FAITH — strong belief in God

FAITH ?

- strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

History and Spirituality

The Gospel of Luke 1: 1 -4 To whom was it written? Theophilus: lover of God - Paul’s defense attorney - Luke’s patron, subsidizing the research, writing and copying of his work

For what purpose was it written? -1: 3 -4 Theophilus (and probably other Gentile/Greek Christians and seekers) could be assured of the historical accuracy of what he (they) had been taught.

Why? Because the author thinks it is very important that what Theophilus believes about spiritual things (Jesus in this case) is connected to historical events that actually happened. Why does historical accuracy have to do with spirituality? Because God bestows spiritual blessing through historical events.

Research and History? 1) the oral instruction of the apostles (v. and of certain written accounts of Jesus’ life (v. 1) -the 1149 verses in Luke, 350 verses come from MARK and 235 verses seem to come from a source that MATTHEW also used. 2) his own investigation (vs 3), which accounts for the 564 verses of unique material. Much of this information seems to have come from eyewitnesses (MARY: 2: 19, 51; ELIZABETH; etc. ).

Author? - Luke - the only non-Jewish author in the Bible. - Greek by birth. - Colossians (4: 14), Paul refers to him as "Luke the beloved Physician. What do you think of a MD? - careful historian and writer. - became a Christian at Antioch, in Syria - we first meet Luke, however, in his narrative of Paul's Second Missionary Journey in the book of Acts, at Troas (Acts 16: 10 -15)

HISTORY = HIS STORY = Jesus’ Story The 4 Gospels and Acts are books that record what God did in history through Jesus-He and His work

A. ? Jesus In Matthew He is Israel's King In Mark He is Jehovah's Servant

In Luke He is the Savior for all people/Son of God/Son of man, a perfect Man – the humanity of Jesus. IN LUKE WE HAVE A BEAUTIFULLY TOLD STORY OF THE HUMANITY OF THE SON OF MAN. -Matthew at once concerns himself with the genealogy, and Mark eagerly starts with the public ministry, Luke lingers over the nativity - the human birth and babyhood and boyhood of the "holy child. " "Blessed is the fruit of thy womb" (1: 42). we read of the "Babe" (2: 12, 16); the circumcision of the "Male" (2: 23); the twelve-year-old "Lad" (2: 43, R. V. ); that "the Child grew", that He "increased in wisdom and in stature" (2: 40, 52); that at His baptism He was "about thirty years of age" (3: 23).

The humanity of Jesus is expressed in a threefold manner: • First a human dependence on God expressing itself by emphasizing PRAYER Now each of the Gospels records the Gethsemane praying, but apart from that our Lord's engagement in prayer occurs only once in Matthew and twice in Mark, whereas in Luke it occurs repeatedly. (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 18, 22, 23) • Second a human need for the Holy Spirit. Luke gives prominence to the working of the Holy Spirit • In Matthew and Luke an intervening angel speaks of Mary's supernatural pregnancy as a miracle wrought by the Holy Spirit • All four Gospels record the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism, but only Luke goes on to say: "And Jesus, being full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan" (4: 1).

• All three synoptic Gospels tell how the Spirit took Him into the wilderness to be tempted of Satan, but only Luke adds: "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit" (4: 14). • We, also, see that the Spirit-begotten manhood needed the enduing of the Holy Spirit. Luke says of Jesus, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach glad tiding" (4: 18). Luke, likewise, speaks of Jesus casting out demons by the Holy Spirit, "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils • We , also, see this emphasis of the Holy Spirit in our Lord's teaching.

• Third its catholicity (universality). The announcement of the angel to the shepherds in the field connects our Lord's human incarnation with the whole human race: "Behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy, which shall be to all people" (2: 10).

