LUKE 8

 Jesus went "through every city and village, preaching and bringing glad tidings of the kingdom of God," and His twelve disciples went with Him. Women also ministered to Him.

He told the parable of the sower: a sower sowed seed, and some fell by the wayside and was trampled over and birds ate it; some fell on rock, sprang up, but withered away; some fell among thorns, sprang up, but were choked; but others fell on good soil, sprang up, and yielded a hundredfold. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

His disciples questioned what the parable meant and Jesus told them that it was given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but the rest it was given in parables. Jesus explained that the seed is the Word of God, and those by the wayside are those who hear, but the devil takes away the word immediately, lest they believe and are saved. The ones on the rock are those who receive the word with joy, but believe for a time until temptation strikes. The ones among the thorns are choked by the cares of the world. But the ones on good soil have heard the word with a good heart, keep it, and bear fruit. 

Another parable was the lamp, which is the truth (light) and cannot be hidden. All truth will be revealed. Be mindful how you hear the Word of God because your response is all that matters. In judgment, you will not have a second chance to embrace the truth.

Next, Jesus and his disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose. Jesus was asleep and the disciples were afraid that they were going to perish. They woke Jesus to tell Him they were going to die; He rebuked the wind and water first, and then asked His disciples, "Where is your faith?" They marveled and asked, 

Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!

When they reached the land, a man with demons approached Jesus and fell down before Him. The man was naked and lived among the graves. Jesus asked him his name, and he said Legion because he had many demons. They begged Jesus not to send them to the abyss, but to send them into the swine feeding on the mountain. Therefore, Jesus sent them to the swine, and the swine ran straight into the sea and perished. 

The people of the region were afraid of what they witnessed, while also finding the demon-possessed man in his right mind and fully clothed. They actually asked Jesus to leave because they were afraid. But the cleansed man sought to follow Jesus, though He did not permit it. 

Back on the other side of the sea, a great multitude awaited Jesus' return, and throngs of people gathered around Him. A man named Jairus fell before Jesus and begged Him to come heal his 12-year old daughter at home. On the way, a woman who hemorrhaged for 12 years came near enough to touch the border of His garment, and immediately she was healed. 

Jesus asked who touched Him, but His disciples wondered why He asked that when so many people surrounded Him. Jesus explained that power went out from Him. Therefore, the woman admitted that it was her and that she was immediately healed. Jesus said, 

Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.

While He was speaking, someone came to Jairus and told him that His daughter had died. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." When they arrived at the home, He told the mourners that the girl was only sleeping; but they ridiculed Him. So He put them outside, and He called to the girl and said, "Little girl, arise." Then her spirit returned to her, and her parents were astonished.

COMMENTARY

Regarding the man with the demons called Legion: 

The demons are fallen angels who followed Satan from the beginning, and they roam the physical world. They very well know Jesus, and one day He will judge them and they will spend eternity in hell. Until then, they are restless. They find bodies to inhabit and they control that person and cause them to do inhuman acts against others and themselves. The possessed man in this chapter had a mob of demons, and they were named Legion. In my opinion, I think a lot of the mental illness we see today is the work of demon possession. Though I cannot prove it, it definitely looks like the work of satanic possession.

Notice that the people of that region where Jesus cast out the Legion of demons asked Him to leave. Some people would rather stick their head in the sand and not see or hear or embrace the truth. Do you know people like that? I do. 

 

LUKE 7

A Roman centurion's servant was sick and near death. The centurion heard about Jesus and sent the elders to Him to ask Him to come heal His servant. This centurion had loved the Jewish nation and even helped build them a synagogue.

While Jesus was on the way to the centurion's house, his friends came to Jesus and told Him that the centurion said he was not worthy for Jesus to come into his house, but if He would only say the word, his servant would be healed. Jesus marveled at his faith and told those around Him that "He had not found such great faith, not even in Israel." By the time the friends returned home, the servant was well. 

