09.739 The prophets of Israel had said that a new covenant of a different kind 00:01:09.739 --> 00:01:12.349 was on its way as Jeremiah put it. 00:01:12.934 --> 00:01:15.424 The day is coming says the Lord. 00:01:15.694 --> 00:01:19.384 When I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah, 00:01:19.924 --> 00:01:23.554 this covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors. 00:01:24.304 --> 00:01:27.994 I will put my instructions deep within them and I will 00:01:27.999 --> 00:01:29.464 write them on their hearts. 00:01:30.244 --> 00:01:31.804 And Isaiah announced. 00:01:32.674 --> 00:01:37.684 People from many nations will come and say, come let us go up to the mountain 00:01:37.689 --> 00:01:40.054 of the Lord, to the house of Jacob's God. 00:01:41.044 --> 00:01:41.374 There. 00:01:41.374 --> 00:01:45.094 He will teach us his ways and we will walk in his paths. 00:01:45.874 --> 00:01:49.594 This would fulfill God's covenant promise to Abraham. 00:01:50.404 --> 00:01:53.644 All the families on Earth will be blessed through you. 00:01:54.904 --> 00:01:58.114 All these things that the prophets foretold are fulfilled in the 00:01:58.114 --> 00:01:59.854 life and ministry of Jesus. 00:02:00.244 --> 00:02:00.964 In Him. 00:02:01.354 --> 00:02:06.724 God came to earth as a human being, both to show and to teach his ultimate 00:02:06.729 --> 00:02:09.184 intentions for humanity and creation. 00:02:09.889 --> 00:02:13.609 Jesus explained and lived out the deepest meaning of the scriptures 00:02:13.909 --> 00:02:15.859 and their story of God's people. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:21.679 He also offered himself as the ultimate sacrifice, both to bring peace 00:02:21.679 --> 00:02:26.749 between God and humanity and to make peace between all people possible. 00:02:28.189 --> 00:02:32.809 The story of Jesus is told from four different perspectives In the Bible, books 00:02:32.809 --> 00:02:36.139 known as gospels, gospel means good news. 00:02:36.889 --> 00:02:40.969 All four authors desired to portray the vastly rich and meaningful story 00:02:40.969 --> 00:02:45.229 of Jesus from a perspective that would resonate with their original audiences. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:51.199 Luke and Mark are written primarily to Gentiles non-Jews who are less familiar 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.389 with the history and traditions of Israel. 00:02:54.139 --> 00:02:57.409 Luke is actually the first part of a two-part work, along with 00:02:57.409 --> 00:03:01.459 the Book of Acts, which tells the story of Jesus' earliest followers. 00:03:02.419 --> 00:03:06.559 The Gospels of Matthew and John are likely written to Jews who are 00:03:06.559 --> 00:03:08.749 familiar with Israel's previous story. 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:14.089 The other books of the New Testament, mostly letters are also written to 00:03:14.089 --> 00:03:17.149 these different groups in this edition. 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:20.659 Books of the New Testament that aren't gospels are grouped with the 00:03:20.659 --> 00:03:22.699 gospel that shares a similar audience. 00:03:24.049 --> 00:03:27.499 Paul's letters were sent to Greek speaking followers of Jesus who 00:03:27.499 --> 00:03:31.789 were mostly Gentiles and thus are Fittingly grouped with Luke Acts. 00:03:32.569 --> 00:03:35.239 Luke often traveled with Paul to share the good news. 00:03:35.869 --> 00:03:40.759 We present Paul's letters here in the likely order that they were written based 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:43.069 largely on the Apostle Peter's memoirs. 00:03:43.339 --> 00:03:47.029 Mark's gospel is grouped with the letters that Peter sent from Rome, 00:03:47.299 --> 00:03:49.159 and a similar letter from Jude. 00:03:50.134 --> 00:03:53.854 Like the Gospel of Matthew, the books of Hebrews and James 00:03:53.854 --> 00:03:55.174 address, Jewish believers. 00:03:55.174 --> 00:03:57.244 So these three books are grouped together. 00:03:58.174 --> 00:04:01.234 Finally, the writings of John the Gospel. 00:04:01.324 --> 00:04:05.404 Three letters and Revelation are grouped together as they were originally 00:04:05.409 --> 00:04:07.294 addressed to the same communities. 00:04:08.494 --> 00:04:12.334 The Book of Revelation is unique among the New Testament books in its 00:04:12.334 --> 00:04:14.794 historical setting and literary genre. 00:04:15.454 --> 00:04:19.024 Nevertheless, like all the other books of the New Testament, It's 00:04:19.024 --> 00:04:23.734 a revelation from Jesus Christ and its content centers on him. 00:04:24.454 --> 00:04:29.194 It is placed last in this edition because it provides a fitting conclusion, not 00:04:29.194 --> 00:04:33.754 only to the New Testament, but also to the entire story of the Bible. 