Our purpose and design is to glorify God.
That which Glorifies God is what Magnifies Jesus and dignifies humans.
All this is done through the power of the Holy Spirit. Resulting in Lives Changed By Christ.
Jesus calls us to follow Him.
Join us in this year long study in the Life of Jesus by visiting here or join the email list at
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8In the same region, shepherds
were living out in the fields and
keeping watch at night over their flock. 9Then an angel of the Lord
stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for you
see, I announce to you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people: 11because
today in the city of David was born for you a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. 12This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby
wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly
there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and
saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!”
15When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds
said to one another, “Let’s go
straight to Bethlehem and see†
this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16And they hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger†. 17After seeing them,
they reported the message they were told about this child, 18and all
who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But
Mary was treasuring up all these
things in her heart and meditating†
on them. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.[1]
Bethlehem was known as “the city of David” (Luke 2:11) because King David had grown up in this village about one thousand years before Jesus was born. The prophet Micah predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2). The Jewish people believed the Messiah would be a descendant of David, the most popular king in their history.
According to early Christian tradition, Jesus was born in a cave that served as a stable for the inn at Bethlehem. This site is marked today by the Church of the Nativity, a place visited every year by thousands of Holy Land tourists.
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them.
"Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!"
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:
"Glory to God in the highest heaven," they sang, "and peace on earth for all those pleasing him."
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
How does the shepherds' experience with the angels compare to that of Zachariah (1:8-9) and Mary (1:26-27)?
Of all the people the angels could have visited, why did God send them to the shepherds? How does that relate to Mary's song (1:46-55)?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
God appeared to Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds when they were just being themselves. What does that imply about what it means to be "spiritual"? How has God spoken to you in the ordinary flow of life?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Great News!
What a birth announcement! The shepherds were terrified, but their fear turned to joy as the angels announced the Messiah's birth. First the shepherds ran to see the baby; then they spread the word. The good news about Jesus is that he comes to all, including the plain and the ordinary. He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life. Don't think you need extraordinary qualifications—he accepts you as you are. Jesus is your Messiah, your Savior. Do you look forward to meeting him in prayer and in his Word each day? Discover a Lord so wonderful that you can't help sharing your joy with your friends!
Some of the Jews were waiting for a savior to deliver them from Roman rule; others hoped the Christ (Messiah) would deliver them from physical ailments. But Jesus, while healing their illnesses and establishing a spiritual kingdom, delivered them from sin. His work is more far-reaching than anyone could imagine. Christ paid the price for sin and opened the way to peace with God.
Luke 2:15-20 Shepherds Visit Baby
When this great army of angels had returned again to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on! Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story expressed astonishment, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.
Then the shepherds went back again to their fields and flocks, praising God for the visit of the angels, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had told them.
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
What precious events has God done that you "treasure in your heart"?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Shepherds and the Lamb of God
God continued to reveal his Son, but not to those we might expect. Luke wrote that Jesus' birth was announced to shepherds in the fields. These may have been the shepherds who supplied many of the lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple for the forgiveness of sin. Here the angels invited these shepherds to greet the Lamb of God (John 1:36) who would take away the sins of the whole world forever. Christ paid the price for sin and opened the way to peace with God. He offers us more than temporary political or physical changes—he offers us new hearts that will last for eternity. God continues to invite men and women to discover the Savior. Have you found him?
The conception and birth of Jesus Christ are supernatural events beyond human logic or reasoning. Thus God sent angels to help certain people understand the significance of what was happening (see Luke 1:11, 26; 2:9, 13, 19). Angels are spiritual beings created by God who live in God's presence and help carry out his work on earth.
Our latest series of Drive Thru History with Dave Stotts® tells the story of Jesus from the locations recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Dave travels to over 50 ancient sites in Israel to deliver the Gospels in a fresh way, show the evidence for the truth of scripture, and encourage families to get excited about reading the Bible again. Currently, the new 18-episode series is scheduled for television release on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), beginning December 7th, 2015 and running through April 2016. In addition to broadcasting the shows, we are excited to announce the release of the entire DVD set in Spring 2016. Stay tuned!
