Archives

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/7) Luke 8:16-39

Apr7

A 5-day per week study.

April 7 – Reading Luke 8:16-39

Read and believe in Jesus.

“”  Luke

.

The Gospel according to Luke 8:16-39

Review – In the last study, women follow Jesus and use their resources to support the group. Jesus’ teaching is now in parables as both a judgment and a mercy. The parable of the Sower/Soils puzzles the disciples, but Jesus explains it to them.

.

Vss. 19-21.

Jesus is surrounded by crowds, no matter which town or village he goes to.  He is healing and teaching, although now more in veiled parables.

  1. He ended the Parable of the Sower/Soils by describing the “good” soil as “Those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, AND bear fruit with patience.”

While He is teaching, Jesus’ mother (Mary) and his brothers come to him. But they cannot get TO Him because of the crowd. We know from other accounts that Mary is concerned about Him because he doesn’t even take time to eat. (Sounds like a mom, right?)  Perhaps she brought his half-siblings along to maybe physically take him aside to eat.

.

Yes, Jesus had brothers and sisters.  These are those who were born AFTER Jesus’ virgin birth.  They had Mary as their mom, but Joseph was their birth father, unlike Jesus.

(NOTE: Both Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3 give the names of the brothers: James (who became the leader of the Jerusalem church and wrote a book by that name), Joseph, Simon, and Judas (or Jude), who also wrote a book in the New Testament – that shortie right before The Revelation.  Matthew mentions “all” of Jesus’ sisters, so He had at least three, although they are not named.)

.

Jesus loved and respected His mother, but since his ministry, and eventually the way to the cross, began, His family had to take a secondary position.  He was now “Messiah,” “Savior,” and “Redeemer.”  Faith, not family, was primary.

  1. Jesus said to those who were telling Him His family was summoning Him, “My mother and my brothers are those who HEAR the word of God and DO it.”
  2. This was the point he made with that Parable. It was also something His brother, James, remembered.  In James’ letter (1:22), the church leader wrote, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

.

Vss. 22-25.

After this, and to get some rest and alone time with His disciples, Jesus suggested, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.”

As soon as they set out, Jesus fell asleep on the bench at the back of the boat.

  • The disciples took turns rowing.
  • The wind freshened, then started to blow in earnest. It whipped up the waves, and they began to wash over the sides of the boat.
  • The disciples bucketed out the water, but they couldn’t do it fast enough, and the water level rose. The boat sank deeper into the Sea.
  • They were in serious danger!
  • One sloshed to the back of the boat, shaking Jesus. “MASTER, MASTER, we are perishing!”
  • Jesus sat up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves.
  • Both ceased, and there was a calm.
  • Silence and awe.
  • Jesus, “Where is your faith?”
  • They whispered among themselves, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and water and they obey Him?”

.

The disciples were about to meet ANOTHER crazy whirlwind and dangerous, angry storm as soon as they reached the other side of the Lake.  A wild, dangerous demoniac. Jesus’ words would once again bring calm and peace.

.

Vss. 26-39.

AS SOON AS they stepped out of the boat, the crazy, naked, menacing, demon-possessed man met them. (Talk about stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire!)

This poor man had been uncontrollable, both by himself and by the men of the town.  They had restrained him, but he broke the shackles and ran around naked in the graveyard, screaming and cutting himself.

.

(This is a picture of Satan and what he would love to do to us all.  Praise God that Jesus defeated him, not only in the wilderness temptations, but would do once and for all on the cross.)

.

  • The demons in the man slammed him down to the ground before Jesus. (They had no choice.)
  • Jesus commanded the demon(s) to come out.
  • “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me!”
  • “What is your name?” Jesus demanded.
  • “Legion, for we are many,” they said and begged Jesus not to send them into the Abyss.”

(NOTE: The Abyss was the pit, the underworld, the prison of bound demons who disobeyed. 2 Peter 2:4 adds about fallen angels, “God committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.”)

  • Jesus instead commanded that this “legion” of demons be sent into a large herd of pigs nearby. The swine promptly ran over the cliff and perished in the lake.
  • This, of course, upset the swineherds and the townspeople, and they asked Jesus to “depart from them.” This, even though the former demon-possessed man was now sitting at the feet of Jesus, fully clothed, “in his right mind.”

.

(We haven’t heard a peep out of the disciples. Were they standing around, first in fear, then in awe, then in amazement?  Did they ask themselves again, “Who then is this that a legion of demons obey Him?”)

.

