Luke 7:11

Luke 7:11 says, And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.  The day after Jesus healed the centurion's son, He went to a city called Nain, and many people followed Him.  We need to follow Jesus where He leads us today, even if we now just follow spiritually and not physically.  Verse twelve adds, Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.  When Jesus came into the city, a dead man was being carried out.  The man had been the only son of his widowed mother, who would have been dependent on him to provide for her.  We could think that it turned out fortunate that Jesus was there that day, but I believe He was there because His heavenly Father sent Him there.  When we are in need today, and that need is met, we as Christians cannot think that it was anything less that God providing for our need.  Verse thirteen continues, And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.  When Jesus saw the mother in her sorrow, He had compassion on her and told her not to weep.  We need to realize that Jesus has compassion on everyone today, especially those who are suffering from a great loss, and He still calls them to hear Him and weep no more.  Of course, for this to happen, we must accept Jesus for Who He is, the spiritual Redeemer of all who accept Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse fourteen declares, And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.  Jesus went and touched the funeral bier, and those that carried stopped.  Then, Jesus said, 'Young man, I say unto thee, Arise,'  Jesus didn't even touch the young man physically, just as He doesn't have to touch us physically today to accomplish His will in our life.  Verse fifteen adds, And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.  The young man who was dead sat up and began to speak and was delivered to his mother.  When we who were spiritually dead are resurrected to everlasting spiritual life through faith in Jesus Christ, we need to begin speaking to others about what has happened, beginning with our family.  Verse sixteen states, And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.  The people there were in fear, believing that Jesus was a great prophet sent by God.  They still did not recognize Who Jesus really was.  Until we recognize Jesus Christ for Who He really is, we may be afraid when we see Him bring about something miraculous.  Verse seventeen adds, And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.  Jesus's fame spread throughout all Judea and the region around it, though it is said that it was a rumor and not the truth.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, everything we hear about Him will be no more than a rumor. 

Luke 7:1'

Luke 7:1 says, Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.  After Jesus had finished teaching these people, he went into Capernaum.  Once we have finished gathering to teach or to learn about God today, we need to move on out into the community to share the gospel of Christ with them.  Verse two adds, And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.  The servant of a centurion, a military leader, who was dear to him was so sick he was about to die.  Even though he was a man of power, he still cared about at least one of his servants.  We may be people of power today, but we need to sincerely care for those around us, even those who may be serving us in some capacity.  Verse three states, And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.  The centurion heard about Jesus and sent the elders of the Jews to beseech Jesus to come and heal his servant.  The Jewish elders were under the centurion"s authority, but what he asked them to do was not against God's law.  We need to obey those in power in the world today, as long as what they ask us to do is not against God's law.  Verse four adds, And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:  The Jewish elders told Jesus that the centurion was worthy of Jesus doing what he was asking Jesus to do.  Though none of us is worthy of salvation by our position in the world, we are all worthy of salvation because of the mercy of God.  Verse five continues, For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.  These Jewish elders then told Jesus that the centurion loved the nation of Israel and had even had a synagogue built for them.  We should not judge people as being worthy of God's mercy because of what they have done for us materially, but if they are kind and merciful to us when they don't have to be, it may make us more inclined to reach out to God for them.  Still, it really shouldn't.  Verses six says, Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:  Jesus went with them, and while He was near the house, He met the friends of the centurion, who told Jesus that the centurion said for Jesus not to trouble Himself and that he was unworthy for Jesus to enter his house.  Though a man of some power, he did not demand that Jesus come to him.  No matter how powerful we may be in the eyes of the world, we can never command Jesus to do anything, and we are all unworthy of His salvation that He offers us freely.  Verse seven adds,  Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.  The centurion then said that he did not feel that he was worthy to come to Jesus, and no one is.  Still, the centurion had faith that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. We need that same faith today.  Verse eight continues, For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  The centurion said that he was a man set under the authority of Rome, and whatever he told those under him to do, they did.  He recognized that Jesus had this same power under the authority of God, His heavenly Father.  Verse nine declares, When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.  Jesus marvelled at what the man said, and then said He had not found so great a faith in the people of Israel, God's chosen people.  As followers of Christ, this is the kind of faith that we need in Jesus Christ today.  Verse ten adds, And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.  The ones who were sent to Jesus returned to the house and found the servant whole, or well.  We no longer have Jesus physically present with us, nor do we need Him to be.  We have the Holy Spirit with us at all times as Christians, and we simply need put our faith in Him at all times.

Luke 6;27

Luke 6:27 says, But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,  Jesus said that to those who heard Him, that they were to love their enemies and do good to those who hate them.  This applies to us today as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.  We are to bless those who curse us and to do good to those who despitefully use us.  Yet, we too often treat them as badly as they treat us.  Verse twenty-nine continues,  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.  Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek if someone hits us on the one cheek, but we usually say this is not to be taken literally, and the same is believed about given even more to those who take something from us.  Still, Jesus presented this not as a moral concept, but as a truth to be followed when living our life every day.  Verse thirty states, Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.  Jesus expects us to help those who ask for help, without being concerned with whether they ever repay us or not.  Verse thirty-one adds, And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.  Jesus tells us that we are to treat others as we want to be treated. This applies to all others, and not just to people that we like.  Verse thirty-two declares, For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.  Jesus asked if we love only those who love us, how does that make us any better than the lost people of the world.  Sinners in this case would be those who had not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and started to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  Verse thirty-three adds, And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.  Jesus adds that if we only do good to those who do good to us, then we are no better than the sinners of the world.  As followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard.  Verse thirty-four continues,  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.  Jesus tells us that if we only lend to those that we hope to receive something more back from, again we are no better than the rest of the people of the world who are not Christians.  Verse thirty-five concludes, But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  Jesus sums this up by saying that as followers of Christ we are to be like our heavenly Father.  If we are, our reward in heaven will be great.  God is kind to the unthankful and to the evil people of the world, reaching out to them with His unmerited grace, just as He did to us while we were yet sinners.  Verse thirty-six says, Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.  Jesus said just as our heavenly Father is merciful, we as Christians are to be merciful.  Verse thirty-seven adds, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  We are not to judge or condemn other people so that we will not be judged and condemned by God, and we are to forgive others because God forgave us when we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty-eight continues, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  I believe this is another way of saying that we cannot outgive God.  If we give to others in need, God will more than provide for our needs.  If God gives to us when we give to others, then the opposite must be true, and that is that He withholds His blessings from us when we refuse to help others when we can.  Of course, I believe the Holy Spirit will guide us in all situations if we let Him.