==========
Greatness of Christ
Author Unknown
(I've been told this is not a true story.)
The story of the painting of The Last Supper is extremely interesting and instructive, and two incidents connected with it afford a most convincing lesson on the effects of right or wrong in the life of a boy or girl, or of a man or woman.
Leonardo DaVinci, a noted Italian artist, painted the Last Supper, and the time engaged for its completion was seven years. The figures representing the twelve Apostles and Christ himself were painted from living persons. The life-model for the painting of the figure of Jesus was chosen first.
When it was decided that DaVinci would paint this great picture, hundreds and hundreds of young men were carefully viewed in an endeavor to find a face and personality exhibiting innocence and beauty, free from the scars and signs of dissipation caused by sin. Finally, after weeks of laborious search, a young man nineteen years of age was selected as a model for the portrayal of Christ. For six months DaVinci worked on the production of this leading character of his famous painting.
During the next six years, DaVinci continued his labors on this sublime work of art. One by one, fitting persons were chosen to represent each of the eleven Apostles, with space being left for the painting of the figure representing Judas Iscariot as the final task of this masterpiece. This was the Apostle, you remember, who betrayed his Lord for thirty pieces of silver. For weeks, DaVinci searched for a man with a hard, callous face, with a countenance marked by scars of avarice, deceit, hypocrisy, and crime, a face that would delineate a character who would betray his best friend. After many discouraging experiences in searching for the type of person required to represent Judas, word came to DaVinci that a man whose appearance fully met his requirements had been found in a dungeon in Rome, sentenced to die for a life of crime and murder.
DaVinci made the trip to Rome at once, and this man was brought out from his imprisonment in the dungeon and led out into the light of the sun. There DaVinci saw before him a dark, swarthy man, his long, shaggy and unkempt hair sprawled over his face, which betrayed a character of viciousness and complete ruin. At last the famous painter had found the person he wanted to represent the character of Judas in his painting.
By special permission from the king, this prisoner was carried to Milan where the picture was being painted. For months he sat before DaVinci at appointed hours each day, as the gifted artist diligently continued his task of transmitting, to his painting, this base character representing the traitor and betrayer of our Savior. As he finished his last stroke, he turned to the guards and said, "I have finished. You may take the prisoner away."
As the guards were leading their prisoner away, he suddenly broke loose from their control and rushed up to DaVinci, crying as he did so, "DaVinci, look at me. Do you not know who I am?" DaVinci, with the trained eyes of a great character student, carefully scrutinized the man upon whose face he had constantly gazed for six months and replied, "No, I have never seen you in my life until you were brought before me out of the dungeon in Rome."
Then, lifting his eyes toward heaven, the prisoner said, "Oh God, have I fallen so low?" Then turning his face to the painter he cried, "Leonardo DaVinci, look at me again, for I am the same man you painted just seven years ago as the figure of Christ."
If this is were a true story of the painting of The Last Supper. It teaches so strongly the lesson of the effects of right or wrong on the life of an individual. Here was a young man whose character was so pure, unspoiled by the sins of the world, that he represented a countenance of innocence and beauty fit to be used for the painting of a representation of Christ. But within seven years, following sin and a life of crime, he was changed into a perfect picture of the most traitorous character ever known in the history of the world.
"Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." Psalm 34:5 (NIV)
Jan 15, 2025 = In this episode, we continue our series, "How to Be a Better Bible Student" by discussing the importance of reading the Bible as a cohesive narrative rather than isolating it into disconnected parts. Wes McAdams and today's guest, Will Norrid, discuss the risk of reducing Scripture to a "recipe book" or a book of formulas, rather than engaging with its deeper, relational truths.
The conversation delves into understanding Scripture as God’s overarching story, including creation, disruption (fall), salvation, and ultimate restoration. It highlights the need for reading contextually—not just the immediate verses but understanding the broader canonical and historical settings. Will advocates for seeing Scripture as a narrative that invites believers to participate in God’s eternal mission, moving beyond simplistic applications to embrace its transformative power.
