Luke

This book is the effort of Luke, a physician. You can see in the tone and development of the book that it is more organized and learned preparation of the story line. It focuses on details to prove it’s veracity. Luke notes that there are other accounts from some of the “early disciples” of Jesus. Luke has done his own homework and developed his own telling of the story, prepared for someone named Theophilus.

Luke sets the story line by telling the reader that this all took place when Herod was king in Judea. He starts the story with a priest name Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. Both were older and without children. Both were righteous and faithful to God and obeyed God’s commandments. When Zechariah was on his normal rotation of work as a priest in an area that was only for priests, an angel name Gabriel appeared to him and told him that his wife was going to have a child. Gabriel tells Zechariah that his son, who they were to name John, would be great in the eyes of God and that he would turn the hearts of the people to God. He would have the power of a previous prophet known to the Israelites. Zechariah, however, wanted some assurances from the angel that all this would happen. Gabriel responded with who he was and that because Zechariah doubted him, he would not be able to speak until John was born. When Zechariah came out from seeing Gabriel, the people waiting and praying outside recognized that he had seen a vision when he couldn’t speak. After Zechariah went home to his wife Elizabeth, Elizabeth became pregnant.

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to visit Elizabeth’s young cousin, Mary, who was a virgin who was engaged to be married to Joseph. Gabriel told Mary that she had found favor in God’s sight and that she would conceive and give birth to a son that she was to name Jesus. Gabriel noted that Jesus would be called the Son of the Most High God. Mary asked how this could happen since she was a virgin. Gabriel shared how the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her and she would conceive. Gabriel also tells her that her cousin Elizabeth is pregnant. Mary responded that she was the Lord’s servant and asked that everything Gabriel told her would come true.

Mary goes to visit Elizabeth. When she gets there, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped at hearing Mary. Elizabeth knew that Mary was going to be the mother of her Savior by divine inspiration. She also knew that Mary had believed when her husband wanted assurances. Mary stayed with Elizabeth three months before going home.

When it came time for John to be born to Elizabeth and time to name him, Elizabeth told them the baby was to be named John. The people resisted her in the name as no one in the family had that name. In this sections, Luke tells a funny story about this situation. No where does it say that Zechariah could not hear. Yet the people around him “gesture” to him asking him what the baby was to be named. Zechariah wrote down on a tablet (that I’m sure he was used to carrying around after 9+ months since he lost the ability to speak from Gabriel) that the boy was to be named John. When he wrote that, he could immediately speak again. Then Zechariah prophesied about how John would be used of God.

Principles: It’s okay to ask clarifying questions of God but requiring assurances based on doubt goes outside His graces.

This chapter describes the birth of Jesus, the central figure of the Bible. The backdrop to His birth was that the Jews were under the control of the Romans. The Roman emperor at the time, Augustus, required that a census of his empire be taken. To that end, everyone had to travel back to their ancestral towns in order to be counted in the census. Joseph was from the line of King David and therefore had to go back to Bethlehem to be counted as that is where David was from. He went with his fiancé, Mary, who was quite pregnant by this point, ready to give birth. While they were in Bethlehem, she gave birth to Jesus, wrapped Him in strips of cloth, and laid him in a manger (a feeding trough for animals). They were not able to find lodging due to all the others who came for the census. 

The night Jesus was born, an angel appeared to shepherds who were tending their flocks nearby to Bethlehem. The angel announced that the Messiah (a promised deliverer of Israel) had been born. They told the shepherds that they would recognize Him by the fact that he was wrapped in strips of cloth and laid in a manger. After this announcement to the shepherds, the angel was joined by many other angels who were praising God. After the angels left them, the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem and see the Messiah. They found Jesus just as they were told. Then the shepherds told everyone they could about what they had seen.  

When Jesus was eight days old, He was circumcised and given the name “Jesus” that Gabriel the angel had shared with Mary. Mary and Joseph then took Jesus to Jerusalem to offer required sacrifices for his birth and first-born son. While they were in Jerusalem, two people came up to them regarding Jesus. Simeon, a righteous man who had been waiting for the Messiah and been told by the God that he would not die until the Messiah had come, was led to the temple to find Jesus. Simeon praised God for Jesus and blessed them and prophesized over Jesus. Anna, a prophet , was also there in the Temple. She had lived as a widow for many years and never left the Temple. She, too, began praising God and talked to everyone who was waiting for the Messiah to come about Jesus.  

Mary and Joseph went back home and Jesus grew up and was filled with wisdom and God’s favor.

Each year as Jesus was growing up, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.  When Jesus was 12, they went as usual.  But when it came time to leave, Jesus stayed in Jerusalem.  At first Mary and Joseph thought that He was just with other travelers but couldn’t find him at the end of the day.  Mary and Joseph went back to Jerusalem in order to find Jesus.   They found him three days later in the Temple with the religious teachers.  He was listening and asking questions.  Everyone recognized how exceptional He was in His understanding from His questions and answers.  When Mary and Joseph found Him, they asked why Jesus had done not stayed with them and made them search three days for Him.  Jesus responded with a question, “Why did you need to search?  Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house.”  However, Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what Jesus meant.  Jesus returned with Mary and Joseph and remained obedient to them, growing in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people.   

Mary thought about all these things.

Principles: Jesus fulfilled prophecies like no other person to enter the human race. Jesus was focused on the work set before Him. Jesus was obedient to His parents.

This chapter highlights the ministry of John the Baptist. Luke sets the time period of John’s ministry by telling the reader what Roman rulers were in place and how long they’d been there. He also shares some of the characters that were in place that would later affect John’s life. John was calling people to repentance before Jesus began His ministry. He was correcting some of the abuses that were happening and focusing the people on living a pure life before God instead of being hypocritical. He even is critical of the Roman leader Herod Antipas for marrying his brother’s wife and other sins. For this, Herod later had him imprisoned.

During John’s ministry, Jesus comes to him to be baptized. John had already been telling people that someone greater than himself (Messiah) was coming. When he baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit ascended physically on Jesus like a dove and a voice said that Jesus was His son and that He was pleased with Him.

The chapter ends by tracing Jesus’ lineage back through King David all the way to Adam.

Principles: Jesus was confirmed in history, by God’s spokesman, and by God Himself. Live your life before God in purity and rightness.

This chapter takes place right after Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist, His cousin.

Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days and he is tried and tempted by Satan. Jesus is not eating during this time. Satan challenges Him to turn rocks into bread so He can eat. Then Satan tempts Jesus by offering Him control of the world if Jesus would just worship Satan. Then Satan tempts Jesus by saying He should throw Himself off the temple so the angles would catch him. In each case, Jesus responds with quotes from the Old Testament that dispute the temptation and why it’s wrong or out of line.

