Luke 1:66
And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
Luke 1:66
Verse 66 captures a reflective moment: all who heard “laid them up in their hearts” the sense of grasping at hidden potential. People wonder, “What manner of child shall this be!” This reflects hopeful anticipation and a pattern in Luke where ordinary people become witnesses to extraordinary divine activity. The line “the hand of the Lord was with him” stresses divine empowerment on John’s life, setting him up as the one who will prepare the way for Jesus.
Luke emphasizes God’s providential care and the shaping of a prophetic vocation. The inward meditation by observers contrasts with public proclamation, signaling that true recognition of God’s work often grows in the heart before it is spoken aloud. The sense of expectancy highlights the eschatological hope that God’s promises will be fulfilled.
We can cultivate such attentiveness: reflect on what God might be preparing in you or those around you. Practical steps:
- Create space for personal reflection and journaling about God’s movement.
- Share spiritual hopes with trusted friends who can encourage you.
- Look for signs of God’s “hand with you” in daily life—unexpected opportunities, restored relationships, renewed passions.
Cross-References: Luke 2:18; Psalm 119:18; Jeremiah 33:3; 1 Samuel 3:19; Acts 10:38