Will Norrid Will Norrid serves as the minister for the Lebanon church of Christ in Dresden, TN where he has worked for the last 21 years. In addition to preaching and teaching, he also serves in various roles in his rural community including writing a weekly spiritual life column that appears in print and online, speaking at community events, and volunteering with senior citizens groups. Will speaks and writes frequently on the intersection of faith and everyday experience, the value of reading in the spiritual life, and the importance of practicing faith in community.
5“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! 6But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
9“Therefore, you should pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.’*
14“For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.
18The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, before
they came together, she was found to be
with child† by the Holy Spirit. 19So Joseph, her
husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly,
decided to divorce her secretly.
20But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord
suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be
afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. 21She
will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save
His people from their sins.”
22Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through
the prophet: 23“See, the virgin will be with child and give birth to
a son, and they will name Him Immanuel,” which is translated “God is with us.”
24When Joseph woke up from
his sleep, he did as the Lord’s angel
had commanded† him. He took his wife home, 25but he
did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him
Jesus.[1]
God is
... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are
... What do we learn about people in this passage?
I will ...
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
You can
... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others
by social media links at the bottom of this.
Born of a Virgin
Why is the Virgin Birth important to the Christian faith? Jesus Christ, God's Son, had to be free from the sinful nature passed on to all other human beings by Adam. Because Jesus was born of a woman, he was a human being; but as the Son of God, Jesus was born without any trace of human sin. Jesus is both fully human and fully divine.
Because Jesus lived as a man, we know that he fully understands our experiences and struggles (Hebrews 4:15-16). Because he is God, he has the power and authority to deliver us from sin (Colossians 2:13-15). We can tell Jesus all our thoughts, feelings, and needs. He has been where we are now, and he has the ability to help.
An engaged couple in our culture may call off a wedding at any time. But for the Jews, engagement was more permanent and could be broken only through death or divorce (even though sexual relations were not yet permitted). Because Mary and Joseph were engaged, Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried a severe social stigma. According to Jewish civil law, Joseph had a right to divorce her, and the Jewish authorities could have had her stoned to death (Deuteronomy 22:23-24).
A Change of Plans
Perhaps Joseph thought he had only two options: divorce Mary quietly, or have her stoned. But God had a third option—marry her. In view of the circumstances, this had not occurred to Joseph. But God often shows us that there are more options available than we think. Joseph changed his plans quickly after learning that Mary had not been unfaithful to him. He obeyed God and proceeded with the marriage plans. Although others may have disapproved of his decision, Joseph went ahead with what he knew was right. Sometimes we avoid doing what is right because of what others might think. Like Joseph, we must choose to obey God rather than seek the approval of others.
The angel declared to Joseph that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be a son. This reveals an important truth about Jesus—he is both God and human. The infinite, unlimited God took on the limitations of humanity so he could live and die for the salvation of all who would believe in him.
===============
Matthew shows us how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament. He pictures the Old Testament like a treasure chest that contain old and new treasure (Matthew 13:52). The old treasure in the Hebrew scriptures hasn't gone anywhere, neither has it faded or lost value (Matthew 5:17-18). But Matthew helps us see that there is a new treasure hidden in Scripture, and it is Jesus. All of the Old Testament finds its new treasure in how Jesus fulfills it.
The Bible, from cover to cover, addresses the question, "Who is this Jesus?" Consider the themes of the sixty-six books:
In Genesis He is the Creator God.
In Exodus He is the Redeemer.
In Leviticus He is your sanctification.
In Numbers He is your guide.
In Deuteronomy He is your teacher.
In Joshua He is the mighty conqueror.
In Judges He gives victory over enemies.
In Ruth He is your kinsman, your lover, your redeemer.
In 1 Samuel He is the root of Jesse.
In 2 Samuel He is the Son of David.
