Luke 1-10

The emphasis on this book is to show Jesus’ humanity. Jesus, the Son of God, is also the Son of Man. Luke was a physician, historian and a man of great detail. Luke stresses Jesus’ relationships with people; emphasizes prayer, miracles, and angels and gives prominent place to women.

The opening of this book begins with a miracle and answered prayer. Zechariah prayed for a son and the coming Messiah. His wife Elizabeth was older in years to bear children. While burning incense on the altar and praying, Zechariah’s prayer was answered with a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah, John the Baptist. God answers prayer in his own way and his own time. God often works in “impossible” situations demonstrating that only he makes the impossible, possible. If we want our prayers to be answered, we must be open to what God can do in impossible situations and we must WAIT for God to work in his way and in his time. Often, this is the most difficult season for us. Waiting can be frustrating and it’s often easy to fall into the temptation of impatience and lack of faith feeling forgotten or denied. God will never forsake us and many times is working behind the scenes on things we can’t even imagine or comprehend to fulfill his promises to us. From Zechariah’s story, we learn that physical limitations do not limit God and that his will is accomplished sometimes in very unexpected ways. God is a God of “suddenly”. Have you ever found yourself feeling hopeless and lost in doubt or confusion and then “suddenly” an event, moment, person or change of circumstance happens and you are left wondering how or where it came from? “That came out of ‘nowhere’…” we may say; like the wind. That is how incredibly inconceivable the blessings our Father has for us. We must exercise more patience. “For nothing is impossible with God.”(Luke 1:37)

“And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(Luke 1:17) John would do “heart transplants”, taking stony hearts and exchange them for hearts that were soft, pliable, trusting and open to change. Are you as open as you’d like to be? Sometimes hearts harden over time and without attention and care, they remain too hardened to transform in the only ways it can receive healing: God Himself.

Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth is a great example of deep spirituality and trust. She did not doubt God’s plan for her although physically barren. Not only was she given a son in John the Baptist who would make the way for her savior Jesus, but she was also the first woman besides Mary to hear of the coming Savior. “But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”(Luke 1:43-45) Elizabeth speaks of faith and trust in our God. These are cornerstones of our relationship with God and others. She also chooses to focus her thoughts and attention to humble gratitude when she asks ‘why’ she is so favored. Often times, we tend to focus on all we don’t have instead of ALL WE DO HAVE.

When Jesus was 12 years old, he was considered almost an adult and he didn’t spend as much time with his parents during the feast of Passover. “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men.”(Luke 2:52) Mary had to let go of her child and let him become a man, God’s Son. It is hard to let go of people or projects we have nurtured. It is bittersweet to see our children as adults and our followers as leaders, but when the time comes to step back and let go, we must do so in spite of the hurt. Then our protégés can exercise their wings, take flight, and soar to the heights that God intended. Motherhood is a painful privilege and Mary saw Jesus arrive as her son and die as her savior. Mary was available to God and we learn from her that God’s best servants are often ordinary people available to him. A person’s character is revealed by his or her response to the unexpected. Jesus grew physically and mentally, he related to other people and he was loved by God. It should be as important to us to regard a healthy BALANCED life as Jesus did: to develop fully and harmoniously in the key areas: physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.

Have you ever wondered why some “religious” people show little to no evidence of a life guided by the Holy Spirit? What motivates your faith- fear of the future, or a desire to be a better person in a better world? John said to the crowds, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”(Luke 3”7-9) Some people wanted to be baptized so they could escape eternal punishment, but they didn’t turn to God for salvation. John knew that God values reformation above ritual. Is YOUR faith motivated by a desire for a changed and new life or is it more of an insurance policy? “Faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:14-26) Jesus’ harshest words were towards religious leaders who lacked the desire for real change. Their lives were unproductive because they wanted authority and praise for being a religious leader, rather than acting in ways that demonstrated changed hearts and minds. Johns message demanded at least three responses 1) share what you have with those who need it, 2) whatever your job is, do it well and with fairness, 3) being content. He was calling people to right living. Too often, respectability is confused with right living. They are different. Respectability can hinder right living if it keeps us from seeing our need for God. If you had to choose, would you protect your character or your reputation?