Jesus encountered the funeral for a young man, the only child of a widow. The Lord had compassion on her and told her not to weep. He touched the open coffin and told the young man to arise, and he sat up and began to speak. Everyone who saw was afraid and glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us; and God has visited His people."

Meanwhile, John the Baptist was in prison and asked his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Coming One, or should they look for another. Jesus then did many miracles, healing the sick and casting out demons, and giving sight to the blind, and He instructed them to go back to John and tell them the things they witnessed: "the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them."

Later, Jesus told the people about John, that he was the greatest prophet born of women; "but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Those baptized by John justified God, but the Pharisees rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by John.

Jesus criticized His generation: 

To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace calling to one another...

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say He has a demon. the Son of Man has come eating and drinking and you say, Look a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! But wisdom is justified by all her children.  

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to dinner, and Jesus went. There was a woman who came and stood behind him, crying, and her tears fell on Jesus' feet. She then wiped His feet with her hair, kissing His feet, and anointing them with expensive oil. But the Pharisee complained within himself that if Jesus was a prophet, He would know who this woman was, for she was a sinner. 

Jesus knew what the man was thinking and responded with a parable. Two men owned money to a creditor. One owed 500 denarii and the other 50. When they had nothing to repay, the creditor forgave both of them. Therefore, who will love him more? The Pharisee said, the one who owed more. Jesus told him he was correct. 

Then Jesus turned to the woman and said to the Pharisee that when He entered his house, he gave Jesus no water for His feet, but the woman washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. He gave Jesus no kiss, but she has not stopped kissing His feet. And he did not anoint His head with oil, but she anointed His feet with oil. Therefore, her sins are forgiven, for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven the same loves little. And He told the woman her sins were forgiven. 

All those at the table pondered: "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 

And Jesus told the woman: "Your faith has saved you. God in peace."

COMMENTARY

What did it mean that John the Baptist sent disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Coming One?

While John was in prison, he had doubts. He had been looking for the Messiah, "expecting Christ to establish the kingdom in all of its glory and power." But since that event had not occured, yet, he sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was the One, or should they look for another. 

John the Baptist in prison

 

LUKE 6

 One Sabbath, Jesus was in the grainfields with His disciples and they plucked the heads of grain and ate them; therefore the self-righteous Pharisees asked why they did that on the Sabbath. Jesus brought to mind the Scriptures that told how David and his men unlawfully ate the showbread in the temple that was reserved only for the priests. And besides, Jesus added, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.

Jesus also healed a man on another Sabbath in the temple, while the scribes and Pharisees eagerly watched Him like a hawk "that they might find an accusation against Him." But Jesus knew what they were thinking, and He called out to the man with a withered hand and asked, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?" Then He healed the man's hand, so that the Pharisees were filled with rage and sought how to dispose of Jesus. 

Next, Jesus, after a night of praying to God, called His disciples and chose twelve to be His apostles: Simon Peter, Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James and Simon (the Zealot); Judas (Jude); and Judas Iscariot (the traitor). 

While He stood, a great crowd of people came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases and unclean spirits. And all who came were healed.

THE BEATITUDES

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples and said:

Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in the like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

Then Jesus gave a series of 'woes' to those who are rich and full, laugh now, and to men who receive their praise from others, for their fathers did to the FALSE prophets.

Jesus set rules for believers, for those who hear:

• love your enemies
• do good to those who hate you
• bless those who use you
• offer the other cheek to those who strike you
• give your tunic also to those who take your cloak
• give to all who asks
• don't ask for your good back from those who take from you
• do to men as you would want them to do to you

If you love those who love you or do good to those who do good to you or lend to those whom you hope to receive in return, you are no different than sinners who do likewise. Again, see the rules above, do those, and know that your reward will be great in heaven. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 

Jesus added: 

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you...for with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

Jesus ended with the parable of the man who heard the Word of God and built his house on the rock, the firm foundation of truth, so that when the waters rose up, his house stood firm. But the man who was exposed to the Word of God, but still built his house without the foundation of truth, and the same waters rose up, his house fell and he suffered great ruin.

