Rich Nelson Uncategorized

60: Promise of the Holy Spirit & the “True Vine” – John 14:15-15:17

Get Ready

How “green” is your thumb? Do you usually have a garden each year? Is it a flower garden or vegetable garden or a little of both? What do you grow (or hope to grow)? How well do plants grow in your garden? How much attention do you give your garden – weeding, fertilizing, watering, pruning, etc.?

The Word

14 15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. 

25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way. 

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. Who is Jesus talking about here? Why would he introduce another “person” at this point? How do you think the disciples felt about this “Advocate?”

2. How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit? What seem to be the important attributes of this member of the Trinity? What links the disciples to the Trinity? 

3. How does Jesus attempt to prepare the disciples for the immediate future? What gift does he leave with the disciples? What does he say about the larger picture?

4. What image does Jesus use next in describing the disciples? Why do you think he chose this image [see Notes]? 

5. How does Jesus describe the relationship between the disciples and himself? What does he tell the disciples to do? What will happen to those who do as Jesus says? To those who do not?

6. What is the relationship of love and Jesus’s commandments? How does this affect the disciples’ relationship with Jesus? With each other? 







Get Personal

How do you feel about being Jesus’s friend? How does this affect your daily walk with Jesus? How does this affect your relationship with other believers? With people who may not be believers? How does this affect your testimony about Jesus?

Notes . . .

14:16. Advocate — the Greek word is also translated “Counselor,” “Helper,” “Encourager,” and “Comforter.” This verse is also one of the first descriptions of the Trinity: Jesus, the human manifestation of God, says he will ask “the Father,” who will give another Advocate: “the Holy Spirit.” There clearly are three “persons” involved (or soon to be involved) with the disciples.
14:27. Peace — which comes from trusting in Jesus’s promises about our ultimate future.
15:1. Vine — vineyards, grapes and wine are common Old Testament images for Israel.
15:2. Removes . . . prunes — Jesus uses two different words here – those who bear no fruit (because they do not have Christ’s spirit) are cut off; but those who do bear fruit (because they do have his spirit) are pruned so they can continue to be fruitful.
15:3. Cleansed by the word — when we accept the Gospel we are cleansed of our sin and purified for our relationship with God through Christ.

15:4. Abide — we must be integrated into Christ and he must be an integral part of every aspect of our life.
15:9. As the Father has loved me — Jesus is not offering a discounted or “second label” love; his love for believers is the same complete and total love that the Father has for the Son.
15:12. Love one another as I have loved you — loving another person is a decision, not an emotion – the disciples were definitely not “likeable” at times, but Jesus still loved them. Jesus calls us to make such a decision about other people: to support, encourage, teach, admonish, guide, grow – and pray for them.
15:15. You are my friends — in Jesus’s time a rabbi’s disciples often were treated as slaves. At the same time Greek and Roman culture placed considerable emphasis on friendship, including loyalty, equality and intimacy (which Jesus underscores by saying he told the disciples “everything that I have heard from my Father”).

Memory Verse
I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father, [John 15:15].

Next Lesson
Acts 2: Pentecost

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

59: John – Introduction & The Word and “I Am” — John 1:1-18, 10:11-18, 14:1-7

Get Ready

John is one of the few books in the Bible that tells the reader why it was written: “So that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name,” [20:31].

Author

The author of this book does not tell us his name. However, there has been little argument since it began circulating at the end of the first century that John, the Apostle, wrote this Gospel. 

Some nineteenth century scholars raised questions because the book was so different from John’s letters or Revelation and so different from the other Gospels. But consider:

  • This book was clearly written by someone who was present with Jesus and the disciples.
  • It is different from the synoptic Gospels because the author had a different purpose, which he tells us.
  • It is naturally different from the other writings because it is a different format with a different purpose (C. S. Lewis, the British scholar, wrote science fiction, poetry, literary criticism and Screwtape Letters, and no one claims he did not write all of them). 

