Archbishop Peter Jensen’s weekly online series on The Essential Jesus (the gospel of Luke). In each study the Archbishop will lead us through the book we intend on giving away to as many people as possible.
STEP 1: READING
Read Luke chapter 1: verses 5-24. This begins on page 7 of The Essential Jesus.
STEP 2: REFLECTION
John was born to help us identify Jesus and be ready for his message. In the Old Testament, God's sent ambassadors, called prophets. There was little or no prophecy in Israel for generations. Now, in fulfilment of what God had said he would do in Malachi 4:5-6, he sent a prophet like Elijah to prepare peoples' hearts for the coming of Jesus. The special signs to do with John's birth - the long wait for his mother to become pregnant, the announcement to his father, his father being made speechless and his name, John, show his significance in God's big story. Contemporary people think that this world is all there is. Luke introduces us to a world in which God does miracles, and also to a Jesus whose coming fits into a pattern long prepared. Jesus is not a religious guru. He climaxes God's great plan for the world.
STEP 3: DISCUSSION
1 What was the task of the prophet?
2 Do you believe in the miracles recorded in the Bible? What difference does it make to how you view the world if you do?
3 What does it mean that Jesus is not a religious guru? Why does it matter that he was a Jew, born into Israel?
Ask your questions
Sydneyanglicans.net has introducing commenting across most of its articles.
Take advantage of this service to ask your questions about each study as it goes up.