In 1 Kings and 2 Kings He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
In 1st and 2nd Chronicles He is your intercessor and High Priest.
In Ezra He is your temple, your house of worship.
In Nehemiah He is your mighty wall, protecting you from your enemies.
In Esther He stands in the gap to deliver you from your enemies.
In Job He is the arbitrator who not only understands your struggles, but has the power to do something about them.
In Psalms He is your song--and your reason to sing.
In Proverbs He is your wisdom, helping you make sense of life and live it successfully.
In Ecclesiastes He is your purpose, delivering you from vanity.
In the Song of Solomon He is your lover, your Rose of Sharon.
In Isaiah He is the mighty counselor, the prince of peace, the everlasting father, and more. In short, He's everything you need.
In Jeremiah He is your balm of Gilead, the soothing salve for your sin-sick soul.
In Lamentations He is the ever-faithful one upon whom you can depend.
In Ezekiel He is your wheel in the middle of a wheel--the one who assures that dry, dead bones will come alive again.
In Daniel He is the ancient of days, the everlasting God who never runs out of time.
In Hosea He is your faithful lover, always beckoning you to come back--even when you have abandoned Him.
In Joel He is your refuge, keeping you safe in times of trouble.
In Amos He is the husbandman, the one you can depend on to stay by your side.
In Obadiah He is Lord of the Kingdom.
In Jonah He is your salvation, bringing you back within His will.
In Micah He is judge of the nation.
In Nahum He is the jealous God.
In Habakkuk He is the Holy One.
In Zephaniah He is the witness.
In Haggai He overthrows the enemies
In Zechariah He is Lord of Hosts.
In Matthew He is king of the Jews.
In Mark He is the servant.
In Luke He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.
In John He is the Son of God.
In Acts He is the Savior of the world.
In Romans He is the righteousness of God.
In 1 Corinthians He is the rock that followed Israel.
In 2 Corinthians He the triumphant one, giving victory.
In Galatians He is your liberty; He sets you free.
In Ephesians He is head of the Church.
In Philippians He is your joy.
In Colossians He is your completeness.
In 1 Thessalonians He is your hope.
In 1 Timothy He is your faith.
In 2 Timothy He is your stability.
In Philemon He is your benefactor.
In Hebrews He is your perfection.
In James He is the power behind your faith.
In 1 Peter He is your example.
In 2 Peter He is your purity.
In 1 John He is your life.
In 2 John He is your pattern.
In 3 John He is your motivation.
In Jude He is the foundation of your faith.
In the Revelation He is your coming King.
From the beginning of the world to its end, there is no place you can look and not see Jesus. He is everywhere. He is everything. "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:17
Jesus Brings Salvation to Zacchaeus's Home
Luke 19:1-10
If you could pick an ideal height, how tall would you be?
What occupation would you least like to do?
When was the last time you climbed a tree?
Since only the tax collectors knew the rate required by Rome, they could inflate the rate and keep the difference. Though a Jew, Zacchaeus would have been hated as a traitor who got rich at his people's expense. For Jesus to go to his house was improper in the eyes of their fellow Jews.
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
How does Zacchaeus compare with the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-30) in his approach and response to Jesus?
What unique spiritual challenges do gifted, beautiful, or wealthy persons face? Can such a life situation become a curse?
How sympathetic are people likely to be with someone like Zacchaeus? Why?
If you had been Zacchaeus when Jesus stopped under his tree and told him to "come down immediately," how would you have felt? (Scared, special, embarrassed, suspicious, surprised that he knew my name)
Why did Zacchaeus volunteer to make such generous restitution to those he had cheated? (He felt guilty, his heart was full of love and gratitude toward Jesus, he wanted to be accepted by the community, or a miracle had happened in his life.)
Why does Jesus dine with him? Why does this bother others? Do you think Jesus' words in verses 9-10 stopped the crowd's muttering?
If you had been Zacchaeus at the end of the story, how would you feel? (Clean inside, included in God's family, brand new, loved, broke, etc.)