Luke 6:20

Luke 6:20 says, And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.  Jesus began to preach to His disciples, not just the twelve, but all who were following Him, and that includes us today if we are followers of Christ.  Jesus first said the poor were blessed,  though we may not always feel that way if we are.  Verse twenty-one adds, Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.  Jesus tells us that we are blessed if we hunger now, or in this lifetime, because we will one day be filled.  He also said we are blessed if we weep, because there is coming a day when we will no longer weep in sorrow but laugh in joy.  Jesus did not promise us that everything was going to be wonderful in this lifetime.  Verse twenty-two continues, Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  Jesus also tells us that we are blessed if we are hated and reproached by the people of the world for His name’s sake, even if they go so far as to cast us out of their midst.  Verse twenty-three concludes, Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.  Jesus said thar we are to rejoice if these things happen to us for His name’s sake, because we will have great joy in heaven because we have put our faith in Him.  I believe that too often people expect to be materially blessed in this lifetime because they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, but the opposite seems to be more of what is actually promised.  Verse twenty-four states, But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.  Jesus then pronounced woe on the rich, saying that they had received their consolation.  I don't believe that this means that all rich people are condemned, but that those who put their riches above a relationship with and obedience to Jesus Christ are.  Verse twenty-five adds, Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.  Again, I believe this is a warning to those who put their own desires above the needs of others.  If we are only concerned with being filled ourselves as we laugh and enjoy life and are not concerned about the less fortunate around us, we are not following God's teachings, and until we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we never will be truly concerned about those around us.  Verse twenty-six continues, Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.  Jesus tells us that we should feel woe, or sadness, if all people speak well of us, because they did the same thing with the false prophets.  If we are truly following Jesus Christ, then we are going to be at war with the world.  

Luke 6:12

Luke 6:12 says, And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.  Jesus went into the mountains to pray during this time, and He continued to pray to God all night.  This should tell us something about what our prayer life should be like.  We need to make sure that we are ready to put in whatever time is necessary to seek God's will.  Verse thirteen adds, And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;  The next morning, Jesus called all His disciples to Him, and chose twelve whom He called apostles.  As Christians, we are all disciples of Christ, but we do not all have the same calling.  Verse fourteen states, Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,  This verse and the next two name the apostles, those twelve who were closest to Jesus.   Verse fifteen adds, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,  Verse sixteen continues, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.  There were several brothers,  including one named Judas, and also another Judas, Iscariot, who would betray Jesus.  Not everyone who claims to be the closest to Jesus really is.  Some, like Judas Iscariot are simply claiming to follow Jesus to see how they can benefit in earthly ways and not to advance God's kingdom.  Verse seventeen says, And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;  After praying all night and calling the apostles, Jesus came down the mountain with them to be met by a great multitude.  It would be wonderful if we had great multitudes waiting to hear God's word today, and maybe if we spent more time in sincere prayer to God we would.  Verse eighteen adds, And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.  Jesus healed the sick and those vexed with unclean spirits.  Still, this was not His real purpose in coming, and many of these people were there to see Jesus for the wrong reasons.  We need to come to Jesus for forgiveness of our sins and spiritual healing, whether we are ever healed of physical problems or not. Verse nineteen continues,  And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.  Everyone wanted to touch Jesus, because they were healed by His touch.  We today are healed spiritually by the spiritual touch of Jesus, and this is the only way to spiritual healing. 

Luke 6:1

Luke 6:1 says, And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.  Jesus and His disciples were going through a field of corn on a Sunday.   They were hungry and took some ears of corn to eat.  This was not stealing but was acceptable at that time, but it would have been considered working on the Sabbath.  We don't need to get so caught up in religious rules and regulations that we forget to meet basic human needs.  Verse two adds, And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?  The Pharisees questioned why Jesus and His disciples were doing something unlawful, which was working, on a Sunday.  Again, they were more concerned with religious laws than they were with the physical needs of Jesus and His disciples.  Verse three states, And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;  Jesus answered them with a scriptural reference to David and a time when those with him and he were hungry.  Whenever we answer questions about our behavior, especially concerning spiritual things, as followers of Christ we must base our answers on Scripture.  Verse four adds, How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?  Jesus said that David went into the temple at that time and took the shewbread to eat and gave to those with him as well.  This definitely was against religious law, and yet David felt it was okay to do what he did.  This doesn't mean that we can just arbitrarily ignore God's law, but that we should always put works of mercy above following rigid rules and regulations.  Verse five declares, And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.  Jesus told them that the Son of man, which was Jesus Himself, was the Lord of the Sabbath.  As long as we know that the Holy Spirit is behind what we do on Sunday, or any other day, we should be okay in what we do.  Verse six says, And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.  On another Sabbath,  Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and a man with a withered hand was there.  Just as Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, we should be in church on Sunday if at all possible.  Verse seven adds, And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.  As usual, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Jesus, not to learn from Him, but to find an accusation against Him.  Some people, even other Christians, watch Christians not to learn from them, but to try to discredit them.  Verse eight continues, But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.  Jesus knew what the scribes and Pharisees were thinking, and He told the man with the withered hand to stand up.  So far, Jesus had done nothing they could fault Him for.  As long as we follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, there should never be anything any one else who professes to believe in Jesus Christ should be able to fault with us for doing it.  Verse nine declares, Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?   Jesus put the decision back on the scribes and Pharisees with a simple question.  Was it lawful to do good or to do to do evil on the Sabbath.  For Jesus not to heal the man when could would be doing evil.  We must never do evil, even on Sunday, by neglecting to do what is good.  Verse ten adds, And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  Since the scribes and Pharisees didn't answer Jesus's question, He healed the man when he obeyed Jesus instructions.  Jesus didn't have to have the man to stretch out His hand in order to be healed, but it was a test of the man's faith and obedience for him to be required to.  God can do things today without our help, but it is a sign of obedience for us to do what He calls us to do.  Verse eleven continues, And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.  The scribes and Pharisees were consumed with anger because they could not condemn Jesus for doing good instead of evil on the Sabbath.  They then began to plot what they could do to Jesus.  Jesus was a threat to their position and power.  Jesus is still a threat to the position and power of many people today, and ultimately each individual much decide what he or she is going to do with Jesus. 

