Good morning and welcome to day seventy-three. We will be reading in the book of Luke today.
Luke 2
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
You can read this in encyclopedias that a big tax decree went out in the days of Caesar Augustus; and every family had to census themselves and pay their taxes. These verses let's us know that Joseph was a man of the house of David, and even so was Mary, making Jesus the son of David in the flesh.
Shepherds were shown by angels that the glory of God had been delivered on earth and that He can be found in a manger with His parents. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
They saw a host of angels praising God and they went to see the child and spread the news.
23(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
Mary and Joseph still followed the customs and the law of Moses that should still be followed today; in circumcising the male child at 8 days, waiting her days of purification (30 days for a male child) before you come to the temple, and offering a sacrifice to the Lord (a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons). And they properly name the baby, Jesus, as commanded by the angel of the Lord's presence.
Verses 25 through 32 informs me that many people read the scriptures well and knew of the incoming of the Lord's Christ. An old man name Simeon who lived in Jerusalem, said to be just and devout, was shown by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he has seen the Lord's Anointed One. And at the ceremony of the eight day and naming of the child, it was fulfilled. Simeon knew that the Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles and the glory to His people Israel.
Mary and Joseph were amazed at all the people that knew of their child and all He was to do for Israel. 38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Many people were waiting for this like waiting for a tax refund. Just as we are in our day; when we see major prophecies unfold we will be filled with joy and fear because we know that the coming of the Lord will be at hand.
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
The family, Mary and Joseph, perhaps did not know that Jesus was the Messiah, but they were a family that feared God and kept the commandments. They kept the passover every year. One year, as Jesus was twelve years of age, and the family was returning back to Nazareth, Jesus stayed behind and they found Him in the temple sitting with doctors, listening to them and asking them questions. They must have been hard questions because they were amazed at the child's understanding and His answers.
However, Jesus wasn't suppose to leave His mama and papa without making them aware and mama came back to deal with Him. That's when He let her know that He is all about His Father's business.
51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. As it says in the proverbs, keeping God's commandments gives you favor with man and with God. Jesus again, is our example of this.
Luke chapter 3
2Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
As in other gospels we see that John the baptist preach in the wilderness and the coast of Jordan for the repentance from sins. Before the Lord comes in both instances, you will get men in the spirit of Elijah the prophet clearing the straighting people before the Lord returns. JESUS will even do this before the Father comes. The thousand years is to also to ready everyone for the Father's kingdom, which Adam could have step foot in from day one had he spoke to the tree of life instead.
So there is always a prophet who will teach the clear way of Christ before His return.
7Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
In Mark and Matthew, it says he said this to the Pharisees who came to be baptized because many people were. People that were coming to be baptized were doing so because of John's message. The message is that those who do not repent and clean themselves will be subject to everlasting torment in the lake of fire. That is what John means when he says who warned you to flee the wrath to come.
9And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
John preached that it is time to love each other and love and fear your God. If not, you will be like a tree with no good fruit, a person with no good traits, that tree or person will be thrown in the fire. I'm pleasantly surprised at all of the gospels reference to the lake of fire.
17Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
For people who thought John was the Christ, he cleared that up for them letting them know it's not him; but the One who comes after him, speaking of Jesus. It is Jesus who has the lake of fire that is unquenchable for all those who offend.
21Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
23And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
Here again is Jesus being baptized. It is customary for people to be baptized at the age of 20; but Jesus waited until He was thirty because according to Numbers chapter 4, that is the age in which one can enter into the ministry. I read in the paper that President Barack Obama picked a church to attend and the head pastor is only 27 years of age. I question a country leader who goes for spiritual guidance from a pastor who does not even know the legal age, biblically, to enter into the ministry.
We get the lineage of Jesus, which lets us know He was the son of David, the son of Abraham, and all these were the son of Adam, who was the son of God.
38Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. Notice we clean swept pass Cain. He was not the son of God; but he was disinherited for his actions and behavior. His children were the sons of men that the sons of God took to marry who the Lord's spirit would not be with once they did. Just as we've read many different forms of the spirit of God, there are different sons of God.
Luke 4
Now before Jesus began His ministry, He was tempted in the wilderness by Satan. This means He received the same temptations we receive every day from Satan. The only difference is that Jesus passed with flying colors by resisting Him with the Word of God.
14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
When you defeat Satan in a battle and you do it with the word of God, you will be filled with the power of the Spirit. What is that? The Spirit is the Word of God. No one can persuade you to eat any unclean food because the word of God has separated what is clean and what is unclean. Jesus then began teaching in the churches and He came to Nazareth, His home town and as His custom was He went to church (synagogue) on the Sabbath day, and stood up to do what we are doing now; reading.
