A Christmas Bible Study "Good News of Great Joy:"
The Book of Luke
DATE: (1/16/15)
Week # 7
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus. Thank You for saving us from our sins. Father it is written in Your Word that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that You have raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved. We thank You for forgiving us of all our sin. Jesus is my Lord, and I believe that all prayer warriors of this community believe that You are their Lord too. Thank You! Your birth was not in vain. You accomplished what You came to do, and we are so grateful. We pray for the saving of many souls in this pocket of time. Bless us as we study about our Lord during this Christmas season, because we will continue to confess that Jesus is the reason for all seasons. In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN.
Jesus' Early Childhood & the Ministry of John the Baptist
The Family Returns to Nazareth (2:39-40-3:22)
Nazareth was about 65 miles north of Jerusalem. Nazareth is where Jesus was reared after Joseph and Mary took Him to Egypt to flee from Herod's edict which was given after the visit of the Magi. All male children in Bethlehem under the age of two were killed by Herod (Matt 2:13-16). The age of two and under was selected based upon "the time which He had determined from the wise men" (Matt 2:16).
In these two verses, Luke observes the fact that Jesus, as fully human, had to grow in His understanding just as we do. Even though Jesus was the perfect God-man in hypostatic union, he still had to humbly submit to the discipline of the study and application of Hebrew Scriptures. His human spirit was filled with wisdom as a result of His diligent study of the Scriptures and as a result, the grace of God was upon Him in the form of a mind and human spirit saturated with Truth that He could apply. His wisdom did not result from the grace of God being "upon Him", but the wisdom He acquired as He grew in Truth resulted in the grace of God being upon Him. Remember, Jesus did not rely upon His deity in the execution of the Father's plan for His life. He relied upon the same divine assets that are available to us which included the ministry of the Holy Spirit to His spirit and divine revelation in the form of the Word.
Question: When did Jesus first realize that He was the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the World?
Answer: While Scripture doesn't state the answer, it is reasonable to conclude that as Jesus studied Hebrew Scripture to include such passages as Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 among others and as His parents recounted the events that attended His birth and the birth of John the Baptist, He grew in wisdom regarding His identity, and it was never a doubt of who He was because He was with His Father from the beginning.
At Twelve, Jesus Amazes the Scholars (2:41-50)
The Mosaic Law required that the men of Israel make three pilgrimages each year to Jerusalem – Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of the Tabernacles (Ex 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16).
However, by the first century A.D., most men made one annual pilgrimage due to the fact that many Jews had been dispersed across such areas as Asia Minor. The one day Passover was followed by the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex 23:15; Lev 23:4-8; Deuteronomy 16:1-8). The entire eight day festival was sometimes called the Passover (Luke 22:1, 7; John 19:14; Acts 12:3-
4). Jesus' parents had traveled a day before they discovered His absence from the traveling band that contained some of His relatives. It obviously took them a day to journey back to Jerusalem and it then took them a day to find Jesus. According to the Mishnah, the age of twelve years old is one year before a boy becomes responsible for his religious commitments.
Question: Who fed Jesus during this time? Where did He stay? Wasn't He concerned that His parents would miss Him?
Answer: Scripture doesn't state the answers to these questions; however, here's some conjecture on my part. At twelve, Jesus, Who had a perfect human body without the taint of the old sin nature, might have looked a little older than twelve.
Perhaps He passed for a fifteen or sixteen-year-old as He might have been more physically mature. Also, His parents might have provided Him with some funds to buy food so that He could have some freedom to enjoy the activities surrounding the Passover. There were many pilgrims during Passover and no doubt people slept with blankets or a bedroll of some type all over Jerusalem. Evidently, Jesus had spent much time in the synagogue in His hometown studying the scrolls that contained Hebrew Scripture and in discussion with Jewish rabbis. Jesus' response to Mary in (Luke 2:49) indicates that the twelve year old Jesus had discovered His purpose and destiny through His study and had begun to execute the Father's purpose in His life. He believed that of all people, His parents would have understood that point. Note that Jesus amazed everyone with His understanding and insight. It is possible for even a twelve year old with proper instruction in the Word to be spiritually oriented to the Father's plan for their lives. Even Jesus' parents did not understand what Jesus meant when He said that He must be about His Father's business (2:49).
