True discipleship

 33“So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not [carefully consider the cost and then for My sake] give up all his own possessions. Luke 14:33 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Jesus made it very clear to the Pharisees as well as his disciples that there was an extreme cost in following him. To be a follower of Jesus demanded that nothing could take priority over him. Everything and every relationship must take a back seat to following Jesus. He demands complete devotion if you truly want to be his disciple. Many things in life can usurp the place that Jesus alone should have in our life. Possessions, positions, relationship, hobbies, sports and the list can go on are all things that compete for our time and devotion. None of these can be considered evil but each of these can take a priority in our life that relegates Jesus to second place. He must be Lord of all or he is not Lord at all. To be a follower of Jesus is to be one who is listening to him and obeying what he calls us to do. If we have ears to hear we must listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit directing us and respond in obedience. Nothing can be more important than hearing and obeying if we truly want to be a disciple of Jesus.

The narrow door

 24“Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able. Luke 13:24 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

One of the greatest lies of Satan is that all roads lead to heaven. Many people think that entering heaven is based on whether they have been a good person in this life. If they have done enough good works, God will be obligated to allow them to enter heaven. This philosophy was rejected by Jesus to the point that he said he did not know these people and they were not given access to heaven. If good works were the litmus test for salvation there would be no need for Jesus to come to earth. Good works can never erase the sins committed. Only the blood of Jesus can atone for the sins of mankind. The door to heaven is narrow and few will enter. This a sobering thought that should cause people to examine their lives to determine if they are truly relying on the way of salvation that Jesus has provided or if they are depending on some other way that they believe will give them access to heaven.

Division

 51“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division [between believers and unbelievers] Luke 12:51 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

There really are only 2 kinds of people. Those who believe in Jesus and become followers of him and those who do not believe in him. There will always be this division among people which will cause unrest and at times violence. Persecution of believers began with the Roman Empire that mistreated and killed Christians. When Constantine made Christianity the religion of his empire there was a time of peace until the Muslims began to invade other countries and persecute the Christians. The persecution continues today as the Muslims seek to dominate the world and use violence to try to force Christians to recant their believes and accept Islam. There will never be peace on earth until Jesus rules over every person and nation. We as believers look forward to the day of his return to rule for 1000 years and bring peace. He is the Prince of Peace and his kingdom rule will never end.

Greed

 15Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.” Luke 12:15 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Greed is desiring more than you need to benefit yourself. Greed comes in many forms such as gaining money in any way that you can. One of the tragic stories of recent times in that of Bernie Maddow. He contrived a plan that deceived many people and made him rich. His greed for more wealth became the driving force of his life. But it all came to an end when his actions of deceit were brought to light, and he was convicted of his crimes and sent to prison. None of his wealth did anything for him as he sat in his prison cell separated from his family and all of his possessions. He managed to deceive many people who also had an issue with greed when they believed that their investments with him could produce results that were too good to believe. Their greed resulted in losing all the money they thought was being invested in companies that did not exist. Jesus warned his disciples as well as the people who were listening to him that they must always guard their hearts against greed. God wants us to trust in him to meet every need we have because he cares for us. He will never fail us when we seek to live by his standards and pursue his kingdom rather than the riches of the world.

Misinterpretation

 52“Woe to you lawyers, because you have taken away the key to knowledge (scriptural truth). You yourselves did not enter, and you held back those who were entering [by your flawed interpretation of God’s word and your man-made tradition].” Luke 11:52 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Misinterpretation of the Scriptures was common among the scribes and Pharisees. They claimed to be experts in knowing what the Scriptures meant and their interpretation was to be followed by the people. They were full of pride and arrogance and expected special honor from the people. Jesus called them out on their false interpretation and pointed out that they did not follow the interpretation they concocted themselves. They were hypocrites to say the least and Jesus would have none of it. Instead of leading people to know God, they drove them away by their false interpretations and expectations that were beyond human reasoning to follow. They became legalists and had lost the true meaning of the Scriptures. Their relationship with God became mechanical and not personal. They lost touch with God and with the people they were to serve. False interpretation of the Scriptures continues to be a problem in the church today and has led to many heresies that turn people away from the true knowledge of God.