COMMENTARY

Jesus did not argue with the Pharisees over their charge that the disciples were breaking the Sabbath; instead He brought their attention to David who definitely broke the Law, but was justified because he and his men were starving. 

When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, the Pharisees were right about what they knew regarding Jesus, that He was powerful and compassionate; they predicted what He would do. And even predicting a righteous deed, they still could not see the hypocrisy of their behavior.

After much prayer with God, Jesus officially chose His twelve disciples to be apostles. When Jesus chooses us, He calls us, making it is His responsibility, not our own, which is a good thing. 

Notice the healing that Jesus did compared to the so-called "faith-healers" today; Jesus healed everyone who came to Him. There was no slapping of the face or punching in the gut, falling backwards or forwards. Sometimes Jesus even healed from a distance. It wasn't a performance or show. 

Next was the Sermon on the Plain, which has similarities to the Sermon on the Mount, but I am not confident I know enough to say they are the same or same sermon at different times or different locations. McGee states that Jesus gave similar messages again and again. But the most important takeaway is the context. 

One of the most essential sections of this message was the reference to prophets and false prophets. Jesus reminded His disciples, whom He was directing this message, that the true prophets of God were treated unjustly, particularly by the religious rulers; therefore, they will be, too; but count it all joy! They are doing the right thing. And recall that the false prophets were promoted and commended by men and the world. Jesus was warning his disciples that if the world treated them with contempt as they did the false prophets of old, they were doing something wrong. Basically, this was the false prophet's BEST LIFE NOW. (Know any of those today? I do!)

Jesus Teaching the People by the Sea - James Tissot [Brooklyn Museum]

 

LUKE 5

Jesus was at Lake Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee), teaching the word of God, "as the multitude pressed about Him." He got into Peter's boat and told Him to push Him out further onto the water. Then He taught the people. 

When He finished, He told Simon (Peter) to take His boat out into the deep and cast his fishing nets, but Peter told Jesus that they had fished all night and caught nothing. Nonetheless, he let down the net, and he caught so many fish that the net was breaking, and the boat was full of fish that it started to sink. Then Peter fell down at Jesus' knees and said: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

Jesus told Peter not to be afraid. "From now on you will catch men." After that, Peter, along with James and John, gave up their fishing and followed Jesus.

In another city, a man with leprosy fell down on his face before Jesus, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Jesus touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." He told the man to not tell anyone, but to make an offering to the priest, as a testimony; however, word got out about Jesus, and many came to hear Him and be healed by Him.

Often, He went to pray alone in the wilderness. 

One day four men carried their paralyzed friend to see Jesus but could not enter the house where Jesus was teaching. Therefore, they climbed up onto the roof and lowered the man down through the tiling. Jesus saw their faith and forgave the man's sins. The scribes and Pharisees reasoned who could forgive sins but Jesus, and charged Him with blasphemy. 

Jesus asked them why they reasoned so, and said: "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins." He said to the paralyzed man, " I say to you, take up your bed, and go to your house." (The man immediately obeyed, glorifying God.)

Next, Jesus called Levi (Matthew) the tax collector. And he followed Jesus. Matthew had Jesus over to dinner at his house, and other tax collectors and sinners were there to listen to Him. The scribes and Pharisees complained that Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus explained that "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

They also complained that Jesus' disciples did not fast like the Pharisees, and Jesus told them that they would not while the bridegroom was with them, but a time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away and then they will fast. 

Jesus explained in a parable that you do not put new wine into old wineskins or the new wine will break the old wineskin and new wine spilled. New wine is put into new wineskin that both are preserved. 

COMMENTARY

Like McGee said: "Every pulpit is a fishing boat, a place to give out the Word of God and attempt to catch fish." It reminds me of Moby Dick, chapter 8, when the men go to church to hear a sermon from the pulpit shaped like the bow of a ship! 