This brings us to the date John wrote his Gospel, which is between 90 and 95 CE. John was the longest-lived Apostle (he calls himself “the Elder” in his second and third letters) and he wrote the Gospel and Revelation near the end of his very full life, while living in Asia Minor (the area is now modern Turkey).

Context

John wrote after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 CE. This event caused significant changes for both Jews and Christians. In addition, John spent the later part of his life among believers in an area ruled by Rome but heavily influenced by Greek culture.

When Roman soldiers destroyed the Temple, they eliminated the physical “home” of Judaism. They also altered the relationships among the primary Jewish leadership groups. The Pharisees became the leaders of Jewish religious thought and practice in Israel and in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, and they viewed Jewish Christians as their primary competitors. At the same time Jews of all kinds wanted to avoid any connection with the groups that started the uprising against Rome after 66 CE. – groups that focused on prophecy or Jewish “kingdoms” or “messiahs.” These two cultural and religious forces led to increased discrimination by Jews against Jewish Christians throughout the eastern Mediterranean region. 

Structure

There are three primary parts of this Gospel:

  • Prologue – John opens with a poetic presentation of Jesus as the “son” of God, existing with him and fully equal with him, who became human to show us who God really is.
  • Jesus’s public ministry – the major section presents several incidents from Jesus’s public ministry, beginning with his baptism in the Jordan River and concluding with restoring Lazarus to life.
  • Jesus’s passion – the final section follows Jesus through his final teaching and farewell to the disciples, and his capture, trials, crucifixion and burial, to his resurrection and appearances to the women and disciples.

Major Themes

The overarching message is that Jesus is the Son of God and came to restore humans’ relationship with God. John delivers this truth in three different ways:

  • Revelation – the prologue proclaims Jesus’s identity and his purpose in coming. It may be poetic, but it is fact.
  • Signs – John recounts seven incidents that display Jesus’s power and relationship to God: cleansing the Temple [2:13-25], Nicodemus [3:1-21], healing the royal official’s son [4:46-54], feeding the five thousand [6:1-14], the interchange with the Jews [7:10-36], the man born blind [9:1-41], and the raising of Lazarus [11:1-44].
  • Jesus himself – John identifies Jesus as the promised descendant of David [7:42], the “Son of Man” [3:13-14], the “Son of God” [3:16]. John also recounts seven times Jesus used “I AM” (the same name God told Moses to use with the Israelites) to identify himself with God the Father [check 6:35, 8:12, 10:7 and 11, 11:25, 14:6, and 15:1].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this book? Why did some raise questions about the author? When was this book written?

2. What was the situation when John wrote his Gospel? Where did he write? What had happened in Jerusalem? What effect did this have on the Jews? On the Christians? On the relationship between the two groups? How did it affect John’s writing?

3. How is this book organized? What are the major sections of the Gospel? Why do you think John used this structure for his book? 

4. What is the primary message John wants to convey in this Gospel? How does the organization of the book support his message? How does John convey his ideas? What images does he use? What incidents does he include to make his points? 

5. What names or titles does he give Jesus? Which name has the most impact on your image of Jesus? Why do you feel this way? What name does Jesus use for himself that links him with God the Father? How do you suppose the Jews responded to this? How did the disciples react? 

A Note on the “Word”

John uses the Greek word, “logos,” in the opening of his Gospel – almost always translated “word” in English.

But logos incorporates much more than a single noun or verb in its meaning. Scholars have used thought, expression, meaning, reason, principle, speech, or idea as English translations of logos. Father Richard Rohr, a contemporary writer, suggests blueprint. Just as a blueprint represents in two dimensions the completed, three-dimensional structure, Jesus shows us in our three dimensions the complete, spiritual nature of God’s creation.

As the “Word” Jesus reveals the full understanding of God the Father.

The Old Testament actually used this idea many years before John: By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, [Psalm 33:6].