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
Where did Jesus first find you? (Up a tree? Out on a limb?)
How might a church show acceptance to all people?
How did he get you to join him?
Jesus saw the positive qualities in Zacchaeus. Who really affirmed you when you were a kid and felt like a "little guy up a tree"?
What wrongs do you need to make right? Do you need to make amends to anyone? If so, how will you do it?
What relationship most helps you to feel good about God's love?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
==========
WHEN I THINK of Zacchaeus, I see Danny DeVito--someone short, crooked, and a little flamboyant...
As an employee of the Roman government who made himself rich by skimming the tax money, Zacchaeus was ostracized from Jewish society. He's scum. And since he manages the local tax collectors, he's a crook managing other crooks. His mere presence disgusts his fellow Jews because he is a reminder that they are an occupied country. Roman soldiers stand next to his tollbooth, enforcing his collections.
But Jesus boldly intrudes into Zacchaeus's life. He stops and looks up at him, and then invites Himself over for dinner and to stay the night. This is similar to the President stopping his motorcade to say he's coming to your house--Jesus is the hottest thing to hit Israel in a few hundred years. If you were Zacchaeus, you'd be honored. Yet I doubt the President would say "I must stay" or "come down immediately" (literally, "hurry up").
But in the first century "good people" didn't eat with tax collectors because a meal was not just about eating; it was a sharing of life. Jesus' willingness to eat with Zacchaeus told everyone that Jesus not only accepted the tax collector, He also forgave him. This disgusted the crowd. Jesus had broken a social taboo.
When we love, we get dirty. Here the dirt comes the opinions of people who look down on Jesus for associating with someone who has stolen from his fellow Jews and divided their money between himself and the Roman government.
Why does Jesus intrude? He's on a God-directed mission to seek and save what was lost. Jesus sought out Zacchaes. He didn't just wait for people to come to Him. He is an invading king. But what a strange kingdom: the poor, outcasts, prostitutes, Samaritans, and women! No wonder Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Paul E. Miller, "Saying 'Yes' To Gentle Intrusion," Love Walked Among Us, 149-150
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
======
#Evangelism
August 5, 2003
A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (Luke 19:2-4)
People often talked about his parentage. There were rumors in Jericho that his father had been a Roman merchant, his mother a Jewish prostitute. There was no basis for those stories, of course. But when your job is to shake down your fellow countrymen in the name of the occupying forces, no one worries too much if the gossip going around about you is actually true. They never called him by his given name anymore. When they saw him coming, "ben-zanah" was about the most polite description they used -- "son of the whore." He had heard much worse than that.
His skin had gotten thick. On most days, most of the insults rolled right off his back. He had chosen this life, after all. Long ago he had stopped attending the synagogue, even before they had voted to throw him out. He knew that he didn't belong there. He tried to remember the last time he had been to worship at the temple in Jerusalem; it had been years. His only trips to the city now were to deliver the taxes that he and his sub-contractors had collected. And when he went, he avoided the temple. Oh, he doubted anyone would recognize him, but why take the chance? They weren't his kind of people, anyway.
He had friends. Acquaintances, anyway. They came often to the luxurious home paid for and furnished by the "commissions" he collected. Hey, a guy had to make a living. And Rome didn't care how much their tax collectors took as long as Caesar got what was his. So Zacchaeus enjoyed his wealth by throwing lavish parties for the other cast-offs in and around Jericho. Roman officials and military. Other tax-collectors. Prostitutes. Criminals. They didn't look down their noses at him, they were glad for his hospitality and always ready to share some food and wine and singing. They didn't cross the street when they saw him coming or whisper about him behind his back or spit at him or threaten him like the "respectable" people in town.
