Day 16

Luke 4:31–44 (NIV)

³¹ Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. ³² They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. ³³ In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, ³⁴ “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” ³⁵ “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. ³⁶ All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!” ³⁷ And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

³⁸ Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. ³⁹ So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. ⁴⁰ 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. ⁴¹ 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.⁴² At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. ⁴³ But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” ⁴⁴ And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why does Jesus not want the demons to tell who He is?

How do I react to God's spiritual healing in my life?

In vs 38-39 how does this healing show you how you should respond to the spiritual healing God has done in your life?

Which is most important to the people, Jesus' message or his miracles, Which is most important to Jesus? Which is more important to you?

Notes

vs 31 , 44 Again Jesus uses a "church" setting to explain his message (vs 43)

vs 32-Jesus teaching different - why? had authority- preached as if the scripture not just to be expounded upon, or interpreted but as the source of, like difference from a first person account to a third person account. Not only meant the message but he was the power behind the message. Like vs 21

vs 34, 41 Demon possessed man speaks out during service - why?

· some see it as demon trying to gain power over Jesus by invoking His name. Common belief of the day

· Others that another attempt to put Jesus off course. By naming Jesus the Holy One Jesus or Son of God Jesus would lose control over how people saw Him and be unable to control their perception of Him, much like what Satan tried to do in the temptations in the desert. Jesus wanted to control the timing of when people saw Him as the Christ.

vs 35 & 41 Jesus clearly show He is in control and has power. Jesus using that power in a God ordained way not the way of Satan like he was tempted to do.

Even when demon tries to hurt the healed man vs 35 he can't b/c God is in control

vs 33 Have you come to destroy us? Interesting question by demon. Sense that demon knew time was limited. In all the demon exorcising Jesus does he does not destroy them. Only causes them to leave. Not final judgment on demons that comes in Rev 19 and 20

vs 36, 39, 40, 42 reactions to Jesus healing and authority teaching

· vs 36 Amazed!!- never seen before

· worth telling others- cannot keep quiet about what they have seen

· vs 39 - became a servant- healing not wasted, she did what she was called to do

· vs 40 many want Jesus to help them. - big need

· vs 42 The danger of the healing- people become selfish with it. Its for me not others. Jesus tries to set them straight. first not about the healing its better than that. Its God kingdom has come. (see Luke 4:18-19) Jesus isn't a side show. The message is the key! Second The message is meant to be shared not held to only a few

vs 38 first introduced to Simon Peter see Mark 1:29-30

vs 39 This is what should happen when Jesus spiritually heals us. We are Healed then we serve. Not just about the healing its also about what we do once healed.

vs 40 When the sun was setting- because it was the Sabbath people had to wait until sunset (Jewish new day starts then) to carry sick or walk beyond what was interpreted law said they could do

vs 42 solitary place Jesus had to get away for prayer (Mark 1:35) and time with God therefore we sure need it also

Day 15

Luke 4:14–30 (NIV)

¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷ The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” ²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹ and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

²² All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. ²³ Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ” ²⁴ “I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. ²⁵ I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. ²⁶ Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. ²⁷ And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

²⁸ All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. ²⁹ They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. ³⁰ But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Helpful Information

vs 19- year of the Lord's favor- the year of liberation among men appointed by Yahweh (Lev. 25:8-17) and now made symbolic of his own saving acts. It was held every fifty years, and during it the fields lay fallow, persons returned to their own homes, debts were relinquished and slaves set free. Marshall, I. H. (1978). The Gospel of Luke : A commentary on the Greek text. The New international Greek testament commentary. Exeter [Eng.: Paternoster Press.

vs 28-29 A mob could not legally execute capital punishment in Jewish Palestine; the crowd is thus unusually angry—especially to attempt this execution on the Sabbath (v. 16). Although Nazareth does not appear to have been built on a hill per se, like many ancient cities it was set in the hill country, with plenty of jagged rocks and cliffs nearby. Stoning began with throwing the criminal over a cliff, then hurling rocks nearly the size of one’s head on top of the victim. One aimed for the chest first, but at such a distance one’s aim would not be particularly accurate. Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why would it be hard for Jesus’ hometown to believe He is the Christ?