Luke 5:27

Luke 5:27 says, And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.  After calling Peter, James and John, who were fishermen, Jesus next called Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him.  Fishermen were of low estate in the eyes of people, but tax collectors were held in even lower esteem.  Matthew Henry says that since there was no miracle associated with Jesus calling this tax collector that this was simply a showing of God's grace.  There may be no earthly miracle in our life associated with Jesus calling us to salvation, but there will always be the miracle of God's grace.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And he left all, rose up, and followed him. There was no hesitation on the part of Levi.  He immediately left everything and followed Jesus.  There should be no hesitation on our part today to leave everything and follow Jesus.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.  Levi not only left his job as a tax collector, but he then made a great feast at His house,  in the presence of other publicans.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we should want to celebrate this fact with everyone.  We cannot reach the lost people of the world if we suddenly think we are too morally superior to associate with them.  Verse thirty states, But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?  The scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders, murmured against the disciples of Jesus, asking how they could eat with publicans and sinners.  They felt that they were morally superior to these people because of their own actions.  We may grow up in the church and try to follow all of God's commandments, but until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are but sinners in need of His salvation, and once we do accept Him, we are simply sinners saved by grace.  We cannot look down on anyone as unworthy of salvation.  Verse thirty-one declares, And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  Jesus said people who are well don't need a physician, but those who are sick do.  We who are made spiritually whole by faith in Jesus Christ need to reach out to those who are sick in sin today.  Verse thirty-two adds, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  Jesus said He didn't come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.  Of course, we are all sinners in need of salvation until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, even as the scribes and Pharisees were in that day.  Verse thirty-three asks, And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?  The religious leaders then asked why Jesus and His disciples couldn't be more like the disciples of John and the Pharisees who fasted often, whereas the disciples of Jesus ate and drank.  We cannot be made righteous with God by any earthly ritual, but only by faith in Jesus Christ.   Verse thirty-four answers, And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?  Jesus asked if they would expect the children in the bride chamber to fast while the bridegroom was near.  Jesus is the bridegroom of all who follow Him, and there was no call to fast while He was with them.  If we fast today as Christians, it is not for salvation or because we are morally superior to others, but it is simply to get spiritually closer to Jesus as we await His return.  Verse thirty-five adds, But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.  Jesus said the day was coming when the bridegroom, Jesus Himself, would be taken away from them and then they could fast.  Ever since Jesus's death, burial and resurrection, this applies to everyone who has lived or ever will live until Jesus returns.  Verse thirty-six says, And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.  Jesus compared true worship to a new piece of cloth being put on an old garment and the fact that it wouldn't work well.   Jesus did not come to be applied to the old covenant, but to establish a new covenant.  The two cannot exist together.  We cannot be saved by trying to follow all of God's laws and never failing, which would be self-righteousness, but must come to Jesus in simple faith that He is the only way to salvation.  Verse thirty-seven adds, And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.  Jesus then spoke of putting new wine in bottles with old wine in them and both the old and new being destroyed.  If we attempt to combine following God's law and faith in Jesus as the way to salvation, it will not work.  Verse thirty-eight continues, But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.  Jesus came to bring a new covenant, and just like new wine it needed to be put in a new bottle.  We cannot force salvation by grace to fit into salvation by the law.  Verse thirty-nine concludes, No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.  Jesus said that just as people preferred old wine to new, many people would prefer the old covenant with God that came through keeping the law to the new covenant of grace.  Again, in order to accept salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, the only way to salvation, we must give up all thoughts that we can make ourselves righteous by following the law of God.

Luke 5:12

Luke 5:12 says, And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.  A man with leprosy, which made him unclean and who was supposed to avoid contact with people, saw Jesus and fell on his face before Jesus.  The leper told Jesus that if He would, Jesus could make him clean.  When we first encounter Jesus, we are sinners in need of being made clean, and if we put our faith in Jesus, He not only can but will make us clean of all sin.  Verse thirteen adds, And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.  Touching a leper was supposed to make a person unclean and was avoided religiously, but Jesus did not let that stop Him.  Jesus reached out, touched the man, and told Him that it was His will that the man be cleansed, and immediately the man was cleansed.   It is Jesus's desire that we all be cleansed of sin, and He reachout to us offering us healing it we will only accept it by putting our faith in Him.  Verse fourteen continues,  And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.  Jesus told the man to go to the priest with an offering according to the law of Moses.  The man was not to tell anyone that Jesus healed him.  We have the opposite command today, and that is that once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are to tell everyone about it.  Verse fifteen states, But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.  Still, the news of Jesus's healing power spread and multitudes came to Him for physical healing.  Some people today still come to Jesus only for physical reasons, but He came to heal us spiritually, and it would be wonderful indeed if multitudes came to Him for spiritual healing today.  Verse sixteen adds, And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.  Jesus withdrew from the crowds going into the wilderness to pray.  We need to be careful that we don't get so caught up in the activities of the world that we forget to set aside time alone to pray.  Verse seventeen declares, And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.  While Jesus was teaching during a weekday, several religious leaders came to hear Him, not to learn from Him though.  The power of God was present as Jesus healed the sick that came to Him.  As Christians, it is not our responsibility to sit and look for reasons to judge other Christians, but to profess the gospel everyday.  Verse eighteen adds, And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.  A man with palsy was brought to be healed, but the crowds prevented his friends from getting the man to Jesus.  We may encounter obstacles in getting to Jesus or in bringing others to Him, but we should not let that stop us.  Verse nineteen continues, And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.  This man's friends found a way to get him to Jesus, letting him down through the roof.  We need that same willingness to do whatever possible to bring people to Jesus so that they may be healed spiritually once and for all time.  We must not allow the first problem we encounter to keep us from doing so.  Verse twenty concludes, And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.  When Jesus saw the faith of these men, He did not say that the man was healed, but that his sins were forgiven, which is a much greater blessing.  We may come to Jesus simply looking for physical healing, but if we put our faith in Him, we receive so much more.  Ours sins are forgiven when we acknowledge Who Jesus is and accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-one says, And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?  The scribes and Pharisees began to question how Jesus could say the man's sins were forgiven, since only God can forgive sins.  They were right but didn't recognize it, because they did not recognize Jesus as the only begotten Son of God.  We must recognize that Jesus is truly God and not just another man in order to receive forgiveness for our sins.  Verse twenty-two adds, But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?  Jesus was aware of even the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees and asked them what they were reasoning in their hearts.  Jesus still knows our thoughts today.  Verse twenty-three continues, Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?  Jesus asked which would have been easier, to say the man's sins were forgiven or tell him to rise up and walk.  The man walking would easily verify Jesus's power to heal, but forgiving sins wasn't as easily verifiable.  Verse twenty-four declares, But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. Jesus said to offer proof that He could forgive sins, He told the man sick with palsy to take up his couch, or bed, and walk back to his own house.  Jesus still had not said that He had physically healed the man, so his ability to get up and walk would be proof of Jesus's ability to forgive the man's sins.  We may not have any physical proof that Jesus forgives our sins, but we do have the spiritual proof as God works through us.  Verse twenty-five adds, And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  The man immediately did as Jesus instructed him to do, and went to his house, glorifying God.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are immediately healed of all sin or unrighteousness, and need to go on with our life, praising God as we do so.  Verse twenty-six continues, And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.  When we encounter Jesus or even come into His presence after we are saved, we should glorify God, as did those around Jesus that day.  I don't think they truly understood what had happened though, since they said they had seen strange things.  God's work today will seem strange to those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. 