Our society values youthfulness over wisdom. In our fast paced culture, have you ever been impatient to your purpose in life feeling like time was passing and you didn’t accomplish all that society placed on your shoulders by age 25? Jesus worked in a small town carpenter’s shop until he was 30 years old. It seems incredible that Jesus would have been content to remain in Nazareth all that time, but he patiently trusted the Father’s timing. 30 was the prescribed age for priests to begin their ministry (Numbers 4:3). Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving the king of Egypt, and David was 30 years old when he began to reign on Judah. Age 30 then, was a good time to begin an important task. Like Jesus, we need to resist the temptation to jump ahead before receiving the Spirit’s direction. Are you waiting and wondering what your next step should be? Don’t jump ahead; trust God’s timing.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”(Luke 4:3) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.”(Luke 4:4) Though we may feel that when the Holy Spirit leads us, it will be “beside quiet waters”(Psalm 23:2), but that is not necessarily true. He led Jesus into the desert for a long and difficult time of testing and he may also lead us into difficult situations. When facing trials, first make sure you haven’t brought them on yourself through sin or unwise choices. Be careful to follow faithfully wherever the Holy Spirit leads. Temptation will often come after a high point in our spiritual lives or ministries. Satan chooses the times for his attacks, so we need to be on our guard in times of victory just as much as in times of discouragement. Knowing and obeying God’s word is an effective weapon against temptation. To use it effectively, you must have faith in God’s promises, because Satan also knows scripture and is adept at twisting it to suit his purposes. It was necessary for Jesus to be tempted because temptation is part of the human experience. Jesus had to undo Adam’s work and instead of giving in to temptation, Jesus had to resist Satan. If you are dealing with doubt, realize that you are especially vulnerable to temptation. Even as you search for answers, protect yourself by meditating on the unshakable truths of God’s word. Sometimes WHAT we are tempted to do isn’t wrong in itself. The devil was trying to get Jesus to take a shortcut; to seek comfort at the sacrifice of his discipline. Satan often persuades us to take action, even right action, for the wrong reason or at the wrong time. The fact that something is not wrong in itself does not mean that it is good for you at a given time. Many people sin by attempting to fulfill legitimate desires outside of God’s will or ahead of his timetable. First ask yourself, “Is the Holy Spirit leading me to do this? Or is Satan trying to get me off track? Jesus’ authority is much greater than Satan’s and where Jesus is present, demons cannot stay for long. Demons are fallen angels who have joined Satan in rebellion against God. Evil permeates our world, and of course people are fearful. But by recognizing Jesus’ authority and power who overcame Satan himself, we can rest assure that we’ve been given authority over Satan’s attacks by the Holy Spirit within us.

“When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God! But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.”(Luke 4:40) Jesus was going to show himself to be the suffering servant before he became the great King. To reveal his identity as King too soon would stir up the crowds with the wrong expectations of what he had come to do.

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”(Luke 5:16) Take time to withdraw to a quiet and deserted place to pray. Strength comes from God, and we can only be strengthened by spending time with him. Before every important event in Jesus’ life, he took time to go off by himself and pray. Make sure that all our important decisions are grounded in prayer. God is not a magician; he is the Master. Prayer is not a way for us to control God; it is a way for us to put ourselves under his control.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick and I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”(Luke 5:31) The Pharisees wrapped their sin in respectability. They made themselves appear good by publicly doing good deeds and pointing at the sins of others. Jesus chose to spend time not with these proud, self-righteous, religious leaders, but with people who sensed their won sin and knew that they were not good enough for God. Christianity required new approaches, new traditions, and new structures. Our church programs and ministries should not be so structured that they have no room for a fresh touch of the Spirit, a new method or a new idea. We, too, must be careful that our hearts don’t become too rigid that they prevent us from accepting the new way of thinking that Christ brings. Our hearts should remain pliable so we can accept Jesus’ life-changing message.

