Luke: Advent

We made it. Luke 24. Christmas Eve. The last day of Advent. Advent in this sense means expectation. We look at it in the past and we wait expectantly for Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth. We look at Advent in the future for Christ’s return where He will turn our upside-down world right-side-up…

Luke 23 begins with Jesus being handed over to Pontius Pilate, but Pilate did not feel Jesus was guilty of a capital offense. Jesus was sent to Herod, but Herod was looking for a show. Jesus was returned to Pilate who was content to have Jesus flogged, but the Pharisees were whipping up the crowd…

Luke 22 takes us from the final plot to kill Jesus to His arrest and trials. In between we read of Jesus sharing the Passover meal with His disciples and transforming that event into what we know as Holy Communion. Betrayals and denials become centerpieces of today’s chapter, but Jesus’ conduct rises above it all.…

Chapter 21 has a lot to do with focus. We see Jesus speak about generosity, persecution for faith, and prophecies for coming calamities. Through it all Jesus taught about staying focused and not being distracted by fear or the trappings (good or bad) of life. Ultimately, Luke wants us to see that our lives need…

Chapter 20 begins with a challenge to Jesus’ power and authority. In such circumstances, Jesus was prone to answer a question with another question, which He did here. We see the religious elite show their concern of the people, so they didn’t answer out of fear. Jesus took that opportunity to tell a story to…

Luke 19 begins with an interaction between Jesus and another person who would have been despised by the people. Next, Jesus tells a parable that deals with money on the surface, but its meaning goes even deeper. This leads us to the rise of the third act in God’s redemptive drama – Jesus’ triumphant entry…

Luke 18 begins with a parable about persistent prayer. Jesus followed that parable with another one to challenge those who were overconfident in their own righteousness. Jesus used this to instruct about what is required for one to be made right in God’s eyes. After that, Luke shows us how Jesus loved being around little…

Luke 17 begins with a lesson on accountability, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Jesus wants His followers to be aware of the traps sin cause in our lives, but He also wants us to be merciful and seek ways to restore broken relationships. This is true interpersonally, as well as in our relationship with God. Next, we…

Luke 16 begins with an unusual parable known as the Shrewd Manager. This is a pointed story because of how Jesus uses it to teach about faithfulness with finances. The key figure in the story is no hero, yet he receives praise from Jesus because of how he conducted himself. Jesus goes on to offer…