Life of Jesus | Luke 3

Intro

Hey Y’all! How are y’all doing? Y’all doing alright? That’s good. It’s a big week in sports, the greatest QB to ever do it retired and the playoffs are already better without him. If you don’t like football these have been wild games.

But really I’m just waiting for a baseball season that may not come.

Anyways, I made a story on Instagram yesterday asking for subjects or topics of things you would like to learn more about here on Wednesday nights, I got some good responses, for those of you who responded, thank you, that was very helpful and insightful. I am going to try and touch all of those topics at some point in time this year. If you missed the story or didn’t respond but still want to respond, feel free to text me. Or DM our instagram account. I’m trying to be more present on that platform, but I’m just not a big social media guy.

Anyways, thank you, if you want to give me other things, text me.

So Question for you. and this is not a question that I came up with, I heard it in a sermon by John Piper, who is a Pastor theologian really smart guy, been a pastor for decades. But the3 question is worth asking.

Did Jesus preach Paul’s Gospel?

I know this is a strange question at first. But in preparing for where to go after Galatians, I had this whole different idea about what I wanted to do, but I’m going to table that for later in this semester. One of the responses to my post yesterday was simply Jesus’s life. And I got to thinking about that, we have done a lot of study on the epistles, the letters written after Jesus died and rose, and ascended. We have devoted a good bit of time looking at a lot of what Paul wrote. Not a bad thing, but let’s look at the life of Jesus. Let’s look at what Jesus was about, how He lived, how He discipled, let’s look at who was and is to come.

So ask that question, because we have studied a lot of Paul, so let’s back up and see that Jesus the God-Man is who he said he was, and still is what Paul explained Him to be.

So that is where we are going to be tonight. Looking at Jesus’s life. Examining the one we call Savior, the one we call Lord.

Context

So where are we tonight? and where are we going? We are going to be in Luke tonight. and for most of this study we are going to be in Luke, but we are going to hit some of the other Gospels as well. I do want to preface this study by saying, we aren’t going to go verse by verse through the book of Luke. We would be in Luke for 2 years if we did that. So we are going to hit the highlights of Jesus’s life and teaching, I’m going to be using Mark as outline sort of. So just wanted to know that upfront because it is different from what we would normally do. So if you ever wonder why we skipped something, that is why, we are going to look at Jesus’s Life.

So where are we tonight? Who is Luke, where are we starting?

We are going to start in Luke 3, I know doing this I’m skipping the birth of Jesus, but Christmas was about a month ago, and for this study we are going to look at Jesus’s life and ministry. From the ages of 30-33. Mark starts with what is told in Luke 3, so that is where we are going to start.

So Luke, who is Luke?

Luke was a friend of Paul, he followed Paul on some of his missionary journeys. Luke is basically a historian, I don’t think that was his profession, but the book of Luke is a work of History. The detail Luke gets is what a historian would get from interviewing primary sources. All of that to say, Luke was not there for most of this, but he interviewed and wrote down the stories of those who were there.

Luke is taking first hand accounts and compiling them in to one narrative, one cohesive story. And we need to remember that as we are studying, this is a story, a narrative. This is different from how we would read the letters of Paul.

So what was going on in the world?

It had been about 400 years since God had last spoke to his people. 400 years since the last book of the OT had been written, the last Prophet of the Lord spoke. To the Jewish/Hebrew people God has been silent for 400 years? And what was the last thing that God had said to his people 400 years before this? The last written book is Malachi, and the last 2 verses are this, Mal. 4:5-6

Malachi 4:5–6

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

This is the last thing God spoke to his people for 400 years. Look to the coming Day of the Lord. Turn your hearts to the Lord, prepare your Hearts for the day of the Lord.

So what else was going on? the world has seen great change, Alexander the Great took down the greatest empire of the world to that point, spreading greek culture through out the world. The center of power in the classical world has now shifted to the Mediterranean from the kingdom of Persia which is modern day Iran.

Side bar, it’s crazy to think some of the places we see in the Bible are still there and still play a major role in world affairs.

