A Lesson for Us All

 N. T. #467 "A Lesson for Us All"

Jan. 17, 2025 

Luke 2-Part 2 

LET IT GLOW 

I found it interesting that John MacArthur would say that about 60% of the material in Mark is repeated in Luke. 

Luke used the word eyewitnesses (autoptics/where we get our word autopsy, which means self-seeing. 

Luke did his research before writing this book. As he traveled with Paul, Luke gathered scraps of written memoirs of the apostles who walked daily with Jesus, heard His teachings, saw Him perform miracles, and experienced discussions with the Messiah/Creator. We must include that Luke was directed through divine revelation inspired by the Holy Spirit in his writings. Luke wrote to narrate the ministry of Christ in an authoritative, logical, and factual order. However, it was not always chronological. 

Luke interviewed the people who knew Jesus best. Their testimony was a reputable eyewitness. His writings were the result of a research of excellence, an excellent organization, expression, and discipline. (Swindoll)

How are we doing in our life tasks? Are they performed with excellence?

LET IT GROW

No matter what our work involves, we should do it with these things in mind:

• Do it with all our might. (Exc. 9:10)
• Do all to glorify God. (1 Cor. 10:31) 
• Do it honorably. (2 Cor. 8:21)
• Do it as a service unto the Lord. (Eph. 6:7-8)
• Do all things without grumbling or disputing. (Phil. 2:14-15)
• Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Col. 3:17)
• Do whatever heartily, as for the Lord. (Col. 3:23-24)
• Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles so our good deeds glorify God. (1 Peter 2:12)
• When you speak and serve, do so in order that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:11)

Confession time: As I was typing all these verses, my new computer was taking over, making letters bold and large. Every time I typed a new verse summary, I was getting madder and madder at it. Spitt'n and sputter'n, I was. Then I was humbled by the words I had typed. Boy, did I fail that test!

Those verses are for us to apply, not just read, including me. Lesson learned.

LET IT GO

Help me honor You in all I do. Especially as I continue to drive my husband everywhere he needs to go. It has been almost 3 weeks and I am a homebody. So as I serve him today, may I honor You, Lord Jesus.

(His knee replacement has been a challenge for me, too.)

Do it.

There is Joy!

N.T.#466  "There is Joy!"

Jan. 16, 2025 

Luke 1 

LET IT GLOW

Need some joy today, my friend? Read on and find it.

As said earlier, Luke was a physician who shows Jesus' compassionately identifying with the needs of humanity. Luke marvels that God, moved by love for us, would make Himself so vulnerable. Only in Luke's account do we see the Almighty wrapped in swaddling clothes, a helpless infant laid in a manger. We see the Christ child matching wits with the greatest theological minds of His day and becoming fully aware of His dual nature-His divine origin, divine purpose, healing diseased and disfigured people for no reason other than love. (Swindoll)

Luke was not one of the 12 disciples which Jesus chose to follow Him and teach. It is possible that Luke became a believer as a direct result of Paul's ministry in Troas. In Acts 16, Luke includes himself as part of the missionary team with Paul, referring to "we" in the chapter. He may have heard about the Hebrew God while living around Philippi. He may have heard the gospel from Paul and accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Or Luke may have heard about Jesus from a Jewish convert returning from Pentecost. (Acts 2)(Swindoll)

At any rate, Luke was a believer in Christ Jesus who wrote this book. Why did he write it?

• Many people set out to write accounts about the events that were fulfilled among them. (verse 1)
• There were eyewitness reports circulating among them from the disciples. (verse 2)
• Luke decided to write a careful account for Theophilus, so he could be certain of the truth of everything he was taught. (verses 3-4) New Living Translation

Luke set out to complete the history of the events surrounding the beginnings, growth, and development of Christianity. By the way, Theophilus was a Greek noble and a believer in Jesus.

Are you a believer in Jesus?

LET IT GROW 

We will learn why Jesus is the object of our faith, hope, and deserves worship while studying this book. We will see Jesus':

• miraculous, divine conception,
• humility as He identifies with the lowest of the low,
• His righteousness displayed in His life,
• His triumph over temptation and compassion for infirmity,
• intolerance of hypocrisy,
• confrontation of evil,
• welcoming sinners, 
• obedience to the Father,
• His willingness to suffer on our behalf,
• and His conquest over death. (Swindoll) 

Luke presents Jesus as a human, an extraordinary human, because of His character. Jesus is not a dead hero, but a Risen Savior! This is His story!

And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. (24:52)

There we are, saved to worship the Lord Jesus, our Savior. There we are, sent to spread the Gospel, the Good News to our Jerusalem. How are we to do it? With great joy!

LET IT GO 

About Luke

 N.T.#465 "About Luke"

Jan. 15, 2025 

Introduction to Luke 

There are some interesting information about this author called Luke. I found this on the internet site of Crosswalk:

1. Luke was a Gentile and the only writer of a book of the Bible. Therefore, he wrote of things the Gentiles likely were not acquainted with in the Jewish practices. Also, Luke wanted to record the life of Jesus and gave as accurate account for the Gentile audience, especially Theophilis, a Roman official that was saved.
2. He was a physician, probably practicing medicine in Antioch. He sacrificed a comfortable life to follow the Lord and Paul on his missionary journeys.
3. Luke was humble. He used the term "we" in his writings.
4. He met some of the apostles/disciples; traveled with Matthew and Mark.
5. Luke remained with Paul until Paul's death when others fled due to Nero's persecution and killing of Christians. (2 Tim. 4) Luke was a loyal, faithful, brave, long-term friend, fellow worker, and companion to Paul over the years.
6. Luke's historical narrative spans over 60 years, from John the Baptist to the gospel reaching Rome.