Luke 5:1

Luke 5:1 says, And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,  People were crowding around Jesus, but, but mostly for the wrong reason.  They were there for physical healing or to see what miracle He would perform.  Still, they were where they could hear Jesus, and that is the best place to be.  Of course, once we know Who Jesus truly is, we need to accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse two adds, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.  There were two empty fising boats there.  Verse three continues, And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.  Jesus got on one of the boats that belonged to Simon Peter and asked him to move the boat a little off shore, and from there Jesus taught the people.  Wouldn't it be nice to have that many people coming to hear Jesus today?  Verse four states, Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.  After Jesus finished teaching, He told Simon Peter to launch out, let down his nets, and be prepared to receive a draught of fish.  Simon Peter had to obey Jesus if he was going to be successful, and so must we today.  Verse five adds, And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.  Simon Peter told Jesus that they had worked all night fishing and had caught nothing, even though they were fishermen.   Still, he said he would let down his net at Jesus's word.  If we have been working hard for God's kingdom and haven't been having good results, then we may need to make sure that we are doing what God tells us to do.  Verse six continues, And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.  When they did as Jesus said do, they caught so many fish that the net broke.  Simon Peter and the others had worked hard doing what they had always done and had been unsuccessful, but when they followed the instructions of Jesus they were very successful.  We may not be having results as the church today because we are relying on doing what we have always done more than we are relying on following Jesus's directions.  Verse seven says, And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.  Simon Peter and those with him called for their partners on the other ship to come and help, and the catch was so great that it nearly sank both ships.  They were willing to share their bountiful catch with others, just as we should share the good news of salvation with others.  We also need to work together with our fellow Christians and not worry about who has the most blessings from God.  Everything we do should be for His honor and glory.   Verse eight adds, When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.  When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he fell down at Jesus's knees and asked Him to leave because he was a sinful man.  We can only come to Jesus as sinful people, but we should ask Him to come into our heart as our Savior and Lord and should never want Him to leave.  Verse nine continues, For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:  Simon Peter and all those with him were astonished at the number of fish they had caught.  We should be ready to astonished when we are following God's direction and doing what He calls on us to do today.   Verse ten says, And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.  James and John were partners with Simon Peter in the fishing business, and Jesus told them not to fear, because He was going to make them fishers of men.  This is what we are called on to be today as well, no matter what our daily job may be.  Verse eleven adds, And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.  They had just had a great catch, but they left everything to follow Jesus.  No matter how successful we may be in life, we must be willing to leave everything to follow Jesus if we are to be spiritually successful. 

Luke 4:38

Luke 4:38 says, And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.  Jesus left the synagogue and went to Simon's, or Peter's, house.  Simon Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a great fever.  Even those closest to Jesus are not exempt from illness and trouble in life.  We are told that they besought Jesus, so it would seem that those who lived there must have all felt that Jesus could help her.  Anytime we have illness or any trouble in life as followers of Christ we must come to God in prayer seeking His help.  Verse thirty-nine adds, And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.  Jesus stood over her and rebuked the fever.  Jesus has it within His power to heal anyone instantly, but He doesn't always do so.  I cannot say why some are instantly healed physically and others aren't, but I can say that we are all healed spiritually forever if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, and that is all that matters.  She immediately started serving them.  When Jesus heals us, we are healed to serve.  Verse forty states, Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.  News of Jesus's healing power spread, and many sick people were brought to Him to be healed.  As Christians, we know of the spiritual healing power of Jesus, and we need to be bringing people to Him for salvation. Verse forty-one adds, And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.  Devils also came out of people  acknowledging Jesus as Christ the Son of God, but He rebuked them and wouldn't allow them to talk.  Matthew Henry says Jesus didn't let them talk because they might have claimed that He had made a pact with them instead of simply being all powerful over them.  The Devil knows Who Jesus is today, and he and all of his followers are still trying to discredit Jesus.  Verse forty-two says, And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.  The next day, Jesus went into the desert and the people followed Him and stayed with Him.  They then tried to keep Him from leaving them.  They wanted to keep Jesus there for the wrong reason.  Sometimes today people want Jesus for physical reasons, but are still unwilling to acknowledge Him for Who He really is.  Verse forty-three adds, And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.  Jesus said He must preach in other cities, since that was the reason He came.  We cannot attempt to keep Jesus for ourselves, but must share the gospel with everyone we can, since that is the reason Jesus came.  Verse forty-four continues, And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.  Jesus continued to preach in many synagogues in Galilee.  Jesus should be preached anywhere His people gather today.

Luke 4:33

Luke 4:33 says, And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,  Verse thirty-four adds, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.  In the synagogue where Jesus was teaching, there was a man filled with an unclean devil.  Not all people in the synagogue were really there to worship, and not all people in church are there to worship today.  The devil in the the man recognized Who Jesus was, the Son of God, and asked what Jesus had to do with them.  Verse thirty-five declares, And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.  Jesus told the devil to hold his peace and come out of the man, and he did.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He casts out all our demons as long as we continue to put our faith in Him.  Verse thirty-six adds, And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.  The people in the synagogue asked where Jesus got His power, because they, unlike the unclean devil, did not recognize Jesus for Who He is, the Son of God.  Those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord are still often amazed when He performs a miraculous work today, but the Devil never is.  Verse thirty-seven states, And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.  Jesus's fame spread, and we are to spread His name as the only Savior today.  .