Anyways, after the power of Greece started to go away, Rome took its place. Rome destroyed the only competitor it had in the classical world, a place called Carthage, and they became the super power in the Classical world.

But there was a common Language spread by Alexander the Great. The greek language was the dominate language of the day. And that brings us back to Luke, Luke was not Jewish, Luke was Greek, Luke was a Gentile. Writing this book for most likely a Roman official who did not want his name to be known. Luke was commissioned to write this book for someone called Theophilus which is just the greek word for Lover of God. Someone who loves God.

So it had been 400 years since God last spoke to his people, but God was not just sitting there in silence, God was using and creating the circumstances for the world to be turned upside down. God put in to action a common language that was not the case the last he spoke, there was a common power, rules, laws, and probably most importantly, roads that were built, roads that would carry the feet of the Savior and his messengers who followed after him.

God may not have been silent but God was working.

But now, where this story picks up rumors and whispers of the coming Christ are floating around, people are hearing about a man in the wilderness, baptizing and hearing the confession of sin. and that is where this story brings us. To a man called John the Baptist. if we are going to look at the life and ministry of Jesus, we have to start here with john the baptist.

The Old Testament Points to Jesus v. 1-9

So let’s jump in to Luke 3:1-9, we are going to go all the way through verse 22 but we are going to read this in chunks. So before we jump in, does anyone need a bible? If you need a bible, go ahead and throw a hand up and we will get you one. anyone need one? Okay cool. Let’s pray for our time in the word and then lets read this first chunk.

Pray

Luke 3:1–9

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” 7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Okay, so what is going on here? Lots of big weird names, basically showing where in time this is.

If we wrote this today it would say, In the second year of the Presidents Biden’s term, Brian Kemp Gov of Georgia, in the Jones County in the town of Gray, Randy Darnell Pastor of FBC Gray.

This was how they recorded time for the most part.

But the important part comes after this, “The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”

So who is this John guy? John is kind if a wildman, lived out in the dessert, ate locust and honey, he traveled around basically the Christ is coming, repentance and forgiveness of sins is near.

john is also actually Jesus’s cousin. A couple chapters ago, when Mary is pregnant with Jesus, when she sees her aunt, who is also pregnant, her baby Jumps, John the baby jumps. he knew it was Christ before he was born.

Then in this scene John quotes Isaiah here, saying I am the one who Isaiah was talking about. There was a prophecy that someone would prepare the way for the Messiah. I have come and fulfilled it.

Remember God has been quite for 400 years, and now they are hearing the voice crying out in the wilderness that was foretold and what is being said?

Repent, the Day of the lord is near, bear the fruit of repentance. Just because you are Jewish doesn’t mean that you know God. Then he doubles down on bearing fruit saying all who do not bear fruit are going to be destroyed.

So what is going on here? Here we are seeing the Old Testament and the New Testament colliding, We are seeing the Old Testament start to be fulfilled. So what doe we take from this first section? The Old Testament points to Jesus, if taking notes, write that down, the Old Testament points to Jesus.

The Jewish people had not heard from God for 400 years, but they would have known exactly what john the baptist was saying when he quoted Isaiah, they would have started to realize the old legends and prophecies were starting to come true. The last time God spoke to them he said, Prepare for the Day of the Lord. The day is now here.

When we read scripture, when we se the Law we know it is pointing to the need of a savior, it is pointing to the need of forgiveness of sin. John the Baptist is saying the day is come when the waiting is over. The Messiah is coming and now here.

John Points to Christ - So Must We v. 10-14

So read with me the next chunk, Luke 3:10-14

Luke 3:10–14

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

John had just told them to bear the fruit of repentance and they have no idea what he’s talking about, they have spent their entire life following the law, and now John is saying the time is coming to where we won’t need the law, because the law is going to be fulfilled, repent. So they are asking what do we do?

you ever had someone talk to you about something and you really weren’t sure about what they were talking about? Like what if you were a musician and i told you were going to play a 1 6 2 5 progression for the verse, chorus drop in to a 1 4 5, back to the 1 6 2 5 progression. Probably most of you don’t know what I’m talking about, a couple of you might. but I doubt it. But if you were that musician you’d be asking what do you do?

