Luke Part 1 Week 14

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 3:15-16 

¹⁵ Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. ¹⁶ John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” 

The people were eager to know who the Messiah might be. They wondered if it might be John the Baptist himself. John answered by indicating the contrasts between himself and the Messiah. John told of the contrasts of their greatness and baptisms: he baptized with water but the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John added the Messiah would also baptize with fire—which indicates judgment. 

REFLECT 

It’s easy now to understand the difference between John the Baptist and Jesus. What if you had been there at the time? Would you have also wondered if John was Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Discuss with a friend about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Read Acts 2:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 that tell of this baptism. The baptism of fire would be a time of judgment; likely at His second coming.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 3:17-18 

¹⁷ “He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” ¹⁸ John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people. 

Verse 17 follows the statement in verse 16 that Jesus would baptize with fire. This judgment likely is the same as referred to in Matthew 25:31-46 and Revelation 19:11-21. These passages refer to the Second Advent of Jesus. This will be a terrible time of judgment for unbelievers. “John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.” 

REFLECT 

Notice that people need to be told of the bad news before they will welcome the good news. 

RESPOND 

Consider that before people can see the need to trust in Jesus as Savior they need to know they are sinners worthy of judgment. Romans 5:12 reveals that all have sinned. John 3:16-18 tells how one can escape judgment.  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 3:19-20 

¹⁹ John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done. ²⁰ So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others. 

John the Baptist was not timid about speaking against immorality and sins of rulers. Herod Antipas wanted to stop such accusations so he put John in prison. The forerunner of the Lord Jesus was now confined.  

REFLECT 

Notice the cost that can come from challenging someone, especially a ruler, about his immorality and sins. This was likely not a surprise to John the Baptist. 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in praying for the leaders of your country. In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, the apostle Paul encouraged believers to do so. Paul urged prayer for “all who are in authority” so this would include local leaders as well.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 3:21-22 

²¹ One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, ²² and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” 

Notice that Luke was not writing a chronological account; that is, placing events in order. The actual baptism of Jesus was already accomplished by John the Baptist and recorded by the other three gospel writers. Often in the Bible there are major events mentioned without a strict chronology. At the baptism of Jesus the three persons of the trinity are mentioned: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father who spoke from heaven. 

REFLECT 

In your reading, do you want things listed in chronological order? 

RESPOND 

Just think of the problem you would encounter if you were reading only Luke. You would think it was impossible for John the Baptist to baptize Jesus because Herod had John in jail. Much of the Bible is written without strict chronological order. Apparently the Eastern mind thought more about the events than the order in which they occurred. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 3:23 

²³ Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli. 

Jesus is not called the son of Joseph. He was only known as that. This marks the beginning of Jesus’ earthly public ministry. Luke begins with a long genealogy that leads back to Adam, the first man God created. Many believe that Luke’s genealogy traces Mary’s lineage whereas Matthew’s genealogy traces Joseph as the legal father even though Jesus was virgin born.  

REFLECT 

Genealogies of Jewish people may not mean much to you now, but think about how much it would mean to them to have their family line traced. Sometimes their ministry was determined by their genealogy. 

RESPOND  

Have you or a friend looked up your family history? If so, think how special it was to you to trace your ancestors back for a few generations. Tracing their ancestors meant much to the Jewish people.