The released, whole, and sane former slave to Satan begged Jesus that he might go with Him.  But Jesus told the “new disciple” to return to his home and “declare how much God has done for you.”  

Saved, freed, and now a witness and preacher in his own hometown. “And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”

Again, one who heard, believed, and became a “doer of the Word.”

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/6) Luke 8:1-15

Apr6

A 5-day per week study.

April 6 – Reading Luke 8:1-15

Read and believe in Jesus.

“They are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”  Luke 8:15

.

The Gospel according to Luke 8:1-15

Review – While Jesus was at a pompous Simon’s home, a “woman of the city” came and fell at Jesus feet, wetting them with her tears and anointing them with ointment. Simon was disgusted. The woman was forgiven and saved by her faith. Jesus sees hearts.

.

Vss, 1-3.

After leaving Simon’s house, Jesus went on through cities and villages proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God.  The TWELVE disciples were with Him, AND ALSO some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities,

Luke – perhaps because he was a physician – often highlighted, or at least provided more detail about, the women Jesus interacted with than the other Gospel writers did. Here, he names three, but there were “many others” who followed Jesus.

  1. There was Mary, called Magdalene (because she was from the lakeside town of Magdala). Jesus cast out seven demons from her. (And no, this does not mean she was a prostitute, not the woman of the city in the previous account in Luke 7.)
  2. Joanna is an interesting and independent woman. Her husband, Chuza, was King Herod’s household manager. They were probably a wealthy couple, but I wonder how she met Jesus. Was she healed of some horrible disease?  (She could have been the one who supplied Luke with the details of Herod’s house in Luke 23:8 and 12.)
  3. And there was Susanna. This gal is mentioned nowhere else in scripture. Perhaps she was someone Luke knew personally.

These women “provided for Jesus and the Twelve out of their own means.”

,

Vss. 4-8.

Here is when Jesus’ ministry takes a turn.  Up until now, He has been teaching plainly about the Kingdom of God. (The sermon on the mount, etc.).  NOW, Jesus begins to use parables to teach.

WE kind of like parables. We like to think about and even debate their meanings. We often teach them to children.

**** However, unlike the analogies Jesus used (you are salt of the earth, light of the world, etc.), parables required more explanation.  Jesus used them to “obscure the truth from unbelievers.”  Doing this was both a judgment and a mercy. They “loved the dark and had rejected the light,” and more truth would only add more condemnation.

Even the disciples were not sure what Jesus meant by these stories.  They would often ask Him the meaning in private, and, of course, Jesus would explain it to them.

.

This first one is very well known. The Parable of the Sower (or sometimes, the Soils) would have resonated with the local farmers. They knew this happened to the seeds that they cast out in sweeping arcs from the bags.  They knew that not all the seed germinated and produced a crop.

BUT what the seed and the soil stood for, and what those hinderances to a plentiful crop signified in Jesus’ teaching, was beyond them.

  1. Some seed fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.
  2. Some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
  3. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.
  4. Some seed fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.

Jesus ended the parable with, “He who has ears to HEAR, let him hear.”

.

Vss. 9-10.

When the disciples asked Him what He meant, Jesus said, “To YOU it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but FOR OTHERS they are in parables … so that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand.”

Now this seems hard for us to take in. Doesn’t Jesus want the crowds to know and understand the truths He’s teaching?

Well, yes, but hardened hearts do not WANT to understand. They figuratively put up their hands and turn away from the truth. The religious leaders are prime examples.  Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9, where God blinds unbelievers.

.

Vss. 11-15.

Then He explains the parable to His disciples.

  1. The seed is the Word of God.
  2. The “packed-down” soil along the path that gets seed but does not take it in are those who have heard, but the devil comes and takes it away from their hearts so they may not believe and be saved.
  3. The soil on the rocks also receives seed, and perhaps the seed springs up quickly “with joy” (it sounds good, but they don’t really apply it to their heart). When testing coms, they fall away.
  4. The thorny soil seems to take in the truth, but the “thorns” (cares, riches, pleasures of life) soon choke out the precious Gospel truth, and they do not mature.
  5. The good soil represents those who hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Ah, it seems so clear after Jesus explains it.

.

Vss. 16-18.

Jesus says that even though He was now teaching in parables, His message WAS NOT meant to be kept secret for a few elite disciples.

The LIGHT is to be put on a lampstand so it can be seen.   STILL, only those “with eyes to see” will see it.

And then that cryptic message: To the one who HAS, MORE will be given, and from the one who HAS NOT, even what he thinks that he has WILL BE TAKEN AWAY.