Notes . . . 

More on the difference between John’s Gospel and the other three — often called the “synoptic” Gospels because they are a synopsis of Jesus’s life and ministry – more like a traditional biography. Mark is considered to be the first Gospel written down. It reads most like a newspaper account of Jesus. Matthew was written by a Jew who wanted to demonstrate to other Jews that Jesus does, in fact, fulfill the Old Testament prophesies. Luke was written by a Roman who traveled with the Apostle Paul. His Gospel puts Jesus and the early church (in Acts) in the context of the whole of history. John concentrates on Jesus as the key to our relationship with God.

59: The Word and “I am” – John 1:1- 18, 10:11-18, 14:1-7

Get Ready

When you start a new project what do you do first — read through the directions and then gather all the materials, find a model that’s already completed, visualize your finished result, find someone to help, or do you just start in and hope it comes together?

The Word

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. 

10 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What images does John use for Jesus in this passage? What mental pictures do you get from these images? Why do you think John chose these particular images for his opening?

2. What are the major concepts or understandings about Jesus that John is trying to convey here? What distinctions does John make between Jesus and all other humans? Other creatures?

3. What does Jesus do? How do people react to this? What happens as a result? Who does this change?

4. Who does John introduce in this narrative? What is his message? Who does he speak about? How does he describe Jesus? 

5. What image does Jesus use for himself and his followers? How is he different than a “hired hand?” What does he do for his sheep? 

6. What is Jesus’s relationship to the Father? What are the “other sheep?” How does he describe his death? 





Get Personal

How does God help you understand that Jesus was fully God and fully human? Why is this important? How does this affect your walk with Jesus?

Notes . . . 

1:1. Beginning — Even though this phrase parallels Genesis 1:1, John makes it clear he is talking about things before the creation narrative.
1:1. Word — Greek: “logos” – see Note above.
1:3. Came into being — John draws a clear distinction between the Word and all other creatures. In fact the Word created all things. John forcefully declares that Jesus was God and shared all attributes, including the power to create “all things” with God the Father.
1:4-5. Light — Matthew refers to Isaiah to describe Jesus as light: The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. [4:14].
1:10. World — the Greek word, “cosmos,” means primarily “order, arrangement.” The Bible uses it to refer to both the earth and humans, the “non-heaven” part of creation and to the human condition in which we are separated from God. 
1:14, 18. Only Son — John yokes together two Greek words that mean “single” and “kind” in this title for Jesus. He is the only Biblical writer to use this phrase. 
10:12. Hired hand — Jesus draws a clear distinction between the attitude and responsibility of an owner and a person who is paid to guard some one else’s property.

10:14. Know — the relationship between Jesus and believers is like the relationship between Jesus and God, the Father, [check Jeremiah 31:34 and Hosea 6:6].
10:16. Other sheep — a clear reference to the Gentiles who would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and who would join with Jewish believers as one “flock” or one body (church) with Christ as the “shepherd” and head.
14:1. Believe in . . . — Jesus again claims equality with the Father.
14:2. A place for you —Jesus promises to make his “home” with believers: a believer lives with and in Jesus and Jesus lives with and in the believer. Paul calls believers members of the household of God. . . . In Christ the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God, [Eph 2:20-22].
14:6. The way, the truth, the life — Jesus sums up Christian theology in this threefold description: he is the means (way) by which we have access to God the Father; in himself he reveals all the truth about God the Father; and he has and is the life we have in reunion with God the Father. Paul called Jesus the visible image of the invisible God, [Col 1:15]. Early Christians were called (often negatively) followers of “the Way.”

Memory Verse
I am the way, and the truth, and the life, [John 14:6].

Next Lesson
John 14-15: The Holy Spirit and the True Vine.