Jesus Returns to Nazareth with His Parents (2:51-52)
Note that Jesus was "subject to" His parents after He returned to Nazareth (2:51). Also, note that it was Mary whom Luke notes as having treasured these words in her heart. Personally, I believe that Luke interviewed Mary (see Luke 1:1-2) about these early years and that Joseph possibly died during Jesus' early life. After all, there is no mention of Joseph at the time of Jesus' death. Only Mary is mentioned. Note also that Jesus is said to have "increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men."
The Call:
This is the inauguration of Jesus' ministry from our study "The ministry of Jesus".
God reveal Christ: ( Malachi 4:2; Isaiah 40:5)
John Declared Jesus Christ: (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:19-36)
Jesus Baptism: (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22, Colossians 2:13)
The Temptation: (Matthew 4:1-11)
One of the key themes of Jesus' early public ministry is the calling of his disciples. On one level, of course, Jesus' calling of these men was unique because they went on to become the apostles--his official and inspired spokesmen. But on another level, his calling of these men is typical because he calls all people (including you and me!) to be his disciples. And the principles that guided Jesus' calling of the twelve also apply to his calling of us. One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
The Ministry of John the Baptist (3:1-22)
Tiberius Caesar began to reign in A.D. 14 after his stepfather, Augustus died. John's ministry began in the 15th year of Tiberius' reign; therefore, it was A.D. 29. Some of the significant government officials during this period and the periods in which they ruled would appear as follows:
Secular Rulers
|-------------------------------------------Herod Antipas --------------------------------------------|
4 B.C. (The Herod in Luke 1:1, Ruled from Tiberius, Capital at Caesarea Philippi) A.D. 39
(Ruled over Galilee and Perea)
|------------------------------------------------Philip ---------------------------------------|
4 B.C. (Brother of Antipas, ruled east of the Jordan) A.D. 34
|-------------------------Tiberius ---------------------------------------------|
A.D. 14 (Ruled over the Roman Empire) A.D. 37
|---------------Pontius Pilate --------------------|
A.D. 26 (Governor of the Province of Judea) A.D. 36
|--------------|
4 B.C. A.D. 6
Herod Archelaus – Ruled Judea and Samaria
Religious Rulers
|-------|
A.D. 7 A.D. 14
Annas, the High Priest
| |
A.D. 18 (Caiaphas, Annas son-in-law plus Annas' five sons) A.D. 37
Jesus was the most perfect man of all men, the perfect Son of God. Completely devoted to everyone, especially the weak. He was the most humble man that ever lived, and not only a servant, but the lowest slave. He completely put others first before He thought of Himself, the Son of man.
Called the most beautiful book ever written, Luke begins by telling us about Jesus' parents; the birth of His cousin, John the Baptist; Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born in a manger; and the genealogy of Christ through Mary. Jesus' public ministry reveals His perfect compassion and forgiveness through the stories of the prodigal son, the rich man and Lazarus, and the Good Samaritan. While many believe in this unprejudiced love that surpasses all human limits, many others—especially the religious leaders—challenge and oppose the claims of Jesus. Christ's followers are encouraged to count the cost of discipleship, while His enemies seek His death on the cross. Finally, Jesus is betrayed, tried, sentenced and crucified. But the grave cannot hold Him! His Resurrection assures the continuation of His ministry of seeking and saving the lost.
These are connections:
Since Luke was a Gentile, his references to the Old Testament are relatively few compared to those in Matthew's gospel, and most of the OT references are in the words spoken by Jesus rather than in Luke's narration. Jesus used the Old Testament to defend against Satan's attacks, answering him with "It is written" (Luke 4:1-13); to identify Himself as the promised Messiah (Luke 4:17-21); to remind the Pharisees of their inability to keep the Law and their need of a Savior (Luke 10:25-28, 18:18-27); and to confound their learning when they tried to trap and trick Him (Luke 20).