Then Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth. He read from Isaiah noting that the scripture was being fulfilled in their presence but He also noted that prophets are not accepted well by those who know them (which is what they were thinking because they were saying “isn’t he Joseph’s son?”). When He knew what they were thinking they got upset because he’d called them out. They were so upset that they tried to mob Him and push Him off a cliff. He walked right past them and left.

Jesus went on to Capernaum in Galilea. He preached in the synagogue, healed people, and cast out demons. The demons who were cast out tried to announce who Jesus was (Messiah and Son of God) but Jesus silenced them and commanded them to come out. Fame of Jesus spread all over the area. He continued to travel around teaching, healing, and casting out demons.

Principles: a prophet is not without honor except in his own city/country/area. Familiarity breeds contempt. Temptation can be overcome by the Word of God. Satan tries to twist God’s promises in a way that we dishonor God.

In this chapter, Jesus begins to select His disciples. He is teaching the crowds and they were pressing in to the point he was running out of room against the Sea of Galilea. He went to Simon (Peter) and asked him to push off from the shore so He could reach from there. After he was done preaching Jesus tells Peter to push off from the shore and drop his nets again. Peter objects at first because they’d fished all night and caught nothing but relents and goes out again. Soon their nets were so full that they were ripping and they called their partners (James and John) over to help. Peter realizes that this is no ordinary catch or ordinary man. He begs Jesus to go away because he (Simon Peter) is sinful. Jesus responds not to be afraid and that from now on, they would be fishing for people. They all left to follow Jesus.

Next in the chapter, Jesus encounters a man with leprosy asking to be healed if Jesus is willing to heal him. Jesus is willing and heals him. He then tells him to keep quiet about how he was healed but to go to the priests to be checked and offer the sacrifices required of those who have been healed. While the man goes to get checked out offer the sacrifices, he doesn’t keep quiet about it.

The next story in this chapter is one of a lame man whose friends try to get him to Jesus. However, the friends couldn’t get him to Jesus because it was crowded in the house where he was preaching and they couldn’t get through. So the friends climbed up on the roof of the house, took away the roof tiles, and lowered their friend through the roof so that he would be lowered in front of Jesus. Jesus saw the faith of the men and told the lame man that his sins were forgiven. (This infuriated the religious leaders because they said only God could forgive sins.). Jesus knew their thoughts and asked is it easier to forgive sins or heal someone? To demonstrate He had the authority, Jesus then told the man to get up, take his mat, and go home. The man did that and left praising God.

As Jesus was leaving that town, He sees Matthew, a tax collector (who later writes the book of Matthew), and tells him to come follow Him and be His disciple. Matthew does. Later Matthew throws a banquet for Jesus inviting other tax collectors and guests. The Pharisees complained to Jesus and His disciples asking why He would eat with “such scum.” Jesus replied that He didn’t come to call those who think they are righteous but those that know they are sinful.

Some people asked Jesus why John the Baptist’s disciples fasted and His did not. Jesus noted that friends of the bridegroom don’t fast while they celebrate the groom. He noted that the day will come when the bridegroom would be taken and they would fast. Then Jesus gave an illustration comparing the situation to new cloth being used on old cloth to patch and new wine being put into old wine skins and how neither would work.

Principles: Jesus has control of nature. Jesus has authority because He is God. Thinking you are righteous doesn’t save you. Knowing that you are sinful and repenting to God saves you. God did something new through Jesus.

In this chapter Jesus and His disciples are accused of working on the Sabbath (Saturday, the Jewish day of rest). Jesus points out to the Pharisees who are waiting to accuse Him that what they are counting as work is either not really work or good (healing) which should be done on the sabbath. The Pharisees are not acting on right principle but jealousy and hatred, trying to get rid of Jesus who is a threat to their power.

From the many disciples that follow Jesus, Jesus chooses 12 that will be His apostles or inner circle. Jesus will invest His time developing these men most as this group (with a few changes) will be the ones who carry forward the ministry of Jesus after His death, resurrection, and return to heaven. Jesus selected the 12 after spending all night in prayer up on a mountain.

When Jesus and His disciples came down from the mountain, people were waiting to hear Him speak and be healed by Him. Jesus then healed everyone and taught on several topics:

1. The Beatitudes (a well known set of blessing statements)
2. A set of statements that talks about things associated with sorrow
3. Loving your enemy
4. Not judging a person hypocritically
5. Producing fruit
6. Building on a solid foundation

Principles: Make big decisions after a good amount of prayer. Blessings follow situations of those in trouble situations. Sorrow follows situations that seem to be good situations. Loving your enemies is a prescribed way to follow Christ. You shouldn’t judge others hypocritically when you’re struggling with your own issues.

In this chapter we see a picture of the faith and understanding of authority by a Roman soldier. He seemed to be a just man and cared about the Jewish. He had a slave/servant who was sick and he was worried about him. He asked some Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus was on His way to do that when some other men from the soldier came and said Jesus should only speak the word to heal the servant because the soldier was not worthy of Jesus and the soldier understand that Jesus had the authority to heal his servant. Jesus noted that this soldier had more faith than anyone he’d seen in Israel.

Later, Jesus comes upon a funeral procession of young boy that has died. His mother is grief stricken and Jesus has compassion on her and raised the boy from the dead.

John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask if He (Jesus) was the disciple. Jesus was healing and teaching and told the men to look around at what was happening and then report back to John. After the men left, Jesus began speaking about John and said he was the greater than anyone else that had lived but that even the least person in the Kingdom of heaven was greater than him.

A Pharisee asked Jesus to come to dinner. Jesus went. While He was there a women came in who was known to be very immoral came in, washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. The Pharisee (Simon) thought to himself that if Jesus were a prophet, He’d know what kind of women she was and wouldn’t let her touch Him. But Jesus knew what Simon was thinking and asked Simon who would be more grateful of forgiveness, someone who owed little or a lot. Simon responded the one who owed a lot. Jesus then pointed out that the woman was a great sinner but had expressed her gratefulness for forgiveness by washing and drying His feet and anointing Him whereas Simon didn’t do any of those things. Jesus told the lady her sins were forgiven and that her faith had saved her.

Principles: Jesus had authority to heal, raise from the dead, forgive sins, and free people from demons. With Him living in us, we have that authority too.

In this chapter we see Jesus traveling to various towns to minister. He went with His 12 disciples and other women who provided support to them. Most of the women were ones who had been healed or delivered from evil spirits.

The chapter shares two parables: the parable of the farmer scattering seed and the parable of the lamp. The parable of the farmer scattering seed refers to the readiness of people to hear and apply what God’s word says. The parable of the lamp refers to how scripture shines the light of truth.

The is a story in there of Jesus’ mother and siblings coming to see Him but not bring able to reach Him because of the crowds. Someone lets Jesus know that His family was there and wanted to see Him. Jesus responds that those who hear and obey the Word of God are His family. (It doesn’t say whether He did go out eventually and see them.)

