Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. (Luke 2:17)Shepherds.
Regular guys.
Telling everybody they ran into about Jesus.
Have you seen Jesus?
Have You Seen Jesus?
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Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. (Luke 2:17)Never Get Over It
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Saturday evening, my five-year-old sat on the edge of my bed and prayed that Jesus' death on the cross would count for her. Simple. Profound. Beautiful. Sunday, I asked her if she was still saved. She said yes, then she said, "You have to make sure it stays in your brain so you don't get over it."
So I don't settle into an attitude of comfortable entitlement.
So I don't get so clouded by the mundane you lose sight of the eternal.
So my joy isn't bled dry by daily frustrations.
So I don't forget how deeply, intensely, passionately loved I am.
Have we, have you, have I gotten over our salvation?
Maybe we haven't made sure it stayed in our brain.
STT: John
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Matthew, Mark and Luke are the "synoptic" gospels, meaning each gives the same kind of general, comprehensive view. They each present Jesus' life and teaching in a narrative, roughly chronological fashion. John, however, takes a slightly different approach. His is the apologetic gospel. His goal is to prove Jesus is God incarnate, the Savior of the world, and once his evidence is presented, he wants his readers to embrace that Savior in faith. He plainly states that in 20:30-1.John makes a fantastic study, but make sure you leave yourself plenty of time. Many of the chapters are long and, like the other gospels, there is a wealth of good stuff. The last time I did a study of John, I was struck by the constant opposition Jesus faced, and the intensity of the religious establishment's hatred of Him.
Here's a quick overview of what to watch for in John's gospel.
Key Words – signs, faith, life
John builds his case by returning to these themes throughout the gospel. Keep track of them and what you learn each time they pop up.
Seven miracles
Of the many miracles Jesus performed, only seven are recorded. Why? What did each one signify? What lesson or truth was John intending to convey with each one?
Seven "I AM" statements
The Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, the Light of the World… (You have to find the others.) Jesus made seven distinct powerful statements about Himself and His mission and each one is worthy of a closer look.
John chapter 3 contains the most familiar words in Christianity- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Those simple words contain an unparalleled, earth-shattering reality, don't they?
STT: Luke
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Luke's gospel is a sweeping narrative, rich in detail and scope. Polished, proper with a formal prologue, he then gives us an account of the perfect man, the Son of Man. Luke interviews witnesses, tracks down details to ensure there would be a lasting record, to prove that these stories- seemingly too good to be true, weren't. In Luke's mind, you can't argue with the facts- God became a man, and He lived among us.
Some things worth noticing as you read through Luke-
Humanity. In Luke we see the birth of Jesus, His family, an episode from His childhood among other things. But we also see Him interacting with all sorts of people, especially Gentiles and women. Tracking these encounters makes a great study.
Parables. Luke records some of the most familiar, most beautiful parables Jesus taught, including the Good Samaritan in chapter 10, and the 'lost' parables in chapter 15 culminating in the story of the Prodigal Son. These also make a great study and illustrate Luke's passionate desire to communicate to his readers that the Gospel, the kingdom of God is for them, too.
Miracles. Luke, the physician, shows a keen interest in the healing ministry of Jesus. He knew firsthand how inadequate human efforts were and He recognized Jesus had all the answers.
It's also important to note that gospel is book one of Luke's two-volume work. We'll discuss book two, Acts, in a couple of weeks.
What's your favorite passage in Luke?
STT: Mark
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The gospel of Mark is the story of a man, a God-Man, on a mission. I'm in the middle of an in-depth study of Mark with my Wednesday morning group and I've developed a deep appreciation for this compact, action-oriented gospel. I love how the narrative flows from one episode to the next, building as it goes. It's the shortest gospel- only sixteen chapters and makes for a quick read and a great study.Here are a few things to keep in mind as you dig into Mark.
Mark is written for a Gentile audience. There are few mentions of Old Testament prophecies or Jewish customs or traditions.
The focus is on what Jesus does. Matthew proved Jesus was the Messiah based on the scriptural evidence. In Mark, the proof comes through His miracles. Nearly every chapter contains some demonstration of Jesus' divine power. Also note Jesus' unwavering focus on His mission. Nothing distracts Him from fulfilling His ultimate purpose.
Watch the transitions, time markers, and place names. Phrases like "they went out from there" or "while He was still speaking" or "then they crossed over" underscore Mark's narrative style. Another key word that's worth noticing is "immediately" (or "straightway", if you're KJV).
Mark supplies details and comments that none of the other gospels have, especially sensory details. He highlights the green grass, the little boats, the disciples' fear and failures. For instance, toward the end of chapter 6 after Jesus calms the storm, only Mark tells us the reason for the disciples fear and amazement. "For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened."
What's your favorite passage in Mark's gospel?
