Day 3 Advent Reading: Luke Chapter 4

1.  Someone asked what text I am using for this study of Luke.  Typically, I used the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), but I also often consult Eugene Peterson's The Message because of its contemporary language.  Here is a link to a web-site that has multiple versions of the Bible, which gives the readers lots of different options  https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Message-MSG-Bible/    Where it says, "Enter key word, passage, or text" you can put something like Luke 4 and then you can use the Down arrow to the right of where it says "The Message" and pick whichever text you want to use (it defaults to The Message).  If you want to download and app that will let you listen or read on your handheld device, go to www.youversion.com  Sometimes it makes the story come alive to hear someone else reading it to you.

2.  When I read Chapter 4, I am always struck by how closely connected the temptation of Jesus is to the beginning of his ministry.

3.  The forty days in the wilderness parallels the forty years the Israelites spent in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.  Their forty years were full of trials and difficulties as was Jesus' forty days in the wilderness was full of temptation.

4.  Note that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit when he went into the wilderness - in fact, he was led into the wilderness by the Spirit (Luke 4:1), and then we are told again that Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit when he begins his ministry (Luke 4:14).

5. Galilee is the region (an area about 45 miles long north to south that is found between the Litani River in modern Lebanon and the Jezreel Valley in Israel )where the majority of Jesus' ministry will take place.

6. In his home town of Nazareth, he seems to be doing well (Luke 4:15).  His reading from the prophet Isaiah (4:18-19) defines his ministry.  Even after reading it, he is still well-received (4:22).  It almost seems as if Jesus is not satisfied being well-received, so he confronts the people and they turn against him.

7. In Capernaum we learn that the demons know who Jesus is (4:31-34)

8.  In the story of healing Simon's mother-in-law, Luke begins a pattern of peoples' homes  being places of faithfulness and reception of Christ, which is contrast to synagogues or temples, which will be places of conflict for Jesus.

9. when the people want Jesus to stay with them, he declares that he "must proclaim" the good news to the other cities as well.  We are already seeing the expansive mission of Jesus that runs into trouble with the expectations of the religious community.

Just for fun:  Read 4:18-19 out loud, emphasizing the first person "me."