The Temptations of Jesus-Lust of the Eyes

The Temptations of Jesus: The Lust of the Eyes

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'

Luke 4:5-8

Interesting...isn't it? What would tempt a king...kingdom? We usually automatically think of of the problems we have with "lusting" with our eyes in regard to sexual images...but, that's not what is going on here in the text. It is a far deeper and more widespread issue...It is GREED...it is COVETING...or at least it is the devil's attempt to draw us off our course as he tried to draw Jesus off his collison course with the cross...and eventually resurrection.

The second temptation is to authority and worldly glory. This sounds like a vision...thus the phrase "in an instant". Instantly, Jesus can see each of the kingdoms of his day: Herod's petty domain closest to him, then Rome's towering buildings and Caesar's court, and all the other empires. Jesus could see it all.


The devil said to Jesus, "If you worship me, it will all be yours." What was Satan's bargain? The Greek word for "worship" is proskuneo. "Proskuneo used to designate the custom of prostrating oneself before a person and kissing his feet, the hem of his garment, the ground, etc.; the Persians did this in the presence of their deified king, and the Greeks before a divinity or something holy; (fall down and) worship,prostrate oneself before, do reverence to, welcome respectfully.'

The Father had already promised to give the Son all the kingdoms of the world:
“I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”
Psalm. 2:7–87

…but first the Son had to suffer and die. (John 12:23–33)

The suffering must come first, then the glory. “Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?".
Luke 24:25–27

Satan’s offer to Christ was valid, but his terms were unacceptable, and the Savior refused.Satan had said nothing about service, but Jesus knew that WHATEVER we worship, we will serve.

Service to the Lord is true FREEDOM, but service to Satan is terrible BONDAGE!
God’s pattern is to start with suffering and end with glory...while Satan’s pattern is to start with glory and end with suffering. If we can recognize this...we can avoid this trap of the lust of the eyes.

Jesus took the cross before the throne…and just as there were NO shortcuts for Him...There are no “shortcuts” in the Christian life, and there is no easy way to spiritual victory and maturity.

What is one of Satan’s biggest shortcut to us: GREED

“Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."” Luke 12:15

WHAT IS IT THAT GETS YOU OFF COURSE? What is the recurring distraction to your Christian walk...the "shortcut" that the evil one continues to place in front of you?

How do we resist that temptation...that pull of what our eyes see, our greed, our coveting of the things of others, or even more of the things we already have...?

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

2 Peter 1:3-4

Questions to discuss:
1. What is the essence of the second temptation, to attain power and splendor?

2. What similar temptations do we face today?

3. What physical or mental needs and desires make us vulnerable to temptation?

4. What is the source of the divine power in 2 Peter 1 and how do we apply it to our walk?

The Temptations of Jesus: Lust of the Flesh

Luke 4:1-13
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' " 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' " 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' " 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Temptations...what tempted you this week? Was it big...small...or was it that same one that you constantly find yourself struggling with, you know, the one that is your true thorn in the flesh, your Achilles heel...the one the devil knows just how to attack? We must learn that the devil will always tempt in these 3 areas, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

In this posting, we will be dealing with the first temptation only, ...just like we did in the sermon this morning. I feel that we can learn more from individually discussing them, rather than talking about all 3 at once, like I have ususally done.

The devil appealed to the lust of the flesh, in this case hunger or our physical needs, the cravings that come from within our flesh and body. In fact, His deity was the basis for the first of the three temptations. “Since you are the Son of God,” Satan argued, “why be hungry? You can change stones into bread!”

In this first temptation, Satan suggested that there must be something wrong with the Father’s love since His “beloved Son” was hungry…God fed Israel..couldn’t Jesus feed himself?

Satan subtly used this same approach on Eve in the garden: “God is holding out on you! Why can’t you eat of every tree in the garden ? If He really loved you, He would share everything with you!”But the test was even more subtle than that, for Satan was asking Jesus to separate the physical from the spiritual.Satan wanted Jesus to disobey the Father’s will by using His divine power for His own purposes. Satan wanted Jesus to change his IDENTITY.

His IDENTITY is OUR IDENTITY!-To we who truly follow Christ, WHO we are as Christians and HOW the world sees us.

