Luke 5:15-26  As the news spread through Galilee and Judea, people began to swarm into every place that Jesus went.  Verse 16 tells us that even with the great crowd and the great need... Jesus would  "often slip away into the wilderness and pray."  This was more than a habit, more than a rite or a ritual.. it is even more than just an example.  Jesus wanted.. needed.. this time of communion and communication with His Father.  He testified that He only did what He saw the Father do and only said what the Father told Him to say. John 12:49 says "For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me to say all I have spoken." Over and over, John records Jesus telling His listeners that He only spoke what the Father told Him to say.  This constant communication between Jesus and His Father explains the power and authority that come with every Word He speaks. 

So, when the friends of the paralyzed man bring him to the place where Jesus was teaching and healing.. when they displayed faith in what Jesus could do.. when they went up on the roof and lowered their friend down into the room below.. right in the center.. right in front of Jesus... the words that Jesus spoke.. were the Words that the Father spoke to Him.. "Friend, your sins are forgiven you."   These words carried the Supreme power and authority of the Creator, the Holy One, the Mighty God and Father. 

And yet... the ones who should have known best.. were the ones who called it "blasphemies".  Jesus asked them "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?"  They were deliberating and discussing what to think of these words. They didn't want to agree with Jesus.. but they didn't know how to refute Him either.  Jesus gave them a way to believe... "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins-- He said to the paralytic - I say to you, rise, and take up your stretcher and go home. "  As the man rose up and walked away giving glory to God,  there was no more deliberation... "And they were all seized with astonishment and began glorifying  God; and they were filled with fear, saying, 'We have seen remarkable things today.' "

Do we "reason" over the words of Jesus?  Do we deliberate and discuss or find reasons to dispute what He says? Do we sometimes try to find excuses not to believe what He says?   Jesus tells us to lay down our lives.. to take up our crosses and to follow Him; He tells us that we are blessed when we suffer for His sake;  He tells us to ask and it will be given.... Every Word that He spoke is Truth and holds the power and authority of the Heavenly Father.. the God most High!

Oh Father in Heaven.. increase our faith, increase out understanding, and help  us to know You more and to know Jesus Christ more.  Help us to walk in this Light today we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen

 Luke 5:12-14  Luke shares with a powerful example of Jesus displaying His power, authority , willingness, purpose and mission.. 

Jesus meets the man who is "full of leprosy".  This man "fell on his face" before Jesus and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  This man took a chance and made the most of this opportunity to come into Jesus' presence.. in his uncleanness, in his desperation, in faith and in humility.   He "implored" Jesus to heal him.. asking, but appealing to the will of Jesus.. he was asking Jesus to be willing to do what he so desperately desired. 

Jesus, ever so gracious answered, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Jesus desired to help this man.. He delighted to heal him. He purposed to heal him and He even "stretched out His hand and touched him.."

The other night at our evening Bible study we sang the old hymn, "What a Friend we have in Jesus" and the words and tune have been lingering in my mind, especially the first verse where it says, "Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer."  Philippians 4:6 is referenced in our hymnals for this song.. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God... "  

This passage of the healing of the man "full of leprosy".. his humble plea for Christ to be willing to heal him.. the compassion of Jesus to touch him.. to willingly.. purposefully.. happily to cleanse him.. makes me think that this man would sing out with a mighty voice.. "What a friend I have in Jesus!"

We have such a friend when we have come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior.. He is our Friend that is closer than a brother.. He is our Friend who will never leave or forsake us.  He is our Friend who will guard our hearts and minds.  He is our Friend to whom we may come with our every need.  We do not have to forfeit our peace or bear needless pain.. we do not have to be anxious or afraid.. for we have a Friend to whom we can come, like the leper, and find that Jesus is willing to hear our pleas. 

Father in heaven, help us to remember that we have such a Friend in Jesus.. because You have sent Him to be our Lord.  He has all authority. He has all power. He is willing to be our Healer, our Provider, our Help and our Living Hope.  He is willing to forgive our sins and to restore us, make us strong, firm and steadfast, because You , the God of all grace have called us into Your eternal glory in Christ. ( I Peter 5:10)  Thank You, Father. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen. 

Luke 5:1-11  Picture Jesus standing on the beach... teaching.. and the crowd "pressing around Him".  The people hungered to hear what He would say next. Yet, with the crowd pressing in, only a few could hear well.  Jesus solved the problem by getting into Simon's boat and asking him to go out into deeper water.  "And He sat down and began teaching the multitudes from the boat." 

Luke doesn't tell us what this sermon was about, but he tells us what happens next.  Surely Simon Peter heard the message, as he was familiar with Jesus enough to know that He was the Master.  So, when Jesus told him to put down the nets again.. he did so.  He didn't expect anything to happen because they had caught no fish at all through the night.  "And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets began to break; and they signaled their partners in the other boat, for them to come help them... " 

This was a turning point in Simon Peter's life.. " But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet."  Peter finally realized that Jesus was more than a teacher. He was filled with amazement.. and so were James and John. Luke does not mention Andrew here, but the other gospels tell us that he too was fishing with the others.  John tells us that Andrew was already a follower of Jesus and had told his brother Peter about Him.  Perhaps Peter was on the edge about becoming a disciple of Jesus.. but after this, he was ready to commit fully.  "And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him." 