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

58: Jesus’s resurrection & the walk to Emmaus – Luke 24:1-35

Get Ready

When you travel do you prefer to be alone or do you like to have a companion? On an airplane do you get out a book or a movie or your laptop for some work? Or do you introduce yourself to your seat-mate and try to start a conversation?

The Word

24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. 

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.
24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What is the setting for this incident? Who is involved? What did they plan to do? What did they find? What didn’t they find? How did they respond to the situation?

2. Who enters the scene? What do they say to the women? Why is this important? How do the women react to this information? What do they do next? Who do they tell about the incident? How do these people respond? Who goes back to the tomb? How does he react to what he finds?

3. What does Luke present next? Who is involved in this situation? Where are they going? What are they talking about? Who joins them? How do they respond to his question? What events do they mention?

4. How does Jesus respond to their comment? What does he do to help them understand what really happened?

5. What does Jesus do when they reach the destination? What do the disciples do when they realize it is Jesus? Who do they tell? How is the news received this time?









Get Personal

How does God “open the scriptures to you?” How does God help you understand the importance of the resurrection in your walk with Jesus?

Notes . . .

These events are also in: Matthew [28:1-15], Mark [16:1-8], and John [20:1-18].

24:1. First day of the week — the sabbath ended at sundown, but no one traveled at night.
They — the women from the previous chapter (they are named in v. 10, although the Gospels differ on who was present).
24:2. Stone rolled away — the stone was roughly circular and would have been in a trough in front of the cave; it would have been difficult to move.
24:4. Two men in dazzling clothes — in the Old Testament angels appeared as humans dressed in very bright clothes [check Josh 5:13, 2 Kings 6:17 or Dan 10:5-6].
24:6. Remember — Jesus had told his followers about his death and resurrection [as in 9:22 and 18:31-34].
24:11. Idle tale — even though the disciples had seen Jesus restore life to Lazarus [John 11:17-37], the idea was still so far outside their view of reality they could not believe it happened as the women said.
24:12. Peter — evidently he checked for himself and confirmed the women’s report, but he did not understand what had taken place.

24:13. Same day — as the women discovered the empty tomb: Sunday.
24:16. Kept from recognizing — by their lack of spiritual vision; Jesus still looked basically as he had before his death.
24:18. Does not know — evidently the news of Jesus’s death and burial had spread quickly among his followers.
24:21. We had hoped — these disciples still hoped for a military/political redeemer – and they did not believe the women’s report [v. 23-24].
24:27. Beginning with Moses — Jesus probably started with Deut 18:15: the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people.
24:29. Stay with us — both Jesus and the disciples are following the hospitality code.
24:31. Their eyes were opened — when Jesus broke the bread the disciples finally “saw” who Jesus really is.
24:34. Appeared to Simon — Paul reports that Jesus did appear to Peter before he appeared to the disciples as a group [1 Cor 15:5].

Memory Verse
Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road,
while he was opening the scriptures to us, [Luke 24:32].

Next Lesson
John 1: The Word, and
10 and 14: “I Am.”

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

57: Luke – Introduction & Jesus’s crucifixion, death and burial –Luke 23:26-56

Get Ready

The Gospel of Luke is really part one of a two-part work on Jesus’s life and ministry and the development of the early Christian church – the book of Acts (we will study them in the order of the canon, which means we will look at John’s Gospel in between).

Author

Although the writer does not identify himself in either book, almost all authorities agree that Luke – the physician who traveled with Paul [Col 4:14] – wrote this Gospel and Acts. Luke was a Gentile and probably Greek. The literary quality of his writing indicates a classical education, appropriate for a physician.

There is less agreement regarding when Luke wrote. Most scholars believe he had access to Mark’s Gospel which puts his writing sometime after 60 CE. He also mentions the destruction of Temple, which Jesus prophesied, which leads some to conclude he wrote after that event (70 CE). However, Acts ends before Jerusalem was destroyed, which points to a date sometime between 60 and 65.