Obedience

 27Now while Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed (happy, favored by God) is the womb that gave birth to You and the breasts at which You nursed!” 28But He said, “On the contrary, blessed (happy, favored by God) are those who hear the word of God and continually observe it.” Luke 11:27-28 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Motherhood was an honor every woman desired. To be childless was to be cursed and to have children was to be blessed. Mary certainly had a special honor in giving birth to Jesus and raising him. She was blessed among all women with the privilege of bearing the Son of God. Yet Jesus elevated obedience above the honor of being his mother. This does not put Mary in an inferior place but stresses the importance of following the word of God in obedience on a daily basis. A life of obedience is a life that is honored by the Lord above any status one may receive. This was the challenge Jesus gave to the people to place obedience above any other thing that brought honor to a person. Our obedience to the Lord on a daily basis is his desire for every believer. To claim one is a Christian but fail to obey the commands and teaching of the Lord is hypocritical and damaging to the understanding of what it means to be a Christian. Obedience will always bring a blessing

Self justification

 29But he, wishing to justify and vindicate himself, asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The problem this man faced is the same problem many people face. They try to justify their actions and lifestyle based on their perception of what is right and wrong and whether they are living in a manner that will be acceptable to the Lord or to other people in authority. People judge their worthiness to be able to enter heaven based on their works or on how they treat people. If I am a good person according to their standards of goodness, then God will accept me into heaven. Good works are not the criteria that God uses to allow access to heaven. We are to live in a manner that pleases him and obeys his commands but that is not the determining factor for our entering heaven. No matter how good we think we are or how many good works we have done, it will never erase the sinful things we have committed. We are imperfect people and the only way for our lives to be justified before God is through the justification we receive through Jesus. His blood shed on the cross made possible our forgiveness and justification before God that allows us access to heaven when we die.

A different spirit

 54When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them?” 55But He turned and rebuked them [and He said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are;56for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they journeyed on to another village. Luke 9:54-55 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

James and John wanted Jesus to call down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans who were considered enemies of the Jews that lived in other parts of Israel. They did not worship in Jerusalem but created their own customs in their land of Samaria. They were considered rebels and were to be avoided. Yet Jesus saw them through the eyes of love and not rejection. He chose to go through their land in spite of potential conflict and harm. Killing our enemies or people who think differently than we do will never win any battle. Violence is not the way of the Master Jesus. He was of a different spirit, the Spirit of God dwelling in him. When God’s Spirit is in our lives, we respond differently to others and seek to lead them to the knowledge of the truth in an atmosphere of love. Love is the most powerful force in the world and can accomplish what violence and destruction can never accomplish. Islam is not a religion of peace but one of submission to Allah. It has been propagated through violence and using the sword instead of the spirit of love. It forces people to convert or be killed. This the same spirit that James and John wanted to see the destruction of people who opposed them. Jesus immediately rebuked them and reminded them that this was not the way of God to treat people who oppose them

Who is Jesus to you?

 20And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter replied, “The Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God!” Luke 9:20 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The question Jesus posed to his disciples is the question that every person must give a response. Who is Jesus to you? Is he simply a prophet, teacher, worker of miracles or historical figure? Jesus was all of these, but the most important aspect of his life is that he came to be the Messiah, the Savior of the world who would give his life as payment for the sins of mankind. He came to show the world what God was like. He was the exact representation of God and was equal to God. He wants every person to know him in a personal way and be able to receive him as the Messiah promised throughout the Old Testament. He came to the earth to give his life as a ransom for all of humanities sins. The Jews were hoping for a Messiah who would be their leader and conquer the Roman rule over them, but Jesus never had any political ambitions to be their earthly ruler. His kingdom was much greater than just Israel. His kingdom he came to establish was a spiritual kingdom that would spread throughout the entire world and who never end. Those who receive him as the Lord and Savior become a part of an eternal kingdom that knows no end.

Power over the impossible

 53Then they began laughing scornfully at Him and ridiculing Him, knowing [without any doubt] that she was dead. 54But Jesus took hold of her hand and spoke, saying, “Child, arise!” 55And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He ordered that she be given something to eat. Luke 8:53-55 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Jesus demonstrated the power of God over every human and natural condition. Nothing was impossible and his disciples needed to learn that faith in God was all they needed to overcome any adversity. The daughter of Jairus was dead, her spirit had left her but Jesus seeing the same thing that her family and others saw interpreted her condition differently. She was asleep, her soul was a rest from the sickness that had taken control of her life. Jesus spoke life into her body by declaring she should arise. He was speaking to a dead body, but her spirit could hear his words and return to her body to bring her back to life. No situation in life is beyond God’s ability to change. We serve a God who delights in doing the impossible to show his power and love to his people. Jesus understood the tremendous loss of the family, and he did what no other person could do to raise her back to life. We serve a God of great compassion and when we exercise faith in him, nothing is impossible.

