Christ in All of Luke

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Christ in All of Luke

Christ-in All the Book of Luke

ð Matthew speaks to the Jews and the deeply religious of our day. The Jews who loved the Scriptures and the prophecies of God. They would only listen to one of their own. 

ð Mark spoke to the Romans. These were the leaders and leadership and action impressed them. They knew nothing of Scriptures but everything of power. So to this group comes the action packed Gospel of the powerful ministry of Christ. Mark uses the word “and” 1,375 times to tie together the endless actions of Christ. Like our modern successful business man and woman, they want a God who can powerfully meet their deepest needs.

ð Luke was a Greek speaking to the Greeks. The Greeks loved culture, beauty and ideas. Happiness could be found in the pursuit of truth. Luke fills his book with insights, interviews, songs and details that fascinate the inquiring mind. So today the truth seekers find Jesus in Luke!

ð John wrote to everyone,  because everyone needs to meet God and only Jesus can reveal Him. In this book we meet an absolutely powerful God in human flesh who controls and rules the Universe He created. So the best known verse is the best of all offer that God loves all and offers all — His Son as their only hope!

 

Each of the synoptics are a snapshot of Jesus

Remember how we surveyed the Gospels by noting a key verse for each book!

 

MATTHEW  “Christ the  King”

Matthew 2:2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (NKJV) Worship Christ the King!

 

MARK  “Christ the Servant”

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (NKJV)  Worship Christ the Servant!

 

LUKE “Christ the perfect man:  Savior”. (19:10)

Luke 19:10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (NKJV) This verse outlines the book: Jesus “has come” (1-4:13 – birth to temptation);  Jesus came “to seek”  (4:14-21:38 – 1stministry to final Jerusalem trip); and Jesus came “to save” (22-24 Last Supper to Ascension).  Worship Christ the Savior! He really identified with our world, our needs and He is our only hope!

 

Luke captures the perfections of Christ

 

Outline:

  • The Birth and Preparation of Savior Jesus 1:1 – 4:13. In this section we find about 90% is unique to Luke. This is the Bethlehem, Nazareth and Judea life of our Lord.
  • Savior Jesus Speaks and Serves (4:14 – 21:38). This portion has over 30 parables and discourses by Jesus that none of the other gospels record. There are two distinct divisions: first (4:14-9:50) Luke shows Jesus ministering and serving mighty in God’s power in Galilee for about 18 months. Then secondly (9:51-21:38) Luke traces Jesus as He instructs His disciples and submits to the Cross. Sixty percent of the verses in this section are only found in Luke.
  • Savior Jesus Suffers and Triumphs in Passion Week 22:1 – 24. In this final section Jesus is completing His work by His death, burial, Resurrection  and commissioning His disciples to go and tell the good news.

 

In a gospel for the Greeks, we find the perfect man comes to earth. Luke talks as a physician, and describes medically how much Christ was a man — tired and touched with the feelings of those about Him.  Like Matthew, Luke proclaims the miraculous, virgin conception of Jesus (1:26-38).  He alone writes of the glory of God that was manifested at the birth of Jesus (1:9).  Luke reinforces Jesus’ identity with humanity by using “son of man” twenty-five times, second only to Matthew.

 

THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Teaching Parables

About the Kingdom of God

The Soils (Matthew 13:3-8; Mark 4:4-8; Luke 8:5-8)

The Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)

The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31, 32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18, 19)

The Yeast (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20, 21)

The Treasure (Matthew 13:44)

The Pearl (Matthew 13:45, 46)

The Fishing Net (Matthew 13:47-50)

The Growing Wheat (Mark 4:26-29)

About Service and Obedience

The Workers in the Harvest (Matthew 20:1-16)

The Loaned Money (Matthew 25:14-30)

The Nobleman’s Servants (Luke 19:11-27)

The Servant’s Role (Luke 17:7-10)

About Prayer

The Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5)

The Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8)

About Neighbors

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)

About Humility

The Wedding Feast (Luke 14:7-11)

The Proud Pharisee and the Corrupt Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)

About Wealth

The Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21)

The Great Feast (Luke 14:16-24)

The Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-9)

Gospel Parables

About God’s Love

The Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7)

The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32)

About Thankfulness

The Forgiven Debts (Luke 7:41-43)

Parables of Judgment and the Future

About Christ’s Return

The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

The Wise and Faithful Servants (Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48)

The Traveling, Owner of the House (Mark 13:34-37)

About God’s Values

The Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)

The Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33, 34; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 20:9-16)

The Unproductive Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9)

The Marriage Feast (Matthew 22:1-14)

The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-35)

 

John and the other Gospel writers were able to record only a people who were healed by Jesus. But enough of Jesus’ words and  works have been  also might be able to know him and be his day. There follows a listing of the miracles that are Gospels. They were supernatural pointed people to God, and they were acts of love love.