Luke 4:22

Luke 4:22 says, And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?  The people bore witness to the glorious teaching of Jesus, but then asked if He were not Joseph's son.  They only saw Jesus in His earthly status, and that is still all some people see today.  Verse twenty-three adds, And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.  Jesus said the people of His home area would certainly ask why He was not healing people there as He did in Capernaum.  Jesus did not come as a physical Physician, but as a spiritual one.  Those that Jesus healed physically still died at some point, but those that He heals spiritually will live forever with Him.  Verse twenty-four declares, And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.  In there own country, prophets were often without honor, because the people could only see the person that they thought they knew.  We profess to be a Christian nation, but too often people here fail to see Jesus for Who He really is.  Verse twenty-five adds, But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;  Jesus gave a Biblical example of the widows during the famine in Elijah's day.  When we teach or preach about God, it must be based on what the Bible says. There were many widows in Isreal at that time.  Verse twenty-six continues, But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.  Jesus reminded the people of Nazareth that Elijah was not sent to any of the widows of Israel, but to Sarepta, a widow of Sidon.  We do not need to feel jealous nor neglected if God works through those that we might not choose.  Verse twenty-seven states, And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.  Likewise, in the days of Elisha there were many lepers in Israel, but Elisha healed Naaman, a leper from Syria.  Jesus did not come to offer salvation to just a select few, but to everyone.  Verse twenty-eight says, And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,  People in the synagogue in Nazareth were filled with wrath when they heard what Jesus said, even though it was based on Scripture.  Sometimes today people get angry, even those the closest to us, if we share God's word with them, especially if they see us only in earthly terms.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.  The people who were supposed to be God's people were so angry at what Jesus was teaching in the synagogue that they took Him outside the city and were going to throw Him headfirst off a high hill.  Many people today are upset by the truth of God ans wish to destroy it and those who profess it.  Verse thirty states, But he passing through the midst of them went his way,  While the people were trying to kill Him, Jesus simply walked away.  We better pray that there never comes a day when Jesus walks away from us as sinners because we refuse to believe Who He is.  Verse thirty-one adds, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.  Jesus went to Capernaum and taught in the synagogues there.  Verse thirty-two continues, And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.  The people of Capernaum were astonished at the teaching of Jesus.  When we are gathered in God's name today as followers of Christ, we should be no less astonished at His teachings. 

Luke 4:14

Luke 4:14 says, And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.  Jesus was led by the Spirit back to Galilee, and His fame spread throughout the region.  We need to spread the truth of Jesus Christ throughout the area where we are, and to be led by the Holy Spirit as we do so today.  Verse fifteen adds, And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.  Jesus taught in the synagogues and was glorified by all.  The people in this small area were willing to hear and even admire Jesus as a teacher.  Some people today still see Jesus as only a good teacher and even admire His teachings, but believe that is all He was.  Verse sixteen states, And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.  Jesus then returned to His hometown of Galilee, still led by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus did not return there for their praise, but to teach them in the synagogue as well.  He was not back as the carpenter's son, but as God's Son.  When we become a Christian, we can never return to where we grew up as the same person, since we should have grown in our relationship with God.  Verse seventeen adds, And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,  Jesus was given the book of Isaiah to teach from.  We need to make sure that our teaching is based on God's word, not only when we gather together to worship, but in all of life.   Verse eighteen says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  Verse nineteen adds, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  This passage is from Isaiah 61: 1-2.  Jesus referred to God's word there in the synagogue, and so must we in the church today.  Verse twenty continues, And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.   Everyone had their eyes focused on Jesus,  and so must we today as Christians.  After reading the scripture, Jesus closed the book and returned it to the minister.  Jesus did not really need the actual book to know what it said, and we as followers of Christ today should know at least the basics of what God's word says, and ministers of God's word should always make sure that what they preach and teach is grounded in God's word.  Verse twenty-one concludes, And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.  This passage in Isaiah referred to the coming Messiah, and Jesus said it was fulfilled that day.  Jesus is the Messiah that they looked for then and the Messiah that we look back to now.  When Jesus came, He fulfilled all the scripture concerning the Messiah. 

Easter

Today is Easter Sunday.  I will pause from the study of Luke to take the day to celebrate Easter.  It is hard to imagine all the feelings on the part of the disciples from Friday to Sunday.  They were discouraged and afraid we know.  You may find yourself discouraged and defeated today, but as with the disciples that doesn't have to be the end of it.  The women were concerned about the body, and went to look for Jesus in the tomb that had been sealed.  We need not be concerned about the tomb, because Jesus is not there.  The women received the good news from the angel that Jesus was not there but He had risen.  This is the good news of Easter, and everyday, today.  The women went to share the good news with the disciples, and we need to be sharing it as well.  Peter and John went to check out what the women told them, and we need to personally come to Jesus to understand the significance of the empty tomb that the women and disciples found that first Easter, and that is that Jesus was not there, but He has risen.  As we celebrate Easter today, we need to tell the world that Jesus is not here, but He has risen, defeating sin and death forever. 

Luk 4:1

Luke 4:1 says, And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,  Jesus, filled with the Holy Ghost was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.   Jesus was as human as we are, so for Him to be obedient to the heavenly Father, He had to be led by the Holy Spirit, just as we must.  Verse two adds, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.  While Jesus was in the wilderness and fasting for forty days, He was tempted by the Devil.  Jesus was physically alone at this time, and the devil thought He would be more easily tempted, but Jesus was spiritually closer to His heavenly Father than ever.  After the forty days ended, Jesus realized that He was hungry.  Verse three states, And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.  The devil made his suggestion, one that would both serve to prove that Jesus was the Son of God and fill His physical need for food.  The Devil also made it a question of whether Jesus was the Son of God.  When we are physically weak, the Devil will tempt us, and he will begin by trying to get us to question our relationship with God.  Verse four adds, And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  Jesus answered that man does not live by physical bread alone, but by the spiritual bread of the word of God.  Even if we are physically in need, we must never look anywhere but to God and His word for an answer to our need.  Verse five says, And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  The devil switched tactics when he couldn't get Jesus to give in to His physical hunger.  He took Jesus up to a high mountain and should Him all the kingdoms of the world.  If the Devil can not tempt us one way, he will up his game.  Verse six adds, And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.  The Devil offered Jesus power over all the world physically if He would accept it.  The Devil said he had been given the power to do this, and we should never forget that.  The Devil can give us material riches if we turn away from God, but they are always temporary.  Verse seven continues, If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.  All Jesus had to do was worship the devil instead of God.  Sometimes, all we have to do to gain riches and power in this world is to follow the Devil instead of God.  Verse eight concludes, And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  Jesus answered by telling the Devil to get behind Him, because people were to worship the Lord their God alone and to serve Him alone.  God was a personal God to them if they were to truly worship and serve Him, just as He is for us today as followers of Christ.  Verse nine states, And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:  The devil then brought Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, the religious seat of the people of God, and told Him to throw Himself off, in the sight of all those around Him.  Even if we are at the highest point of the church today in our service for God, we not only can but will be tested by the Devil.  Verse ten adds, For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:  Verse eleven continues, And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  The Devil said that God's written word promised that the angels would keep Jesus from any harm if He was truly the Son of God.  We have God's promise today that we will never come to harm spiritually as Christians as long as we remain faithful to Him and His word.  Verse twelve declares, And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  Just as Jesus said then, we are not to tempt God.  We do not have to put on some display of power over the things of this world simply to prove our obedience to Christ.  Verse thirteen adds, And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.  The Devil gave up for a season.  We know he was not through with tempting Jesus forever though.  The devil may depart from us for a season if we don't give in to his temptations, but he will never give up in this lifetime. 