(Those who scorn the light of the Gospel NOW, will have all light removed from them in eternity…..)

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/31) Luke 6:27-49

Mar31

A 5-day per week study.

March 31 – Reading Luke 6:27:49

Read and believe in Jesus.

“As you wish others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6:31

.

The Gospel according to Luke 6:27:49

Review – Jesus, after a night in prayer, chose twelve of all the disciples to be Apostles.  Then Jesus began teaching the Sermon on the Mount to His disciples, starting with the Beatitudes.

.

Vss. 27-36.

Have you ever read (and really pondered) 1 Corinthians 13?  If you have time, do it now.  It describes the selfless LOVE we are to have towards each other: the self-sacrificing LOVE Jesus had for sinners when He died in their place.

Now, read these verses in Luke about loving OUR ENEMIES.

REALLY??  Our enemies?  (And yet, isn’t that what sinners are to a Holy God?)

  1. Love your enemies,
  2. Do good to those who hate you,
  3. Bless those who curse you,
  4. Pray for those who abuse you,
  5. Willingly accept a blow to the other cheek,
  6. Give to him more than what he takes from you,
  7. Generously lend to him, and neither require nor expect anything back.

And WHY does Jesus say His disciples are to do this?

“You will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.”

And also, “your reward (in heaven) will be great.”

(Of course, there is no way we can do this without the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Romans 5:5 tells us that “God’s LOVE has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

.

Vss. 37-45.

BAD judging and GOOD judging.  FIRST, the BAD kind.

“Judge not, lest you be judged. Condemn not, lest you be condemned.” 

This is the self-righteous, pompous, looking-down-your-nose, wagging-your-finger type of judging.  It says, “I” certainly would NOT do that!

The thing is, WE probably WOULD do the offence, given the right circumstances.  We are ALL sinners.

(And as my Hubby likes to say, “When you point a finger at someone, the other three fingers are pointing back at YOU!”)

.

No, Jesus tells His followers to, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven, give and it will be given to you, and in a measure you will barely be able to hold!”

And to illustrate His words, Jesus tells them to “picture” a big LOG in your eye, keeping you from seeing anything.  Then, picture a tiny speck of dust in your brother’s eye.   SERIOUSLY, you need to remove that “log” before you can help your brother.

(Jesus was not talking about literal logs and specks, but those faults that we are so eager to point out in others, when OURS are totally larger and more grievous. Go to God, humbly confess your sin, repent of it, and then with tenderness and understanding you can help your brother.)

.

GOOD judging.

We aren’t to be “judges” of others, but we CAN be “fruit inspectors.”

Jesus said, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.”

And again, it is a HEART issue.  What is in the DNA makeup of a tree determines what fruit it will bear, and what is in the heart of man is what will come out in his life and through his mouth

We can try to be sweet and kind.  We can try to bear sweet juicy peaches.  But if our unsaved nature is to be a “crabapple tree,” all we can bear is … crabapples.   Again, it is the Holy Spirit of God, given to us when we are saved (regenerated), who can change our selfish selves into Christlike ones.  THEN, the “fruit of the Spirit” will grow freely and naturally.

.

Vss. 46-49.

Jesus now gives a familiar illustration of two homebuilders.

One is thorough, spends more time and money, but builds a sturdy house on a bedrock foundation.

The other is impatient, does not seek out or listen to building codes, and puts up a “quickie” pre-fab home on soft, golden sand.

What happens when a storm breaks the upstream dam, and a huge flood of water rushes at the houses is both reassuring and horrific.

  • The house on the rock (Christ) stood firm.
  • The house built on sand went “smack,” as kids clap their hands when singing that song.  (“It fell, and great was the ruin of it.”)

Okay, so trees and houses, what is Jesus teaching?

Come to Him … hear His words … obey.   Simple.  Let the Word of Christ change you from the inside out, and you will be strong, loving disciples in His kingdom.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/26) Luke 5:27-39

Mar26

A 5-day per week study.

March 26 – Reading Luke 5:27-39

Read and believe in Jesus.

“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32

.

The Gospel according to Luke 5:27-39

Review – Yesterday, we looked at two astonishing miracles of healing that Jesus did around Galilee. A man full of leprosy came to Him in humility and FAITH and asked for cleansing. Jesus willingly healed him.

In the second instance, it was the FAITH of friends that moved Jesus. The paralyzed man’s four friends went to great lengths to bring him to Jesus.  Here, Jesus both forgave the man’s sins and instantly healed his paralysis.