News travelled fast in Jericho. Someone had seen the teacher everyone was talking about, Jesus, on the road into town. Pretty soon everyone was talking about it. Some said he could do miracles. Some talked about his teaching. Some said he was a prophet; some even thought he might be the Messiah. What intrigued Zacchaeus most was overhearing someone recount a story he had heard Jesus tell. It was about a Pharisee and a tax collector in the temple, and Jesus has said that the tax collector's sorrow for his sin had made him more acceptable to God than the Pharisee. That had cracked up everyone who knew the arrogance of some of the Pharisees. It awakened in Zacchaeus something he thought was gone forever. Right then and there, he had decided that he needed to see this Jesus.
The crowd had already lined the street into town when Zacchaeus got there. Standing on tiptoe, he tried to peer over the heads of the mob. Cursing his 5'2" body, he tried to push through to the front. The mob shoved him back, shoved him down. That's when he heard someone say, "There he is!!" The crowd started to cheer; Zacchaeus felt like crying. He couldn't have explained why seeing Jesus was this important to him; something just told him he had to. Then he noticed the tree.
He hadn't climbed one since he was a boy, but he didn't hesitate. He was just able to grab the lower branches on the short tree. He got his foot against the trunk and started to leverage himself up. He found a knot for his other foot, reached up and found he was able to reach a higher branch. Then suddenly, he was sitting on a thick branch, clutching another in white-knuckled hands, looking down on the scene below him. There was a group of men and women on the road, but which of the men was Jesus? It hadn't occurred to him that he couldn't identify the Galilean. He was just about to shout Jesus' name when one of the men in the crowd looked up. When he saw Zacchaeus sitting in the tree, he smiled. No, he didn't just smile. He laughed out loud. He threw back his head, closed his eyes, and cracked up. He leaned on the shoulder of one of the guys standing next to him. He wiped tears from his eyes. And just when Zacchaeus was starting to feel self-conscious, Jesus spoke.
"Zacchaeus!" he shouted over the crowd noise. The crowd went silent.
How did this man know his name? Had someone in the crowd told him? Great, just great. "Zacchaeus ben-zanah," no doubt. Jesus chuckled again. "Zacchaeus, come down right now," he ordered. Then his face got serious. His eyes got intense. The smile straightened. "I HAVE to stay at your place today." It was a curious thing to say. It wasn't a request, and it wasn't a demand. Something was compelling Jesus to eat with Zacchaeus just as something had compelled Zacchaeus to climb that tree to see Jesus. A few people tried to explain to Jesus who his host was. He waved them off. Zacchaeus heard the muttering around him as Jesus told him to lead the way. Zacchaeus shook his head. Associating with him had turned Jesus from hero to zero in this town in seconds.
Jesus and Zacchaeus talked all day and late into the evening. Zacchaeus talked about what he did for a living. He admitted his faults. He even wept as he described his longings to worship in the temple, to join in the prayers at the synagogue. He hadn't even realized how much he missed the reassurance of knowing that whatever happened he was a son of Abraham and a recipient of the promises God had made. He motioned toward the door, toward the crowd still milling around, wondering what was going on in the house. "They call me "Ben-zanah," he said, shaking his head. "And it's not even true."
Zacchaeus was shocked to see tears in Jesus' eyes, and not tears of laughter this time. He bent down a little, looked the tax collector right in the eye. "I want you to know something, Zacchaeus. I want you to know that God loves you. I want you to know that he doesn't share the opinion of you that these people who claim to be so close to him share. He knows you deep down and loves you. He wants to forgive you. Those promises he made are for you,too."
Zacchaeus drew in a deep breath sharply. The tears started to fall again. He started to object, started to list his sins. Then he remembered the story that had intrigued him, that the tax collector had been justified because he was sorry for his sins. "Lord, if that's possible, right now I give half of everything I have to the poor. And....and...and if I've cheated anyone, I'll pay them back four times over!!!"
Jesus smiled and laughed again. He put an arm around Zacchaeus and led him to the door. He threw it open, and people milling around outside stopped in their tracks. "Salvation has come to this house today," he shouted, smiling. "And I want you people to know something; this is no longer Zacchaeus ben-zanah here. This man standing beside me is a son of Abraham, just like the rest of you. The promises are for him, too!"