00:04:34.044 --> 00:04:38.074 As the Book of Revelation draws to a close, God brings his 00:04:38.074 --> 00:04:42.604 purposes for humanity and creation to their final culmination in 00:04:42.994 --> 00:04:45.064 a new heaven and a new earth. 00:04:45.754 --> 00:04:47.764 We are left with the grand promise. 00:04:47.764 --> 00:04:49.534 That all will be made new in Christ. 00:04:51.574 --> 00:04:54.934 This fresh arrangement of the books highlights the depth of the New 00:04:54.934 --> 00:05:01.144 Testament's fourfold witness to Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, who fulfills 00:05:01.144 --> 00:05:05.404 all the longings and promises of the collected scriptures can be viewed 00:05:05.404 --> 00:05:10.174 here through the rich variety of lenses provided by the books of the new Covenant 00:05:15.814 --> 00:05:17.734 immersed in Luke Acts. 00:05:19.684 --> 00:05:25.054 The longest story in the New Testament, one that fills a quarter of its pages 00:05:25.354 --> 00:05:27.694 was originally addressed to one person. 00:05:28.684 --> 00:05:32.434 The author dedicates this two volume series covering the life 00:05:32.434 --> 00:05:36.964 of Jesus and the early church to the most honorable Theophilus. 00:05:37.774 --> 00:05:42.664 This Greek name shows that he was a Gentile, non-Jewish, and his title 00:05:42.664 --> 00:05:45.004 suggests he was likely a Roman official. 00:05:46.234 --> 00:05:49.174 This history of the early Christian movement was written in the mid 00:05:49.174 --> 00:05:53.314 sixties ad right around the time when the Roman government first 00:05:53.314 --> 00:05:55.534 became hostile to Jesus followers. 00:05:56.254 --> 00:06:01.174 Theophilus may have been facing pressure to forsake his allegiance to Jesus. 00:06:01.564 --> 00:06:06.184 At the same time, some Jewish believers were questioning the place of Gentiles in 00:06:06.184 --> 00:06:08.314 a movement devoted to a Jewish Messiah. 00:06:08.749 --> 00:06:12.529 So Theophilus would no doubt welcome the reassurance that what he'd 00:06:12.529 --> 00:06:16.459 heard about Jesus was genuine, and that the good news really was 00:06:16.459 --> 00:06:18.679 intended for Gentiles like himself. 00:06:19.459 --> 00:06:22.819 Luke was in a unique position to answer these questions. 00:06:23.509 --> 00:06:27.259 He had worked closely with Paul, who brought the message of Jesus 00:06:27.264 --> 00:06:30.109 to Gentiles living throughout much of the Roman empire. 00:06:30.889 --> 00:06:35.269 Luke was able to tell important parts of the story from firsthand experience, 00:06:35.779 --> 00:06:37.909 and since he was educated and literate. 00:06:38.299 --> 00:06:40.909 He could also research and record the movement's history. 00:06:42.169 --> 00:06:46.039 The good news of Jesus invited Jews and Gentiles to unite 00:06:46.039 --> 00:06:47.839 into a single new family. 00:06:48.499 --> 00:06:52.069 So believers from all backgrounds benefited from Luke's account of 00:06:52.074 --> 00:06:56.749 God's story of salvation for the whole world, which had come to surprising 00:06:56.749 --> 00:07:00.499 fulfillment in Jesus, the first volume. 00:07:00.709 --> 00:07:05.449 Luke begins with a prologue about the remarkable circumstances surrounding 00:07:05.449 --> 00:07:07.189 Jesus' birth and early days. 00:07:07.594 --> 00:07:13.474 From its start, the story shows how Jesus was sent as both the long promised king of 00:07:13.474 --> 00:07:16.654 Israel and the savior of the whole world. 00:07:17.644 --> 00:07:21.514 After the introduction, Luke is divided into three main parts. 00:07:22.324 --> 00:07:26.584 The first section describes Jesus early ministry in Israel's northern 00:07:26.584 --> 00:07:30.844 region of Galilee, where he announces the good news of the kingdom of God. 00:07:32.104 --> 00:07:36.214 Luke then portrays Jesus, taking the journey south toward Jerusalem. 00:07:36.649 --> 00:07:40.699 Where he fulfills his calling and destiny along the way. 00:07:40.969 --> 00:07:45.799 Jesus continues to show how the coming of God's reign on earth means freedom for 00:07:45.799 --> 00:07:48.799 the oppressed and a welcome for outsiders. 00:07:49.669 --> 00:07:53.449 The third section shows Jesus' mission coming to its climax in 00:07:53.449 --> 00:07:55.579 Israel's ancient capital of Jerusalem. 00:07:56.419 --> 00:07:59.959 During the Jewish Passover Festival, his enemies conspired to have 00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:02.119 him executed on a Roman cross. 00:08:03.049 --> 00:08:08.359 But Jesus then rises from the dead with royal authority winning God's 00:08:08.359 --> 00:08:10.579 great battle against sin and death. 