Luke 3:23

Luke 3:23 says, And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,  When Jesus was about thirty, He began His ministry.  Matthew Henry points out that this was the age that a priest began his full ministry.  The rest of the chapter gives the genealogy of Jesus, from Mary's side, whereas Matthew gives it from Joseph's side.  In both, Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise of the way of salvation.  I will just present the rest of the verses.  Verse twenty-four,  Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,  Verse twenty-five,  Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,  Verse twenty-six, Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,  Verse twenty-seven, Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,  Verse twenty-eight, Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,  Verse twenty-nine, Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,  Verse thirty, Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,   Verse thirty-one, Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,  Verse thirty-two, Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,  Verse thirty-three, Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,  Verse thirty-four, Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,  Verse thirty-five, Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,  Verse thirty-six, Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,  Verse thirty-seven, Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,  Verse thirty-eight, Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.  Luke follows the lineage of Jesus all the way back to Adam, and thereby to Eve, where the promise was made that her seed would bruise the head of the serpent.  All of God's written word is the truth throughout. 

Luke 3:10

Luke 3:10 says, And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?  The people asked John what they should do when they repented.  Repentance should not just change the way we think, but the way we act as well.  We don't need to ask someone else what we need to do though, but need to ask God.  Verse eleven adds, He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.  John said they needed to share what they had with those in need.  I believe that God still expects us to do the same today.  Verse twelve states, Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?  The publicans, the tax collectors, asked what they should do.  Repentance should bring a desire to change, and even though God will direct us in that change, we as Christians should help new Christians to know what God expects of them, by example first.  Verse thirteen adds, And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.  John told them to not overcharge on taxes. Verse fourteen says, And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.  The soldiers also came to John asking what they should do, and he told them to not mistreat anyone and to be content with their wages.  As soldiers, they could have demanded payment from people since they were in power.  No matter what our position today, we must treat other people fairly.  Verse fifteen declares, And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;  The people were expecting the coming of the Messiah, or Christ, and wondered if John was the Christ.  We today don't have to wonder, because we know Who Christ is, and that is Jesus.  Verse sixteen adds, John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:  John gave them an emphatic no as an answer.  He was not worthy to even unbuckle the shoes of the coming Christ, and could only baptize with water, whereas the coming Christ would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit.  Baptism today is only symbolic of the change that Jesus Christ makes in our lives when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, and He alone can make this change.  Verse seventeen continues, Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.  John said the coming Christ would separate those who believed in God from those who didn't.  Someone may fool everyone into believing they are a Christian, but Jesus Himself is the final authority.  Verse eighteen says, And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.  John preached many truths as he exhorted the people to repent and come to God in preparation for the coming Messiah.  We must preach God's truth today as we call on people to repent and come to God as we await the return of Jesus Christ, the Savior of all who put their faith in Him.  Verse nineteen adds, But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,  John had even spoken out against Herod, the tetrarch, or ruler, for his incestuous relationship with his brother's wife and many other evils that he did.  We must speak out against evil no matter how powerful those committing it may be today.  Verse twenty continues, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.  Herod had John imprisoned.  We must speak the truth of God today, even if it causes us to be imprisoned.  Verse twenty-one states, Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,  As well as the other people,  Jesus Himself was baptized by John.  Jesus set the example for us.  Verse twenty-two adds, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.  Jesus' baptism was different in one way.  The Holy Ghost came down in the shape of a dove and a Voice from Heaven declared Jesus to be His beloved Son in Whom He was well pleased.   There may not be these things seen and heard when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and are baptized, but we can be certain that we become a child of God and that He is well pleased with us.  Of course, this happens when we accept Jesus and become indwelled by the Holy Spirit, but baptism shows our obedience to Christ.

Luke 3:1

Luke 3:1 says, Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,  This time was dated by the rule of Tiberius, the last and most cruel of the the Caesars according to Matthew Henry.  Luke also named Pilate as the ruler of Galilee and his brother Philip as ruler of Itheruria and Trachonitis and Lysanias as ruler of Abilene.  The people of Isreal were once again under the rule of another nation.  Verse two adds, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.  Anna and Caiaphas were listed as being high priests.  God had ordained that there be but one high priest, but His people now had two.  Matthew Henry says they rotated years of service as high priest.  We as followers of Christ must make sure that we don't attempt to change any of God's law.  We, like the people of Israel, have but one High Priest, and that is Jesus Christ.  During this time, John was still in the wilderness when the word of God came to Him.  God's word will reach us wherever we are, if we are listening for it.  Verse three states, And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;  At God's direction, John left the wilderness and came into the country around Jordan preaching baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  Baptism was to be a sign of their repentance, and after the death of Jesus it became the symbolism of His death, burial and resurrection to us.  Verse four adds, As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  John was the prophet who was prophesied about by Isaiah, who would call on the people of Israel to prepare for the coming Messiah by repenting of their sins.  When Jesus comes to us today, we must repent of our sins and make ourselves ready for His guidance.  Verse five continues, Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;  Matthew Henry says this refers to the distinction between those who repented and those who didn't.  Those who put their faith in God would have their ways made straight and their rough ways made smooth.  I believe this was a spiritual reference and not a physical one.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our spiritual life will be made straight and smooth, no matter what is going on in the world around us.  Verse six concludes, And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.  God's coming salvation through Jesus Christ would be made available to everyone.  This has always been and always will be true.  Verse seven declares, Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  John called those who came to be baptized a generation of vipers and asked who had warned them to flee from the wrath to come.  The only way to avoid the wrath of God on judgment day is to heed His warning of its coming and repent and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eight adds, Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  John told them to not put their faith in simply being descendants of Abraham.  No matter who we are descendants of, we cannot be saved by this.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.  Verse nine continues, And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  John said that like unproductive trees that were cut down and cast into the fire, so would those who did not bear fruit for God be.  This did not mean that their works would save them, but that if they truly put their faith in God that they would be productive in His work.  This still applies to us today as Christians.  We do not work for salvation but for God's glory after we accept His free gift of salvation. 