What do we learn about the priorities in Jesus ministry based on what he read in the synagogue?

Why does Jesus bring up the two stories from the Old Testament about people who were not Jews being helped?

Do I have the same strength displayed by Jesus when people don't want to hear God's Word?

Notes

vs 14 Again the Spirit's role is emphasized.

Jesus was becoming popular for His teaching. He used the Jewish churches to teach (Paul takes the same model) Well thought of. Seems to be going well.

vs 16 Goes to hometown, people want to hear what he has to say (vs 20)

In synagogues a passage from Pentateuch read then a passage from prophets. Men from Congregation read. Jesus chosen for Prophet's reading, Jesus chooses the Isa 60:1-2 reading

vs 18 Passage comes from section where God promises to bring Salvation to His people. Then moves to a Servant song describing how God will do it.

Spirit of the lord is on me- been shown throughout Jesus beginning of ministry

anointed- His blessed purpose

· to preach good news to poor- Think how Luke has shown this. through parents of Jesus, The shepherds, expressed by reaching out to the everyday people not the greats of the day.

· Proclaim freedom to prisoners- imprisoned spiritually, there is a way out

· recover sight- Being able to see, the contrast between light and darkness (john 1:9)

· release oppressed- freedom!!!

· To proclaim year of Lord's favor- Year of jubilee referred to

vs 21 -TODAY Fulfilled in your hearing- what people been waiting for has come and Jesus is it! Bold statement! Question is whether they would believe it

vs 22- two opposite reactions See Mark 6

· Spoke well of him- knew Jesus a good man

· Amazed at gracious words- amazed that Jesus said what he said or amazed at his teaching? or both?

· Joseph Son- a carpenter's son saying this? (Mark 6:3) How can he be the one? We grew up with him, nothing special we saw-

While the latter view wins out and appears to be influenced by the fact Jesus would not do what he did in Capernaum (20 miles away) vs 23. It doesn't take away from the speaking well of him . Problem wasn't Jesus not good, problem was God wouldn't use a carpenter's son. Note: having Jesus earthly guardian father as ordinary fulfills the Isa 61 passage. God cares for the poor and oppressed

vs 24-27- Jesus knows the thoughts going on and instead of trying to ease the situation he points out there are no favorites for God. (Hometown thinking we will get special treatment because He grew up here) God would even choose non-Jews to help over Jews just like the two examples from Old Testament. . This statement sets the people off. God was for Jews not others. They think this is no prophet of God, he is blaspheming God (John 10:33) so they prepare to stone him by taking him to outskirts.

vs 30- Is it a miracle that causes the people to stop or did the people stop because they thought better of it? Regardless Jesus is confident even though he has been rejected and faced death. Doesn’t fear what man can do (Acts 4:19)

Do I have the same strength displayed by Jesus when people don't want to hear God's Word?

Do I discount people because of their background?

How do I act when God tells me something I don't want to hear?

Who do I preach to: am I reaching those Jesus wants me to?

Day 14

Luke 4:1–13 (NIV)

¹ Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. ³ The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’” ⁵ The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” ⁹ The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. ¹⁰ For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; ¹¹ they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” ¹² Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ¹³ When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why does Jesus fast?

What is common about the three temptations?

What can we apply in our life from how Jesus responded to the temptations?

Does Satan give up after this time? Does Satan ever give up tempting us? When does he attack us the most?

Notes

Vs 1- Full of the Holy Spirit- reflects back to the baptism and God 's presence.

Led to desert by Spirit- Was Jesus led to be tempted or to prepare for ministry he would do. I think it both. Spirit lead Him to prepare self for His ministry. Satan uses the time to attack (doesn't he always John 10:1) But God uses the temptation to ultimately prepare Jesus for ministry. What Satan means for evil God uses for good.