00:08:11.689 --> 00:08:17.149 The second volume acts describes how the first community of Jesus followers 00:08:17.154 --> 00:08:21.949 brought the message about him to all nations in six different phases. 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:27.829 The good news about Jesus breaks through some significant barrier as it advances. 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:31.219 Each phase ends with a version of the summary statement. 00:08:31.669 --> 00:08:37.429 God's message continued to spread the number of believers greatly increased. 00:08:39.049 --> 00:08:44.299 Phase one, the message breaks through a linguistic barrier as the Jerusalem 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:46.519 community welcomes Greek speakers. 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:52.369 Phase two, the message breaks through a geographic barrier by 00:08:52.369 --> 00:08:54.259 spreading into Judea and Samaria. 00:08:56.119 --> 00:08:57.139 Phase three. 00:08:57.589 --> 00:09:01.459 A significant religious and ethnic barrier is broken when 00:09:01.459 --> 00:09:03.679 the community welcomes Gentiles. 00:09:04.669 --> 00:09:10.609 Phase four, another geographic barrier is broken when the good news moves into Asia. 00:09:10.609 --> 00:09:16.219 Minor phase five, yet another geographic barrier is broken. 00:09:16.219 --> 00:09:19.789 When the good news spreads into Greece, the cultural center of the 00:09:19.789 --> 00:09:23.329 ancient Mediterranean world, phase six. 00:09:23.884 --> 00:09:27.394 The good news about Jesus, the Messiah reaches all the way to 00:09:27.394 --> 00:09:30.334 Rome, the very heart of the empire. 00:09:31.564 --> 00:09:35.764 In this way, Luke Acts completes its twofold movement. 00:09:36.454 --> 00:09:40.534 First, Jesus went to Jerusalem to complete his great work through his 00:09:40.534 --> 00:09:42.544 suffering, death and resurrection. 00:09:43.174 --> 00:09:47.044 Second, the persecution of his followers brought the good news 00:09:47.049 --> 00:09:49.774 about Jesus from Jerusalem to Rome. 00:09:50.584 --> 00:09:55.444 In this combined story, it is revealed that Jesus is Israel's promised 00:09:55.444 --> 00:09:58.594 King and the world's true ruler. 00:10:04.909 --> 00:10:08.359 Volume one of Luke acts, the gospel. 00:10:08.359 --> 00:10:09.289 According to Luke, 00:10:11.719 --> 00:10:14.509 many people have set out to write accounts about the events that 00:10:14.509 --> 00:10:16.009 have been fulfilled among us. 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:20.269 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early 00:10:20.269 --> 00:10:24.829 disciples, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning. 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:29.689 I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable 00:10:29.694 --> 00:10:34.339 Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. 00:10:36.394 --> 00:10:40.624 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. 00:10:41.464 --> 00:10:46.114 He was a member of the priestly order of Aja and his wife Elizabeth, was 00:10:46.114 --> 00:10:48.094 also from the priestly line of Aaron. 00:10:48.904 --> 00:10:53.944 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of 00:10:53.944 --> 00:10:55.894 the Lord's commandments and regulations. 00:10:56.554 --> 00:10:59.584 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, 00:11:00.094 --> 00:11:01.534 and they were both very old. 00:11:02.674 --> 00:11:06.754 One day, Zechariah was serving God in the temple for his order was on duty that 00:11:06.754 --> 00:11:09.394 week, as was the custom of the priests. 00:11:09.754 --> 00:11:14.044 He was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 00:11:14.794 --> 00:11:19.114 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside praying. 00:11:20.194 --> 00:11:24.994 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing 00:11:24.994 --> 00:11:26.434 to the right of the incense altar. 00:11:27.214 --> 00:11:30.694 Zachariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:34.009 But the angel said, don't be afraid. 00:11:34.129 --> 00:11:34.849 Zechariah. 00:11:35.359 --> 00:11:37.039 God has heard your prayer. 00:11:37.549 --> 00:11:42.109 Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son and you are to name him John. 00:11:42.829 --> 00:11:47.689 You will have great joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth for he 00:11:47.694 --> 00:11:49.549 will be great in the eyes of the Lord. 00:11:50.089 --> 00:11:53.239 He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. 00:11:53.869 --> 00:11:57.289 He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. 