If you are trying to be just like Jesus, it should also be your custom to go to church on the Sabbath day, the 7th day of the week.
17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
They handed Jesus a book, it was Isaiah, and if you read Isaiah, and if you go back and read Isaiah 61 you will see what Jesus read to the people. However, you'll notice also that He read only two verses and closed the book and sat down. The first two verses were fulfilled in their ears that day. There was a whole chapter in Isaiah of events that need to be fulfilled. That will take place when He returns.
As Jesus read this, in an indirect, still direct way, He claimed to be the Messiah and the people picked up on this and then said to themselves, this is Joseph's son. Jesus told them that a prophet is not accepted in his own country. But in the days of Elijah during the famine a widow from Sidon was saved, and during Elisha's tenure no one was cleansed of leprosy but a Syrian named Naaman, it will be like in Jesus day, only those who believe the prophet no matter what village he's from.
The people knew Jesus was talking about them and they got angry and were reading to throw Him out their city head first and "headlong."
33And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
In a separate incident Jesus saw a man who had an unclean spirit of the devil in him and shouted out to Jesus. The evil spirit knew who Jesus was and let it be known that he knew Jesus, the holy One of God. Jesus told him to shut up and come out of the man and the evil spirit did. People became amazed and His fame picked up round about.
41And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. Many devils knew who Jesus was, it was Jesus who threw them all out of Heaven to the earth.
Luke 5
5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Jesus meets Simon Peter and helps him fish. Peter could have be arrogant and said, "Lord I'm the fisherman, and you're the teacher, you do what you know and let me do what I know." Instead he said at your word I will let down the net. And he caught so much his net broke. He had been out there all day and caught nothing; but here at Jesus command, he had too many. He was converted on the spot.
As they rounded up the fish; Jesus told them in this same fashion you will catch men concerning the gospel. When they got back to the land, Peter, James, and John (James brother), all gave up their fishing business and career to follow Jesus. Such faith shows why Jesus always took those three when He went to do a big task (v11).
Jesus Came to Heal the Sinful
30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke chapter 6
5And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. Jesus keeps reminding us that He is the Lord of the Sabbath day. So if we are not keeping the Sabbath day, is Jesus our Lord?
12And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Jesus was in prayer to God all night. This is another thing that Jesus did often and in heavy doses. He prayed. He may have been praying on His decision to pick the right twelve disciples of all that were following Him. He named these twelve apostles.
Blessings and Woes - Jesus Teachings
21Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
24But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
46And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? This is interesting. Why call the Lord your Master and not keep the commandments?
Luke 7
5For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
Here is the centurion, a Roman officer who had a sick servant and wanted Jesus to come and heal the man. This centurion had a good name that is why many of the Jews vouched for Jesus to help him. The centurion loved the people of Israel, he even helped them build a synagogue.
A Great Prophet
15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
When you are raising people from the dead, the people will certainly have respect for you. Can you imagine watching a man raise someone from the dead today? Whatever he teaches you'd be sure to listen. The miracles were to get the attention of the people of the power of God and once you have ones attention, you can now speak to them easily. It's like giving a hungry man food. Now he can listen to you; before he was listening to his stomach growl.
Much Sin Much is Forgiven
47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Jesus was invited to a Pharisees home and He sat with the man. A woman came by hearing Jesus was there and she began to cry, she washed His feet with her tears, dried it with her hair, and anointed him with her oil. Now she was a heavy duty sinner and the Pharisee thought that if Jesus was indeed a prophet He would know what kind of woman He has touching Him. Jesus read his thoughts and asked him, if two men owed a creditor money; one owing $50 the other $5000, and the creditor forgave their debt, who would love the creditor more?
The Pharisee answer the one who owed $5000 and he was right. Jesus was referring to the woman who had many sins, but this Pharisee probably didn't have as much as her. It is like this today, people that were horrible sinners turn to God and humbly beg for forgiveness and serve the Lord with all; while people who grew up not too bad; do not have the zeal because they feel they are not doing bad.
Luke 8
2And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
They all came to hear the Lord speak; and He spake parables to them:
The parable of the sower of seeds
5A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
12Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
8And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
15But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke 9
2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Jesus sends His disciples out to teach, by two into towns and He gave them power to heal and cast out devils. This chapter is just as the chapters in Matthew and Mark, with a lot of sayings and teachings of Jesus.
This concludes our reading for today. Grace and peace to all.
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Peace & Grace
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