Celebrating the Birth of our Risen King

I would like to invite you to take a walk with me to see some broad-brush strokes of Jesus' life,

lived here in a body of flesh, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 1 explains that Jesus' birth was so important that angels came to announce not only His imminent Presence as a fertilized egg prepared to implant in Mary's womb, but also the impending conception of His cousin John, who was to be something like the "warm-up band," preparing the way before Jesus became a public figure.

Luke 2 tells of a company of angels who announced Jesus' birth! - The Spotless Lamb of God was born in Bethlehem, just as the other lambs for sacrifice were also born there. How fitting! Because the entire point of the sacrificial system in the Jewish nation was to point to Christ. - The shepherds who watched over these lambs received the heavenly announcement and were privileged to go and see the Newborn King.

-- I would like to note that the shepherds were considered "ceremonially unclean." They would not have been welcome in the Temple Courts, and yet they were welcomed before the King of kings and LORD of lords!!

Luke 2 recounts little of Jesus' growing up, but it sums His growth through childhood by saying that He grew up both in wisdom and bodily / chronologically, finding favor with God and with man. (Luke 2:52)

Luke 3 tells of His introduction into the public eye through His baptism. - He was baptized by His cousin John who was announced by an angel and sent ahead of Him!

Luke 4 tells of Jesus' time fasting in the wilderness, where He was also tempted by the devil. - In response to each temptation, Jesus responded by reciting the scriptures He had learned as a Jewish boy.

-- John 4 also includes a conversation that Jesus had with a woman, where He is first recorded as sharing the fact that He is the Messiah that the Jewish people have been looking for!

As Luke 4 concludes, and throughout the next chapters, Luke recounts healings and other miracles that happened -- including driving out demons and raising people from the dead.

All of these things happened during Jesus' three years of ministry here.

Luke 5 and beyond, tell of the disciples Jesus called to leave their life's work to follow Him. - During their time together, Jesus taught them, walked with them, and sent them out before Him as He was journeying throughout Israel. - He also entertained their questions, and He told them of the future, even though they were not given understanding of everything -- until after His earthly ministry was complete.

In Luke 6, we are also told that Jesus taught and ministered to large crowds.

Luke 7 includes the story of a sinful woman coming and anointing Jesus' feet with perfume. Many -- including Jesus' disciples -- did not understand it and were uncomfortable with it. But Jesus understood, and He welcomed her presence and her worship. He also spoke words of forgiveness over her. (Luke 7:48)

In Luke 8, we are told that there were several women who also helped to provide for Jesus and His disciples.

Luke 9 includes a story of Jesus allowing three of His followers -- Peter, John and James -- to see Him in some manner of His glory (though we are told that day-to-day Jesus looked very average, with nothing physical that made Him stand out from the crowd), as He stood for a moment talking with Moses and Elijah in sparkling white clothes. - Yet in an instant, Jesus returned to His average physical appearance, and there was no further presence of Moses and Elijah there with Him.

Luke 11 shares the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray.

Luke 11 also tells us that some did not believe that Jesus was actually serving God. They accused Him of having ungodly power. - Jesus challenged them saying that if His power came from the demonic, why would that supposed-demonic power be used to cast demons out? - Jesus also begins to address the Jewish leaders who stood against Him.

Luke 12 includes a comforting message from Jesus. It is directed to those who are tempted to be anxious. - Luke 12 closes with a warning to seek the settlement of arguments outside of (before going to) court.

Luke 13 includes Jesus grieving for those who have not been drawn to Him. He desires to care for them, like a mother hen protecting her brood under her wings. (Luke 13:34-35)

Luke 18 tells of Jesus' encouragement that we continue asking God for what we need. - He also welcomes little children to come near Him from the crowd, and He blesses them -- which greatly surprised His disciples who were trying to send the children away from Him.

Luke 19 tells of Jesus seeing a short man named Zacchaeus who had climbed a tree to be able to see Him, because a great crowd was looking on as He walked by. - Jesus invited Zacchaeus to come down out of the tree and host Jesus in his home. - Zacchaeus was a tax collector, but Jesus didn't shy away from Him. He enfolded him into His community, and Zacchaeus made things right between him and God -- and also with man. (Luke 19:8)

Luke 19 also tells of The Day that the Lord made Himself known as Messiah, by riding a donkey's colt from the Mount of Olives towards Jerusalem. - The disciples spread their cloaks out for the colt to walk on, and then the crowds did the same as they cheered, "Hosanna!!" (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9; John 12:13) "Blessed is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord..." (Luke 19:38 ESV)

Jesus again wept over the Jewish people when he came near Jerusalem. - Then He stood for God and His ways, and He drove out those who were profiting off of the people's need for animals to sacrifice.

Luke 20 tells of those who questioned Jesus' authority. - It also tells of His parable about His coming death -- though the crowd, even the disciples, are unaware of why He told this story: As the parable concludes, the story warns that the plans of the devil (and those who stand with him) to kill Jesus, the Son of God, will end in their own destruction. But the purpose of telling it as a parable was to tell the Truth in such a way as to hide its meaning -- until Jesus was asked to give the meaning. [This reminds me of Jesus' instruction back in Luke 11:9. - He encourages His disciples to be active in their faith -- not just waiting around and taking what is given. - When they asked Jesus about the meaning of the parables He told, He explained their meanings! - May we be active in our faith as well!]

Luke 21 tells of Jesus honoring the smallest gift, which was given by a widow.

Luke 22 tells of the beginnings of the plot to kill Jesus, including Satan entering His disciple Judas called Iscariot (Luke 22:3) and Jesus' last moments with His disciples before He was arrested, tortured and murdered.

Luke 22 also tells of Peter's betrayal of Jesus by denying three times that he knew Him, just as Jesus had foretold. After Peter denied Him for the third time, Jesus looked a Peter. He left and "wept bitterly." (Luke 22:62 ESV)

Luke 23 recounts many of the details of Jesus' torturous death, and His burial. It concludes by telling us that the women who supported Jesus during his life saw where Jesus was buried.

Then they prepared spices and ointments. But they rested on the Sabbath.

Luke 24 opens with these women going to the tomb with the spices and ointment they had prepared, but Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb!!

Q: How did they know? The tomb had been sealed by a stone that these women could not have removed.

A: The stone had been rolled away!! Also, two angels were present. They explained that Jesus was alive. :D

The book of Luke concludes in Luke 24 with Jesus appearing to His disciples, before ascending, alive, into heaven.

Jesus, King of kings and LORD of lords, left heaven -- for us!!

He came and lived a simple life perfectly -- for us!!

He was killed, because that is what we deserved, but He took that punishment for us.

But the grave could not hold Him, because He was not guilty!

Now, He lives again, preparing a place for us! (John 14:2)

May His matchless Name be praised!!

Praying blessings of joy and peace that come from personal salvation and relationship with the One Triune God.

Merry Christmas!!

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Words that refer to God are intentionally capitalized.

Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved. Deej @ Graceful Boundaries .com