00:11:58.024 --> 00:12:01.114 He will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 00:12:02.074 --> 00:12:05.134 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. 00:12:05.704 --> 00:12:08.614 He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. 00:12:09.274 --> 00:12:13.294 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and he will cause those 00:12:13.294 --> 00:12:19.504 who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the Godly Zechariah said to the angel, 00:12:19.894 --> 00:12:21.754 how can I be sure this will happen? 00:12:22.294 --> 00:12:25.834 I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years. 00:12:26.959 --> 00:12:30.169 Then the angel said, I am Gabriel. 00:12:30.319 --> 00:12:32.689 I stand in the very presence of God. 00:12:33.109 --> 00:12:35.839 It was he who sent me to bring you this good news. 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:40.819 But now since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and 00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:44.869 unable to speak until the child is born, for my words will certainly 00:12:44.869 --> 00:12:46.729 be fulfilled at the proper time. 00:12:47.869 --> 00:12:51.799 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, 00:12:51.979 --> 00:12:53.479 wondering why he was taking so long. 00:12:54.454 --> 00:12:57.094 When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. 00:12:57.604 --> 00:13:01.354 Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have 00:13:01.354 --> 00:13:03.424 seen a vision in the sanctuary. 00:13:04.684 --> 00:13:08.554 When Zechariah's week of service in the temple was over, he returned home. 00:13:09.034 --> 00:13:13.024 Soon afterward, his wife Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into 00:13:13.024 --> 00:13:14.584 seclusion for five months. 00:13:15.154 --> 00:13:17.374 How kind the Lord is? 00:13:17.434 --> 00:13:18.334 She exclaimed. 00:13:18.814 --> 00:13:22.114 He has taken away my disgrace of having no children. 00:13:23.869 --> 00:13:27.589 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel 00:13:27.589 --> 00:13:32.419 Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee to a virgin named Mary. 00:13:33.199 --> 00:13:37.849 She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 00:13:38.599 --> 00:13:41.749 Gabriel appeared to her and said, greetings favored woman. 00:13:42.709 --> 00:13:46.609 The Lord is with you, confused and disturbed. 00:13:46.849 --> 00:13:49.069 Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 00:13:49.744 --> 00:13:50.614 Don't be afraid. 00:13:50.614 --> 00:13:55.714 Mary the angel told her, for you have found favor with God, you 00:13:55.714 --> 00:13:59.974 will conceive and give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus. 00:14:00.514 --> 00:14:04.444 He will be very great and will be called the son of the most high. 00:14:04.894 --> 00:14:09.214 The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, that 00:14:09.214 --> 00:14:11.554 he will reign over Israel forever. 00:14:12.034 --> 00:14:13.834 His kingdom will never end. 00:14:14.914 --> 00:14:15.304 Mary. 00:14:15.309 --> 00:14:16.384 Ask the angel. 00:14:17.074 --> 00:14:18.334 How can this happen? 00:14:18.724 --> 00:14:19.804 I am a virgin. 00:14:20.734 --> 00:14:25.384 The angel replied, the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of 00:14:25.384 --> 00:14:27.544 the most high will overshadow you. 00:14:28.354 --> 00:14:32.944 So the baby to be born will be holy and he will be called the son of God. 00:14:33.724 --> 00:14:34.804 What's more your relative? 00:14:34.809 --> 00:14:37.204 Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age. 00:14:37.774 --> 00:14:41.704 People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and 00:14:41.704 --> 00:14:45.754 is now in her sixth month For the word of God will never fail. 00:14:46.744 --> 00:14:49.744 Mary responded, I am the Lord servant. 00:14:50.314 --> 00:14:52.654 May everything you have said about me come true. 00:14:53.644 --> 00:14:54.934 And then the angel left her. 00:14:56.434 --> 00:15:00.184 A few days later, Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea to 00:15:00.184 --> 00:15:01.834 the town where Zechariah lived. 00:15:02.434 --> 00:15:06.604 She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth at the sound of Mary's greeting. 00:15:06.964 --> 00:15:11.764 Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:15:12.619 --> 00:15:15.919 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to marry. 