Jesus fasting in preparation for His ministry. 40 days echoes as a time frame throughout Bible. Moses also fasted 40 days Ex 34:28

vs 3, 9 If Statements- come on prove you are Son of God

Vs 3 what is the temptation? What is wrong with having bread? Choosing your way over God's. Finding a way to provide for yourself instead of relying on God. Think of Abraham and trying to fulfill God's promise himself through Hagar instead of waiting on God to do it through Sarah his wife (Gen 16)

Key is to allow God to work. Follow His timetable

vs 4 Also Jesus in his answer says put what is important first. (Duet 8:3 to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.)

vs 5 Interesting it is now Satan leading him, having Jesus explore the possibilities- is that not temptation?

-all the kingdoms of the world- I wonder is that just the kingdoms of that day or the kingdoms of all time- I think the latter.

vs 6 Is it true Satan has the authority to give Kingdoms? He is described as prince of this world John 12:31 and in the end times there is a sense of Satan's power being strong in the rule through the Antichrist. But that power proves false. Maybe John 8:44 says it better. God also can control events for His purpose. Just think what he did with having Rome gather taxes so Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Regardless whether Satan really has power or not the temptation is possible for Jesus. Jesus had the right to be King over it all. Isn't that what is promised? Phil 2:9-11. This temptation is another shortcut to that promise . Worship Satan

Do it Satan's way and you can have it now without the suffering and pain. The problem with that is, where is the love? For Jesus to do it Satan’s way would be selfish and he would not show us how much God love us. We are bought for a price! Why? because of love. Jesus came to serve not to be served(Mark 10:45)

That is the difference, the worship of Satan proves nothing but selfishness and leaves us with broken so called promises (think Ecclesiastes and meaninglessness) While worship of God leads us to love and fulfillment.

vs 9 Temptation this time is to test God, instead of having faith and waiting on Him

Ps 91:11 -12 is what Satan quotes. Interesting how Satan turns the passage around. Ps 91 is about God not abandoning us in our time of need. Satan makes it about proving God cares for you by doing something you know is wrong to see if God really does care. In other words you have no faith in God. Satan takes truth and bends it into a lie (Example Gen 3:5- Truth was you will know good and evil the lie was you will be like God and you will not die)

Jesus answer from Deut 6:16

Faith is about belief not about test

vs 13 This was not the last time Satan tempts Jesus. Happens throughout Jesus' life.

Opportune- Satan doesn't wait for you to be your strongest he attacks when you are weak.

Day 13

Luke 3:21–38 (NIV)

²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

²³ Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵ the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶ the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷ the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸ the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹ the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰ the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ³¹ the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³² the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, ³³ the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴ the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵ the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶ the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, ³⁸ the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why was Jesus baptized?

Why did Jesus start his public ministry at 30?

What does Jesus’ genealogy mean?

Notes

why was Jesus baptized? Not for needing to repent but to identify His ministry with repentance. (more clarity see Matt 3:13-15)

vs 21 As he was praying- Imagine that moment for Jesus. He knows it is at the beginning of his public ministry and the road he will travel and where it will lead

Note: God answers His prayer with assurance for Jesus and the people. Physical presence of Holy Spirit. (represents strength to do His calling or Recognition of Jesus as the Christ or that the trinity is involved in this salvation together?) Like dove doesn't mean was dove just how it came was dove like (see Isa 42:1)

Voice of God- I love and am well pleased- proud Father seeing Jesus' faithfulness to this moment and giving encouragement for what He will face. (interesting gospels don't report how people respond to the event. had to be talk in the area not unlike the shepherds when they told what they saw at Jesus' birth)

vs 23 30 years- interesting it is also the time that a priest began his service in the temple

vs 23 so it was thought- the birth story had long ago faded from view. People saw Jesus as Joseph son and it is interesting that Joseph, Mary or Jesus did not seek to correct this view

What does the genealogy mean?

· Jesus from line of David

· Jesus a Jew

· Jesus for the World ( doesn't stop at Abraham, the first Jew)

· Jesus the Son of God (Vs 37) He is human yet God (see 1 Cor 15:45-49)