Whaleman's chapel pulpit

Notice how Peter is always putting his foot in his mouth, when he tried to argue with Jesus about putting his net into the sea again. How often do we argue with God about doing the right thing and obeying Him! 

Also notice how the net broke this time. But in the gospel of John, after Jesus' death and resurrection, He had told the men to let down their net into the water, and they caught such an abundance of fish, but the net did NOT break. However, in Luke 5, Jesus had not died or risen, yet, which is the gospel. "The net which will hold fish must be one that rests upon the death and resurrection of Christ." 

Peter fell at Jesus feet due to his lack of faith. Jesus had already called him to follow Him, but Peter went back to fishing fish because he wasn't very good at fishing for men. When we recognize our failures without Christ, He will use us in our weakness. Our weakness is His strength.

Regarding the parable of the wineskin: man prefers his old ways. He likes his old, easy religion that he is familiar with. It is warm and cozy and makes him feel good. But Jesus brought something new to mankind: the gospel. He did not come to mend the old garment or patch up the Law. He paid the penalty of our personal sins with His life on the cross. He rose from the dead so that He could place His robe of righteousness upon each and every one of us who comes humbly to Him. He gives us the new wine -- a new gospel that must be placed in the new wineskin of grace, not the old one of the Law. 

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18). 

credit: St. James LCMS

  

LUKE 4

After His baptism, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan for forty days. In that time, He ate nothing and was hungry. Satan tempted Him: "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." Jesus replied, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' "

Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, offering them to him  if He would bow down and worship him, but Jesus rebuked Him and said: "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."

Lastly, Satan brought Jesus to Jerusalem, high upon the pinnacle of the temple, and provoked Him to throw Himself down. Satan twisted Scripture and misused several verses; but Jesus replied, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " 

After that, Satan left Jesus until a later time. 

News spread of Jesus, and all who heard him teaching in the synagogues glorified Him. One day He read from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

And He closed the book and said, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Then they could not believe that He claimed to be the Messiah. Jesus told them that "...no prophet is accepted in his own country." And the people were filled with wrath, and they sought to throw Him off a cliff, but He evaded them.

Then Jesus cast demons from a man in the synagogue of Capernaum. The demons cried out: "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are - the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked the demon and commanded him to come out, and the people were amazed that He had authority and power to command unclean spirits. 

Next, Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law. Many others came to Jesus to be healed, and "He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them." Also He also cast out many demons, many saying: "You are the Christ, the Son of God!"

And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

COMMENTARY

Why was Jesus tempted? To demonstrate to us that He was sinless -- to prove that all power had been given to Him. Satan wanted Him to PROVE to man that He was the Savior by "throwing Himself down..," which "is not faith but presumption. Faith is quietly waiting upon God, doing His will." Faith is not seeing, but believing. Also, keep in mind, the doubters would have still not believed because they were always looking for a reason to disbelieve.

Satan tempted Jesus in every way: to turn stones into food, to satisfy the body (physical); to offer the kingdoms of the world, to gratify the desire for power and control (psychological); and to throw Himself down from the temple, to bypass the cross and suffering (spiritual)..., but each time Jesus rebuked Satan with TRUTH! Jesus was faced with every temptation and wrestled with the basic earthly problems of mankind, and He was victorious for mankind. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. When man is faced with  temptations, he needs to be armed with TRUTH and the Holy Spirit, too. 

When Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue and proclaimed the Scriptures fulfilled in their hearing, He did not continue to the end of the passage (sentence): "...and the day of vengeance of our God." He only read up to the portion of Scripture that had been fulfilled that day, because the remainder of the sentence  will not be accomplished until His second coming. That is a day of vengeance -- the Great Day of the Lord.

credit: Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness - James Tissot

  

LUKE 3

 During the rule of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate as governor of Judea, Herod, Philip, and Lysanias, all tetrarchs, and Annas and Caiaphas as high priests, John the Baptist preached "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins," fulfilling the words of Isaiah, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness..."