00:15:16.489 --> 00:15:21.019 God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 00:15:21.589 --> 00:15:25.399 Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 00:15:26.239 --> 00:15:30.289 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:35.089 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said. 00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:37.159 Mary responded. 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:44.989 Oh, how my soul praises the Lord, how my spirit rejoices and God, my savior, for 00:15:44.989 --> 00:15:47.419 he took notice of his lowly servant girl. 00:15:47.869 --> 00:15:50.179 And from now on, all generations will call me. 00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:55.069 Blessed for the mighty one is holy, and he has done great things for me. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:59.749 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. 00:16:00.469 --> 00:16:03.109 His mighty arm has done tremendous things. 00:16:03.439 --> 00:16:05.839 He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. 00:16:06.499 --> 00:16:10.729 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. 00:16:11.359 --> 00:16:16.369 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. 00:16:17.089 --> 00:16:21.889 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful for He 00:16:21.889 --> 00:16:26.659 made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever. 00:16:27.949 --> 00:16:32.719 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home. 00:16:34.414 --> 00:16:39.214 When it was time for Elizabeth's baby to be born, she gave birth to a son, and 00:16:39.214 --> 00:16:43.024 when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful 00:16:43.024 --> 00:16:45.334 to her, everyone rejoiced with her. 00:16:46.264 --> 00:16:50.344 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. 00:16:50.854 --> 00:16:55.114 They wanted to name him Zechariah after his father, but Elizabeth 00:16:55.114 --> 00:16:57.454 said, no, his name is John. 00:16:58.489 --> 00:17:04.159 What they exclaimed, there was no one at all your family by that name, so 00:17:04.159 --> 00:17:07.909 they used gestures to ask the baby's father what he wanted to name him. 00:17:08.419 --> 00:17:11.569 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone's surprise, 00:17:11.569 --> 00:17:14.029 he wrote, his name is John. 00:17:14.029 --> 00:17:19.009 He instantly, Zechariah could speak again and he began praising God. 00:17:19.999 --> 00:17:23.899 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood and the news of what had happened, 00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:25.369 spread throughout the Judean Hills. 00:17:26.314 --> 00:17:30.424 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked What 00:17:30.424 --> 00:17:32.164 will this child turn out to be? 00:17:32.884 --> 00:17:33.034 For? 00:17:33.034 --> 00:17:36.274 The hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way. 00:17:37.684 --> 00:17:41.344 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit 00:17:41.644 --> 00:17:46.864 and gave this prophecy, praised the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:17:47.314 --> 00:17:52.144 Because he has visited and redeemed his people, he has sent us a mighty savior 00:17:52.444 --> 00:17:54.664 from the royal line of his servant David. 00:17:55.069 --> 00:18:00.799 Just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago, now we will be saved 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:03.259 from our enemies and from all who hate us. 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:07.939 He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred 00:18:07.939 --> 00:18:12.349 covenant, the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. 00:18:13.129 --> 00:18:18.589 We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear in holiness 00:18:18.589 --> 00:18:21.379 and righteousness for as long as we live. 00:18:22.429 --> 00:18:26.659 And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the most high. 00:18:27.109 --> 00:18:29.299 Because you will prepare the way for the Lord. 00:18:29.929 --> 00:18:33.799 You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:36.889 sins, because of God's tender mercy. 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:38.749 The morning light from heaven. 00:18:38.754 --> 00:18:43.339 It's about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness 00:18:43.459 --> 00:18:47.449 and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. 00:18:48.754 --> 00:18:54.214 John grew up and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilderness until 00:18:54.214 --> 00:18:56.434 he began his public ministry to Israel. 00:18:57.904 --> 00:19:00.784 This concludes today's Immer reading experience. 00:19:00.904 --> 00:19:02.104 Thank you for joining us.