Luke 2:39

Luke 2:39 says, And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.  Mary and Joseph fulfilled all the requirements of Jewish law, then returned to Nazareth.  After we gather together to worship God, then we need to continue with our everyday life, while keeping God first.  Verse forty adds, And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.  Jesus grew strong in the Spirit and was filled with. wisdom, finding favor with God.  We need to remember that Jesus became human just as we are, so He was guided by the Holy Spirit.  We should also grew strong in the Spirit and be guided by His wisdom.  Verse forty-one states, Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.  Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.  They did not believe that they were exempt from following God's law, and neither are we.  Verse forty-two adds, And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. When Jesus was twelve, they went to Passover.  He was coming of age in Jewish law.  He may have gone with them every year, but this is the first recorded account.  It is best to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord as early as you understand what that means, and then to observe God's laws faithfully.  Verse forty-three states, And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.  When Mary and Joseph returned home, Jesus reminded behind.  They were evidently traveling with a group of people, so they didn't notice that Jesus wasn't with them.  Verse forty-four adds, But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.  After a days journey, Mary and Joseph began to search for Jesus among their kinsfolk.  Jesus evidently had some freedom to come and go without being in His parents company at all times.  We have the freedom to come and go without being in the presence of our fellow believers at all times, but it really is normally best when we are.  Verse forty-five continues, And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.  When Mary and Joseph didn't find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to hunt for Him.  If we lose our closeness with Jesus, we need to look for Him where we were last with Him spiritually.  Verse forty-six says, And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.  They did immediately found Jesus, but when they did, He was in the temple amidst the doctors of the law, hearing them and asking questions.  If people were looking for us today, what better place could we be found than among God's people, talking with them and learning more about God.  Verse forty-seven adds, And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.  Jesus astonished those who heard Him with His wisdom and understanding.  He still should astonish us today as we learn more about Him.  Verse forty-eight declares, And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.  When they located Jesus, Mary questioned Him as to why He had dealt with them in such a way.  We may sometimes want to ask Jesus the same thing, but we need to realize that whatever is happening in life that Jesus is right where He should be, and as Christians, the Holy Spirit is always with us to guide us.  Verse forty-nine adds, And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?  Jesus asked them why they were seeking Him, since He was about His heavenly Father's business.  That is still where Jesus is today.  Verse fifty states, And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.  Though we would think that Mary and Joseph would understand what Jesus meant, they didn't.  We would think that Christians today would always understand what Jesus means, often they don't.  Verse fifty-one adds, And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.  Jesus returned to Nazareth with them and remained subjected to them.  His time was still not at hand.  We need to make sure that we do things in God's time and not our own.  Mary kept Jesus' sayings in her heart, and so should we.  Verse fifty-two continues, And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.  Jesus continued to grow physically and in wisdom, and found favor with God and man.  As followers of Christ, we should continue to grow in our spiritual wisdom as long as we live.

Luke 2:25

Luke 2:25 says, And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  There was a devout man named Simeon who was waiting on the consolation of Israel, or the coming Messiah.  He was just with others and devout to God, and the Holy Ghost was upon him..  We are waiting the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and must be just with others and devout to God, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-six adds, And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  The Holy Ghost had revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ, or the Messiah.  We need to pray that we don't die until we see and accept Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-seven states, And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,  Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit to the temple at the time Mary and Joseph came to dedicate Jesus.  When we come to church today, we should come under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,  Verse twenty-nine continues, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: Simeon took Jesus in his arms, blessed God, and then asked that God let him depart in peace.  When we take Jesus into our arms we can live in peace from then on, if not with the world, at least with God.  Verse thirty says, For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,  Simeon said that he could depart in peace because he had seen God's salvation, Jesus Christ, the baby he held.   When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have seen God's only salvation plan.  Verse thirty-one adds, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;  Simeon said God had prepared His salvation plan before all the people, and this has never changed.  When we hear the gospel, we have encountered God's salvation plan.  Verse thirty-two continues, A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.  Simeon said that Jesus had come to save both the Gentiles and the Jews, which would have included everyone from the Jewish perspective.  Jesus did not come to save just certain people, but to save any one who puts their faith in Him. Verse thirty-three states, And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.  Mary and Joseph marvelled at what Simeon said, though they had already been told Who Jesus was.  Verse thirty-four continues,  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;  Simeon said that the child would be the fall and the rising of many.  We must fall to our own self pride and arise again by faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.  Verse thirty-five declares, (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.  Simeon blessed them but also warned them of the coming suffering of Jesus.  It is because of His suffering that we are set free from suffering spiritually if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  He will always indeed reveal the thoughts of every heart.  Verse thirty-five states,  And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;  There was also a widow there at the temple.  Verse thirty-seven adds, And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  She was said to be a prophetess, who had been a widow eighty-four years, and who was devoted to serving God in the temple.  After we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we should dedicate the rest of our life to serving Him.  Verse thirty-eight continues, And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.  Anna recognized Who Jesus was, gave thanks to God, and then spoke to all those around her about Him.  We must first recognize who Jesus is, accept Him as our Savior and Lord, and then tell all those around us about Him, no matter how old we may be.

 

Luke 2:21

Luke 2:21 says, And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  At His circumcision, which was also when babies were named, Mary's Son was named Jesus, in accordance with what the angel had told her.  Verse twenty-two adds, And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;  At the time prescribed by God's law, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Jerusalem to the temple to present Him to God.  They could have felt that since Jesus was the Son of God that they were exempt from following the God's law, but they didn't.  Today, being a follower of Christ does not exempt us from following God's laws either.  We do not follow them for salvation but for obedience.  Verse twenty-three continues, (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)  Under God's law, the first born male was sacred to the Lord.  God still expects us to dedicate to Him the first and the best of everything He blesses us with.  Of course, the bottom line is that everything we have as Christians should be dedicated to God.  Verse twenty-four concludes, And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.  Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born in a manger, and then to Jerusalem to dedicate Him to God, and they were still required to present the prescribed sacrifice to God.  We may at times feel that we have done so much for God that we should be exempt from giving tithes and offerings, but that is not the case.  We still need to give to God what His word tells us to give.