Jesus has all power to forgive, deliver, and make well, and He is willing. What limits that power is unbelief. (Remember in Nazareth … Jesus could do no good “work” because of their unbelief. Mark 6:5-6)

.

Vss. 27-28.

A few fishermen are following Jesus, learning how to “catch men” for the Kingdom of God. Now, Jesus approaches a man who is nearly the opposite in life.  Levi (later known as Matthew) is a hated tax collector.  Why were they hated, other than because mankind has hated to pay taxes forever?

Tax Collectors in Jesus’ day were employed by the Romans (the oppressors). Rome didn’t care how much money was collected beyond what was due to them, so tax collectors charged more, as much as 4x more than required, and filled their own pockets.  Common people had no choice but to pay, unless they wanted a company of armed Italian guards knocking at their doors.

(Imagine if the IRS worked that way!!)

Tax Collectors, especially “turncoat” Jews, were educated men who grew VERY rich. Prime locations in town or along the trade routes were very desirable. Levi had one.

Levi was wealthy, greedy, hated, and his only friends were fellow collectors. What was it that made him open to the Savior’s call?   The Holy Spirit was working in his heart, bringing conviction of sin and a need for mercy and forgiveness.

(Re-read the story Jesus told about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14.)

Had Levi heard the “reports” about Jesus – His teaching and healing, delivering, and cleansing powers? Oh, yes, for sure. The crowds who passed his booth daily talked about nothing else.

Then Jesus came to Levi personally.

“Follow me,” Jesus said, looking right at Levi.

And miracle of miracles, for a changed heart is just that, Levi LEFT EVERYTHING and followed Jesus. His prime real estate tax booth, the piles and bags of coins, the Roman records, all.  (I’m sure another collector quickly sat down in his place.)

It didn’t matter.  Levi’s longing for forgiveness and cleansing was there in the Master’s gaze.  Levi never turned back.

.

Vss. 29-32.

Chosen, forgiven, and loved, Levi now wanted to share Jesus with the only friends he had.  He invited all the tax collectors and other outcasts he knew who could fit into his large, well-appointed house.  And they came. (Hey, free food and entertainment!)  Jesus and his few followers also came and enjoyed the feast.

(Perhaps many of these guests turned to Jesus as well and mended their greedy ways.)

.

(It’s interesting that Zacchaeus, a tax collector in Jericho, also invited Jesus and his fellow outcasts to a feast after meeting/believing in Jesus.  He also restored all he’d stolen or cheated, recompensing MORE than was required.  Luke 19:1-10.  Perhaps Levi also did this.)

.

Jesus and the outcasts are joyfully celebrating the return of a ‘Son of Israel’ to God.  Outside, the Pharisees and teachers of the law (envious and jealous?) are grumbling.

“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” they say.

Jesus’ answer is a bit perplexing.

“Those who are well have no need of a doctor, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

WHO are “the well” and “the righteous”?   WHO are “the sick” and “the sinners”?

.

It must be that Jesus is speaking about HEART ATTITUDES.  Those who “think” they are righteous and of no need for repentance will not see their need and seek help.  But those who “know” they are sinners and sick unto death, gratefully welcome a physician.

(Again, review the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector.  Think also about the Prodigal Son and his jealous brother. Luke 15:11-32)

.

Vss. 33-39.

On another occasion, these Pharisees are back with their condemning questions. (They don’t really want to know the answer, only to accuse.)

“The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do disciples of the Pharisees, but YOURS eat and drink.” 

Again, I hear some jealousy. The Pharisees bragged that THEY fasted twice a week.  But this was for
“show” to prove their “holiness.”  God only required fasting ONCE A YEAR on the Day of Atonement.  All other fasting was to be private between just you and God.  (Or in a national emergency.)

So, seeing Jesus and His disciples feasting irked them (perhaps making their stomachs growl).

Again, Jesus’ answer is perplexing, although after Jesus’ work on earth is finished, we can see more clearly what He meant.

He refers to a wedding feast, how, as long as “the groom” is present, “the groomsmen” will feast along with Him.  Once he leaves (this refers to Jesus’ death), the feasting is over, and they will grieve and fast … for a time, at least.

But this is all above the Pharisees’ heads.

So, Jesus gives a couple of illustrations that perhaps they WILL understand.

  1. A person does not mend an old garment by cutting a piece from a NEW one to repair it. It won’t match, and the new garment is now ruined.
  2. A person does not put NEW (expanding, fermenting) wine into old, stiff wineskins, but into new, flexible ones. Why? Because the expanding wine will split the old skins, and both will be ruined. Still-expanding wine needs to be put into new, expandable skins so that both are saved.
  3. And Jesus adds, “No one, after drinking old wine, desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

WHAT WAS JESUS TALKING ABOUT?