They're for each of us, I think Zacchaeus would tell us. They're for everyone who feels a compulsion to see and know Jesus and acts on that compulsion. Whether that compulsion leads you to climb a tree, to pray, to go to church, to pick up a Bible, to talk to someone, to be baptized, to make some changes -- whatever it leads you to do, act on it. That desire to know Jesus is from God, and it will end with your salvation. It will end with you being a child of the promises that he has made to those who belong to him.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
=======
Lk 4:1aThen Jesus returned from the Jordan, full
of the Holy Spirit. Mk 1:12–13Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13He was in the
wilderness 40 days, being tempted by
Satan. He was with the wild animals†,
and the angels began to serve Him. Lk 4:2bHe ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was
hungry.
Mt 4:3Then the tempter approached Him and said,
“If You are the Son of God, tell
these stones to become bread.”
4But He answered, “It is written: ‘Man
must not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth
of God.’ ”
5Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and
said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is
written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning you,’ and, ‘In their hands
they will lift you up, so you will not strike your foot against a
stone.’ ”
7Jesus told him, “It is also written: ‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
8Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their
splendor. 9And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if
You will fall down and worship me.”
10Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You must worship the Lord your God, and you must
serve Him only†.’ ”
Lk 4:13After the Devil had finished every
temptation, he departed from Him for a time. Mt 4:11bAnd immediately
angels came and began to serve Him.[1]
If you were the emperor of the world, what would be your first decree?
Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted there by Satan. For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. Then Satan tempted him to get food by changing stones into loaves of bread. "It will prove you are the Son of God," he said. But Jesus told him, "No! For the Scriptures tell us that bread won't feed men's souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need."
Then Satan took him to Jerusalem to the roof of the Temple. "Jump off," he said, "and prove you are the Son of God; for the Scriptures declare, 'God will send his angels to keep you from harm,'… they will prevent you from smashing on the rocks below." Jesus retorted, "It also says not to put the Lord your God to a foolish test!"
Next Satan took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. "I'll give it all to you," he said, "if you will only kneel and worship me." "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "The Scriptures say, 'Worship only the Lord God. Obey only him.'" Then Satan went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
Footnotes: Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, a study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings.
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
Define “temptation.” Distinguish life’s tests and discipline from things that Satan uses to draw people into evil (James 1:12-15).
"Straightway” after what? (Mark 1:12) Why is it important that we notice the time of our Lord’s temptation?
Are we to conclude the Holy Spirit led Jesus into temptation? (Mark 1:12) Explain.
What can we learn from Jesus' temptation? What does the word “drove” mean to you? (Mark 1:12-13) Was Jesus tempted during the entire forty days? (Mark 1:13; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13).
Are we to understand there were actual animals with Jesus in the wilderness? Discuss. (Mark 1:13) Just what was the ministry of the angels to Jesus?
Under what circumstances (Luke 4:1-2) was Jesus tempted: After a spiritual high? At a weak moment? At a new stage in life?
Satan is the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2). How did he achieve such a status in God’s world?
Why was it necessary for Jesus to have this dramatic encounter with Satan?
Read 1 John 2:15-16 and explore the areas Satan uses to tempt. Which of these did Satan use to tempt Christ?
What was the essence of the Eden temptations? What about Jesus’ wilderness temptations?
In each temptation, what was it's appeal? Its price? How does Jesus resist them? How does Satan's use of Scripture differ from the way Jesus uses it?
How are the 3 temptations similar? Different?
Why were the temptations directed at Jesus immediately after he was affirmed by God at his baptism (Luke 3:22)?
Reflective Questions for a Response — Live it today.
If the devil had three shots at you, what three temptations would he use?
Name some ways that you believe Satan is working to destroy the things that are precious to God in our time.
What can help you resist? What encouragement does this story provide?
What does it mean to you that all the authority and splendor of the kingdoms of the world has been given to Satan (Luke 4:5-6)?
Jesus told his disciples to pray: “Deliver us from the evil one.” Consider taking some time now to offer this prayer for yourself and others.