Luke 2 :8

Luke 2:8 says, And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, shepherds in the same country were keeping watch over their flock at night.  They were lowly people in the eyes of the world, doing what they did everyday.  We may be lowly in the eyes of the world, but we are still precious to God.  Verse nine adds, And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  The routine night of the shepherds was interrupted by the appearance of an angel, who is simply identified as the angel of the Lord.  When the angel came, God's glory shined all around them,and the were very afraid.   I have a feeling that we would be too if this happened to us, but since the Holy Spirit lives within us as followers of Christ, God's glory should shine out through us to the world around us.  Verse ten states, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  The angel told the shepherds to not be afraid, because he brought good tidings of great joy, which would be available to all people.  When a person encounters Jesus Christ today through hearing the good news or gospel, there is no reason to be afraid.   Verse eleven adds, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  The good news was that in Bethlehem, the city of David, a Savior had been born to them, a bunch of lowly shepherds mostly over looked by the world.  When we hear the gospel of Christ, it applies to us, no matter our status, and if we accept believe it, then we know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord.  Verse twelve continues, And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  The angel then told the shepherds how to identify Jesus, the Savior.  He would not be a prince in a palace, but a baby in a manger.  This is probably not what they would have expected a Savior to be, and today Jesus is still not what a lot of people expect a Savior to be.  Verse thirteen declares, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a heavenly host praising God.  If the angels were afraid before, their fear might have gone even higher.  Verse fourteen adds, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  The angels were praising God by calling for Him to be glorified in heaven so that there might be peace on earth.  Even if the whole world were to be at war, there still should be the peace of God for God's people.  Verse fifteen says, And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  After appearing, sharing the good news and praising God, the angels left.  They did not tell the shepherds what they had to do.  When we hear the gospel of Christ today, they one sharing it with us really cannot tell us that we have to believe it.  It is up to each individual to either accept or reject the gospel.  The shepherds decided to go and see for themselves what the angels had told them they would find.  Ultimately, each individual has to decide whether to come to Jesus Christ in faith based on belief in the gospel or to reject Him by disbelief.  Verse sixteen adds, And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  The shepherds left their flocks and went with haste and found Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in a manger, just as the angel had said they would.  When we hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to leave whatever we are doing and come to Him for salvation.  Verse seventeen continues, And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  The shepherds told everyone what they had heard and seen, and so should we as Christians today.  Verse eighteen states, And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  The people who heard what the shepherds said wondered about it, but we are not told that they attempted to verify it themselves.  It is not enough to wonder about the gospel, but we must accept the truth of the gospel for it to do us any good.  Verse nineteen adds, But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  Mary kept all the things the shepherds said and pondered them in her heart. Verse twenty continues,  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.  The shepherds went back to their flocks praising God for all that they had seen and heard.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will still probably be doing the same job that we were doing before, but we should do so praising God.

Luke 2:1

Luke 2:1 says, And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  In the time period that Elisabeth had her baby, John, and Mary was expecting her baby, Jesus, Caesar Augustus decreed that the world should be taxed.  This also served as a census.  We are not the first people to be taxed, nor will we be the last.  Verse two adds, (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  We are told a little more about the taxing.  The whole world that was known then was under Roman rule, including the people of Israel.  Matthew Henry points out that the world was at peace at this time.  Verse three continues, And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  Unlike today, when we mail our taxes, the people then, including Mary and Joseph, had to go to their own city to be taxed and counted.  Verse four states, And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem for this taxing and census, because he, and Mary, were of the house and lineage of David.  Matthew Henry says that there was some conjecture that only thee descendants of David, the historical powerful king of Israel, were required to return to their historical home to be counted so that the Roman rulers could more easily keep up with them.  Whether it was all the Jews or just the descendants of David this was required of, the decree brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.  Verse five adds, To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  Caesar Augustus thought he was bringing them there to be counted and taxed, but Joseph and Mary were there to fulfill God's prophesy.  Mary had to travel to Bethlehem because of a decree of the government, even though she was close to giving birth, but she was there because that is where she needed to be according to God's prophesy.  Just as God used a ruler then who did not believe in Him to accomplish His purpose, He can do the same thing today.  Verse six continues, And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, it became time for her to have her baby.  This was the time chosen by God, and she was where God needed her to be.  She did not just tell Joseph that they had to get to Bethlehem before the baby was born, but God made it necessary by the use of a secular ruler who only thought he was exercising his power.  If we put our faith in Jesus Christ and do what He calls us to do, He can even use secular governments to accomplish His purpose.  Even if we feel helpless to do anything other than obey, we need to recognize that as long as we remain obedient to God He will work through us to accomplish His purpose.  Verse seven declares,  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  Mary gave birth to Jesus, her first born Son.  She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.  There couldn't have been a mere lowly birth.  The world did not suddenly change outwardly, but it certainly changed spiritually.  God's redemption plan was being fulfilled, and the promised Messiah was born.  Just like then, many people today have no room in their heart for Jesus Christ, and for them He will always remain outside in a manger.  Jesus did not come as an all powerful ruler, but as a Child born without even a room in the inn.  Jesus was not Who the religious leaders expected Him to be, and He is still not Who too many people except Him to be today. 

Luke 1:67

Luke 1:67 says, And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,  Having been given the ability to speak again, Zacharias did so filled with the Holy Ghost.  If we speak today, being given that power by God, we need to do so by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse sixty-eight adds, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,  Zacharias began by stating that God should be blessed, because He had visited and redeemed His people.  This above all other reasons is why we should acknowledge the blessings to God today.  Verse sixty-nine continues, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;  Zacharias said God had raised up a horn of salvation from the house of David.  This had not yet occurred, but was underway.  Verse seventy states, As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:  Zacharias said God had spoken by His holy prophets since the world began.  They were not holy because of their own goodness, but because of their relationship with God, just as we are today.  Verse seventy-one adds, That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;  We have indeed been saved forever from our enemies and those that hate us.  Nothing can ever separate those who are followers of Christ from the heavenly Father.  Verse seventy-two continues, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;  Zacharias said God was going to perform the promise made to their fathers and them.  God did fulfill His promise of the coming Messiah, and His fulfillment of that promise still applies to anyone who will put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seventy-three says, The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, The promise made to Abraham remains true today.  Verse seventy-four adds, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,  God has forevermore delivered us from the hands of our enemies and we should be serving Him without fear.  Verse seventy-five continues, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.  As Zacharias said, as we serve God without fear, we also are to serve Him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives.  Verse seventy-six states, And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;  Zacharias now began to speak to his son John, telling him he would be a prophet of the Highest and go before the coming Lord to prepare His ways.  We know that John did, and we must go before the returning Lord to prepare the way for His return.  Verse seventy-seven adds, To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,  The remission of sins can only come by faith in Jesus Christ, which John was to prepare the people for.  Verse seventy-eight continues, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,  Salvation can only come from the mercy of God on high, Who visited us in the person of Jesus Christ to bring us salvation by faith in Him.  Verse seventy-nine concludes, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.  Jesus Christ is the light of the world and the only source of true peace, and until we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord, we will continue to sit in spiritual darkness.  Verse eighty declares, And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.  John grew strong physically and spiritually in the desert until it was time to do what God has called him to do.  As we are waiting to do what God has for us to do, we should use the time to grow spiritually stronger.