Introduction
Tiny fingers pulled open a cardboard door labeled “December 1.” Behind the door lay a Christmas-shaped piece of chocolate. It might have been a lamb or a manger or an angel or a tree, but each of the doors held a great revelation for my sister and me. Filled with anticipation, we awoke every morning of December, excited to find out what lay behind the next door. In the Bible, the story of Christmas begins with an invitation. Luke invites us into a different time and a different place, one full of fascinating people and stories. These people were anticipating a special event. They were waiting for their Savior, who was to appear in the form of a little baby named Jesus. My sister and I had no idea that this anticipation was called Advent. With our simple faith, we knew the calendar would be waiting for us with another treat each morning of December. We thought it was about a piece of candy, but our mother knew it was a way to point us to Jesus. Similarly, we have the opportunity to get to know the people in the book of Luke as we read each chapter, connect with God, and experience the powerful life of Jesus. Luke explains his motivation for writing this book in the first few verses of chapter one: “to write an orderly account for you . . . that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:3–4). Most people think the word Advent means “waiting or anticipation,” but this isn’t the case. Advent means “arrival.” Jesus would arrive on earth to bring hope to all humanity. As we move xiii
