In the very next story, Jesus goes to the home of a woman named Martha. He knows Martha. He sees her. He offers her a new perspective. He invites her to open her arms to receive the gift of his presence. To the lawyer, he says, “go and do.” To Martha, he says, “sit and listen.” Jesus knows them both. He knows exactly what they need. Jesus knows us too. He knows exactly what we need.

What must it have been like for a people like that, a people who’ve been torn down and stepped on and taken advantage of their entire lives? What was it like for them to hear these words of Jesus: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you?”

Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, looks at his small baby boy and has a vision of that light that is coming into the world. His song is one of praise to God and hope for what God will do not only through his son John, but more so through God’s own son Jesus.