Jesus and His disciples travelled by boat across the Sea of Galilea. Jesus fell asleep while they were on there way. A storm came up and they were starting to sink. They awakened Jesus and He rebuked the storm and it became calm instantly. Jesus asked where their faith was. The disciples were amazed and frightened that Jesus had such power.

When they arrived on the other side of the lake in Gadarenes, they were met by a man possessed by demons. The demons in the man were begging Jesus not to torment them. Jesus asked their name and they replied Legion because there were so many demons. The demons were so powerful in him that they would break chains that he would be shackled with and drive him out into the wilderness. They begged Jesus not to send them back to the bottomless pit. Jesus allowed them to go into a herd of pigs. The herdsmen saw what happened and ran into town and told people what happened. The townspeople came out and saw the man clothed and sane. They were afraid and begged Jesus not to stay. The man who had been delivered asked Jesus to go with him but Jesus told him to stay, go back to his family, and tell everyone that God had done him.

The final section of the chapter has a story within a story. As Jesus gets back from Gadarenes, people are waiting for Him to heal and minister. A leader of the local synagogue (Jairus) is waiting because his daughter is close to death. Jesus and His disciples go with Him, with the large crowd following Him, pressing up against Him.

In the midst of this story, another story happens. In this other story, while the crowds are pressing against Him, Jesus feels healing power go out of His body. He stops and asks, “who touched me?” Peter is a bit incredulous and says the whole crowd has been touching Him. But Jesus explains that someone deliberately touched Him to be healed. At that, a woman kneels before Jesus saying it was her and explains she’s been sick for years. She knew if she could just touch Jesus she would be healed. Jesus assured her saying, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

As this other story is finishing, the other story resumes. Men from Jairus’ home come to tell him that his daughter has died. Jesus heard what is said and tells Jairus not to be afraid, to have faith, and she would be healed. When they got to the house, Jesus only let Peter, James, and John and the girls parents go into her room with him. He told the crowd of weepers to stop weeping because the girl was just asleep. They laughed at Jesus because they knew she had died. Jesus then went into her room with his disciples and parents and told the girl to get up. She got up right away. Jesus told her parents to give her something to eat and not to tell anyone.

Principles: cultivate yourself to be good ground to hear and obey God’s word. God’s work may put you outside the plans of your family but there is family in those that are hearing and obeying the Word of God. Faith in Jesus allows healing.

At the start of this chapter, Jesus sends His disciples out to minister in the towns in the area to practice what they’ve been learning from Him. He specifically gives them power and authority to cast out demons and heal people. He tells them to take no supplies with them allowing people they meet to supply their needs. He tells them that if people reject them in a town, to leave and shake off the dust from the shoes as a sign of rejection of them.

There is a note about Herod’s confusion as to who Jesus is. He was hearing about what Jesus was doing and that people were saying He was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Since he was the one who put John the Baptist to death, he was puzzled at this. Herod kept trying to see Jesus.

When the disciples returned from their travels and told Him about everything that had happened, Jesus tried to slip away quietly to get some time of rest with them. But the crowds found out where they were going and followed. So Jesus welcomed them, taught them, and healed the sick.

Late in the day, the disciples told Jesus to let the crowds go so they could go get some food and find a place to sleep. Jesus told the disciples to feed them. The disciples responded with a statement and a question. They said they only had five loaves of bread and two fish. Then they asked or was He wanting them to go buy enough food for the 5000 men (plus the women and children there). Jesus told them to have the people sit down in groups of about 50. Jesus then looked up to heaven and blessed the loaves and fish. Then he kept breaking off pieces to hand out until everyone had been fed. When they were done eating, the disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftovers.

One day Jesus asks His disciples who the people say He is. The disciples have various answers including John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the other ancient prophets. Then Jesus asked who they said He was. Peter replied that Jesus was Messiah (the prophesied redeemer of Israel) sent from God. Jesus warned His disciples not to tell anyone who He was.

Then Jesus foretold of His death.

Then Jesus told the crowd that was there about what it would take to follow Him. He also told the crowd that some of them would see the Kingdom of God established before they died.

Eight days later, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain to pray. The disciples feel asleep. They awoke to see Moses and Elijah their talking with Jesus and they were brightly shining. As Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter, a bit out of his head said, ”we should build three tabernacles as memorials to the three of them. As he was speaking though, a cloud covered them and terrified the disciples. A Voice spoke in the cloud saying that ”this is my Son, my Chosen one. Listen to Him.” When the Voice was done speaking, they found themselves alone. When they got down from the mountain they didn’t tell anyone about the experience.

The next day, a large crowd met Jesus and the disciples. A man in the crowd called out for Jesus to deliver his son from an evil spirt. He said he had tried to get His disciples to do it but they couldn’t. Jesus expressed frustration and then called the man and child over. He rebuked the evil spirit that acted out even as they came and healed the child.

Jesus again predicts His pending death. However, the disciples didn’t understand and were afraid to ask.

Later, the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them. Jesus knew what was going on amongst them and called a child over. He told the disciples that whoever welcomes a child on His behalf also welcomes Jesus and His Father. He also said whoever is least among them was also the greatest.

The disciples found someone that was caring out demons in the name of Jesus. They told him to stop because they weren’t part of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus told them not to stop the man because anyone not against them was with them.

Jesus becomes more focused on getting to Jerusalem and the death that lies ahead. They are headed towards Jerusalem and try to stop in a Samaritan village on their way but are rejected because of where they are going (which is a prime difference between Jews and Samaritans). James and John were upset at the response received from the village and asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to destroy the village. Jesus rebuked them explaining that they didn’t understand their own hearts and telling them that He came to save not to destroy. Then they went on to another village.

In the last section of the chapter, Jesus is getting requests to follow Him and asking others to follow Him. In each case responding with what it will take to follow Him. This seems to be giving responses to the specific needs and motivations of the person.

Principles: allow the people you’re training to practice what you’re teaching them. Try to allow for rest in your personal work and the work of your team. When God is at work it’s best to keep your mouth shut and listen. Being the least prepared you to be the greatest. You are not the only worker of God’s plan. Do not be quick to judge other’s faults as you are worthy of judgement. Seek to save people through Jesus.

In this chapter, Jesus sends out disciples (72 of them) to minister ahead of his plans to visit and minister them. He set expectations with these disciples noting that the opportunity for ministry was great but there were few of them. He asked them to pray that God would send more workers to minister. He warned them that they would be going out into adverse conditions. However, Jesus told them not to worry about their needs on the trip and to accept the food, clothing, and shelter. Jesus told them how they should react to those who cared for them and how to be gracious when they were accepted and how to shake off even the dust on their sandals when they were rejected as they left. He also helped them understand the judgment that would be coming on those that didn’t accept them and that the rejection was not of them but of God. Then He sent them out.