The Bible speaks to this pull from the world on us in 1 John 2:16:
"Practically everything that goes on in the world - wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important - has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him." (The Message)

TEMPTATION is Satan’s weapon to defeat us, but it can become God’s tool to build us

James 1:2–4, 13–17
2. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3. because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4.Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

12. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14. but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Christ must be first in everything,

or He is first in nothing

(Matthew. 6:33).

It is better to be hungry in the will of God than satisfied out of the will of God. When our Lord quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, He put the emphasis on the word man. As the eternal Son of God, He had POWER to do anything, but as the humble Son of Man, He had AUTHORITY to do only that which the Father willed.

As the Servant, Jesus did not use His divine attributes for selfish purposes (Philippians. 2:5–8). Because He was man, He hungered, but He trusted the Father to meet His needs in His own time and His own way. You and I need bread for the body (Matthew. 6:11), but we must not live by physical bread alone. We also need food for the inner person to satisfy our spiritual needs.

This FOOD is the Word of God
Psalm 119:103/How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Jeremiah 15:16/16. When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.

1 Peter 2:2/Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

What DIGESTION is to the body, MEDITATION is to the soul. As we read the Word and meditate on it, we receive spiritual health and strength for the inner person, and this enables us to obey the will of God.

Most of us Christians don’t realize that we have the same spiritual resources that Jesus used when He faced and defeated Satan:

1. Prayer (Luke 3:22),
2. The Father’s love (Luke 3:23),
3. Power of the Spirit (Luke 4:1),
4. Word of God (“It is written”).

The Word of God will successfully defeat the devil...or his demons. How much time THIS week did YOU spend in God's Word....how well in your desert, your wilderness, your temptation or trial can you reply..."It is written".

Questions to Discuss:
1. Is temptation only merely inevitable, or is it necessary to our growth as disciples?
2. What is the essence of the first temptation, to turn stones into bread? Which temptations we face are similar?
3. What physical or mental needs and desires make us vulnerable to temptation?
4. In what situations are you sometimes tempted to put the Lord to the test?
5. Where did Jesus get the answers he gave the Devil in verses 4, 8, and 12? 6. How did Jesus resist temptation? How can you become skillful in using the Bible & Scriptures as Jesus did?

The Herald of the Truth-Luke 3:1-22

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene-- 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.' " 7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. 11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" 13 "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. 16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison. 21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

In studying this week's passage we really see 2 things: this is a story of John and Jesus...it is a story of one ministry ending...and one ministry beginning.

From the passage we can learn this about John the Baptist:

• John the Baptist was a voice “crying in the wilderness”

(Luke 3:4; see also Isaiah. 40:1–5, John 1:23). He was like the herald who went before the royal procession to make sure the roads were ready for the king.
He rebuked their sins and announced God’s salvation, for without conviction there can be no conversion.

• John the Baptist is compared to a farmer who chops down useless trees.

John reminded them that God gets to the root of things and is not impressed with religious profession that does not produce fruit.

• John the Baptist was a teacher.

He not only preached publicly, but he also had a personal ministry to the people, telling them how to practice their new faith (Luke 3:10–14).

What is not brought out a lot on this passage is John's relationship, his personal ministry to the people. In verses 10-15 we see this verbal exchange....and look at what John speaks to the crowd that has come to hear his words:
1) The Crowds-Be Generous
"The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
2) The Tax Collectors-Be Honest
"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.
3) The Soldiers-Be A Person of Integrity & Gratitude
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."

But then, he tells of one to come, one who will baptize them in a new way...

John knew that Jesus of Nazareth was the perfect Son of God who had no need to repent of sin.
Why then was the sinless Son of God baptized?

-His baptism gave approval to John’s baptism
-His baptism identified Him with the sinners that He came to save.
-His baptism was the official start of His ministry (Acts 1:21–22; 10:37–38).

But our Lord’s words tell us the main reason for His baptism:
“for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew. 3:15)

In the way pictured by His baptism in the Jordan. Many Bible scholars agree that NewTestament baptism was by immersion, which is a picture of death, burial, and resurrection.
Our Lord’s baptism in water was a picture of His work of redemption (Matt. 20:22; Luke 12:50). It was through His baptism of suffering on the cross that God “fulfilled all righteousness.”