Context

Luke was probably writing in Rome during Paul’s house arrest. He describes the situation in his opening: Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, [Luke 1:1-3].

Even though he addresses the work to Theophilus, Luke has the larger church, especially the Gentile believers, as his audience. Luke is a Gentile describing Jesus’s life and ministry to other Gentiles. He clearly is aware of other written works and probably used several in developing his narrative. He also had access to several of the Apostles as well as others who knew Jesus.

Structure

Luke was an historian as well as a physician. Both his books follow the model of classical historical writing. Luke’s is also the most comprehensive story of Jesus’s life and ministry. After a brief introduction, the book has six sections:

  • Jesus’s birth and childhood – this section is fairly brief and quite selective, [1:5-2:52].
  • John the Baptist and Jesus’s baptism, [3:1-4:13].
  • Jesus’s ministry in Galilee, [4:14-9:50].
  • Jesus’s activities and teaching while traveling to Jerusalem,
    [9:51-19:10].
  • Jesus’s ministry in Jerusalem, [19:11-21:38].
  • Jesus’s arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection, [22:1-24:53].

Major Themes

Luke states his purpose in writing this Gospel in his introduction: “So [Theophilus] may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed,” [1:4]. 

Luke is writing for people who did not know Jesus personally, but who have heard and believed the Good News about Jesus. “Theophilus” may be a real person (probably Roman), or a literary device for the wider audience Luke clearly has in mind.

Whereas Matthew’s Gospel demonstrates that Jesus is the culmination of Jewish history and fulfillment of the law and the prophets, Luke shows that Jesus is the culmination of all history and that Gentiles are as much a part of God’s plan as the Jews are. In Luke Jesus welcomes all people – Samaritans, Gentiles, sinners, poor as well as wealthy – into God’s kingdom. Luke also includes more detail about women and their role in Jesus’s work than the other Gospels.

Luke also anchors Jesus’s ministry and passion in the history of the larger world. He wanted his largely Roman audience to understand that Jesus’s story is relevant to their situation – as it is to ours.

Even though Luke agrees with Paul about preaching the Gospel to the entire world, he writes with his own perspective. This is not “The Gospel of Paul” by another writer.

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this book? What do we know about the author? What other New Testament figure is he linked with? When did he write this book? What are the two possibilities for a date? What type of sources was the author able to use in writing this book?

2. Where was this book probably written? What was the situation for the author? For the church? To whom is the book addressed (or dedicated)? Who else is in the intended audience? 

3. How is this book organized? Why do you suppose Luke structured the book this way? What sets this book apart from the other synoptic Gospels? What aspects of Jesus’s life and ministry does Luke emphasize? Why do you suppose he chose these parts?

4. What does Luke say about his primary purpose in writing this book? Why would this have been important to Luke? To the church? How would you describe the type of people Luke wanted to reach with his Gospel? Do you think he succeeded?

5. What is the difference in Luke’s frame of reference for the story of Jesus’s life and ministry, compared to Matthews perspective? How does Luke demonstrate this point of view in his book? What types of people does Jesus interact with in Luke’s story? What is the role of women in this Gospel?

Bible Trivia
Matthew traced Jesus’s lineage from Abraham to Joseph, Mary’s husband [Matt 1:1-16]; Luke starts with Joseph and takes Jesus’s genealogy all the way back to Adam [3:23-38].
And . . .
Luke says Jesus was born when “Quirinius was governor of Syria,” [2:2], which puts the date between 4 and 6 BCE.

Notes: Synoptic Gospels . . .

In the years after Jesus’s resurrection many people were able to share their experiences with him, including his healings and other miracles and his teachings. As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire and the Apostles and others who knew Jesus personally became fewer and less accessible, some believers began compiling written collections of the stories about Jesus. 

Many scholars believe that Mark’s is the first written Gospel, although a significant group supports the tradition that Matthew wrote first. Scholars also believe that a collection of Jesus’s sayings, called “Q” (“source”) circulated at the same time and that both Matthew and Luke used it along with Mark in preparing their Gospels.