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”(Luke 6:35-36)LOVE MEANS ACTION. One way to put love to work is to take the initiative in meeting specific needs. Give as though you were giving to God. If we are critical rather than compassionate, we will also receive criticism. If we treat others generously, graciously, and compassionately, however, these qualities come back to us in full measure. We are to love others and not judge them. Jesus doesn’t tell us to ignore wrongdoing, but we should not be so worried about others’ sins that we overlook our own. We often rationalize our sins by pointing out the same mistakes in others. Remember your own pitfalls when you feel like criticizing, and you may find that you have less to say. A person who tries to do right but often fails is not a hypocrite. Neither are those who fulfill their duty even when they don’t feel like doing it- it is often necessary and good to set aside our desires in order to do what needs doing. It is not hypocrisy to be weak in faith. A HYPOCRITE is a person who puts on religious behavior in order to gain attention, approval, acceptance, or admiration from others.

Jesus teaches about Fruit in People’s lives. “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”(Luke 6:43-45) Our speech and actions reveal the true underlying beliefs, attitudes and motivations. The good impressions we try to make cannot last if our hearts are deceptive. What is in your heart WILL come out in your speech and behavior. Take steps in partnership with God to allow Him to transform your heart by taking the steps to guard your words and in time, you’ll see your heart will follow and be healed of wickedness and pain.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.”(Luke 6:46) Building your relationship with God requires a foundation of faith, trust, hope and love. Loving God means obeying Him and since our greatest commandment is to Love the Lord God, and Loving Him is obeying him, then our greatest commandment is to obey him. Without this strong foundation in obedience, we are shortsighted and will be sorry when our foundation is tested. If you find yourself listening but not obeying, what are the reasons and are they in line with God’s word?
“His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ “(Luke 8:9) Jesus often spoke spiritual truth through parables and short stories because by linking the known with the hidden, he forced the listeners to think. Parables can point to spiritual truths. A parable compels listeners to discover the truth for themselves and it conceals the truth from those too lazy or dull to understand it. Applying God’s word helps us grow. This is a principle of growth in physical, mental and spiritual life. Like muscles in the body, if we are not growing stronger, we are growing weaker; it is impossible to stand still. Jesus’ true family are those who hear and obey his words. When God gives us a course of action, we must move steadily toward our destination, no matter what the potential hazards await us there. True discipleship requires instant action. Jesus wants total dedication from us, not half-hearted commitment. This same principle can be taken forward to a marriage relationship. We can’t pick and choose among Jesus’ ideas and follow him selectively, in the same way, we cannot accept a partial mate; it’s all or nothing. We have to accept the cross (sacrifice) with the crown (rewards). We should allow nothing to distract us from the manner of living that God calls good and true. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”(Luke 9:62)

Jesus healed a woman who bled for 12 years. “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”(Luke 8:48) It is only faith that releases God’s healing power. Are you just curious about God, or do you reach out to him in faith, knowing that his mercy will bring healing to your body, soul and spirit?

Jesus sends out the 12 Disciples. “When Jesus calls the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”(Luke 9:1) Jesus as a leader EMPOWERED his disciples, giving them specific instructions so they knew what to do, told them how to deal with tough times and held them accountable. Which of these skills do we need to sharpen in order to lead others?

“A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘this is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’ When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.”(Luke 9:35) Jesus has God’s power and authority; thus his words should be our final authority. If a person’s teaching is true, it will agree with Jesus’ teaching. Test everything you hear against Jesus’ words, and you will not be led astray. Don’t be hasty to seek advice and guidance from merely human sources and thereby neglect Christ’s message.

“For he who is least among you all; he is the greatest.”(Luke 9:48) Our care for others is a measure of our greatness. How much concern do you show for others? How have you expressed your care for others lately, especially the helpless, needy and poor; those who cannot return your love and concern?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your strength and will all your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself…Do this and you will live.”(Luke 10:27) Lessons of loving our neighbor is revealed in the parable of the Good Samaritan 1)lack of love is often easy to justify, even though it is never right,2) our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need and 3)love means acting to meet the person’s need. All of the commandments are summed up in these two.