Old garments and old wine are familiar things. They feel and taste good.  This is how the Pharisees viewed their strict religious way of that day.  The letter of the law. Fast, tithe, keep strict Sabbath rules, don’t associate with any of this New Way of Jesus, or everything will be wrecked.

“Our old ways are best!”

New garments need to be worn by “new-hearted” people.  New wine – that of salvation by faith alone – is for new believers/followers of Jesus.  The “old” ways must go to allow the “new” to come in.

The Pharisees were not willing.  They would go so far as to kill Jesus to get rid of the New Way.

  • At Jesus’ crucifixion, the dividing veil in the Temple is torn, allowing access through Jesus to God for everyone, “a new and living way”.
  • And in 70 A.D., all those old “ways” would be forcibly taken away by the Romans when the temple was destroyed and the priesthood demolished.

 

(Blessed are those who turn to Jesus and follow Him instead of trying to make themselves holy by their good works. It won’t work.)

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/20) Luke 4:14-30

Mar20

A 5-day per week study.

March 20 – Reading Luke 4:14-30

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went through all the surrounding country.”  Luke 4:14

.

The Gospel according to Luke 4:14-30

(Review)  Yesterday, we saw Jesus, after a 40-day fast in the wilderness, battling temptations by the “master tempter,” the devil, by using the powerful Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  Jesus’ example means that this is our main weapon against the fleshly desires and temptations we experience, too.  Read, study, and memorize God’s Word!  The Holy Spirit will bring it to your mind when you need it and trust Him for it.

.

Vs. 14.

“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about Him went out through the surrounding country.”

What report?

Luke skips over a period of Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria before returning to Galilee.  We’ll study these when we get to John’s gospel, but here are the things that were “reported about Jesus” before He got to Galilee.

  1. He gathered the first few of His disciples from those who followed John the Baptist.
  2. He cleansed the Temple for the first time.
  3. He performed many miraculous signs that left the people in Jerusalem “wowed.”
  4. He met with Nicodemas at night.
  5. He ministered in the Judean Countryside.
  6. Heading north, He met with the Samaritan woman at the Well.
  7. He remained in Samaria for two days, ministering to the people.
  8. Then in Galilee, He healed the Official’s son.

And back to Luke 4, Jesus “taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”

.

Vss. 15-20.

The Sabbath came around, and as was His custom all His life growing up in Nazareth, Jesus went to the synagogue.  When the time came for reading that day’s scripture passage, Jesus stood up to read.  The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him.  He unrolled it and found the passage – Isaiah 61:1-2a.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because He has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty 

to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are 

oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of all the synagogue were fixed on Him.

(It was customary for a teacher to stand respectfully during the reading of the Scriptures, and to sit humbly to teach.  The men in the synagogue waited for Jesus to speak.)

.

Vs. 21.

“And He began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 

Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah that Isaiah prophesied would come.”  (However, He stopped reading in the middle of verse 2 because the remaining part foretold the SECOND coming of Jesus, bringing judgment and God’s vengeance.)

.

VSs. 22-27.

At first, the listeners were amazed at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth (all the blessed things the Messiah would do when he came), but then they looked again at the man, Jesus.

“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”   How could this carpenter, whom we’ve known since He returned from Bethlehem as a kid, be … the Messiah??  He’s just one of us.  And … wasn’t there some rumor about His being conceived “out of wedlock?”  WAIT a minute!!

Wouldn’t you know it.  The first opposition came from Jesus’ own neighbors in Nazareth?  The Samaritans had believed Him and rejoiced; the Jews of Nazareth would not.

Jesus said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.  What we’ve heard you did at Capernaum, do HERE in your hometown as well!’  Truly, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.”

Then Jesus “rubbed in” their unbelief by reminding them that even in the days of Elijah and Elisha, those great and honored prophets, the people of Israel were not favored with miracles.  These happened to the Gentiles of Zarephath, Sidon, and Syria, to the ones WHO BELIEVED.

.

Vss. 28-30.

When they heard Jesus say that, they were filled with wrath.

They rose up and drove Him out of town.

They brought Him to the edge of a hill so they could throw Him down (and probably stone Him).

But passing through their midst, He went away.”

.

We don’t see Jesus returning to that synagogue, nor doing any miracles in Nazareth.  From then on, His headquarters would be in Capernaum.  He would attend the synagogue there.

.