• There are sixteen parables in Matthew (not counting minor similes) and all but four begin: "The kingdom of heaven is like. " There are twenty in Luke, and all but two begin with: "There was a certain man" or some similar general headline. • Those parables which occur only in Luke are enough in themselves to indicate the broad human emphasis of this Gospel • the two debtors (7), • the good Samaritan (10), • the great supper (14), the lost coin (15), • the prodical son (15), • the importunate widow (18), • the Pharisee and the Publican (18).

B ? His Work - Matthew and Mark are each in two clear parts - the ministry in Galilee, and the climax in Judea -Luke's narrative is in four unmistakable parts. 1. The nativity, boyhood, manhood (1 -5 - 4: 13). 2. The ministry in Galilee (4: 14 - 9: 50). 3. The journey up to Jerusalem (9: 51 - 19: 44). 4. The final tragedy and triumph (19: 45 - 24: 53).

I. The nativity, boyhood, manhood -"GOOD TIDINGS" - A SAVIOR (CHAPTERS 1: 5 - 4: 13) a) They cover a period of thirty years; for as Luke (alone) tells us in chapter 3: 23, Jesus was about thirty years of age when He was baptized of John in the Jordan. In the days of Herod" The two annunciations - 1: 5 -38. The two elect mothers - 1: 39 -56. The two births - 1: 57 - 2: 52. "Thirty years later" Ministry by John; Baptism of Jesus - 3: 1 -22. Genealogy - 3: 23 -38. Assault by Satan - 4: 1 -13.

b) Genealogy Luke like Matthew gives a long genealogy showing our Lord's ancestry, but Matthew puts his right at the beginning of his Gospel, whereas Luke does not insert it until after the baptism of Jesus. Why? It is because the first-important thing with Matthew is to establish our Lord's Davidic lineage, whereas Luke's first concern is the real human birth and the growth through boyhood to the perfect manhood. Matthew gives the genealogy through Joseph Luke gives it through Mary, who really was the mother of His manhood. Matthew puts his right at the beginning of his Gospel Luke does not insert it until after the baptism of Jesus Matthew starts the genealogy at Abraham and traces it through David Luke presses right back to Adam

II. The ministry in Galilee - "IN THE SPIRIT" (CHAPTERS 4: 14 - 9: 50) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Itinerations Miracles; sayings: before Twelve chosen - 4, 14 - 6: 11. Teachings; miracles: after Twelve chosen - 6: 12 - chap. 8. Multiplied ministry: Twelve sent out - 9: 1 -17. Culminations Peter's confession: Cross foretold - 9: 18 -26. A culmination (high point) coming towards the end of the Galilean ministry. 7. The transfiguration: Cross Foretold - 9: 27 -36. 8. Miracle: Cross foretold - 9: 37 -50.

III. The journey up to Jerusalem - "HE SET HIS FACE" JERUSALEM (CHAPTERS 9: 51 - 19: 44) In these ten chapters, Luke has collected and preserved for us a simple priceless treasury of sayings, parables and incidents unrecorded by any of the other Gospel writers. Here they are: • Anger of John and James rebuked, 9: 51 -56. • Plough simile to would-be follower, 9: 61 -62. • The seventy sent ahead of Him, 10: 1 -12. • Return and report of the seventy, 10: 17 -20. • Parable of the good Samaritan, 10, 25 -37. • The cumbered Martha corrected, 10: 38 -42. • Parable of importunate friend, 11: 5 -10. • Parable of presuming rich fool, 12, 13 -21. • Reply about those slain by Pilate, 13: 1 -5. • Parable of the fruitless fig tree, 13: 6 -9 • Women loosed from her infirmity, 13: 10 -17 • Reply to Pharisees concerning Herod, 13: 31 -33

• Sabbath healing of man with dropsy, 14: 1 -6 • Parable about guests and inviters, 14: 7 -14 • Parable of the great supper, 14: 15 -24 • Simile: intending tower-builder, 14: 28 -30 • Further simile: war-making, 14: 31 -33 • Trio-parable: • Lost sheep, 15: 3 -7 • Lost coin, 15: 8 -10 • Lost son (prodical son), 15: 11 -32 • Parable of unjust steward, 16: 1 -15 • Account of rich man and Lazarus, 16: 19 -31

