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 3. (page 14 - 17 in the Essential Jesus)
STEP 2: REFLECTION
Luke wanted to nail history down, so he dated everything by well-known people. He is not writing fiction like The Da Vinci Code. He also gives the Jesus family tree at the end of this chapter. He shows that Jesus was descended from David, Abraham and Adam. Each of those ancestors played a big part in the history which God created when he saved the world through Jesus. So did John the Baptist. John did three things. First, he readied people for the coming of God's wrath by calling for repentance. Their lives needed to be God-centred, and it should show. Second, he established that Jesus was the one who they should look to. Unlike Adam, Jesus was the Son of God who pleased the Father. Third, he got himself arrested for rebuking King Herod. His suffering showed how dangerous the ministry of Jesus was going to be.
STEP 3: DISCUSSION
1 How did John compare and contrast the ministry of Jesus with his own? Was it a matter of wrath on the one hand and love on the other?
2 What do you think of John's advice to the soldiers about suitable repentance?
3 Why would people claim Abraham a their father, and why did John criticise this?
4 What indications are there in this chapter that the forgiveness of sins and salvation was not going to be for the Jews alone?
Ask your questions
Ask your questions about each study as it goes up.
Previous study click here
Prepare for the next study by reading Luke chapter 4 verses 1 to 13. This is the temptation of Jesus. In the Essential Jesus start reading from the heading ‘Chapter 4’ on p17 and then over the page to the first few paragraphs. Stop where the text says ‘Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee…”