When the 72 returned, they were excited and joyful because of what they had seen happen and that even the demons were subject to them through Jesus. Jesus recalled how He saw Satan fall from heaven in his rebellion. Then Jesus noted that He has given His disciples authority over the power of the enemy. However, he said the real thing to be happy about is that their names were registered in heaven.  

Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and prayed a prayer before the crowd that was there thanking God for hiding things from those that thought they were wise and clever but for revealing them to the childlike. He also said that no one knows the Son except God the Father and now one knows the God the Father but the Son and those that the Son chooses to reveal the Father. 

Later when Jesus was alone with His disciples he pointed out how blessed they were to see and hear the things that they were seeing and hearing and that many throughout history had wished for that opportunity.

Some days later, an expert in religious law was trying to test Jesus in the law of Moses. He asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked him what the law of Moses said and how he interpreted it. He replied, correctly, that you must love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus confirmed he was right and told him to do this and he would have eternal life. However, the man, wanting to justify how he was living without doing those things, asked Jesus who his neighbor was. 

Jesus then told a parable about a “Good Samaritan.”  He talked about a Jewish man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho.  He was attacked and beaten by robbers and left for dead.  A priest came by and saw the man laying their injured and near dead but passed along on the other side of the road, avoiding him.  Then a temple assistant came by, stopped and looked at him, but then he also passed by the Jewish man on the other side of the road.  Finally a Samaritan man (Samaritans were despised by the Jews) came by, saw the man, and had compassion on him.  He treated and bandaged his wounds, put him on his own donkey, and took him to an inn where he continued to care for him.  In the morning, the Samaritan left the innkeeper money to continue caring for him and said if there were additional expenses beyond what the money covered, he would pay him when he returned. 

Jesus asked the expert in religious law which one of the people were a neighbor to the man who was attacked.  The religious law expert replied, the one who showed the man mercy.  Jesus replied, “Yes, now go and do the same.” 

Jesus and the disciples were on their way to Jerusalem and stopped at the home of sisters Mary and Martha (and their brother Lazarus who is not mentioned here).  Martha was busy preparing a big dinner for all those that were there.   Mary, however, sat at Jesus’ feet listening to what He was teaching.  Martha was a bit perturbed that Mary wasn’t helping out in the preparations and complained to Jesus about it asking Him to tell her to help out.  Jesus replied, “My dear Martha, you are worried about all of these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about.  Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”  

Principles: There is great opportunity to reach people for God but not as many people to do the reaching. We should pray that God sends people to work at reaching people. Be excited about being saved by God not about the power that comes along with it. Love God fully and show mercy and love to those around you. The important detail is about growing in relationship with Jesus. 

At the beginning of this chapter, Jesus is praying. When He finished, one of his disciples came to Him and asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus gave them the skeleton of a prayer to help guide them. The prayer itself has become known as the “Our Father” or the “Lord’s Prayer.”  

After giving them this template for prayer, Jesus also taught them principles about prayer. He taught them about persistence through a story of someone who goes to his neighbor at midnight asking for food for a guest that has just arrived. He talked about the response of God the Father to prayer in comparing Him to the how an earthly father would want to give his child the best and even more so our heavenly Father. 

In a later story, Jesus casts a demon out of someone who couldn’t speak and they began to speak when the demon was gone. The people watching began to think and mumble to themselves that Jesus did this by the power of Satan. Some other people tried to test Him by demanding that Jesus show them a miraculous sign.  Jesus knew what they were thinking and saying and told them that if He were using the power of Satan, then He would be dividing the kingdom of Satan and it would crumble. He gave several reasons why this was an illogical thought process.  

Jesus responded to the request for a miraculous sign by saying that the only sign he would give, because they were an evil generation, was the sign of Jonah. (For reference, Jonah was swallowed by a whale for several days and then deposited on the shores near Nineveh so that he could go deliver God’s message to them.) Jesus also noted that many individuals and groups that had repented when confronted with God’s message to them would stand up against the people there that were rejecting Jesus.

Jesus taught them about the idea of light of a lamp and the eye as a lamp of the body.  

While He was teaching, Jesus is invited to eat with one of the Pharisees. Jesus went with him and sat down to eat directly without washing his hands, etc. as was the custom of the Jews at the time. The Pharisee was amazed that Jesus didn’t do the hand-washing ceremony. Jesus knew what he was thinking and began to point out the hypocrisy of and issues with Pharisees and teachers of religious law. He also warned them of the judgement that they faced in heaven. One of the experts in religious law pointed out that Jesus had insulated them and the Pharisees. Jesus replied, “Yes” and then went on to point out the wrongs of the experts in religious law and their coming judgement. As Jesus was leaving, the Pharisees and teachers of religious law became hostile and tried to get Jesus to say something that they could use against him by asking Him a bunch of questions.   

Principles: Be persistent in your prayers. God the Father responds as the best of all fathers. Let the light of Jesus’ love shine through you to other people by being loving and granting mercy. Sometimes the only way to minister to people is by sharing pointed information that they won’t want to hear.  

While crowds are waiting for Jesus to teach, Jesus turns and teaches His disciples with a warning. He gives them warnings about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, about the truth being brought to light, and then follows up telling them to fear God. Jesus notes the Father’s deep care about their every detail. 

Jesus then begins to teach the crowd and someone calls out telling Jesus to tell his brother to divide their father’s estate with them. Jesus responds that it is not His to judge things like that. He then gives the crowd a warning about greed and storing up earthly possessions.  

Jesus again turns to His disciples and says that they shouldn’t worry about their needs. For one, Jesus notes that life is more than food and clothing. However, He also provides examples of how God provides for nature. He says that the disciples shouldn’t worry because God the Father is happy to give them the kingdom. He says that they should sell their possessions and give to those in need, storing up treasure in heaven.  

Jesus then shares about being dressed and keeping lamps burning in preparation for their master to return as if from a wedding feast.  He shares an illustration (which is normal in Jewish life) of how being prepared for the Master’s return will reap a reward for the servants.  In the midst, Peter asks if this picture Jesus is sharing is for the disciples or for everyone.  Jesus seems to say, “yes” (for both) by simply transitioning to another scenario.

Jesus moves on to the aspect of His mission.  He notes that He brings division because of what He is supposed to do.  This seems to be shared with His disciples because He then turns to the crowd to continue speaking. 

Jesus notes how people can look at the sky for signs of coming weather but they don’t understand how to interpret the times.    

Principles:  Don’t let your knowledge and experience turn you into a Pharisee.  Remain faithful in what you’re called to do even when it seems no one is paying attention.  Don’t let your possessions hold you.  Give to store up in heaven.  

