What Jesus Did

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

—Luke 3:19-20 NLT

Key Thought


I've heard it said that our true character is revealed in what we do and who we are when no one is looking. For most of us, that statement is probably true. However, there is another test of truth and truth-telling. Will we tell...

 

John used many such warnings [like Jesus will separate the wheat from the chaff] as he announced the Good News to the people.

—Luke 3:18 NLT

Key Thought


The warning in the previous verse (Luke 3:17) and "the Good News" in this verse don't seem to go together, do they? Hmm, how do they fit together? When everlasting life or eternal destruction are the only options, to reject the Good News about Jesus is to choose destruction. Each of the Gospels (Matthew...

 

Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. John answered their questions by saying, "I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much greater that I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing...

 

The crowds asked, "What should we do?" John replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry." Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?" He replied, "Collect no more taxes than the government requires." "What should we do?" asked some soldiers. John replied, "Don't extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay."

—Luke 3:10-14 NLT

Key Thought...

 

When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, "You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good...

 

Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, "He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the LORD's coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.'"

—Luke 3:4-6 NLT

Key Thought


Isaiah had foretold of a "bulldozer from heaven" that would straighten the roads, level the hills and...

 

Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

—Luke 3:3 NLT

Key Thought


John came to prepare the way for Jesus. For that to happen in most people's lives, they had to re-orient their priorities and values. In other words, they needed to make a U-turn in their lives and go in the opposite direction — no longer living by their own...

 

It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness.

—Luke 3:1-2 NLT

Key Thought


We often think that it is our setting or our location or the...

 

Then [Jesus] returned to Nazareth with [his parents] and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

—Luke 2:51-52 NLT

Key Thought


Luke lets us know that Jesus was a good kid. As he grew up, he was obedient, he grew smarter, he made God proud, and he was liked by others. Like any loving parent, Mary stored up the memories of his childhood in her heart...

 

[Jesus'] parents didn't know what to think [when he stayed in Jerusalem]. "Son," his mother said to him, "why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere." "But why did you need to search?" he asked. "Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they didn't understand what he meant.

—Luke 2:48-50 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus had an increasing sense of purpose as he grew older. While he would apprentice in...