The multitudes came out to be baptized by him, and he called them a "brood of vipers" and warned them that the "...ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

When the people asked him what they should do, he told them to share what they had with the poor; to tax collectors, he told them to take only what was appointed; to soldiers, he told them to be just and not complain. He said that he baptized with water, but the One coming after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.

John also baptized Jesus, and while Jesus prayed, "the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him and a voice came from heaven which said, 'You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased'." However, at a later time, John rebuked Herod for marrying his brother Philip's wife, and other evil things Herod did; therefore, Herod imprisoned John.

Next, Luke noted that Jesus began His ministry at thirty years of age, and then he listed the genealogy of Christ through Mary, His mother, through David, and to Adam, and the son of God. 

COMMENTARY

John the Baptist was the last of the prophets. His message was of repentance, to turn away from sin, and turn to God. He also warned the nation Israel that if it does not bear fruit, the ax would come down on the root of the tree.

When John said that the One coming after him would baptize with Spirit and water, he meant that Jesus, who was the One coming, would baptize with the Holy Spirit, which is what happens when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; but the fire is the judgment of His second coming, which is still future.

At the time of Jesus' baptism, the Trinity was displayed: the God the Spirit descended upon God the Son, and God the Father spoke from heaven.

Matthew gave the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph, beginning with Abraham, through David and Solomon, because the legal title to the throne came through Joseph. Luke listed Jesus' genealogy through Mary, in reverse order from David to Adam. The royal blood of David and Nathan is traced through Mary because her line holds the blood title to the throne. 

Baptism of Christ by D. Zelenka 2005

 

LUKE 2

 Augustus Caesar ordered all the inhabited world under his jurisdiction be registered in the census. Therefore, Joseph and his wife Mary, who was pregnant, went to Bethlehem because Joseph was of the house of David. While there, Mary gave birth to her first born Son, and laid Him in a manager because there was no room at the inn.

In the same country, an angel of the Lord appeared at night to shepherds out in the field watching their flock and they were afraid. The angel told them not to fear because he brought good news for all people. "Born this day in the city of David a Savoir who is Christ the Lord." They will find Him lying in a manger. Suddenly a heavenly host appeared, praising God and saying:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill towards men!

The shepherds then rushed to Bethlehem to see what the Lord revealed to them, and they found Joseph, Mary, and the Baby lying in the manager. The told Joseph and Mary what the angels said and all who heard marveled. But Mary pondered these things in her heard. And the shepherds returned to work, praising and glorifying God.

On the eight day, Jesus was circumcised, and they called Him Jesus, which was the name given by the angel before He was conceived. After Mary's purification, they presented Jesus in the temple and brought a sacrifice, as was the custom. There, a faithful man name Simeon, came to the temple and saw Jesus. He had been told that he would not die until He saw the Christ. Therefore, he blessed Him and said: 

For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. 

Then Simeon prophesied that Jesus was "destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against that thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 

Also, an old woman named Anna saw the Baby and gave thanks to the Lord, and "spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Then Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned to Nazareth, and Jesus grew and "became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him."

When Jesus was twelve, He and Joseph and Mary traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. When it ended, they headed home, but Jesus was not with them. They returned to Jerusalem and searched three days until they found Him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. When they explained their worry, He replied, Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" But they did not understand. 

Then they returned to Nazareth together where "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

COMMENTARY

Keep in mind that Luke is writing to the Greek audience. The Greeks represented logic and reason and humanity in the world. Some of the Scriptures were written in Greek.

Also, remember, that everything that took place was orchestrated by God. He arranged where Jesus would be born and when -- in the time of the Roman Empire. 

Jesus also came in the most vulnerable possible way, as a baby. While He never gave up His deity, He did give up His glory. He was born into poverty.