 

JESUS’ MIRACLES
Matthew Mark Luke John
  • Five thousand people are fed
14:15-21 6:35-44 9:12-17 6:5-14
  • Calming the storm
8:23-27 4:35-41 8:22-25
  • Demons sent into the pigs
8:28-34 5:1-20 8:26-39
  • Jairus’ daughter raised
9:16-26 5:22-24, 8:41, 42,
  • A sick woman is healed
9:20-22 5:25-34 8:43-48
  • Jesus heals a paralytic
9:1-8 2:1-12 5:17-26
  • A leper is healed at Gennesaret
8:1-4 1:40-45 5:12-15
  • Peters mother-in-law healed
8:14-17 1:29-31 4:38, 39
  • A shriveled hand is restored
12:9-13 3:1-5 6:6-11
  • A boy with an evil spirit is healed
17:14-21 9:14-29 9:3742
  • Jesus walks on the water
14:22-33 6:45-52 6:17-21
  • Blind Bartimaeus receives sight
20:29-34 10:46-52 18:3543
  • disciples in this
  • A girl is freed from a demon
15:21-28 7:24-30
  • Four thousand are fed
15:32-38 8:1-9
  • Cursing the fig tree
21:18-22 11:12-14,
  • A centurion’s servant is healed
8:5-13 7:1-10
  • An evil spirit is sent out of a man
1:23-27 4:33-36
  • A mute demoniac is healed
12:22 11:14
  • Two blind men find sight
9:27-31
  • Jesus heals the mute man
9:32. 33
  • by One who is
  • A coin in a fish’s mouth
17:24-27
  • A deaf and mute man is healed
7:31-37
  • A blind man sees at Bethsaida
8:22-26
  • 26.    The first miraculous catch of fish
5:1-1 1
  • 27.    A widow’s son is raised
7:11-16
  • 28.    A crippled woman is healed
13:10-17
  • 29.    Jesus heals a sick man
14:1-6
  • 30.    Ten lepers are healed
17:l 1-19
  • 31.    Jesus restores a man’s ear
22:49-51
  • Jesus turns water into wine
2:1-11
  • A nobleman’s son is heated at Cana
4:46-54
  • A lame man is healed
5:1-16
  • Jesus heals a man born blind
9:1-7
  • Lazarus is raised from the dead
11:1-45
  • The second miraculous catch of fish
21:1-14

 

 

Jesus shows the perfect practice of prayer

 

One reflection of the Perfect Man Christ our Savior was is found in Luke’s record of nine occasions when Jesus prayed:

(1)  at His baptism (Luke 3:21); A PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

(2)  after a day of miracles (Luke 5:15-16); A PRAYER OF STRENGTH

(3)  before choosing His disciples (Luke 6:12); A PRAYER OF GUIDANCE

(4)  before the first prediction of His death (Luke 9:18); A PRAYER OF ENCOURAGEMENT

(5)  on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:29); A PRAYER OF WORSHIP

(6)  before teaching the disciples to pray (Luke 11:1); A PRAYER OF WISDOM

(7)  when the seventy returned with their report (Luke 10:21); A PRAYER OF INSIGHT

(8)  in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46); A PRAYER OF VICTORY

(9)  on the cross (Luke 23:34, 46). A PRAYER OF OBEDIENCE

 

Jesus shows the perfect example of prayer

 