In the opening of the chapter, Jesus is told about Pilate (a ruler in the area) murdering people from Galilee. Jesus uses the news as an opportunity to teach about repenting of sins and turning to God. He talks about situations where people are killed in various situations and notes that they were not necessarily “worse sinners” but that everyone needs to repent and turn to God.  

Jesus shares a parable about a man who planted a fig tree in his garden that wouldn’t produce after several years. He told his gardener to take it out because of that but the gardener convinced him otherwise, saying he would give it another year and give it special care.  

There is a story of Jesus healing a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit for 18 years. Jesus healed her on the Sabbath and the leader of the synagogue got upset because Jesus “worked” on the Sabbath. Jesus let him know how ridiculous and hypocritical that line of thinking was. 

Jesus shares several other parables including parables of the mustard seed, the yeast, and a teaching on the concept of the narrow door. The mustard seed and yeast speak to how something small has such a big impact on what it does. A tiny mustard seed becomes a big tree. A little yeast affects the entire dough. The narrow door is a picture of people seeking God through the small “door” or way He has prescribed. The consequences are dire for those that do not come in the door in time (which is a call back to the call for repentance at the beginning of the chapter). 

At the ending of the chapter, Jesus is “warned” by the Pharisees to get away from there to stay alive because Herod Antipas was out to kill him. This was likely a threat by the Pharisees in hopes of just getting rid of Jesus so they wouldn’t be bothered by Him without having to actually deal with Jesus. The section goes on to Jesus recounting how many of the prophets had been killed in Jerusalem and that He wanted to comfort Jerusalem and its people but they wouldn’t let Him.

Principles:  Repent and turn to God while you have the opportunity because you do not know what the future holds and may miss out on the opportunity to do so.  Little things can have big outcomes.  

Jesus is invited to a Pharisees home to eat dinner. They were watching Him closely to catch Him doing something for which they could prosecute Him. There was a man there who was in need of healing but it was the Sabbath. Jesus asked everyone if it was allowed to heal someone on the Sabbath but no one would answer. The Pharisees, of course, considered it “work” to heal. However, Jesus points out that everyone of them works on the Sabbath by giving examples of how they would work if their child or animal fell into a pit and they would rush to get it out. They could not answer the logic He presented. 

Jesus also noticed that everyone at the dinner was trying to sit in the place of honor at the table. Jesus told them that they should not try to take the place of honor lest they be moved down by the host and embarrassed. Instead, Jesus said, sit at the lowest spot and let the host move you up.   

Jesus also told the host of the party not to just invite people who would be able to invite them back to a different party. Instead, Jesus told him to invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. They would store up rewards in heaven. Hearing this, one of those in attendance at the dinner said how good it would be to attend a banquet in heaven. Jesus then told a parable that talked about a banquet prepared where none that were invited would attend giving excuses of why they couldn’t come. When the master throwing the banquet heard why they couldn’t attend, He sent His servant out into the streets to find others to attend. Then, when still more space was available, the Master sent His servant out into the countryside to find people that could come. The Master said none of those that were first invited would get even the smallest taste of the banquet.   

Later, when a large crowd was following Him, Jesus turned to the crowd and told them what it would take to be His disciple. He told the crowd that it would almost be like you have to hate everyone else in comparison, even yourself.  He warned them, however, to consider the cost of being His disciple so that you can finish the process by knowing what it would take.  He noted that they couldn’t be His disciple without giving up everything they own or being willing to.     

Principles:  Decorum and tradition are not more important than doing God’s will.  Be humble and let God exalt you.  Let God manage your reputation.  Care for those that no one cares about.  Count the cost of what you do.  

Probably due to jealousy, the Pharisees and religious teachers complained when they saw Jesus with a crowd of known sinners and tax collectors. Jesus then shared a number of examples of how saving those that were lost was a good thing. 

1. He shared about a shepherd who lost one of his 100 sheep and left the 99 to find the one. 
2. He talked about a woman who had ten silver coins and lost one. She searched the whole house, cleaning as she went, to find the one. 
3. Often called the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus talked about a rich man with two sons, one of which who asked for his portion of the inheritance before the rich man died. Once he got the inheritance, he went off and squandered it all on wild living. When he ran out of money, a famine hit and he was starving working for a farmer feeding pigs. The son realized that he had sinned but that even his father’s servants were better kept than he was. So he returned home and repented before his father asking to be made a servant. When the son returned, the father was filled with joy that he had gained his son back. The other son heard that his younger brother had returned and resented his younger brother when he heard the fuss that his father was making over him. The father explained that it was like his son had returned from the dead and that they had to celebrate.  The 

In each story, Jesus showed the rejoicing that went on when something was found that had been lost.  

Principles: Heaven rejoices when a lost person is found and comes to Jesus. Those that are faithful will receive an inheritance.  

In this chapter, Jesus shares the story of a business manager who shrewdly reworks deals to bring himself favor with his contacts when he was told he was being fired. The lesson in the story is to use the worldly resources to benefit others and network to have a welcome in eternal life. He also gave several other rather business-related ideas:

1. being faithful in little things leads to being faithful in big things.
2. being dishonest in little things leads to being dishonest in big things.
3. being untrustworthy with worldly wealth will make you untrustworthy with the true riches of heaven.  
4. being unfaithful with other people’s things makes you untrustworthy with things of your own.  
5. no one can serve two masters because of divided loyalties.  
6. you can’t serve God when you’re enslaved to money.

The Pharisees heard what Jesus said but scoffed at the principles He shared because they loved their money so much.  Jesus knew their hearts and called them out.  He said they liked to be considered upright and good but that God knew their hearts.  Jesus noted that what the world honors, God finds detestable.  

Jesus points out that the prophets guided the people of Israel up through John the Baptist but now the gospel of the kingdom of God was being preached and everyone was eager for it.  However, it didn’t negate the law that was in place. 

Jesus also told the story of a rich man and poor man named Lazarus.  The poor man laid at the rich man’s gate, covered in sores that the dogs licked, to beg for food or money.  The poor man died and was taken to Abraham’s bosom (a holding place for those that died before Jesus’ redemptive death and work on the cross).  The rich man also died but went to the place of the dead.  The rich man could see Abraham and Lazarus from his place and called out to them asking for Lazarus to give him water on the tip of his finger to cool his tongue.  Abraham pointed out that during during life, the rich man had everything he needed and Lazarus had nothing.  As a result, Lazarus was now being comforted.  Additionally, there was a great chasm between them that could not be crossed.  Then the rich man asked that Lazarus be sent back to earth to the rich man’s father’s house to warn them.  Abraham said they had the law and prophets to warn them.  The rich man noted that they would listen if someone came back from the dead.  Abraham responded that if they wouldn’t pay attention to the law and the prophets, they wouldn’t listen even if someone was raised from the dead.     