It’s a warning to us. Don’t miss out on salvation and the Savior … because of unbelief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/17) Luke 3:1-20

Mar17

A 5-day per week study.

March 17 – Reading Luke 3:1-20

Read and believe in Jesus.

“…the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.”  Luke 3:2b

.

The Gospel according to Luke 3:1-20

The last we heard of John the Baptist was in Luke 1:80: “And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”   Well, that day has come. The Word of God came to him, and John was ready. He immediately obeyed.

.

Vss. 1-6.

Luke sets up the scene in detail for the brief ministries of both John and Jesus, naming the current Caesar (Tiberias), the governor of Judea (Pontius Pilate), the tetrarch of Galilee (Herod), as well as three other rulers in areas around Judea and Galilee. He also tells us that there were two high priests, both of whom would sentence the Savior to death (Annas [the powerful one] and his son-in-law, Caiaphas).

The scene is set. History awaits.

God’s word stirs John, the prophet-like-Elijah, from his recluse (possibly with the Essenes, who might have hidden the complete book of Isaiah in pottery in a cave, known as the Dead Sea Scrolls).

Luke inserts John’s marching orders from Isaiah 40:3-5.  “A voice crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’.”  “…and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

And so, John went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

.

Vss 7-9.

Crowds came out to him to be baptized, and John was not gentle with them.

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (This he said to the religious leaders, according to Matthew 3:7.)

“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not BEGIN to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham!”

“The axe is laid to the root of the trees.  Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

.

Vss. 10-14.

His fiery words put “the fear of God” into his listeners, and they asked him for help.

“What then shall we do?” they begged him. John answered by telling them to love others. “Whoever has two tuics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

“Teacher, what shall WE do?”  begged the tax collectors when he’d baptised them.  “Collect no more than you are authorized to do. (Tax collectors could collect any amount over the required amount for Rome and keep it for themselves.)

Even Roman soldiers came to John with repentant hearts.  “And we, what shall we do?” John told them not to extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and to be content with their wages.

And so, John’s preaching began to soften the hearts of all kinds of people for the coming of Jesus.  He was indeed preparing the way.

.

Vss. 15-18.

His message was so different from what the people heard in the synagogues that they began to wonder if John wasn’t the Messiah himself.  But he set them right quickly.

“I baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. HE will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  HE will gather the WHEAT into the barn, but the CHAFF He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

So with these and many other exhortations,  John preached “good news” to the people.

.

Vss. 19-20.

But…..  Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by John for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and other wicked things (John wasn’t afraid to hurl scathing reproofs even at a petty king!), locked John in prison. (And later had him killed.)

What a short-lived ministry John had.  But he was a flame for God, a messenger to prepare the way for the coming of the Son of God.  Jesus had great words about him, which we’ll see later.  (Matthew 11:9-15, if you want to take an early peek.)

,

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/12) Luke 2:1-21

Mar12

A 5-day per week study.

March 12 – Reading Luke 2:1-21

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.”  Luke 2:10

.

The Gospel according to Luke 2:1-21

In the last study, we saw the birth and naming of John (the Baptist) and Zechariah’s voice returning. Immediately after confirming his son’s name, the old priest was filled with the Holy Spirit.  He praised God for the salvation He was sending and His great mercy. Zechariah also prophesied his son’s future ministry as a prophet and the herald of the Messiah.

Then we saw John grow and become strong in spirit, and retreat into the wilderness until God would call him to appear in Israel and begin his ministry.

.

Vss. 1-7.

And now we return to Mary and follow the details of Jesus’ birth.

          (This chapter is very familiar to believers. We’ve probably heard it read many, many times at Christmas.  Some can probably recite it by heart.  But let’s read it with “fresh eyes” if we can.)

.

The Roman ruler of the “world” said everyone had to be registered.  This was so Augustus wouldn’t miss anyone when levying taxes.  And at least for the Jews, who kept records of their genealogies, their ancestors’ birthplaces were mostly known to them. For both Mary and Joseph, the place was the same because both were of the “house and lineage of King David.”  And David was born in Bethlehem.

.

(NOTE:  Luke records Jesus’ lineage back from Mary’s line, through King David’s son Nathan (3:31), to Adam.  Matthew records the lineage from Abraham down through King David’s son Solomon (Matt. 1:6) to Joseph, the husband of Mary.  BOTH these lineages were important.

           The line that came through Solomon was eventually cursed because of the last despicable king who reigned until Jerusalem fell. (See Jeremiah 22:30.) Jesus had no genetic connection to this line (other than title) because of His virgin birth.   Jesus, born of Mary, came through the line of Nathan, which had no curse.  Jesus, called the Son of David, would inherit the kingdom from his earthly ancestor David, through the “uncursed” line.)