I. Jesus prayerfully sought God’s Protection while facing the great crises of His life was found during prayer:

  • His baptism (Lk. 3:21-22)
  • Choosing the twelve (Lk. 6:12-13)
  • Preparing for the cross (Lk. 9:18, 21-22)
  • His transfiguration (Lk. 9:28-36)
  • Jesus prayerfully sought God’s Preparation for the great events – challenges – of His  ministry
    • Feeding the 4,000 (Matt. 15:36)
    • Feeding of the 5,000 (Jn. 6:11)
    • Walking on the water (Matt. 14:23-33)
    • Healing the insane boy (Mk. 9:14-29)
    • Jesus prayerfully sought God’s help in Maintaining a proper focus in success was strengthened by  prayer:
      • After feeding 5,000 (Matt. 14:23)
      • After raising Lazarus (John 11:41)
      • Jesus prayerfully sought god’s Direction for facing the stresses of life was found in prayer:
        • Multitudes (Lk. 5:15-16)
        • Sick folks (Mk. 1:35 [wilderness, v. 33 – whole city at door, so….]
        • Ministry needs (Lk. 4:42)
        • Urgent situations (Jn. 6:15) [human efforts and ambitions vs. God within]
        • Jesus prayerfully sought God’s comfort. His Emotions were sheltered by resorting to prayer:
          • Uncaring friends (Matt. 26:36-46)
          • Discouragement at misguided disciples (Jn. 6:15) (their v. 39 lack faith
          • Unbecoming attitudes and words of friends (Jn. – confident in God)
          • The pain of His calling — the cross (Jn. 12:28)
          • Jesus prayerfully sought God’s  will in  the consummation of His life. It was met in prayer:
            • His last breath on the cross (Lk. 23:46)
            • Jesus prayerfully sought God’s goals. His earthly prayer life may be seen as:
              • Harmony with God’s plan was His passion (Jn. 17:4)
              • Thankfulness was a part of all His life (Lk. 10:21)
              • Perfection was His for He never confessed sin (I Pet. 2:22; Jn. 8:29)
              • God’s glory, not His personal needs, was primary (Jn.
              • Confidence: He always had a confidence in God’s hearing and answering (Jn. 11:42)
              • Submission: Every part of His life demonstrated submission (Lk. 22:
              • Intercession was always on His heart:
            • For His disciples’ growth (Lk. 23:31)
            • For His enemies needing saving grace (Lk. 23:34)
            • In all truly selfless (Jn. 17:11)

 

Is prayer a priority?  Talking to God.

Is the word a priority?  Doing God’s will.

 

33-“Prayer catapults us to the frontiers of the spiritual life.”;

 

Jesus shows the perfect basis of prayer

Luke 11:1-4

‘HOW TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH GOD’”

 

In essence Jesus Christ gives the pattern for perfect communion with an eternal Father.  Look and learn the only hope we have to be properly in touch with our Father…

 

perfect prayer involves a new relationship

 

First of all, let’s summarize the key elements of this marvelous pattern to guide our communion with God.

 

We are introduced to our various relationships with God, as:

Parent/child = our Father

Creator/creature = hallowed be Thy name

King/subject = Thy kingdom come

Master/servant = Thy will be done

Provider/receiver = give us this day our bread

Savior/sinner = forgive us our sins

Guide/follower = lead us not into temptation

 

perfect prayer is so vital we can’t live without it!

 

“Avail yourself of the greatest privilege this side of heaven. Jesus Christ died to make this communion and communication with the Father possible.” – Billy Graham

 

            “Prayer is a powerful thing, for God has bound and tied Himself thereto.” – Martin Luther

 

            “God’s acquaintance is not made hurriedly. He does not bestow His gifts on the casual or hasty comer and goer. To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of influence with Him.” – E. M. Bounds

 

There are two spiritual activities which are to be an unceasing, constant part of a believer’s life:  The study of the Word of God and prayer.  These two great pillars hold up the believer in his daily life.  The apostles, in Acts 6:4, acknowledged this when they said, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and the ministry of the word.”  Prayer and studying the Word are the composite interchange between man and God:  we speak to God through prayer and God speaks to us through the study of His Word.  And so the Bible tells us that we are to be unceasingly involved in both:

 

1)             The Word is to be a matter of our thoughts and conversation continually (Deut. 6:5-9)

2)             We are to be continually engaged in prayer.  The Apostle Paul said, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), “Praying always…” (Eph. 6:18), “…in everything by prayer…with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).