The commonality between Mark and Matthew and Mark and Luke is the basis for the idea that Mark’s is the first written Gospel. More than ninety percent of the information in Mark appears in similar form, although not necessarily in the same order, in Matthew; and more than half the material in Mark is also in Luke. Another indicator of Mark as the source is that whenever Matthew and Luke disagree about the sequence of events in Jesus’s life one of them agrees with the narrative in Mark.

All three Gospels were written before the destruction of the temple in 70, probably between 50 and 65 CE.

57: Jesus’s crucifixion, death and burial –Luke 23:26-56

Get Ready

How do you respond when you see someone in suffering or in a tough situation? Do you look to see if there is anyway you can help? Do you reach for your phone to call 9-1-1, or do you look for a public safety person to help? Do you try to avoid the situation and “cross by on the other side?”

The Word

23 26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of
Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 

32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. 

50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. As the Roman soldiers take Jesus away what do they do? Who gets involved? What does this person have to do? Why [see Notes]? 

2. Who else is involved in this incident? What are they doing? How does Jesus react to this situation? What does he say to the people? Why do you suppose he said these things to them [see Notes]?

3. Where did this “parade” end? Who else is involved at this point? Why are they at the execution? What does Jesus say at this point? How do the soldiers respond to the situation? What do they offer to Jesus? Why would they do this? What is Jesus’s title?

4. What does one of the criminals say to Jesus? How does the other man react? What does he ask of Jesus? How does Jesus respond?

5. What happens at noon? What happens in the temple? Why is this important? How does Jesus die? How does the Roman soldier respond to Jesus’s death?

6. Where is Jesus buried? Who is involved? Why didn’t they finish the process?








Get Personal

How did the Roman know Jesus was innocent? How has God helped you understand Jesus’s righteousness and its importance to you.

Notes . . .

These events are also in: Matthew [27:32-32-66], Mark [15:21-47], and John [19:17-42].

23:36. Simon of Cyrene — the Romans usually made the condemned man carry the cross-beam, but here they draft a bystander. Cyrene was a city in what is now Libya.
23:27. People followed him — Roman executions were very public – to set an example.
Women — in ancient times women often were the only visible mourners.
23:28. Weep for yourselves — Jesus echoes Isaiah 32:9-13. He also quotes Hosea [10:8] in v. 30.
23:32. Two others — multiple executions were not uncommon. Isaiah prophesied Jesus death “with the wicked,” [53:9], and his “tomb with the rich,” [see Note at 23:50, below].
23:34. Father, forgive them — as he is dying to forgive all people, Jesus asks the Father to forgive those who are killing him – and he forgives one of the criminals on the cross next to him [v. 43].
Cast lots — the condemned person’s clothing usually went to the soldiers who executed him – in this case they fulfilled Psalm 22:18.
23:36. Sour wine — actually could help dull the pain the condemned man was experiencing.
23:38. “King of the Jews” — Rome used crucifixion to execute those who tried to  

overthrow the empire; the sign on Jesus’s cross marked him as guilty of treason. Ironically, it also was a correct title (but the Jews failed to recognize him).
23:44. Darkness — a common Old Testament prophesy of judgment [for example: Isaiah 13:10, Ezek 30:3, Joel 2:2, Amos 5:18, Zech 14:6].
23:45. Curtain of the temple was torn in two — a curtain separated the innermost chamber (where God made his presence) from the outer “Holy Place.” When Jesus died he re-moved the separation between people and God.
23:46. Breathed his last — Jesus was in control of his own death [compare John 10:17-18].
23:47. Centurion — leader of the squad. A Gentile was one of the first people to recognize Jesus’s righteousness.
23:50. Joseph of Arimathea — was a secret follower of Jesus [check Matt 27:57 and John 19:38]. Normally the Romans left crucified victims on display for several days. By offering his family tomb, Joseph also fulfills Isaiah 53:9 [see Note at 23:32].
23:56. Prepared spices and ointments — the women got ready to embalm Jesus’s body, but they had to stop until the sabbath was over (sundown on Saturday).