Jesus had a purpose for these fishermen... He called them to a new life " .. from now on you will be catching men."  

Jesus asked Peter for a favor.. He blessed his obedience.. He received his worship.. and He gave him a new job.  Peter's life was changed forever in those few minutes.  Andrew, James and John were also given the privilege of becoming the disciples of Jesus Christ that day.  Jesus calls those who He wills.. He gives us the opportunity to be part of His Life and to have  the privilege of serving with Him. When Jesus asks us to do something... even as simple as lending Him a seat on a boat.. let us be willing to obey.  We never know what He will do with our acts of obedience... but may our eyes be open to see just Who He is... the Lord of all!

Father, we bless Your Holy Name, for You are good and kind and gracious.  You have given to us such a wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ , Your Son.  We desire to encounter Him today.. walking in His light and following His example in all we do.  Fill us Spirit of God that we might grow in wisdom and understanding.. in knowing Jesus more and being changed by His Presence to the glory of God our Father. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. 

 Luke 4:30-44  It is interesting that Luke picks and chooses what he wants to share about the ministry of Jesus.  He skips the calling of Peter, Andrew, James and John and goes straight  into the synagogue at Capernaum  and later to Simon's house. Since the account  of their calling had been told in the other Gospels, perhaps Luke found no reason to repeat that part of the story.  Luke does tell us that Jesus began preaching on the Sabbath in Capernaum, amazing the people because of the authority with which He taught and because of the power that He revealed as He delivered the man possessed by " the spirit of an unclean demon". 

These two factors, the teaching with authority and the revelation of that authority over the demon,  well establish the truth of who Jesus is.  He would not allow the demons to proclaim His identity, but made it known by His own words and deeds. 

As Jesus went to Peter's house and healed his mother-in-law and as others began to bring the sick  to Him, the Lord was establishing not only His authority but His divinity.  He tells them that He had to go "preach the kingdom of God" throughout the land of Judea.  This was His purpose.  Not just Capernaum needed a Savior, but all of Israel needed Him. In fact, all the world needs Him!

What would we have thought if we had been in Capernaum that day?  Would we have seen Him and believed?  Would we have heard His words and been amazed? Would we have recognized His authority? We have not seen Him, but we believe and are blessed, as John 20:29 says, "Jesus said to him, 'Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.' "  We have not heard Him speak.. to preach a sermon... but we have His written Word that reveals His authority and we believe!  When the Holy Spirit opens our eyes and ears, we have the same opportunity as those in Capernaum did that day.. to be set free.. to be healed.. to know the Holy One of God who came to preach to us the gospel of the kingdom of God, just as He did in Israel.  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven, You have blessed us with every precious promise in Christ Jesus who is the Lord and Savior.  Thank You for this great salvation found in Jesus.  Father, we come in need.. for healing, for deliverance, for faith, for holiness.. that we might know You more and more. . and that we might  come into Your everlasting Kingdom on that day You call us home. Complete in us Your will.  Let Your Spirit move and guide us into the Light of Your Word that we might be amazed and blessed, for we ask this in His holy name. amen.

Luke 4:14-29 "And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit; and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district."   He began in the synagogues.. teaching.  We know from Matthew's account that one of the Savior's teachings was what we call the beatitudes.. a fresh, new message that brought hope and joy and blessing as He taught that coming to the Lord God was not a matter of works, but of surrender.. recognizing one's poverty of spirit, mourning over one's sin and finding comfort; humbling one's self and finding acceptance and an inheritance from God.  Jesus taught in the synagogues so that His people could find Truth and become the children of God, not just the children of Abraham. 

Jesus went back to His hometown of Nazareth.  He went into the synagogue that He had grown up in. They handed Him the scroll of Isaiah.  He opened it to the place that we call Isaiah 61 and read what was written about Himself. " The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He annointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord." ( v18-19) 

What a message! The people at first praised the words that Jesus spoke, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in you hearing."  The message was "gracious" they said.. God was bringing the prophecies of Isaiah to life in this Man.  But.... "Is this not Joseph's son?"   Doubt overtook faith.  How could the son of Joseph, a carpenter, a common man.. be the Messiah?  How could He fulfill scripture?

So, they choose to test Him..they wanted signs.. they wanted miracles. They wanted Him to perform for them..to do the things He did in Capernaum.. and Jesus would not ... 

He told of Elijah... who went to the home of Zarephaph in Sidon instead of to a widow in Israel. He told of Elisha who ministered to Naaman the Syrian, healing him of leprosy.. instead of the lepers in Israel.  Others were chosen because they gained faith and Israel failed to have faith and missed the blessings. "And all in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things.."  So they tried to kill Him, right there and then... proving their own unbelief.. revealing the sin in their own hearts.  

