THE DAILY

[Luke 3:1-22]

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord,make his paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways,

6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits 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. 9 Even now 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.”

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “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 baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

In 22 verses Luke traverses some serious territory! John the Baptist, whose barren-womb birth was announced by the angel of the Lord, Gabriel, to his soon to be father, Zechariah, in the holy of holies in Luke 1:13 is seen “preparing the way” in these verses, The key question is, “Preparing the way for what…for whom?” 

The prophet, Isaiah gives us a huge hint 600 years beforehand. There would be one who would comfort (bring forth a path of repentance) - who would speak tenderly - who would pardon sin - who would, in His Person, reveal the glory of the Lord…who would actually be God in the flesh! He would be announced by another…a voice crying in the wilderness…a voice preparing the way of the Lord. Perhaps you sang or listened to this very prophecy in the opening of Handel’s Messiah last month? Handel's Messiah - Isaiah 40

Luke, in his eye-witness account, says in the clearest language, that John the Baptist fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. He will be the one to prepare the way for Jesus. He will baptize knowing that “he who is mightier than I is coming.”  

Jesus will come again! How might you and I be preparing the way for His coming? How might we be sharing with others what we know to be true of Jesus from His Word? How might you and I share transparently that Jesus is the one who can pardon past sins and prepare our hearts so we sin no more? How might you and I share that Jesus alone was  the One who has conquered sin and death and made a way to be restored to the Father through His baptism and through His death and resurrection?

Kimberly Williams

[WHAT] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? 

+ How might Luke’s use of so many names of specific individuals add credibility to his eyewitness account of Jesus’s life? Verse 1-2

+ What did John the Baptist proclaim in verse 3? How did John’s message of repentance mirror the OT prophets and prepare the way for Jesus’s message? See Matthew 4:17

+ Why does John bring up the tree? Why might it be cut down and burned? See also John 15:2

+ What question was asked by three different people groups after John shared what would happen to a non-fruitbearing tree? Verses 10, 12, and 13 

What was John’s answer?

+ According to verse 15, what were “the people” wondering in their hearts?

What was John’s answer? How would the people know the Jesus to come?

+ What happens to John in verses 18-20? How do you respond when another’s sin affects you so?

+ John continually pointed others to Jesus. How did that benefit the people in verses 18-20?

+ How would those who experienced Jesus’s baptism know that He was the long-awaited Messiah?

[HOW] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience? 

+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take?

+ Isaiah 53 begins with the phrase, “Who has believed what he has heard from us and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Do you believe that John the Baptist was the one who was prophesied to prepare the way for Jesus? Why or why not?

+ How will your personal belief affect your personal obedience regardless of circumstances - like John’s imprisonment? 

[WHO] am I walking with and praying for in order that they might know Jesus?

+ What truths about God, His Word and His unified redemptive story are we helping others “wonder about” on our journey. How can we be more intentional about doing so?

+Who am I discipling as I live and grow and learn to obey Jesus? If this hasn’t been a priority, pray today about who God wants you to reach out to in His Name.

[Luke 3:23-38] 

23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech,the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

This time through the beginning of Luke’s Gospel, I’m amazed at how often it is stressed that Jesus is the son of God. While genealogies can be intimidating for us, there are a few key ideas for us to pull out. Luke moves through the Old Testament covenants God made with his people in this genealogy to show how the promises made to them are fulfilled in Jesus.

As we near the end of the genealogy we are told that Jesus is the son of Adam. Paul picks up this idea in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 when he speaks of Christ as the Second Adam:

“Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” (Romans 5:14-15) 

Paul highlights how Jesus is the better Adam, offering life instead of death to all the human race; Jesus is the better son of God. In harkening back to Adam, Luke reminds us that Jesus came to redeem not only the people of Israel (in Abraham and David’s covenants), but all people. 

– Monica Godfrey

[WHAT] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? 

+ How does Jesus fulfill the promise God made to David? “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” (2 Samuel 7:16). 

+ How does Jesus fulfill the promise God made to Abraham? “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great,so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

+ How does Jesus fulfill the promise God made to Adam, Eve, and Satan after the Fall? “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

+ What do we learn about God, his character, and his redemptive plan? 

[HOW] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience? 

Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ This passage reminds us that everything past, present, and future is about Jesus. Is your life marked by being centered on Jesus? 

+ Spend some time meditating on the ways Jesus fulfills these promises God made. Can you see the same faithfulness of our covenant-keeping God in your own life?  

+ How is the Lord calling you to respond in light of your answers? Confession? Worship? Specific actions?

[WHO] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step? 

[Luke 4.1-13]

Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4 But Jesus answered him, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone.”,,

5 So he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. 7 If you, then, will worship me, all will be yours.”

8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

9 So he took him to Jerusalem, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

He will give his angels orders concerning you,

to protect you,, 11 and

they will support you with their hands,

so that you will not strike

your foot against a stone.”,

12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said: Do not test the Lord your God.”,

13 After the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, is led into the wilderness, where The devil tempts him. Each temptation attempts to draw Him away from His mission and identity as the Son of God. Jesus responds to each temptation with the truth of God’s Word, demonstrating the power of Scripture to guard our hearts and direct our steps. We can trust that Christ empowers us to overcome each temptation we face. Let’s make it a habit to memorize Scripture and seek the Spirit’s guidance when tempted.

- David

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? 

+ What’s the significance of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness?

+ What are some of the things the devil is tempting Jesus to believe?

+ How does Jesus respond to the temptations?

+ What does it mean to test the Lord?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

 [Luke 4:14-30] 

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 

18 “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, 

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” 

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days

of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away. 

To be a fly on the wall of the synagogue as Jesus gave what was effectively his first public sermon. Imagine the thrill that gripped the crowd after Jesus finished reading the scripture, rolled up the scroll, sat down, and declared, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” You likely would have known these ancient words of hope since you were a child. Not just you, but your parents, and your grandparents going back generations would have heard these words and longed for the day they would be fulfilled. Now your ears and eyes experience Jesus, a man you would have known since he was young, declaring the day is here. Unfortunately, the wonder at this message slowly turns to confusion as Jesus continues his message. You likely would have heard the rumors about the miracles that Jesus had done in Capernaum, but his saying, “Physician heal yourself” is strange and not easily discernible. Slowly, it becomes clear that the words of hope and life are mixed with stories that make it seem like you and the whole town are unlikely see any miracles. Everyone starts to grow angry, and now you are faced with a decision: How will you respond? 

Although Jesus announces that the kingdom of God has come, he is also intentionally provocative to the people in his hometown. The first part of his sermon was very winsome, but

as Jesus moves into his two stories he implicitly compares the people in his hometown to an apostate Israel. Instead of calling his hometown to repent, it seems that Jesus has already determined that their hearts are hard. The only thing left to do is to reveal their hardness of heart and bring their inner state to the surface. What results is a murderous rage. This leads to Jesus being rejected by his hometown. 

May we keep our hearts soft to Jesus and receive him fully without reseervation. 

Grace and Peace 

–John Barzal 

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that I/we learn? 

+ What is Jesus’ goal in giving his sermon? 

+ What is the significance of Jesus quoting from Isaiah? 

+ Why did people grow angry with Jesus’ sermon? 

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience? 

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time? + Is there an area that your heart is hard? 

+ What is one practical step you can take toward softening you heart toward Jesus?

[ WHO ] am I walking with (and praying for) to discover Jesus? 

+ What is my next step?

[Luke 4:31-44]

31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. 32 They were astonished at his teaching because his message had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean demonic spirit who cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

35 But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be silent and come out of him!” And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all.

36 Amazement came over them all, and they were saying to one another, “What is this message? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!” 37 And news about him began to go out to every place in the vicinity.

38 After he left the synagogue, he entered Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. 39 So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them.

40 When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to him. As he laid his hands on each one of them, he healed them. 41 Also, demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

42 When it was day, he went out and made his way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for him. They came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said to them, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.,

Jesus demonstrates His authority through His teaching, healing, and power over demons. The people are amazed! His words transform, restore, and bring freedom. This same authority that astonished the crowds then is still at work today. Jesus has the power to bring healing to our brokenness.  Where in your life can you invite His authority to bring transformation?

- David

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? 

+ What were the reasons the crowd said Jesus’ message had authority?

+ What was the confession of the demons concerning Jesus’ identity [v41]? What does this say about His authority?

+ Why is news about the Kingdom good news?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?