A running theme in Luke's Gospel is Jesus' compassion for Gentiles, Samaritans, women, children, tax collectors, sinners, and others often regarded as outcasts in Israel. He included the salvation of the rich and respected. This showed the Great Physician ministering to those most aware of their need.(MacArthur)

Other themes in Luke's writings include the human fear in the presence of God, forgiveness, joy, wonder at the mysteries of divine truth, the role of the Holy Spirit, the temple in Jerusalem, and Jesus' prayers. the heart of Luke's Gospel is Jesus' relentless progression toward the Cross. Jesus did not deter from it, for His whole mission was the saving of sinners. Luke highlighted Paul's doctrine of justification by faith.  (MacArthur)

Don't you feel like you know Luke? I hope you will continue on this journey through Luke's writings as we walk by faith in our own journey of life.

Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  (Luke 5:32)

Friend, have your repented of your sins and asked Jesus to be your Savior? What about your family, friends, neighbors? 

The End is the Beginning

N.T.#464 "The End is the Beginning"

Jan. 14, 2025 

Summary of Mark

Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse as He prophesied about the future events to come. (chapter 13) 

Mark didn't give us details of Jesus' teachings in the upper room, when He and the disciples celebrated the Passover. Yet 7 times Jesus foretold of His death and resurrection to His disciples. Judas left to collect his blood-money, then the Lord's Supper became a symbol of the New Covenant. Jesus gave His body and blood for us as a sacrificial Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. We come to Jesus in faith, believing who He is and what He has done for us. Is Jesus your personal Savior?

Peter denied Jesus, which He previously had revealed to him. Jesus went through 6 trials, which we studied in depth. 

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (14:62) 

Before suffering on the cross, they beat Jesus. made fun of Him, then drove 3 nails into His body so He would die on the cross at age 33. After He died, the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom. This signified that we now have access to our Heavenly Father through Jesus our Intercessor.

The centurion proclaimed that Truly this man was the Son of God. (15:39)

The faithful women encountered an angel who said, Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen: He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him.  (16:6)

After that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and two men on the road to Damascus. Jesus gave the Great Commission, Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  (16:15)

Jesus actually remained with them 40 days. (Acts 1:3) 

Others wrote book and letters, sharing the life of Jesus Christ. They were led of the Holy Spirit to give us instructions as to how we are to obey God and believe in Him and His Word as Truth. Such grace and mercy our Lord is showing us through the Scriptures. We may not understand it all, but faith knows it is Truth.

Thank you for studying the Gospel of Mark. Join us tomorrow as we begin studying The Gospel According to Luke. What a blessing you have been.   

What is to Come

 N.T.#463 "What is to Come"

Jan. 13, 2025

Summary of Mark-Part 4

We are continuing to look at some of the highlights in this book:

• One of the scribes asked Jesus which is the most important of all. And Jesus answer him, The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. An thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other but He. (Mark 12:28-31)
• Then in chapter 13, Jesus taught about signs or event to take place in the future Messianic Kingdom: deceivers, wars, earthquakes, famines, and 7-year Tribulation.
• And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. (verse 26)
• Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My Words shall not pass away. (verse 31)

Only the Heavenly Father knows when He will send His Son to get His children to take to heaven. In the meantime, we are told to heed, watch, and pray. We are to be looking up for our redemption draweth nigh. We believe the rapture will come before the Tribulation. Pray for other believers, the church, and ourself to remain faithful to the Redeemer. Also, pray for the lost to come accept Jesus as their Savior. Time seems to be getting shorter.

Are you ready for the rapture and Tribulation?

Where Does Your Loyalty Lie?

N.T.#462  "Where Does Your Loyalty Lie?"

Jan. 10, 2025 

Summary of Mark-Part 3 

Everyone stay safe out there. It is truly a winter wonderland here. We have 6.6 inches of snow. More fell in other parts of my state. Praying for those in California as the fire spreads.

As we continue to look back at what Mark wrote:

• Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14)
• It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (verses 25-27)
• In speaking about those who rule over the Gentiles exercise authority over them, Jesus said, But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister. And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. (verses 42-45)
• Have faith in God. (verse 22)
• And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (verse 25)
• Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (12:17)
• 
  

Jesus taught a lot of things concerning how we are to live-have faith like a child, have faith in God who can do all things according to His will, minister and serve others, forgive others, make God our ultimate authority.

God's authority is the ultimate one we are to surrender to in our life. However, we are to obey the laws of the land if they do not interfere with God's laws. He is the One to whom our loyalty and affection, dependence and faith lie. 

 Are you trusting in Jesus today?

  

Who is Jesus to You?

 N.T.#461 "Who is Jesus to You?"

Jan. 2025 

Summary of Mark-Part 2

We are continuing to look at some verses which are significant to me in this book:

• And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. (Mark 7:19) Defileth means profane; pollute; unclean.
• And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. (7:37) Jesus didn't heal people for money or fame, but out of love.
• And He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto Him, Thou art the Christ.  (8:29) The Greek Christos comes from the word which means to anoint, the Anointed One, being the Messiah.
• ...Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (8:34) 
• If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. (9:35) 
• And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in Me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.  (9:42)

Who is Jesus Christ to you? Is He just a teacher mentioned in a good book? Or is Jesus Christ your Savior, Redeemer, and Messiah? Are we surrendered to Him in everything? Do we acknowledge Him, serve Him, and glorify Him?