Principles:  Use money to accomplish kingdom purposes and don’t be controlled by money.  Be faithful in the small things and with other people’s things as it opens the door to larger responsibilities.  It’s not possible to have divided loyalties and function properly. 

Jesus starts the chapter by talking about being tempted to sin. He noted that there will always be temptation to sin. However, he noted that it is much worse to be the person that tempts others to sin. The follow-up to that is that if someone does sin, you should rebuke the person. If they repent, forgive them. He notes if they sin and then ask for forgiveness, you forgive.  

The apostles seem to transition from forgiveness to asking how to increase their faith. Jesus talks to them about that how little faith it takes to do things. In the next breath, he draws them back to obedience (not sinning) as an aspect of His direction on faith. 

Jesus and the disciples, on their way to Jerusalem, are met by ten men who have leprosy who beg to be healed. Jesus directs them to go to the priests and show themselves and they were healed on the way to see the priests. One of them that realized that he was healed on the way, came back to Jesus, praising God and thanking Jesus. Jesus asked where the other nine men that were healed.   The only one that came back was the one man, a Samaritan. 

One day a Pharisee asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God come.  He told the man that it couldn’t be detected like other things through visible signs or speculations.  Instead, he said, “the Kingdom of God is already among you.”  Jesus then told his disciples that there was coming a time when they would long to see Him but they wouldn’t.  Jesus gives examples of how it will be when He does come.    

Principles:  Live in an attitude of forgiveness.  Temptations come.  Don’t be one who tempts others to sin.  Give God praise for what He has done.  

This chapter starts with a story about prayer and the importance of persistence in prayer. Jesus tells the story of a widow petitioning an unjust judge so much that the judge finally does the right thing just to get rid of her. He compares this to how God, a completely just being, gives justice to His people. 

Jesus continues talking about prayer and tells the story of a Pharisee and tax collector who go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee is very prideful and things highly of himself touting how he is better than other in his prayers to God and specifically saying how he is better than the tax collector. The tax collector, however, recognizes was humbled before God and asked God for His mercy because of his sins. Jesus said that the tax collector, the sinner in the story, went away forgiven and justified (just as if he’d never sinned). 

The next story also talks about how we relate to God. Some parents brought their little children to Jesus to be blessed by Jesus. The disciples tried to “protect” Jesus from being bothered by the parents and their children. Jesus corrected the disciples calling the children to Himself. Jesus noted that the Kingdom of God belongs to those that are like children and that if you don’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child, you won’t enter it.  

A religious leader approaches Jesus and asks, “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life.” Jesus seems to be argumentative in His response when he asks the leader, “why do you call me good?” But his next statement gets to why Jesus asked him that: “Only God is truly good.” Essentially, Jesus was trying to make the man deal with why Jesus was “good.” He was good because He is God. We don’t know how long of a pause there is based on the text but it seems almost like Jesus pushes right into the next statement by quoting the commandments to the man. The man responds that he has followed all the commandments since he was young. (The same story in other accounts says that Jesus looked at the man and loved him for his response.) However, Jesus recognized that there was something still holding the man back: his personal possessions and his love for them. Jesus told the leader to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, so he would have treasure in heaven, and then to come follow Him. This made the man very said because of all of his riches. Jesus saw his sadness and noted how hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. The people who heard Jesus say this about the rich asked, “then who in the world can be saved?” Jesus said “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” 

Peter, seemingly in talking to Jesus alone, noted that the disciples had left their homes to follow Jesus. Jesus assures him that those who have given up house or family for the Kingdom of God will be repaid many times over in this life and in eternal life.   

Jesus again predicts His death and resurrection as they are heading to Jerusalem. Again the disciples didn’t understand.

Perhaps in a wrap up on the concept of prayer and persistence, a story of a blind beggar is shared. Jesus was going by the blind man as they approached Jerusalem. When the man found out who it was, he began crying out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”  The people tried to quiet him but he only shouted louder.  When Jesus heard him, he asked for the man to be brought to him and asked the man what he wanted Him to do.  The blind man said he wanted to see.  Jesus said, “all right, receive your sight!  Your faith has healed you.”  The man could see instantly.  The man then followed Jesus praising God.  And everyone who saw what happened also praised God.   

Principles: Be persistent in your prayers. Live humbly and pray humbly. Have possessions. . .don’t let your possessions have you. Recognize that giving up your possessions for the sake of the Kingdom of God doesn’t cause you to lose them. It causes you to store them in heaven. Ask God in faith.

With this chapter, Jesus enters the last week of His life before crucifixion.  

The chapter starts with the story of a wealthy tax collector who wanted a glimpse of Jesus. Because he was short, he wasn’t able to see over people to see Jesus. So, he ran ahead of where the crowd was going and got up in a tree to be able top see Jesus. Jesus, knowing the will of the Father, stopped under the tree and spoke to the man, Zacchaeus, to invite himself to lunch at the man’s house. This made the people grumble as to why He would go spend time with a sinner. However, in the process of spending time with Jesus, Zacchaeus realized and repented of his sin committing to account for his sin by giving to the poor and repaying what he had stolen. Jesus noted that salvation had come to the home that day and that His purpose was to seek and save the lost. 

Jesus shared a parable about a noble who was to be crowned king. He gave money to servants to manage and invest while he was away. After he left, some people went after him saying that they didn’t want him as their king. Upon his return, the man, now king, called for the servants to account for the money he’d left them to manage. The first man had multiplied the money ten times. As a result, he was given charge over ten cities in the king’s new kingdom. The second man multiplied the money five times. He was given control over five cities. A third man came back with the original money that he was given that he had hidden saying that he was afraid to do anything with the money because the king was a hard man and took what wasn’t his and harvested crops that he didn’t plant. The king was very angry with him and took the money away from him and gave it to the man who had multiplied the money ten times, condemning the man who had just hidden the money for not even putting the money in a bank to earn interest. Then the king called in the people who had not wanted him to be king and condemned them to death for their   

The story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, called the Triumphal Entry, is shared. Jesus comes to towns surrounding Jerusalem. He tells his disciples to go in and they will find a colt that has never been ridden before. He says to bring him the colt. He also told them that if anyone asks what they are doing with the colt to just tell them that the Lord needs it. When the disciples go in, they find the colt and are questioned, just like Jesus said. Jesus mounted the colt and road it on the road into Jerusalem, down the Mount of Olives. People spread their garments on the road in front of Jesus in honor and shouted out praises to God. The Pharisees, of course, complained to Jesus to tell them to be quiet. Jesus responded that if they were quiet, the stones along the road would cry out.  

As Jesus came closer to Jerusalem, He began to weep because He knew the state of Jerusalem and how they were rejecting Him. He also knew the future of Jerusalem and that it would be overtaken and destroyed.  

When Jesus went to the temple, He began to drive out the merchants that were selling animals in there for profit.  