.

Okay, back to the account of Jesus’ birth.

Even though Mary was due to give birth very soon, she and Joseph were forced to travel to Bethlehem (more than 70 miles).  Were Joseph and Mary remembering Micah 5:2, which says the Messiah would be born in that little town … or were they just concentrating on the grueling trip and Mary’s condition?

They finally made it, and while they were there, she gave birth to Jesus in a lowly stable. (All the inns were full by then.)  She wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling cloths and laid him in an animal’s feed trough.

I love this painting by Gari Melchers, which is probably closer to how it was than our traditional nativity scenes…

Vss. 8-20.

Meanwhile, in the hills outside Bethlehem, there was a group of shepherds watching their sheep.  The animals were probably all snuggled down together, sleeping, while the men sat around a campfire that was fast going out.

THEN AN ANGEL APPEARED!

THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE AROUND THE SHEPHERDS!

They were VERY afraid.

But the angel (could it have been the messenger, Gabriel?) told them,

  • “Fear not, for behold, I bring you Good News of great joy that will be for all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And THIS will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying … in a manger.”

And then, more wonderfully terrifying, a multitude of heavenly hosts appeared, praising God and saying,

  • “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

And then they were gone, and again it was a dark, silent night.

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us!”

And so they did.  They didn’t search inns, but looked for a stable. (After all, the angel said the baby would be in a feed trough.)  And they FOUND Mary and Joseph and the baby … lying in the manger, just as the angel had said.  They told the couple what had happened out on that hillside.  And Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

And then the shepherds returned to their duties, glorifying and praising God for all they’d seen and heard, as it was told to them.  And everybody who heard their story was in wonder about it.

.

Vs. 21.

And at eight days, Jesus was circumcised and officially named JESUS, the name that Gabriel had given to Mary before He was conceived.

.

.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed on Him, would not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/11) Luke 1:67-80

Mar11

A 5-day per week study.

March 11 – Reading Luke 1:67-80

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High.”  Luke 1:76

.

The Gospel according to Luke 1:67-80

In the last study, we saw Elizabeth giving birth to a baby boy. Since Zechariah was still mute (and possibly deaf), SHE announced his name at the circumcision ceremony.  He would be JOHN.  Of course, the family objected, saying he should be Zechariah Jr.  Nope!

The old priest took a notepad and clearly wrote out “His name will be called John.”  And immediately Zechariah’s speech returned.  Everyone was excited and eagerly listened to his account of all that had happened in the Temple with the angel, Gabriel.

.

Vss. 67-75.

And now, the old priest is filled with the Holy Spirit and begins to speak forth God’s words and prophesy.  (Zech is really happy to be speaking again, I think.)

First, he praises the Lord God of Israel.  He recalls all the promises of God from Abraham onward and tells how God has now fulfilled them.  The LORD God has redeemed His people and raised up a “horn of salvation” in the house of His servant David… just as the prophets foretold.

Then Zecharia looks towards his son, perhaps laying his hand on the baby boy’s head, and by the Holy Spirit says, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins.”

And then, “The sunrise (Messiah) shall visit us from on high to give Light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,  and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

What a benediction!  What a way to end ten months of inability to utter one word!

.

Verse 80.

“And the child (John) grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”

Out in the danger and loneliness of the desert, filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, John probably prayed long prayers and recalled the scriptures he’d learned as a youth in a priest’s house. Like Elijah, he was tough and lived on what the desert could supply.

.

How did John know when he would begin his ministry and start baptizing and preparing the people for the Messiah?   

We will get into that in Chapter Three, but if you want to peek, see Luke 3;1-3.

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (BONUS) Mark 16:9-20

Mar4

A 5-day per week study.

February 16– Reading Mark 16:9-20 (a bonus lesson).

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel…”  Mark 16:15

.

The Gospel according to Mark 16:9-20 (bonus verses).

Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include this ending of Mark, and it does feel like it was tacked on at a later date, perhaps by someone other than Mark, as a kind of summary of events after Jesus’ resurrection.

But the King James Version (that I grew up with), as well as the English Standard Version (which I use now), includes it, so I’ll highlight it as a “bonus” lesson before we begin the GOSPEL OF LUKE tomorrow.

.

Vss. 9-13.