Father in heaven, You have given to us a gracious Lord, the Lamb of God, who came to save us from our sin. He has told us the Truth, for He is the Light that reveals truth and grace to us . His gospel message is precious to us for we are poor in spirit and He has granted us the kingdom of heaven.  We have mourned our sin and He has comforted us.  We have humbled ourselves before You and You have made us Your children with an eternal inheritance.  You have shown us mercy, You have filled us with righteousness, You have shown us Yourself in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Your Son... and You have  given us Your Spirit. We praise Your Name and give thanks to the One who came to set us free, to give us sight, and to proclaim Your favor. Your's is the kingdom, the power, and the glory! Amen!

 Luke 4:1-13  As Jesus was baptized and filled by the Holy Spirit, He left the Jordan, led by the Spirit to the wilderness.  He identified with us.. as a man.. a human just like us, in His baptism... and now in His experience in the desert. 

Temptations are "common to man" ( I Corinthians 10:13). James tells us that "each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed." ( James 1:14)  Hebrews 2:17-18 tells us that Jesus "had to be made like them (us), fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." 

Satan pursued Jesus into the wilderness.  He watched as Jesus spent 40 days without food... and then he struck. "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."  Satan would not offer bread. He could not produce bread out of stone.. but he knew that Jesus could. But, Jesus would not.. He didn't need to for He knew that His Father would provide all that was needed. "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone.' "  This quote comes from the book of Deuteronomy 8:3  "And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord."  Hunger is a very human characteristic.. we all get hungry.  The problem is when we allow our craving. or desire.. our "lust" to drive us to the ways of the world instead of the provision of the Father.  The Lord allowed the Israelites to be hungry so that He could show them that He is the Provider.  Jesus trusted the Father and He teaches us to trust Him too. 

Satan had another temptation to present.. "he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, 'I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall be Yours."  In one moment, Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world.  It was his.. his to rule.. his to manage.. his to do as he pleased.. and his to give. But, Jesus knew that unless the Father had allowed Satan to rule.. he would not.  Satan was and is not equal to God.. never has been and never will be! Jesus answered "It is written, ' You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.' "  Once again Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy...Chapter 6,verse 13 " You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him, and swear by His name."   When we are tempted to take what we want.. in our own way and by any other means than the grace of God, we fall into this trap of Satan.  Like Eve.. we think that it is ok to take what looks good.. even if it is giving into the voice of the devil and ignoring the Voice of the Lord God.  Whose voice are we listening to ?  The only authority we should honor is the Lord our God and Jesus Christ our King. 

Satan had one last test.. "And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here... " Satan uses scripture.. as if he could reason with Jesus to make Him test the Father.  Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6 again " You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.. "  The Israelites tested the Lord at Massah. Moses said that they were quarreling with God.  They were thirsty and there was no water. They complained and didn't trust the Lord to provide. They "tested the Lord, saying 'Is the Lord among us or not?' "  How is it that we "test" the Lord?  Do we want the Lord to prove Himself to us?  How often do we want "sight" and forget that we are called to walk by faith? 

Satan "departed from Him until an opportune time." (Verse 13)  Satan still seeks "opportune " times to tempt us as he did Jesus.  We need the power and provision of Jesus and the Word of the Lord to help us stand firm and not yield to those times of temptation.  May the Holy Spirit make us always aware of the example of Christ so that we will walk in His light and live in His truth. 

Father, how we need You to keep us walking in faith, by the Light of the world... He who overcame the world, satan, and every temptation. We have one God and one King and we worship You only. Be glorified in our lives we pray, in Jesus' name . Amen.

 Luke 3:21-38  Jesus went to John by the Jordan River to be baptized.  Even John recognized that Jesus had no need for repentance and baptism.. but Jesus insisted that  it should be "permitted... for in this way it is fitting for us the fulfill all righteousness." ( Matthew 3:15) 

So much happens in this action... Jesus submitted to the Father's will and the Father was "well-pleased". The "heavens were opened". The Holy Spirit descended "like a dove" and came upon Jesus.

John (the baptist) testified " I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven and He remained on Him." John 1:31-34 explains that this was a sign to John the Baptist that this was the One he had been told. about... "He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit." (v33) 

The baptism also signals the beginning of Jesus' public ministry.

Verses 23-38 give another genealogy for Jesus.. from His earthly "supposed" father Joseph back to the very beginning.. to Adam " the son of God".  Although this list differs from Matthew's they both substantiate that legally Jesus was of the line of David and therefore of royal heritage...a legitimate King of Israel. 

Chapter 4 begins with a significant entrance into Jesus' ministry... He was led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness and for forty days He fasted.  He was there alone until the devil came to tempt Him.  Forty days with no food and no hunger.  Forty days of preparation for the days ahead,  which would begin with the confrontation with Satan. 

Father in heaven, we are so thankful for such a worthy Savior sent from You to lead us into all righteousness.  Thank You for the Word that leads us into the Light of Your salvation. Thank You that the Word of God became flesh and dwelt on earth so that we might be saved from sin, death, and the evil one. Thank You Jesus for being willing to humble Yourself, empty Yourself, and give Yourself for me. Help me,  Holy Spirit,  to understand more fully the greatness of this salvation in Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.