Over the subsequent days, Jesus taught daily in the temple with the people listening intently.  The religious leaders plotted how they could kill Him.    

Principles: God’s ways are not our ways and He accomplishes His purpose. Be faithful in what is before you. The people who praise you on Palm Sunday (at the triumphal entry) will crucify you on Easter. Worship and service to God is not a profit scheme.  

Jesus is asked by the priests and teachers of religious law under whose authority He said and did the things He did. Jesus responded with a question: Was John (the Baptist)’s authority from heaven or just human? The priests and teachers talked it over and realized that they were trapped. If they answered that John’s authority was from heaven, then Jesus would say, then why didn’t you follow him. If they answered that John was just had human authority, the people would stone them because they believed he was from God. So the priests and teachers answered that they didn’t know. In response to that, Jesus told them that He wouldn’t tell them whose authority He had.  

Jesus then tells a story about a man who planted a vineyard, leased it to farmers, and moved away. When it came time for the harvest (payment for the lease), the vineyard owner sent a servant to collect his share. However, the farmers attacked the servant and sent him back to the vineyard owner without payment. The vineyard owner sent several servants again in an attempt to collect payment. All received similar treatment with no payment given. Finally, the vineyard owner decided to send his son thinking that they would respect him. Instead, the farmers thought that they would somehow be able to keep the vineyard if they killed the heir to the vineyard. So, they killed him. Jesus asked the crowd rhetorically, what do you think the vineyard owner will do to the farmers? Jesus answered the question Himself by saying that the vineyard owner would come and kill the farmers and leas the vineyard to others. Jesus followed up by referring to scripture that prophesied of His coming. However, the priests and religious teachers realized that they were the wicked farmers and wanted to arrest Jesus immediately. However, they were afraid of the people’s reactions to doing that. 

The religious leaders sent people into the crowd to act like they were asking honest questions but instead were trying to trap Jesus. One question was about paying taxes to Caesar. The person asked if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar hoping that Jesus would answer that they shouldn’t pay taxes to him and getting Jesus in trouble with the Romans. Jesus asked whose inscription was on a Roman coin. They answered Caeser’s. Jesus responded that they should give to Caesar what belonged to him and give to God what belonged to Him. Another question that was asked to trap Jesus was from the Sadducees (a group that believed that once you’re dead, there is nothing else). They gave a scenario that was clearly against their own belief system. It was a scenario where a man married a woman but dies before having children. According to Jewish tradition, if the man had a brother, the sibling would marry the person to have an heir for the brother. In the scenario presented, there were multiple brothers and each followed the custom of marrying the widow to give the brother an heir but died before doing so. The Sadducee’s question was who would be the spouse of the widow after death. Not only was it a hypocritical question from the people asking (who didn’t believe in life after death), they also showed that they didn’t understand what life after death (the resurrection) was like. Jesus answered the specific scenario saying that they didn’t understand what the resurrection would be like but went further knowing that the person didn’t even believe in life after death. Jesus pointed to scripture talking about how God was referred to as the God of people that were dead (as though they were still alive), noting that they are alive to God in the resurrection. After responding so effectively in both of these situations, the religious leaders were afraid to ask Jesus more questions at that time.

Jesus asked about the Messiah.  He pointed out that He was to be a son of David but then points to scripture noting that David called the Messiah “Lord.”   Jesus asked the crowd how this could be.  

Then Jesus, with the crowd listening, told His disciples to beware of the teachers of religious law.  Jesus noted that they liked to appear pious and be respected but they cheated people and were really hypocrites. 

Principles:  You don’t have to answer every question posed to you.  Recognize those against you for who and what they are.  Jesus was reminding people of prophesy about Messiah and summarizing the history of Israel’s prophets and His own death in the very week the prophesy would be fulfilled.  Sometimes you have to call out problems in public.    

This chapter starts out by Jesus and others observing people place offerings in the Temple collection box. They watched rich people dropping in large sums. Then they saw a widow drop in two small coins. Jesus noted that the widow had given more than all the others because they had given out of their surplus but she had given basically everything that she had.  

A discussion by some of the disciples about the grandeur of the Temple prompted Jesus to talk about the future.  Jesus noted that the Temple would be destroyed.  The disciples wanted to know when that destruction would take place.  Instead of specifically answering them, Jesus gave them signs to note the coming destruction.  He talked about persecution because of their faith.  He also noted that this persecution would give them them the opportunity to speak about their faith to these people.  He told them not to worry about what they should say.  Jesus said that He would give them the right words to speak when they were brought before their persecutors that were so wise that there would be no one to refute them.     

Principles: The amount of the gift does not note its value.  The signs of the time point to the ripeness for Jesus’s return.  Keep your witness before men and rely on God to give you the words to speak.  

This chapter begins with Judas agreeing to betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders. They had been trying to figure out how to get him without the people all around. Judas agreed to provide them with that opportunity.  

Jesus also celebrates Passover with His disciples in what is known as the Last Supper. He had Peter and John go and secure the location giving them instructions on how to find it. Jesus knew the significance of the message of Passover and that He was the ultimate Passover sacrifice but the disciples did not yet realize it. Jesus implemented what is called communion today. Jesus let them know that one of them would betray Him. The disciples began discussing it, wondering who would do such a thing. Then the conversation switched to who would be the greatest among them. Jesus took the opportunity to instruct them further about servanthood. He lets Peter know that Satan wanted to turn him away from Jesus. Peter tries to tell Jesus that he would follow Him to prison but Jesus lets him know that before the night was over, he would deny even knowing Jesus three times. Jesus then warns them that they need to be prepared with supplies and protection when they went out to minister going forward.  

After dinner, Jesus and the disciples went to the Mount of Olives. Jesus began praying for the suffering ahead of him that night to be taken away from Him if God the Father was willing but said He wanted the Father’s will and not His own. While praying, an angel appeared and comforted Him. He prayed more earnestly and with such agony that He sweat like it was great drops of blood. Jesus went back after praying some, finding them asleep. He told them to pray that they would not give into temptation. 

As Jesus was telling them this, a crowd approached Him, with Judas leading. Judas kissed Jesus, which was the signal to arrest Jesus. Jesus asked him if he would betray Him with a kiss. The disciples realized what was happening and asked Jesus if they should fight. One of the disciples slashed one of the high priest’s slaves ear, cutting it off. Jesus stopped them and healed the slave’s ear. 

Jesus then asked why they came after Him like a dangerous revolutionary when He was regularly in the temple. Then He called them out for who they were by saying this was their moment when darkness reigns. 

They took Jesus to the high priest’s home for questioning. While they were questioning Him, Peter followed along and stayed out in the yard where others were circled around a fire. Three people recognized Peter and said that he was a follower of Jesus. Peter denied it each time, saying he didn’t know Jesus. On the final time Peter denied Jesus, the rooster crowed as Jesus had prophesied and Jesus looked right at Peter knowing what was going on. Peter remembered then what Jesus had said and left weeping.     