Also, these chapters break into two almost equal sections - the first ending with our Lord's first lament over Jerusalem (13: 34, 35), the other with His second lament (19: 41 -44). 1. The earlier weeks 2. Missionaries sent: answers, parables - 9: 51 - 11: 12. 3. Pharisees warned: rebukes, parables - 11: 13 - 12: 12. 4. Covetous reproved: woman healed -12: 13 - 13: 21. 5. Jesus urged away: Lament over Jerusalem - 13: 22 -35. 6. The last few days 7. Galilee: dropsy cured, sayings - 14: 1 - 16: 10. 8. Samaria: lepers cured, sayings - 16: 11 - 18: 34. 9. Jericho: blind man healed, Zaccheus, sayings - 18: 35 - 19: 27. 10. Jerusalem: ascent, lament over Jerusalem - 19: 28 -44.

IV. The final tragedy and triumph (19: 45 - 24: 53). 1. Before the arrest 1. Jesus versus priest, scribe, Sadducee - 19: 45 - 21: 4. 2. Jesus foretells future; Olivet discourse - 21: 5 -38. 3. Last Supper; Gethsemane; betrayal - 22: 1 -53. 2. After the arrest 1. Jesus before high priest and council - 22: 54 -71. 2. Jesus before Pilate: Herod: mocked - 23: 1 -12. 3. Jesus sentenced, crucified, buried - 23: 13 -26. 4. The last chapter ? The Lord's resurrection and ascension. And what a beautiful last chapter it is: ". . . Why seek ye the living among the dead? HE IS HOT HERE, BUT IS RISEN. "

Assignment: Luke 16: 19 -31

The Gospel of John The Author: John - he was a businessman in a fishing establishment. - nickname in Greek, Bo-anerges, which means "sons of thunder. - John referred to himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved. - John followed Jesus from Gethsemane into the palace of the high priest, to Pilate's judgment hall, and to the place of Crucifixion. - Jesus commended His mother Mary to John's loving care.

The message- A COMPLETIVE NECESSITY A. 3 synoptic gospels - presentation of Jesus - show us Jesus outwardly - emphasize the human aspects - Lord's public discourses - His Galilean ministry - purely factual John interpretation interprets Him inwardly unveils the Divine His private conversations His Judean ministry also doctrinal

Purpose John 20: 31. "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. "

B. it sheds light on areas in the other three that may be the source of questioning and confusion For instance, when the synoptics tell of our Lord's "Follow Me" to Peter and Andrew, James and John ? Never met before. - they had not only met Jesus earlier, at John the Baptist's gatherings along the Jordan, but had companied with Him both in Judea and in Gallilee (1: 40, 42, 43, 47). - corrects certain misimpressions as to our Lord's movements n

ORDER AND LENGTH OF OUR LORD'S MINISTRY A. CONTACTS IN JUDEA - FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS IN DURATION - Jordan baptism and temptation in wilderness Matthew 3: 1 -4: 11; Mark 1: 4 -13; Luke 3: 1 -4: 13 - At Jordan again; meets Andrew and Peter John 1: 19 -42 - Return to Galilee: Cana and first miracle John 1: 43 - 2: 12. - At Jerusalem for the Passover; Nicodemus interview John 2: 13 - 3: 21

-Interval of teaching, baptizing in Judea, near Jordan John 3: 22 -36 -Galilee again: Sychar women; second Cana miracle John 4: 1 -54 - At Jerusalern feast: Bethesda healing; Jews oppose John 5: 1 -47