Honor and respect

 37Now there was a woman in the city who was [known as] a sinner; and when she found out that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume; 38and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began wetting His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and [respectfully] kissed His feet [as an act signifying both affection and submission] and anointed them with the perfume. Luke 7:37-38 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

This woman who came to the home of the Pharisee knew who Jesus was and was willing to be put to shame in order to be with Jesus and express her admiration of him. She was a sinner and she knew it. Her tears were tears of sorrow for her lifestyle. The amount of tears she shed were an incredible amount that enabled her to wash the feet of Jesus. How deep was her sorrow for her lifestyle that she wept such a great amount of tears. She honored Jesus by cleaning his dirty feet and then anointing them with the perfume that was costly. She used her hair as a towel to wipe his feet an act of great humility as the hair of a woman was her source of pride and beauty. Nothing was too good for Jesus, and she gave all she had to honor him. As a result, Jesus forgave her of her sins and sent her away in peace. The Pharisees were shocked at the behavior of Jesus and the fact that he forgave her instead of reprimand her for her lifestyle. Jesus was more interested in demonstrating love and compassion than criticism and judgment. He saw her sorrow and knew that she was sincere in her actions of honoring him.

Contrariness

 35“But love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great (rich, abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High; because He Himself is kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Luke 6:35 The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The teachings of Jesus are contrary to the way most people think and act. Most people seek to do what is best for themselves, what will benefit them and make their life more comfortable. How they treat other people is based on how other people treat them. If they are your enemy there is no advantage to treat them well and do anything good for them as it will only reinforce their way of doing whatever they think is right. Jesus taught that our motivation must always be based in true love, like his love, that always did what was best for the other person regardless of what the other person had done to you. Grace is giving what other people do not deserve and this is how God operates with all of mankind. He is gracious and always acts in the best interests of the people. When we treat people as God treats them with love and grace, we will be rewarded by God. We must always live in a way that is pleasing to God and responds as God would respond in every situation we encounter.

Change and growth

 37“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38“But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39“And no one, after drinking old wine, wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is fine.’ ” Luke 5:37-39 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The Pharisee were not open to new ideas nor were they willing to make changes to the systems they had invented to keep the many new laws they created. When Jesus taught, he presented new ideas that opposed their ideas and he was rejected by them. He challenged the false doctrines and practices of the Pharisee and introduced them to the correct interpretation of the Scriptures. The old ways were considered better and the new teachings of Jesus were considered in error and his claims to forgive sins was blasphemous. Tradition and routine can often suck the life out of a church. Doing things, the way they have always been done brings security to some people who are resistant to change. A church that is unwilling to make changes is a church that will soon fail to reach a new generation of people who have different ideas on how things can be done. There must be an openness to change to provide growth of the church.

Rebuking demons

 41Demons also were coming 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 that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). Luke 4:41 Zondervan. The Amplified Study Bible . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The demons knew who Jesus was and that his mission was to destroy the works of Satan. The Jews were looking for a Messiah that would destroy the Roman rule over the nation, but Jesus did not come for that purpose. His kingdom was not of this world; it was a spiritual kingdom where God’s love ruled the hearts of people. The demons accepted the fact that Jesus was the Son of God but the people for the most part rejected this and saw Jesus as only the son of Joseph and Mary. The demons sought to stir up controversy and cause confusion among the people to make the ministry of Jesus more difficult. They were willing to promote him because they knew it would cause trouble for him to advance his ministry. God’s timing is always perfect, and the demonic forces will attempt to do everything they can to minimize the effectiveness of God’s plan in our lives. Jesus knew that God was ordering his steps and he recognized the work of the demonic powers that were against him and he rebuked them and made them be silent. We too must always be aware of the work of the enemy, the demonic forces that will try to disrupt the ministry God had given us. We have authority to rebuke them in the name of Jesus who has authority over all.

Good news, bad news

 Luke 3:18–20 (NRSV)

18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

John was the bearer of good news and bad news. He spoke the truth that either drew people to God or angered people because he identified their sins. The gospel message we share accomplished the same things. It is good news because it proclaims that our sins can be forgiven through the death of Jesus on the cross where his blood was shed for the remission of sins. The good news is that we can be forgiven and restored in our broken relationship with God the Father. The bad news is that unless there is confession of sin and the need for a Savior, we will never enter into right relationship with God, and the consequence is eternal separation and condemnation to hell. Both messages must be preached in order for people to truly understand the consequences of their decision to accept or reject the message of the gospel. John was sent to prison and later was decapitated for his stand for truth and uncompromisingly confronting sinful behavior. His message was welcomed by people who knew their spiritual condition but was rejected by those who did not want to hear the truth.