Luke seems to portray Jesus as an ideal man, very appealing to the Greek culture which exalted reason, philosophy, the human mind, and beauty. Luke's writings were orderly and classical. He mentions that Jesus spent the whole night in prayer before He chose His apostles (Luke 6:12-16), unlike the other Gospel accounts. There are also statements in Luke that speak of His purity more clearly, like when the centurion said "certainly this was a righteous man" (Luke 23:47). The other Gospel accounts seem to have a different focus in their portrayal of Christ. Luke also seems to reveal Christianity as a religion for all mankind and not just the Jews. For example, the lineage of Jesus is traced past Abraham all the way back to Adam the first man. Jesus is seen in Luke as a friend of sinners and a savior to anyone who would believe in Him. When considering both of Luke's works it is clear that he traces the origin, heart, and description of the Christian movement from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, to Antioch, to Macedonia, to Achaia, to Ephesus, and finally to Rome, the capital of the world. He examined eyewitnesses, knew personally and had close contact with the main followers of Christ like Mark and James, the brother of the Lord, Paul. Silas (a member of the Jerusalem Church) and no doubt many others.
QUESTIONS/ANSWERS:
1. Which mountain was Jesus approaching when Jesus sent two of his disciples to
find a colt? Olivet/Olive (Luke 19:29, 37)
2. When the chief priests and the scribes questioned Jesus about paying taxes, Jesus
asked them to show him a denarius. Whose image and inscription did the denarius
have? Caesar's (Luke 20:24)
3. What is another name for the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Passover (Luke 22:1)
4. Which two disciples did Jesus send to prepare the Passover for them? Peter and John (Luke 22:8)
5. Which disciple denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed after the night
Jesus was arrested? Peter (Luke 22:60-61)
6. To whom did Pilate send Jesus when he found out that Jesus was a Galilean? To Herod (Luke 23:7)
7. Who was the prisoner who was released during Jesus' trial? Barabbas (Luke 23:18)
8. Who helped Jesus carry the cross? Simon a Cyrenian (Luke 23:26)
9. Who was the council member who went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus?
Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:50-51)
10. Where were Cleopas and another follower of Christ going when Jesus walked
with them and discussed all the events that recently happened in Jerusalem?
Emmaus (Luke 24:13, 18)
Questions:
1). Who do Mary and Elizabeth represent in the story?
2). How would you describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Mary and Elizabeth?
3). What was contained in the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament and how does Mary's pregnancy relate to it?
4). How does the angel Gabriel function in the birth story?
5). What is the difference between Zechariah and Mary's response to the angel?
6). What does Luke's insistence on Mary being a virgin mean to you?
7). With which character in Luke's birth story do you identify?
8). How does the structure of Luke's infancy story help you to better interpret it?
9). What is the meaning of the Old Testament texts that Luke uses for the back drop of his story?
10). How do you react to the stages of development that the Gospels went through?
11). What do we know about the author of the Gospel of Luke?
12). With which themes in the Gospel of Luke can you readily identify?
13). How did Luke die?
14). Was Luke an apostle?
Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sound joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders and wonders of His love
A Quiz:
Jesus prayed before each major task he faced. Read the scriptures and list the places or circumstances when Jesus prayed.
1). Luke 6:12-13______________________
2). Luke 3:21__________________________
3). Luke 23:33-34______________________
4). Luke 24:28-31______________________
5). Luke 22:16-20 _____________________
6). Mark 14:32-36 _____________________
7). Matthew 14:13-21___________________
8). John 11:40-44 _____________________
9). Matthew 5:1;6-9____________________
10). Matthew 19:1-14___________________
Reading the book of Luke: Chapters 1-24
Week 7 Luke 19-21
Luke 19:1-27 Jesus Brings Salvation to Zacchaeus' Home, Parable of the King's Ten Servants
Luke 19:28-48 Jesus Enters Jerusalem on a Donkey, Jesus Clears the Temple Again
Luke 20:1-19 Religious Leaders Challenge Jesus, Parable of the Wicked Tenants
Luke 20:20-40 Religious Leaders Question Jesus About Paying Taxes and the Resurrection
Luke 20:41-21:4 Jesus Warns Against Religious Leaders, A Poor Widow Gives All She Has
Luke 21:5-38 Jesus Talks About the Future, Signs of the End of the Age
Personal reflection question: What have you learn from the study of the book of Luke?
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