B. CIRCUIT OF GALILEE - ABOUT ONE YEAR AND TENS MONTHS IN DURATION - The three synoptic accounts of the Galilean ministry Matthew 4: 12 -18: 35; Mark 1: 14 -9: 38; Luke 4: 149: 50 - Short break - to Jerusalem for feast of Tabernacles John 7: 2 -10: 21 - Slow, final exit-journey from Galilee Luke 9: 51 -18: 14 - Halt in Perea; visit to Jerusalem; feast of Dedication John 10: 22 -39 - Perea again; then up to Bethany to raise Lazarus John 10: 40 -11: 54 - From "city called Ephraim" up to triumphal entry Matthew 19: 1 -23: 39; Mark 10: 111: 11; Luke 18: 15 -19: 44; John 11: 54 -12: 19

C. CLIMAX AT JERUSALEM - ABOUT ONE WEEK IN DURATION -Clashes with Jewish leaders in Jerusalem Matthew 21: 12 -23: 46; Mark 11: 33 -12: 44; Luke 19: 45 -21: 4 - Prophetic discourse on the Mount of Olives Matthew 24: 51 -25: 46; Mark 13: 1 -37; Luke 21: 5 -38 - At Bethany: the anointing by Mary Matthew 26; Mark 14; John 12 -Last Supper: Discourse to apostles Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 13 – 17 - Gethsemane; the arrest; Peter's denial Matt 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18 - Arraignment, crucifixion, and burial Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18: 28 -19: 42

In the Gospel of John, the author discloses to us who Jesus is, through His signs (or miracles) and the metaphors of 'I Am' used by Jesus to describe Himself

John 8 eight main chapters or theme 8 main signs (or miracles)- His disciples and the crowd thinking in physical terms or earthly matters, while Jesus lectured to them on their spiritual wellbeing. 8 self-identification of I Am, by Jesus

Theme 1: Incarnation (1: 1 -18) Sign: a) Event: Raising of Officials Son (4: 46) b) Physical: Time and Space c) Spiritual: Omnipresence I am: Before Abraham (8: 58)

Theme 2: Presentation (1: 19 -4: 54) Sign: a) Event: Restoring Sight (9: 1) b) Physical: Physical Blindness c) Spiritual: Spiritual Blindness I am: Light (8: 12)

Theme 3: Oppositions (5: 1 -12: 50) Sign: a) Event: Healing of Lame Man (5: 1) b) Physical: Laws of Moses c) Spiritual: Spirit of the Laws I am: Door of Sheep (10: 7, 9)

a)Theme 4: Instructions (13: 1 -16: 33) Sign: Event: Feeding of 5000 (6: 1) Physical: Laws of Moses Spiritual: Word of God I am: Bread of Life (6: 35)

Theme 5: Intersection (17: 1 -26) Sign: Event: Walking on Water (6: 15) Physical: Stormy Weather Spiritual: Gateway to Salvation I am: Way, Truth, Life (14: 6)

Theme 6: Crucifixion (18: 1 -19: 42) Sign: Event: Water to Wine (2: 1) Physical: Earthly Matters Spiritual: Heavenly Works I am: Life, Living Water (11: 25)

Theme 7: Resurrection (20: 1 -21: 31) Sign: Event: Raising of Lazuras (11: 1) Physical: Physical Life Spiritual: Eternal Life I am: Resurrection (11: 25)

Theme 8: Epilogue (21: 1 -21: 25) Sign: Event: Catching of Fish (21: 6 -8) Physical: Fishers of Fish Spiritual: Fishers of Men I am: True Vine (15: 1)

Ezekiel 1: 10

Luke – Son of Man Matthew John - King - Son of God Mark - Servant

Questions to ourselves: After reading _____ do we really believe ____ 1. __Matthew, __that Jesus is the King and the messiah of this corrupted world, including our own world? 2. __ Mark, __ that Jesus, the Servant, has paid the ransom by dying on the cross in order for us to restore our relationship with God? 3. __ Luke, __ in Jesus’ incarnation, the Son of Man, and had once lived among humans? 4. __ John, __ that Jesus is not only the King (messiah), the Servant, the Son of Man, He is also the Son of God, and most importantly, He is God himself?

Our response Acts ! Are We Ready?

Assignment: John 20: 10 -31