ABOUT THE BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

When the angel of the Lord announced the arrival of the Savior in Bethlehem, to the shepherds, they knew about the expectant Savior. They had been waiting, as much of Israel, too. That the was reason they ran with haste to see if what the angel said was true. 

The angelic host had proclaimed peace. Many verses may say "peace on earth, good will toward men" but the message should read "peace to men of good will," or "peace among men with whom He is pleased." The message was strictly that God had made a way for man to finally have peace with Him. Directly. And it was in Jesus Christ. And it was and is for the whole world.

That was the glorious announcement. That was and is good news!

credit: FaithHopeJoy.com 

 

LUKE 1

Luke wrote "an orderly account...that [we] may know the certainty of those things in which [we are] instructed.

Back in the days of King Herod (of Judea), there was a priest of the Levitical order, Zacharias. He and his wife Elizabeth were righteous people, but old and childless. Nonetheless, they prayed for a son. 

When an angel of the Lord appeared to Him during his service in the temple, he was afraid. The angel told him not to be afraid, that his prayer had been heard, and that he and his wife would bear a son and his name would be John. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit and turn many children of Israel to the Lord their God. "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah...to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

However, Zacharias doubted; therefore, the angel, Gabriel, who "stands in the presence of God...sent to speak to" Zacharias, told him he would be made mute until the birth of his son. 

After those days, Elizabeth conceived, knowing the Lord remembered her and answered her prayers for a son. 

In the sixth month of her pregnancy, Gabriel visited Mary, a young virgin betrothed to Joseph, a man of the house of David. He said to her: "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

She was troubled, but he told her not to be afraid because she had found favor with God. He told her she would conceive a Son and His name would be Jesus. "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Mary asked how this could happen since she had not been with a man ;and the angel said the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of God will overshadow her: "...and the One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." Gabriel also told her about her cousin Elizabeth and that she had conceived in her old age because "For with God nothing will be impossible." Then Mary yielded to God: "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word."

Mary then visited Elizabeth and upon meeting, Elizabeth's baby "leaped in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit." She said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Then Mary sang her song, magnifying and rejoicing in the Lord, proclaiming mercy on those who fear Him. She acknowledged God's strength, scattering the proud, putting down the mighty, exalting the lowly, filling the hungry, and sending the rich away empty, and remembering His promises to Abraham and Israel forever. 

When Elizabeth gave birth to her son, the people expected that they would name him Zacharias, after his father. Zacharias asked for a tablet to write: His name is John, and immediately he was able to speak, and he praised God. All those who heard were amazed and pondered these events in their heart.

Now Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied:

Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David, as He spoke...of His holy prophets...that we should be saved from our enemies and...[those] who hate us, to perform mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant...which He swore to...Abraham:...that we might serve Him without fear...all the days of our life.

And about John the Baptist, he prophesied:

...you, child, will be called prophet of the Highest...to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God...to give light to those who sit in darkness...to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

COMMENTARY

 Before these events, God had been silent for 400 years. Then His angel appeared before Zacharias, who had been praying for a son. The reason we know his prayer is because the angel told him: Your prayers have been heard. You will have a son. 

The reason Zacharias was struck dumb is because he did not believe the message, which was delivered by Gabriel, an angel who stood in the presence of God! When we pray, we must pray with faith, knowing that if God wills to answer our prayer, He will and He can. If we pray with doubt, we are double-minded. The Lord knew Zacharias and Elizabeth were old, but He also choose them to have a son. Elizabeth never doubted that God was able, if He was willing, to give them a son. 

Note that God chose Mary because she was "highly favored." She was to be blessed AMONG women, not above anyone. She is not lifted up, but lifted up womanhood. When the angel, Gabriel, the same angel who had visited Zacharias, told her she would have a baby, she asked how it was possible since she had not been with a man. She was not doubting; she understood science. When explained that it would be by the Holy Spirit, she submitted to His revelation. That was good enough. 