So, Why Do We Need Baptism?
Jesus didn’t only SET our example…he COMMANDED us to FOLLOW it.
Mark 16:16/Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Matthew 28:18/Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (NOTICE: ALL AUTHORITY!)
19. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20

In a verse used for baptism emphasis time and time again, we sometimes have put too much emphasis on the first part...and not realized the power and blessing attached to the second part.
Acts 2 :38/"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 39. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40. With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:39-41

Here’s the point I believe…If you have been putting off…or dodging being baptized…you aren’t just putting baptism off…you are in reality rebelling against the AUTHORITY & COMMANDMENT of CHRIST.
Have you heard the “voice”…is the “soil” of your heart ready…do you need “teaching”…or will you stay out of the authority of Christ?

Questions to Discuss:

1. What was the basic message of John the Baptist? (Luke 3:3) Exactly what is repentance? What are its two sides?

2. How sensitive was John to the crowds that came to hear him? (Luke 3:7-8) Why was John harsh with them? How would you feel if your pastor or a teacher called you a vicious snake?

3. If baptism was a sign of repentance from sin, why did Jesus ask to be baptized?

4. What do you think Jesus was saying to the Father as he was praying after his baptism?

5. Why would Jesus be baptized along with all the sin-laden people at the river that day? Wasn't he in danger of miscommunicating to them who he was?

6. Why do you think God staged the dove to descend in a visible way?

7. What was the significance of the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus at this time in his life? Did everyone see this symbol of the Holy Spirit, or was it just visible to John and Jesus?

8. How did Jesus interpret the Voice that sounded from heaven?

9. Did Jesus become the Messiah at this point? Or become divine? Or how do you understand this decisive event?

Whose House Are You In?- Jesus at the Temple

Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 2:41-50

Have you ever misplace or lost your child? At the grocery store, a ballgame...AT CHURCH? As a parent, you know how terrifying that can be. So, most of us can understand Mary and Joseph's panic and reaction. But, what we probably do not understand...is the boy Jesus' reply and actions.

"Why is it that you were looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?"

It can also be translated "in the things of My Father", but the idea is the same. Jesus was affirming His divine sonship and His mission to do the will of the Father.

That is huge, a major point...a true foundation that He will base His entire ministry and focus on the rest of his life.

This morning we looked at the traits of the boy Jesus we could see from our passage in Luke

1. He grew in a BALANCED way without neglecting any part of life. (Luke 2:52)
2. His PRIORITY was to do the WILL of His Father (Luke 2:49 & see Matthew. 6:33)'
3. He knew how to LISTEN. (Luke 2:46)
4. He knew how to ASK the RIGHT questions. (Luke 2:46)
5. He LEARNED how to work.
6. He was OBEDIENT to His parents. (Luke 2:51)

Please note that on the verse Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well, notice that "all these things" is referring back to verses 31 & 32/31. So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

We pray amiss and out of God's will when we take this verse to mean "everything"...God gives us what we need in accordance to His will, His plan, & His purpose for us in His kingdom.

It is these traits, these inherrent characteristics that begin to form the man Christ Jesus as he steps into ministry. This is our ONLY look at his childhood, Jesus the boy, and what we see is very impressive. We will not get another glimpse at this Jesus by God's Word until he is age 30, and comes to John baptizing in the river Jordan

So, What was happening to Jesus between the ages of 12 and 30? There are some apocryphal books that attempt to fill the gaps. But even a casual reading will show that these were written much later than the first century and are fairy tale-like stories. One tells of Jesus changing toy pigeons into real birds. It isn't unusual to find gaps in biographies in the Bible. The story of Jesus isn't unusual in this way.

The most likely explanation is that nothing of paramount importance to His ministry or fulfilled prophecy happened in this period. The Bible tells us only that he grew in grace and wisdom and appeared to be the ordinary son of a carpenter. He was an apprentice carpenter with Joseph his father. This is apparent when he speaks of things like yokes, what makes a good foundation and whether or not a building could stand, and many other "carpentry" like terms in his teachings.