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?
How does this equip us to be better disciples and help empower us to “make disciples”?
Series: Be Different “Making
Transformative Moves” Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind.
Opening Thoughts: To be truly different means to crave
eternal things -- the things that matter most -- rather than simply feeding on
a constant diet of immediate gratification and temporary happiness. For what do
you hunger?
vWhat do you want?
oOrder anxiety
oLargest menu = 1,800
in Budapest Hungry
oRomans 7:15I do
not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I
do.
oRomans 7:21-23 So I find this law
at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.22 For in my inner
being I delight in God’s law;23 but I see another
law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a
prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.
4 Jesus, full
of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the
Spirit into the wilderness, 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 shall
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; it has been
given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 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 is said: ‘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.
Summarize the main story: Describe the
events of the story in your own words.
vReview and
retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
vJesus resisted every temptation
oThe greatest enemy of hunger for God s not poison but apple pie. It is
not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless
nibbling at the table of the world. – John Tyson
oWhat do you want?
oWhat does God want?
oJohn 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to
finish his work.
oWhat if the desires of God’s heart were the desires of your heart?
oTo be filled with the Spirit means to first be emptied of self.
oFasting
§Will you consider making a
commitment to fast this week?
Digging Questions:
·How will you
respond in being different? What transformative move needs to be made?
·What do
these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·What is
God calling us to do?
Take Away Challenges
·What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage?
How will you apply it to your life this week?
·Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·What is
God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or
actions need to be addressed or changed?
The devil, also called Satan, tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden; here he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Satan is a fallen angel. He is real, not symbolic, and is constantly fighting against those who follow and obey God. Satan's temptations are strong, and he is always trying to get us to live his way or our way rather than God's way. One day Jesus will reign over all creation, but Satan tried to force his hand and get him to declare his kingship prematurely. The devil's temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical needs and desires, (2) possessions and power, and (3) pride. If Jesus had given in, his mission on earth—to die for our sins and give us the opportunity to have eternal life—would have been lost. But Jesus did not give in! When temptations seem especially strong, or when you think you can rationalize giving in, consider whether Satan may be trying to block God's purposes for your life or for someone else's life.
Jesus was tempted by the devil, but he never sinned! Although we may feel dirty after being tempted, we should remember that temptation itself is not sin. We sin when we give in and disobey God. Remembering this will help us turn away from the temptation.
The Whole Truth
Satan used Scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin! Sometimes friends or associates will present attractive and convincing reasons why you should do something you know is wrong. They may even find Bible verses that seem to support their viewpoint. Study the Bible carefully, especially the broader contexts of specific verses, so that you understand God's principles for living and what he wants for your life. Only if you really understand what the whole Bible says will you be able to recognize errors of interpretation when people take verses out of context and twist them to say what they want them to say. Jesus was able to resist all of the devil's temptations because he not only knew Scripture, he also obeyed it. Ephesians 6:17 says that God's Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil's attacks, but we must also obey the Bible. Satan had memorized Scripture, but he failed to submit to it. Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God's desires rather than the devil's.
The Temple was the religious center of the Jewish nation and the place where the people expected the Messiah to arrive (Malachi 3:1). The Temple was the tallest building in the area, and this "roof" was actually a pinnacle on the corner wall that jutted out of the hillside, overlooking the valley below. From this spot, Jesus could see all of Jerusalem behind him and the country for miles in front of him.
The Test
This time of testing showed that Jesus really was the Son of God, able to overcome the devil and his temptations. A person has not shown true obedience if he or she has never had an opportunity to disobey. We read in Deuteronomy 8:2 that God led Israel into the wilderness to humble and test them. God wanted to see whether or not his people would really obey him. We too will be tested. Because we know that testing will come, we should be alert and ready for it. Remember, your convictions are only strong if they hold up under pressure!
Did the devil have the power to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world? Satan may have been lying about his implied power, or he may have based his offer on his temporary control and free rein over the earth because of humanity's sinfulness.