In both the birth of John the Baptist and the virgin birth of Jesus, nothing shall be impossible with God, so long as He wills it to be. Both Mary and Elizabeth were filled with the Holy Spirit through their faith in God, and they both praised Him and gave Him glory. Elizabeth was able to recognize that Mary was the mother of her Savior, when her son lept in her womb at her arrival. And Mary sang a song about redemption, recalling her need for a Savior; of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; that God has shown His strength and power and mercy; and also she sang of Abraham, that God had  remembered His promises.

When Elizabeth gave birth to John, Zacharias was then filled with the Holy Spirit, and he, too, recalled the promises God made to Abraham, and he believed. He also received his voice again when he obeyed the Lord and called his son, John. 

credit: Bible.com

 

Mark 16

 After the Sabbath, early the next morning of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and other women, went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body with oils, and they saw that the stone had already been rolled away. Inside the tomb, they were "alarmed" when they saw a man in a white robe who told them not to be alarmed. "You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go tell His disciples...that He is going before you into Galilee: there you will see Him, as He said to you."

And they left there trembling and amazed.

Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first. She had gone to tell the disciples, but they did not believe. Jesus also appeared to two men on the road, and they also told the others, but they did not believe them either. Then He appeared to the eleven and rebuked them for their hardened hearts when they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 

He told them to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but He who does not believe will be condemned." Then Jesus gave power to those of the apostles.

Finally, after speaking to His disciples, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father. And the disciples went out and preached the Word, and the Lord worked with them, "confirming the Word through accompanying signs."

COMMENTARY

I did not know this until now, that verses 9-20 of chapter 16, may have been written and added later. In many cases, those verses are omitted in some texts, but in my John MacArthur Study Bible and in McGee's commentary, they are there with reference to the controversy. 

It is helpful to read the other gospels to cross reference the empty tomb and resurrection to understand the order of events. We know the women were the first to go to the tomb, while the disciples hunkered down and mourned together. When the women arrived at the tomb, they were instructed to go tell the disciples what the angel said. Jesus said He would meet them in Galilee, and Matthew wrote about that meeting. Jesus also met with the two men walking on the road to Emmaus, and Luke's gospel includes that account. Jesus did command His disciples to go into the world and preach the good news, which we know they did that, too.

Regarding Jesus' words "He who believes and is baptized will be saved..." means those who believe will be saved, because Jesus also stated that those who do not believe are condemned. Baptism is not a condition for salvation. It is what believers do to profess their faith. (see John 3:36)

The signs that Jesus gave to His disciples were for those early ministries of the apostles; sign gifts are no longer present today or necessary, particularly because we have the Word of God to read for ourselves. When the disciples brought the Word to every creature, "...the Lord did work with them and confirmed the Word with signs which they performed."

credit: ArtPal

 

Mark 15

At daybreak, the chief priests, elders, and scribes held a meeting with the council about how to bring charges against Jesus; and they bound Him and brought Him to Pilate, the Roman governor of Jerusalem. Pilate asked Him if He was King of the Jews, which, if Jesus affirmed, would implicate Him in a rebellion against Rome because no one was king except Caesar. And that is exactly what the Sanhedrin was aiming for. 

Jesus did affirm.

Then the chief priests brought many other accusations against Jesus, though He did not defend Himself. Pilate marveled at how Jesus remained silent. 

During the Passover, it is customary for one prisoner to be released, and Pilate asked if the crowd if they wanted him to release Jesus; but the chief priests provoked the crowd to ask for Barabas, a murderer and insurrectionist against Rome. Confused, Pilate asked what they wanted him to do "with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" And they cried out, "Crucify Him!" When Pilate said that He had done no evil, they cried out the more, "Crucify Him!"

Wanting to pacify the mob, Pilate handed Jesus over to his guards to be crucified. In the hands of the soldiers, Jesus was scourged, beated, mocked, and spat on. They pretended to worship Him, failing to understand that they will truly bow and worship Him when He comes in glory. But I digress.