With these kind of core values, this kind of upbringing & teachings, this type of foundation... no wonder the Father proclaimed, "This my MY beloved son, I am well pleased in Him." The real question we must ask is, "Can the Father say the say the same thing about us?"

Questions to Discuss:
1. How did Jesus respond to his parent’s frantic arrival? How did he answer his parent’s concern for him? (2:49) How did he then behave?(2:51)
2. How does this story illustrate the tension that Jesus may have felt between obedience to his heavenly father and obedience to his earthly parents?
3. Of the four ways in which Jesus grew (in wisdom, in stature, in favor with God, in favor with man), which one needs the most work in your life? (2:52). What would our life be like if we embraced and put into practice the 6 traits we see in the boy Jesus...how would it make our lives different?

Scriptural references for the 6 traits in this morning's sermon-(Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 21:21, Proverbs 8:34-35, 2 Timothy 2:15, Luke 11:9-10, Mark 6:3 & Exodus 20:12)

Living in The House of the Lord-Anna's Story

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Luke 2:36-40

Some people just persevere; they just don't give up when life hits them in the face. So is the second person to meet the child Jesus in the temple. I mean, imagine...losing your spouse after only 7 years of marriage...and if you are a woman in these times...not many available options. But, Anna didn't give up...her faith, her gift of prophecy, her endurance lead her to the one place where she could be considered "useful"...God's holy temple.

Notice what we find Anna doing in her "regular" day:

• Worshiping...day and night
• Praying
• Fasting

Hmmm, most of us have a hard time "worshiping" in our "temple" 6 hours a week...much less "day and night." As for me, I think I would have enjoyed "hanging out" with this first century 84 year old worshiper...I believe I could have learned from her...I believe I could have deepened my relationship with God by being around her.

Think about this...at this point of Luke's story we have met 2 people who "recognized" the Christ...but, look at their lives, look at their righteousness, look at their hearts. Maybe if we would become more like Simeon and Anna...we could "recognize" Christ in our lives more clearly.

May we come to a "daily" worship that opens both our eyes and our hearts to recognize Christ.

A Closer Look at Anna

• Anna is the same name as Hannah, meaning "He was gracious." 1 Sam. 1:20


• Anna was a prophetess. Scripture records 3 named prophetesses: Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4) and Huldah (2 Chron. 34:22). In the New Testament, we are told that Philip had 4 daughters that prophesied. (Acts 21:8-9)


• Anna was the daughter of Phanuel. The same as Peniel, meaning "Face of God" (Gen.:32:20). Ironic, that this worshiper, this humble servant would one day see the true "face of God".
  

Questions To Discuss:
1. Who was Anna? (2:36-37) What was her response to finding Mary, Joseph, and Christ in the temple? (2:38)
2. In what ways do you see God working behind the scenes in the events of Christ’s childhood?
3. In what ways are Simeon and Anna examples to us? What roles can other Christians have in our life of faith? As a Christian, what role can you have in another Christian’s life of faith?

What Are You Waiting For? The Story of Simeon

Luke 2:25-35
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." 33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

This past Sunday I challenged everybody to honestly ask themselves, "What am I waiting for?" We wait in lines, we wait for phone calls and emails, we wait for people to change, and we wait for God to answer us. But, do we wait like Simeon waited...after God had spoken a word into his life? Do we truly take and embrace that word and COMPLETELY TRUST God to deliver?

Notice the following from verse 25:
There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. The name means "Hearing". Some think that it was Rabbi Simeon, the son of the great teacher Hillel; but the context forbids such an idea.

This man was righteous and devout. Right in outward and devout in his inward life. The first prophet to tell the world that its Messiah had come was a thoroughly good man. Looking. Waiting like Jacob and Joseph of Arimathea he realized the truth of God's promise. The Jews waited for a coming Prince, local, carnal, finite, temporal; we wait for a KING universal, spiritual, infinite, eternal, the Son of God.

For the consolation of Israel. A common name for the era of the Messiah, which was so called because the advent of the Christ would bring comfort to his people. Jews swore by the consolation of Israel, and the phrase, "May I see the consolation of Israel", was common among them. A prayer for the coming of the Messiah was daily used by them.