So that is what this crowd is doing. They have heard about bearing the fruit of repentance, they have just heard that if trees don’t bear fruit they get cut down and burned. You would be confused. They probably are confused?

So what is going on? So far we have seen once real scene a quick conversation between John and people who have heard that John is speaking about the coming Christ. And John makes it simple for them, prepare your hearts, if you want to bear the fruit of repentance love your neighbor.

This is in keeping with what Christ preaches later down the road, love your neighbor as yourself. Look out for one another.

John is saying material possessions don’t matter in this world, make sure everyone haas what you need, prepare your hearts for the Lord. John is pointing Christ before Christ has even made it to John. John Points to Christ, and so must we. If you’re writing things down, write that down, John points to Christ and so must we.

John is telling them one is coming who is going to fulfill the law and prophets, following this one will bear the fruits of repentance, this is one way this will look.

John is the one who first prepared the hearts for the people of God to see that the Messiah was here. We also need to be a people who point this world to Jesus. We need to be a people who prepare others to hear Christ and one way we can do that is by how we treat people. The way we treat people inside and outside these four walls matter. It is the first thing people see about us, it is also the the thing Christianity as a whole here lately has not been seen in a good light, hypocracy, sin, everything. This text says cut that out, bear the fruit of repentance and you will be know by your fruit, prepare the people’s hearts to see Christ. Christ is coming again, lead people to the feet of the savior.

Christ is Coming v. 15-22

SO let’s keep going and look at this next part in the scene.

read with me verse 15-22 Luke 3:15-22

Luke 3:15–22

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

So after John had said all these things, they started to wonder if John was the Christ, if John was the Messiah. and John addresses that by saying “I am just the messenger, preparing your hearts for the only one who can change your heart.”

Christ is coming and with him He is going to make all things right, he is going to make the world new. He is going to make all things restored.

There is this side bar in the scene that sets up John’s arrest, and eventual execution. But this says john preached good news to people. The Good news that Chist has come. the Messiah has come to restore this world.

Then after everyone has been baptized Jesus appears on the scene, So far in Luke, Jesus is seen as a baby and as a boy, but now here on the Banks of the Jordan River, Jesus appears and is baptized, and during this, the text says, The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus. And here is the first time we see Jesus as a man, this is also a picture of the Trinity, God incarnate embodies all three persons of the trinity.

Christ is Lord - Summary

So why does this matter? I know this may feel clunky, or a weird way to start off talking about Jesus, by talking about John the baptist, so why does this matter? What is the point of doing this in this specific way.

As we are studying about Jesus, we need to see that we are not just studying about a man, or that we are studying history, or that we are studying theology, but that we are learning how to follow Jesus by tracing his footsteps in the Gospels. We are seeing what it means to follow Jesus by looking at his life and ministry. That examining Jesus will lead us to know Jesus deeper. To see that Jesus is who he says he is, that Jesus is Lord, and that Jesus is coming again.

So why are we here? Well first off if you are a follower of Christ I want you to see what it means to follow Christ, this text is in step with what Jesus taught, it also is in step with what Paul teaches later on. Remember I started this off by asking, Did Jesus teach Paul’s Gospel? We are going to see that yes that is true, and we can only understand the rest of the bible properly by understanding who Christ is.

So if you are a follower of Christ I want you to press in here, examine what it means to follow Christ. Look to how the disciples followed Christ, they were not that much different that you, some of them were around your age. See how you can know Christ deeper through this study.

If you are not a follower of Christ or do not know what you believe, know that this text is calling you to see that Christ can restore anything that you think is broken in your life, that you need forgiveness of sins, that Christ has come and made a way for you to have relationship with God. This text is literally saying just because you grew up in a christian family, or your mom and dad were Christian doesn’t mean that you are grandfathered in to being Christian. Following Christ is a thing everyone one of us have to come to. Following Christ is not passive life, but an active life. So if you don’t know what it means to be a Christian come talk to me, come talk to one of the adults, talk to one of your friends who you are here with. Eternity and Hell is too long to not know where you stand with God. Come see Christ as Lord, Come see Christ as King.

Y’all pray with me.