The revelation of the Angels

 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:8-11

The angels revealed to the shepherds the identity and mission of Jesus. Jesus came to earth to bring great news and great joy to ALL people. It was not exclusively for the Jewish people but for everyone who had ever lived and would ever live on the earth. The joy is found in knowing Jesus and understanding his purpose and mission for his time on earth. The angels also confirmed the prophecy given about the birthplace of Jesus which was Bethlehem. For those who knew the Scriptures, it was foretold the exact birthplace of Jesus. They revealed that the Savior, the only one God would send to save them from their sin was born. The time of waiting for the fulfillment of the prophesies was completed. They did not need to wait for another person to be the Savior. The title Messiah was also conferred upon Jesus. He was the anointed one God sent into the world. He alone would accomplish the redemption of both the Israelites and the gentiles. Finally, the angels identified Jesus as the Lord. He was the supreme Lord over all creation, and everyone will one day acknowledge that he is Lord to the glory of God. The Lordship of Jesus is a choice every person must decide for themselves. Either Jesus is Lord of all or not Lord at all.

Orderly, personal account

Luke 1:1–4 (NRSV)
1Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
3I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

4so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. Luke had the privilege of being with Jesus and was inspired to give an account of what he saw and heard when he was with Jesus as well as what he learned when consulting others who also were with Jesus. He wanted his account to be based on true, factual experiences that could not be denied. His personal experiences and the knowledge he gained were based in truth that he wanted to communicate to everyone who read his account.

Like Luke, we too need to have a personal relationship with Jesus and be able to give an account for the knowledge of the truth that has been shared with us. Our relationship with the Lord is a powerful testimony to the validity of our beliefs. Our faith in the Lord is based on factual evidence that has been faithfully recorded by the people who walked and lived with Jesus during his time on earth. Historical records give credence as well to our belief that Jesus was who he said he was and did what was recorded about his life. Our mission is to communicate the truths we have been given to those who have no knowledge of the Savior or who have errant knowledge that needs to be corrected. God wants the world to know him, to have a personal relationship with him and enjoy an eternity with him that is made possible through his Son who is the Savior of the world.

Testifying to the Light

 John 1:6–9 (NRSV)

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

Light and darkness are contrasted throughout the Scriptures. Light is a powerful source of energy and brings life to the plants God created. But it also reveals the truth as the Holy Spirit brings the Word of God to life. Jesus declared that he was the Light of the World and John confirmed that the Light was not overcome by the darkness which symbolizes the work of the devil to blind the minds and hearts of people from receiving the truth. Like John, believers are to testify to the light and communicate to a world in darkness that Jesus is the Messiah who came to the world to bring salvation to all who believe in him. There are many false prophets and belief systems in the world today but none of them can compare to the message we have received through Jesus. He came into the world as an infant yet was truly God. He was the God Man sent to reveal the truth of who God is and how we as fallen human beings can be restored in our relationship with God. We testify to the truth through our lives that embrace the truth and live according to the truth we receive through the word of God.

Preparing the Way

Mark 1:1–4 (NRSV)
1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark bypasses the miraculous story of the birth of Jesus and the miraculous birth of John whose parents were beyond the years of physically being able to have a child. Mark begins with the words of the prophet Isaiah that foretell the proclamation of the coming ministry of Jesus Christ the Son of God. John’s focus was to prepare the hearts of the people to receive Jesus as the Messiah for whom they had been waiting. At the baptism of Jesus, the voice of God was heard proclaiming him to be the very Son of God. His identity was never to be questioned by the people, and it would be confirmed through the works he performed. Mark’s gospel proceeds with the miraculous works of Jesus empowered the Holy Spirit to destroy the works of the devil and render him powerless. The devasting effects of sin that included sickness, disease, and demonic possession were overcome by the anointed words of Jesus and his compassionate touch. Jesus was announcing a new Kingdom of God was now present among the people and invited them to be a part of it. The same invitation is extended to all of mankind today and those whose hearts are prepared to admit the sin that has devasted their lives and the need for salvation is their utmost desire can by faith receive Jesus as their Savior.

Joseph did not know

Matthew 1:18–21 (NRSV)

18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Joseph was a righteous man, and he knew the law forbade sexual relations outside of marriage. The news of Mary’s pregnancy was a shock to him, and he was willing to break the engagement to protect her from public disgrace. He had his best intentions for her and had to make a difficult decision about the future of their relationship. But God had other plans that he did not know until an angel was sent to reveal to him in dream that God was in control of the situation. He believed the words the angel spoke to him and in obedience took Mary to be his wife. He like Mary was privileged beyond any other person to be given the responsibility to raise the long-awaited Messiah who would be the Savior of the world. He was a man God could trust to raise Jesus in a God-fearing home where the Word of God was taught and practiced. He would be an example to Jesus that would be instrumental in forming his life.