At daybreak, Jesus was led before the assembled high council and they asked Him if He was the Messiah. Jesus said that they wouldn’t believe Him if He told them and they wouldn’t answer questions if He asked them. He did say that the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.  They asked if He was claiming to be the Son of God.  Jesus said that that was what they were saying of Him.  At that they felt that was enough to convict Jesus.  

Principles: Jesus was fully aware of being the ultimate Passover sacrifice for our sins. Be prepared for the ministry to which you are called. Lead through servanthood. When someone is accusing you wrongly, recognize that God will defend you.  

Jesus is then taken before Pilate, who was the Roman governor over the area. The whole Jewish high council went to state the “case” they had against Jesus. They flat out lied to Pilate about what Jesus had done because they knew nothing Jesus had done that offended them would arouse any problems with Pilate. Despite the attempts to accuse Him of wrong doing, Jesus didn’t respond to much other than when Pilate asked Him, in response to their claim that He was saying He was the Messiah and a king. When asked if He was the King of the Jews, Jesus just replied, “You have said it.” Pilate recognized that Jesus wasn’t guilty of anything and told the Jews as much. But the Jewish council and the crowd watching became insistent saying that Jesus was causing riots wherever He went, “from Galilee to Jerusalem.” When Pilate heard “Galilee,” he struck on the idea of involving another one of the Roman governors, Herod Antipas who was in Jerusalem at the time.  So, Pilate sent Jesus and the Jewish council to Herod for his judgment.  

Herod was happy to be included and had been wanting to see Jesus because he wanted to see a miracle. (He was also the man who had John the Baptist killed.) Herod asked Jesus many questions but Jesus wouldn’t answer Him. At the end of it, Herod and his soldiers just began to mock Jesus but couldn’t find anything that He had done wrong. They put a robe on Him as part of the mocking and sent Jesus back to Pilate. This interchange with Jesus between Pilate and Herod brought them together and made them friends.  

When back with Pilate, Pilate proclaimed that Jesus was innocent of the charges made by the Jewish leaders and he would have Jesus flogged and set free. However, the Jewish leaders stirred up the crowd to demand that Jesus be killed and to release a criminal instead. Pilate protested but the crowd kept shouting to crucify Jesus. Pilate asked the crowd why they wanted Jesus crucified and what crime he had committed. The crowd became louder and more insistent. Finally, Pilate gave in and sentenced Jesus to die as the crowd demanded.  

Jesus was sent away to be crucified. As they were leading Him away, a man named Simon was coming in from the countryside and he was made to help Jesus carry the cross for his crucifixion. Jesus asked God the Father to forgive those that were mocking Him and putting him to death because they didn’t know what they were doing by crucifying Him.  Two other criminals were crucified with Jesus. One was brazen, joining in with the crowd and Jewish leaders in mocking Jesus. The other criminal chastised the criminal mocking Jesus saying that Jesus had done nothing wrong and asking Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Jesus let the man know that he would be with Him today in paradise.  

About noon, it became dark across the whole land until about three o’clock. During this time, the curtain in the Temple that separated the Holy of Holies was torn down the middle, exposing the Holy of Holies to everyone. Then Jesus said, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands” and he died. A Roman guard overseeing the execution and seeing all that happened, recognized that Jesus was God and worshipped God, saying that Jesus was innocent.  When ethe crowd saw what happened, they went home in sorrow.  Jesus’ friends and supporters stayed and watched at a distance. 

Joseph of Arimathea, a righteous Jewish leader who had not agreed with the decision and actions of the rest of the council, asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus’ body down from the cross and bury Him.  He was given permission and made arrangements for Jesus to be wrapped in a long sheet of linen cloth and put in a tomb that had not been used late on Friday afternoon before the Sabbath started.  

The women who supported Jesus followed Joseph as he was taking Jesus’ body to be buried.  Once they saw where His body was taken, they went to prepare the burial spices and ointments to anoint Jesus’ body for death.  However, they didn’t get them ready before the Sabbath started, so they had to wait as required by Jewish law.  

Principles: When called before kings and important people, don’t speak much until you are given what to say by God. Involving others voluntarily can create alliances. A mindless crowd can sway people without conviction. The ripping of the curtain in the Temple separating the Holy of Holies represents the removal of separation of God and man that happened with the sin in the garden. Even in systems that are corrupt, God can save a remnant.   

On Sunday morning, after the Sabbath, the women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James) went to the tomb of Jesus with the spices for his burial that they had prepared. When they got there, the stone that had covered the tomb was moved so they went in but they found the tomb empty. Jesus’ body wasn’t there. Then two angels appeared to them asking why they were looking for the living among the dead and that Jesus had risen from the dead. The angels reminded them of what Jesus had told them about being betrayed and crucified but that he would rise again. They suddenly remembered and rushed back to the disciples. Peter ran to the tomb himself to see and it was just as the women had shared. Peter went home wondering what had happened.

On that same day, two of Jesus’ followers were walking to Emmaus, a village outside of Jerusalem. They were talking about everything that had happened. Jesus came up and began to walk with them but God kept them from recognizing Him. He asked what they were talking about so intently. The men were incredulous that He didn’t know what was going on in Jerusalem. Jesus asked them to tell Him about those things. Once that they explained about Jesus and how they had hoped that He was the Messiah, He reminded them of what was in the scriptures about Messiah suffering. When Jesus was done sharing this, the men were going to stop for the night but Jesus acted as if He was going on but the men asked Him to stay with them for the night. Jesus agreed. When they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it . All of a sudden, God let them see that it was Jesus but He disappeared. They recognized that they were stirred inside as they were listening to Jesus. They got ready and headed back to Jerusalem where Peter had also seen Jesus. 

As the men were sharing their story of being on the road to Emmaus with Jesus, Jesus suddenly appeared to the whole group. They were all frightened thinking it was a ghost. However, Jesus walked them through proofs that it was really Him, showing them hands and feet, letting them touch Him, and asking for something to eat. Jesus reminded them of His teaching to them of the scriptures about Himself. He also said that this message would be proclaimed to all people beginning in Jerusalem.  He then opened their minds to understand. Jesus told them to stay where they were until the Holy Spirit came and filled them with power from heaven. 

Later, Jesus led them to Bethany. He raised his hands and blessed them. As He was blessing them, He was taken up to heaven. They praised Jesus and went back to Jerusalem filled with great joy and spent their time in the Temple praising God.  

Principles: God has a sense of humor and whit in His dealings with His people. God’s plan is accomplished despite people’s evil intentions. God’s words, sometimes, burn within us stirring us to listen.  Proclaim the name of Jesus to all people.