And the Holy Spirit was upon him. Not the indwelling that was to come, but the random "comings" of the Holy Spirit as illustrated all throughout the Old Testament period.

Simeon's Prophecy to Mary-The STONE, The SIGN & The SWORD

Simeon now blesses the Holy Family. In verse 34 we see the Greek verb eulogeo that appeared in verse 28 as "to praise, extol." Here, directed toward humans, it means, "to ask for bestowal of special favor, especially of calling down God's gracious power, bless."

Simeon's prophecy to Mary has four elements:

1) "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel." How people respond to Jesus and his message will determine their destiny. Many of Jesus' contemporaries receive his message and are saved, but the religious community, by and large, can't bring themselves to believe that Jesus can be God's Messiah. Jesus becomes "a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall" (Isaiah 8:14; 28:16; Luke 20:17-18; Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:6-8).

2) "and to be a sign that will be spoken against." Jesus is God's sign to his people, but he is rejected. "Spoken against" is the Greek verb antilego, "speak against, contradict someone, oppose, refuse."

3) "so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." "Thoughts" is the Greek verb dialogismos, "content of reasoning or conclusion reached through use of reason, thought, opinion, reasoning, design." Here it seems to be used in a negative sense. Those who stumble at Jesus, who reject him and oppose his message, will finally be shown up for what they are. "Revealed" is the Greek verb apokolupto (from which we get our English word "apocalypse"). It means, "to cause something to be fully known, reveal, disclose, bring to light, make fully known" (appearing here and at Matthew 10:26 with a judicial connotation. Jesus himself is to be the judge, sitting on the judgment seat of the Messiah: "This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ" (Romans 2:16; cf. Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

4) "And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Though the Holy Spirit, Simeon can see the deep anguish that Mary will feel as her son is rejected by the nation's leaders and ultimately crucified.

Questions for Discussion:
1. Who was Simeon? (2:25) What special significance did Christ’s arrival have for him? (2:26-32)
2. What of Simeon’s prophecy is still true today?
3. Who was Anna? (2:36-37) What was her response to finding Mary, Joseph, and Christ in the temple? (2:38)
4. In what ways do you see God working behind the scenes in the events of Christ’s childhood?
5. In what ways are Simeon and Anna examples to us? What roles can other Christians have in our life of faith? As a Christian, what role can you have in another Christian’s life of faith?
6. What kind of model were Mary and Joseph setting for Jesus in their family traditions? (2:41)

Getting Ready for our New Series on Luke

Hello Macedonia Family and all interested in studying the book of Luke.

This blog is to complement our sermon series on the gospel of Luke. We will be adding more information, backgrounds, and thoughts to ponder than our usual Sunday morning lesson.

I hope you will use this to grow deeper into God's Word and to "sharpen & encourage" one another in open and honest discussion. Our format will be after I have preached the Sunday sermon, that passage/Scripture from Luke will be detailed in this blog. I will be giving additional information for studying, researching, discussing, and most of all...learning about the life of our Lord and walking away we some practical applications for our own spiritual growth. Then, we can review and share our points and opinions until the next passage.
If you haven't read the book of Luke in a while, consider these facts about Luke's story...
-it is the most detailed of the 4 gospels,
-only gospel written in chronological order..Luke wanted an "exact truth".
-was composed primarily from Mark's gospel, eyewitness interviews by Luke, and other writings/stories of the day
-has 18 parables that the other Gospels do not have, including the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan,
-written to the Gentiles (like us!)
-pays special attention to women and women's roles
-has more attention to prayer and the prayers of Jesus
-has the most stories on healings of all the gospels..(duh..it is a doctor writing this)
-is the largest New Testament book...and it's sequal..Acts is the second largest (doctors tend to be long and detailed)

Luke was a noted educated Greek doctor, historian, and friend to the apostle Paul. He is also the only non-Jewish New Testatment writer. It will be a good opportunity for us as a church together to get to know Jesus and his life from the eyes of Dr. Luke, as he writes his eyewitness accounts that were told to him that allow us a great look into the life and ministry of Jesus.

So, come along for an eyewitness account, a journey, a chance to be a bystander to the life of Jesus and become changed by the power of his words and deeds.