The guards grabbed a man, Simon a Cyrenian, to help carry the cross for Jesus to Golgotha. There Jesus was given wine with myrrh to drink, but he refused it. Then He was crucified at the third hour (9 AM).

The soldiers divided His garments, fulfilling prophecy. An inscription stating His charge was affixed above His head: THE KING OF THE JEWS. He was crucified between two robbers - who criticised Him - also fulfilling prophecy. People walking past mocked Him saying, "...save Yourself..." The chief priests also mocked, "...He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." (Even if He did, they still would not believe!) 

In the sixth hour, darkness covered the land, and at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Someone offered him sour wine. Then He gave up His spirit. At that moment, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom, and a centurion who stood watching Jesus said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God."

And the women also remained, watching.

Finally, in the evening, Joseph of Arimathea, of the Sanhedrin, courageously went to Pilate (in secret) to ask for Jesus' body, and Pilate was surprised Jesus had died so quickly. Joseph wrapped Jesus' body in fine linen and laid Him in a tomb, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And the women witnessed where He had been laid. 

COMMENTARY

When I realized that I had to read Mark 15 today, and that it was about the crucifixion of Jesus, I loathed it in my heart because I am very grieved that My Lord had to suffer this way. But I was about to get a lesson when I read the commentary. And thank God I did. 

The first thing McGee address was this: "...we should not come to this chapter with a feeling of defeat or sympathy for the Sufferer. We should walk softly and reverently through these scenes with a heart welling up to God in thanksgiving for providing so great [a] salvation."

It is not our sympathy that the Son of God wants. He wants our faith. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Rom. 10:9-10). He wants the faith of your heart, not the sympathy of your heart.

It is the Crucifixion toward which all creation and the purposes of God were moving from all eternity, for He was the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

The cross was God's purpose. My regret for my sin sending Jesus to the cross is correct, but my regret to behold My Savior on the cross because it is painful to read is just as wrong as Peter who rebuked Jesus when He told His disciples He was going to die. So I'm going to think about this differently now.

The Sanhedrin had to find a reason to legally dispose of Jesus. Only Rome could carry out the death penalty. The best charge was that Jesus claimed to be king. Pilate, being a lazy politician, was only interested in pacifying the mob. He actually did not take offense to Jesus and was in awe of Him because He did not defend Himself. In other gospels, we are told that Pilate even talked to Jesus privately to get Him to give him reason to override the Jewish religious rulers; but Jesus came for this purpose, and nothing was going to alter the outcome. 

Then Pilate thought he could release Jesus through the tradition of a prisoner release program, but they were set to eliminate Jesus (which Pilate knew was because of their envy over Jesus' popularity). Therefore, they were content to ask for one of the most hardened prisoners, Barabas, whose place Jesus probably took on the cross because Barabas was set to be crucified.

By the way, the chief priests provoked the crowd to call for the crucifixion of Jesus, and they complied. And Pilate handed Jesus over to his soldiers. But remember what McGee said -- to keep this in perspective. Jesus was an innocent man, yes! But He took our place on that cross because of sin, our sin, and we are not innocent. Sin must be judged and punished.

In the hands of the soldiers, Jesus was inhumanely treated, tormented, and tortured. Maybe that was why the soldiers eventually pulled a man out of the crowd to help Jesus bear the cross.

Jesus was on the cross for six hours, and He died not because His body or organs failed. Those crucified in this manner usually lived a while, even days, and that was why they broke the legs of those hanging because it quickened death. But Jesus died quickly because He gave up His spirit. They did not break His bones, which is also a fulfillment of Scripture. 

At the time of His death, the veil in the temple was torn in two, and the very reason was because Jesus is now our way to God. Before His death, the veil separated man from God, and only the priest could enter behind the veil to speak with God for the people. That veil is no longer needed, and we can go directly to Jesus to speak with God. 

credit: Chad Workhoven