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Mark 1:1; Luke 1:1-4; John 1:1-18; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38; Luke 1:5-38<\/strong><\/span> Today we begin the New Testament!! I\u2019ll highlight each of the 4 Gospels overviews these next 3 days, starting with Luke today.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Author<\/span>: Luke You\u2019ll notice that Luke\u2019s genealogy in chapter 3 today is different from the genealogy in Matthew chapter 1 in a couple of ways: 1.\u00a0 Matthew starts with Abraham and goes to Jesus & Luke starts with Jesus and goes all the way back to Adam.\u00a0 This was done by Luke to show Jesus\u2019 relationship to the entire human race.\u00a0 Matthew focused more on Jesus\u2019 relationship with the Jews by going back to Abraham.\u00a0 2. Matthew traces Jesus legal genealogy through his father Joseph back to Solomon son of David, while Luke traces Jesus bloodline through his mother Mary back to Nathan son of David.\u00a0 This is an interesting slight distinction.\u00a0 Line up Luke & Matthew\u2019s genealogies and you\u2019ll see the differences in the names between David & Jesus.\u00a0 Below is an image of Luke\u2019s genealogy of Jesus, from the Book of Kells transcribed by Celtic monks circa 800:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on the genealogy of Jesus is<\/span> at this link.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In today\u2019s Matthew readings, we read the genealogy of Jesus. I know that genealogy\u2019s can sometimes seem a bit boring to read, but this one in Matthew is phenomenal!\u00a0 If you just finished reading the One Year Bible this past year, you will recognize many of these names.\u00a0 Or \u2013 let me encourage you to come back and read this genealogy again on January 1st of next year, if you are going through the entire Bible for your first time this year.\u00a0 This genealogy will amaze you.\u00a0 One of the interesting things to note in this genealogy is the mention of 5 women \u2013 Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.\u00a0 It was not the norm in the 1st century to list women in genealogies \u2013 only men were typically listed.\u00a0 At least 3 of these women were Gentiles (not Jewish) \u2013 Tamara, Rahab, and Ruth.\u00a0 Matthew was potentially trying to indicate to his Jewish readers that God\u2019s work in this world is not limited to the people of Israel \u2013 nor was God\u2019s work limited to men.\u00a0 \u00a0The genealogy in Matthew is sometimes illustrated by a \u201cJesse Tree\u201d showing the lineage of Jesus from Jesse, father of King David:<\/span><\/p>\n Today in John Chapter 1 verse 14 we read \u2013 \u201cThe Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe that Jesus is the Word John is referring to?\u00a0 What does this mean to you that the Word became flesh?\u00a0 Do you believe that Jesus was born into this world both fully divine and fully human (yet sinless)?\u00a0 Why would God send Jesus, full of light, grace and truth into the world?\u00a0 Why was this necessary? <\/span> Today in John Chapter 1 verses 10 & 11 we read \u2013 \u201cHe was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe that the world was made through Jesus?\u00a0 Do you believe the world is Jesus\u2019 own?\u00a0 Have you ever gone through periods in your life where you have not recognized Jesus for who he truly is? ( I know that I have) Have you gone through periods of your life where Jesus has come to you and you did not receive him? ( Again, I know that I have) As you read through the Gospel of John this year will you prayerfully read it?\u00a0 Will you ask God to reveal to you through John\u2019s Gospel who Jesus really is? And will you ask God to make Jesus more known to you this year than ever before? Do you believe this is possible \u2013 for you to know Jesus more this year than in your prior years?\u00a0 Do you believe the Gospel of John and prayer can help you to truly know Jesus more?<\/span> Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our readings in John today titled \u201cWhat Child is This?\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Today\u2019s genealogies reminded me of \u201cMatthew\u2019s Begats\u201d by Andrew Peterson:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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Place<\/span>: Perhaps Caesarea
Date<\/span>: A.D. 60-65
Content<\/span>: Luke was a physician and a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul. He wrote his Gospel for a cultured Greek named Theophilus in order to show the true humanity of Jesus and his place in history. For this reason Luke was careful to examine all the evidence very carefully and give precise dates for the events that took place. He begins with an account of Jesus\u2019 virgin birth, giving many details not found elsewhere. Jesus\u2019 Galilean ministry is described, followed by a lengthy account of Jesus\u2019 trip to Jerusalem. After Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection, the disciples are left rejoicing, waiting for the promised power of God from heaven to fill them.
Theme<\/span>: Whereas Matthew shows Jesus to be the Jewish Messiah and Mark shows Jesus as the servant of God, Luke depicts Jesus as the perfect God-man whose genealogy may be traced back to Adam. Jesus is the greatest man in history and is placed within the flow of world events by Luke. He is the greatest man because of what he taught, what he did, why he died \u2013 and because he rose again from the dead. For this reason we ought to accept him as our Lord. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers \u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d p. <\/span>22)<\/em> More commentary on the Gospel of Luke is <\/strong><\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 Below is \u201cSaint Luke\u201d from an illuminated manuscript, circa 1130:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n