It seems that after the women ran away from the tomb where Jesus had been, Mary Magdalene returned.  Jesus appeared to her.  Then she went and told the disciples that He had risen from the dead, and she’d seen Him.  They were weeping and mourning, and when they heard her testimony, THEY WOULD NOT BELIEVE IT.

Jesus later appeared to two of them, as they were walking in the country (See Luke 24:13-32).  When they returned and told the disciples, THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEM.

.

Vss. 14-18.

After that, Jesus appeared to the eleven themselves as they were eating. He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they hadn’t BELIEVED those eyewitnesses.

Then Jesus told them to do the same.  Be eyewitnesses of His resurrection to others.  “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.  Whoever BELIEVES and is baptized will be saved, but whoever DOES NOT BELIEVE will be condemned.”  Jesus also told them that miraculous signs would accompany them, as proof of their message.

.

Vss. 19-20.

Then, after Jesus finished speaking to them, he was taken up to heaven.  (Where He sat down at the right hand of God.)

So they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

.

Yes, this does sound like a footnote from later on, but it’s all true. 

  1. Jesus DID commission them to go preach to all the world.
  2. He did tell them about the Holy Spirit’s coming and how He would empower them.
  3. Jesus did ascend into Heaven before their eyes.
  4. And, according to Stephen’s testimony when he was being stoned to death in Acts 7:55-56, Jesus had “sat down at the right hand of God,” because Stephen saw Him rise and receive him into glory.

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/25) Mark 14:53-65

Feb25

A 5-day per week study.

February 25– Reading Mark 14:53-65

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And they all condemned Him as deserving death.”  Mark 14:64b

.

The Gospel according to Mark 14:53-65

After the Passover meal, Jesus and his disciples went to the Mount of Olives.  Jesus took His inner three to go apart into Gethsemane to pray with Him. While they slept, He prayed earnestly three times that the “cup” would pass from Him.

What that “cup” involved, we really can’t understand. It was not just the physical pain, nor the degrading treatment and language hurled at Him, but for the perfect, sinless Son of God, it also meant bearing the despicable SIN of all who would ever believe in Him. It meant being judged by God, His Father, as guilty of death.  And finally, brutal execution.

But Jesus had settled it.  By the time Judas led His captors into the privacy of the garden, Jesus had “set his face” towards the cross. For me. For you.

.

Vss. 53-59

Jesus was led to the High Priest’s house, and then to where the entire Council (the Sanhedrin, made up of 70 members) could interrogate Jesus in privacy.

(It’s interesting that when they were arresting Him in Gethsemane, Jesus made this statement, ‘Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.”   Consider now the differences.

  • THEN, it was in the bright daylight; NOW, it was the darness of night, with flickering candles and oil lamps.
  • THEN, Jesus was in the open.  Adoring crowds surrounded Him. NOW, He was surrounded only by enemies who hated Him.
  • THEN, He could walk away (or disappear in the crowd).  NOW, he was shackled between members of the temple guard.
  • THEN, Jesus confounded the religious leaders and made them look stupid. NOW, in their pomp and privacy, they would get their revenge.
  • And it was all HIS choice.

While Peter waited outside in the courtyard (we’ll look at him tomorrow), the mock trial of Jesus began.

The chief priests sought testimony against Him that would condemn Him to death.  But alas, they found none.  They did find two men who claimed Jesus said He would destroy the temple and build it again in three days. But even they couldn’t agree.  According to the letter of the law (Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15), at least two witnesses had to exactly agree.

(NOTE:  If you want to read what Jesus REALLY said, see John 2:18-22)

.

Vss. 60-65,

And now it was nearing dawn.  Frustrated at not being able to charge Jesus with a crime, the High Priest stood up and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make?  What is it that these men testify against you?” 

Silence.

Finally, the High Priest demanded, “ARE YOU THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE BLESSED?”

“I am,” Jesus said. (Why did they not fall back in fear at the covenant Name of God?  I AM = Yahwey)

.

Then Jesus continued, quoting from Daniel 7:13-14,

“You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of Heaven.”

This was a direct claim to be the Messiah and the Son of God.

And the High Priest of Israel recognized it.

.

He tore his garments.  (a ceremonial and here, a contrived display of grief and indignation at someone dishonoring God’s name.)

“What further witnesses do we need?  You have heard His blasphemy. What is your decision?” Caiaphus asked the court.

“Guilty!  Death!”  was the unanimous answer.

.

And they began to spit on Him.

They covered His face, hit Him, and demanded that He “prophesy” who hit Him.

The guards struck Him with blows from their fists.

,

And so it begins.  The horrendous work Jesus came to do for you and me.  To save us.