 

These two activities should become the consuming elements of the life of the believer – hearing God as He speaks in His Word and speaking to God in our own prayers. If prayer is something we are to do unceasingly, then we better know how to do it properly!  And so, our Lord teaches us to pray.  Notice what He doesn’t teach us about prayer:

 

1.  don’t let the mechanics hold you back. He doesn’t teach us about the posture of prayer – because any posture will do.  In the Bible, people prayer in all different positions:

ð standing (Gen. 24:12-14)                   

ð bowing down (Ex. 34:8)

ð lifting hands (1 Tim. 2:8)                                

ð on face (Matt. 26:39)

ð sitting (Jud. 20:26)                              

ð head between knees (1 Kgs. 18:42)

ð kneeling (Mk. 1:40)                              

ð facing temple (Dan. 6:10)

ð uplifted eyes (Jn. 17:1)                                   

ð smiting breast (Lk. 18:13)

 

2. don’t let your location hold you back. He doesn’t teach us about the place of prayer – because we are to pray everywhere.  In the Bible, people prayed in all different places:

ð In battle (2 Chron. 13:14-15)             

ð everywhere (1 Tim. 2:8)

ð In a cave (1 Kgs. 19:9-10)                  

ð in bed (Ps. 4:3-4, 8; 63:6)

ð In a closet (Matt. 6:6)                          

ð in a home (Acts 9:39-40)

ð In a garden (Matt. 26:36-44)              

ð in a fish (Jonah 2:1-10)

ð On a mountain (Lk. 6:12)                   

ð on a house top (Acts 10:9)

ð By a river (Acts 16:13)                        

ð in prison (Acts 16:23-26)

ð By the sea (Acts 21:5-6)                                

ð in solitude (Mk. 1:35)

ð In the street (Matt. 6:5)                                   

ð in the wilderness (Lk. 5:16)

ð In God’s house (1 Kgs. 8:27-30)                   

ð on a cross (Lk. 23:33, 34, 46)

ð In hades (Lk. 16:22-31)                                  

ð in heaven (Rom. 8:34)

 

3. don’t let your schedule hold you back. He doesn’t teach us about the times of prayer – because we are to pray at all times.  In the Bible, people prayed at all different times:

ð Early morning (Mk. 1:35)                    

ð midnight (Acts 16:25)

ð Morning (I Chron. 23:30)                    

ð day and night (Lk. 2:37; 18:7)

ð Three times a day (Dan. 6:10)                      

ð today (Ps. 95:6, 8)

ð Evening (1 Kgs. 18:36)                        

ð often (Lk. 5:33)

ð Before meals (Matt 14;19)                

ð in youth (Jer. 3:4)

ð After meals (Deut. 8:10)                                 

ð in trouble (2 Kgs. 19:3-4)

ð Ninth hour (Acts 3:1)                           

ð daily (Ps. 86:3)

ð Bedtime (Ps. 4:4)                                 

ð always (Lk. 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17)

 

4. don’t let your troubles hold you back. He doesn’t teach us about the circumstances of prayer – because any circumstance will do.  In the bible, people prayed in all kinds of circumstances:

ð Wearing sackcloth (Ps. 35:13)                    

ð loud crying (Heb. 5:7)

ð Sitting in ashes (Job 1:20-21)                      

ð sweating blood (Lk. 22:44)

ð Shaving head (Job 2:8)                                  

ð agony (Lk. 22:44)

ð Smiting breast (Lk. 18:13)                 

ð broken heart (Ps. 34:18)

ð Crying (Ps. 6:6)                                     

ð pouring out one’s heart (Ps. 62:8)

ð Applying dust to head (Josh. 7:6)    

ð rending the heart (Joel 1:2-12, 13)

ð Rending garments (1 Kgs. 21:27)    

ð making an oath (Acts 18:18)

ð Fasting (Deut. 9:18)                             

ð making sacrifices (Ps. 20:1-13)

ð Sighing (Ez. 9:4)

ð Groaning (Ps. 6:4-6)

 

so what are we waiting for? follow Christ’s perfect example!

 

The posture, place, time or circumstance is not the issue of prayer.  Prayer is to be a total way of life – an open communication with God which goes on all the time.  And if prayer is a way of life, then we need to understand how to pray.  This is precisely why Jesus teaches us this model prayer.

 

He puts it succinctly in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing. (KJV)”

 

A modern spiritual Goliath was George Mueller. His life may be distilled down to these words he wrote in a diary:

It has pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, the benefit of which I have not lost for more than 14 years. The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord, or how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished…Before this time my practice had been, at least for ten years previously, as a habitual thing, to give myself to prayer in the morning. Now I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to the meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved and instructed; and that thus, by means of the Word of God, while meditating on it, my heart might be brought into experimental communion with the Lord.

 


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