Memory Verse
Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death, [Luke 23:15].

Next Lesson
Luke 24: Jesus’s resurrection.

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

56: Peter’s declaration & Jesus’s transfiguration – Mark 8:27-9:13

Get Ready

How do you think you would plan if you knew exactly how much time you had until your death? Would you look for possible ways to put it off until later? Would you start on your “bucket list”? Would you gather your loved ones around you? Or would you just keep keeping on?

The Word

827 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. 

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” 

34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” 

9And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” 

Jesus’s Transfiguration

2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud over-
shadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is mySon, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 

9As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. 11 Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.” NRSV

Get into the Word:

1. Who is with Jesus in this passage? What does he ask them? How do they respond? What does Peter say? How does Jesus respond to Peter’s answer? 

2. What does Jesus tell the disciples about his future? How does Peter react to this news? How does Jesus respond to Peter this time? How do you think the other disciples reacted to this exchange?

3. What does Jesus tell the crowd about following him? What does he say about a relationship with him? How do you suppose the crowd reacted to this advice? How might you have reacted? 

4. Who is with Jesus in the next incident? Where are they? What happens at this point? Who appears? What does Peter propose? Why do you think he does this? What happens after Peter’s proposal? 

5. What does Jesus tell the disciples? What do the disciples ask Jesus? Why would they have this question, [see Notes]? How does Jesus answer them? Who is he really talking about, [see Notes]?






Get Personal:

Have you had an “Aha!” moment in your walk with Christ? What did you see or understand about Jesus? How has it affected your faith adventure?

Notes . . .

These two events also are in Matthew [16:13-17:13] and Luke [9:18-36]

8:27. Caesarea Phillipi — a pagan city in northern Palestine.
8:28. Who do people say — in the first century there were many religious preachers, including Jewish zealots, in Palestine. Many people probably thought Jesus was “just another one of those.”
Prophet — Moses said, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own fellow Israelites. You must listen to that prophet, [Deut 18:15].
8:29. Messiah — literally “anointed one,” the Greek word is “Christ.” At this point Peter means the descendant of David who will restore the kingdom of Israel [as in Isaiah 9:6-7, or Psalm 2] – Peter’s response when Jesus describes his approaching death [8:31-33] confirms his misunderstanding.
8:31. Son of Man — Jesus takes the title from Daniel [7:13] and uses it of himself. He will tell the disciples twice more about his impending death and resurrection [9:31 and 10:33-34].
8:34. Take up their cross — crucifixion was Rome’s method of execution, particularly for anti-Roman zealots. The condemned person carried his own cross bar to the place of execution (the upright was usually already in place).

9:1. See that the kingdom of God has come — Jesus could be referring to his transfiguration (the next incident in Mark) or to his resurrection appearances.
9:2. Peter and James and John — were members of Jesus’s “inner circle” within the disciples – they were the first called [Mark 1:16-20] and almost always listed first in any roster.
9:4. Elijah with Moses — Moses represents the Law for the Jews and Elijah was considered greatest among the Old Testament prophets (and he did not die, but “ascended in a whirlwind into heaven,” [2 Kings 2:11].
9:7. This is my Son — God echoes his affirmation of Jesus at his baptism and confirms Jesus’s status as greater than either Moses or Elijah. 
9:10. Questioning — “rising from the dead” was a totally new concept for the disciples.
9:11. Elijah — In the last verses of the Old Testament, God says Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives, [Malachi 4:5].

Memory Verse
If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their
cross and follow me, [Mark 8:34].

Next Lesson
Luke 23: Jesus’s crucifixion.