This week we are exploring Matthew 8:1-13 and Luke 7. Right off the bat we get to read about Jesus healing the leper. I love this story because this man living with a terrible disease came to Jesus in faith that Jesus could heal him but was humble enough not to assume Jesus would be willing.
So often in my life I have come to Jesus knowing He could heal my brokenness, but submitted myself to His will, whatever that may be. Sometimes our idea of how we want to be healed or helped is different than God’s way and we need to be willing to submit to His ways and timing in faith. His ways are always better than our own.
Describe a time in your life you trusted God’s will to be done in your life even if it meant you would continue to suffer.
When we call on Jesus in faith, trusting in His power and plan, He will do miracles in our lives. It won’t necessarily look like this leper who was literally healed of his leprosy in a moment, but our faith can move mountains in our lives and in our hearts. We give Him our faith and allow Him to have power over us and our lives for His divine plans and purposes.
We see this again with the faith of the Centurion. This Centurion made it clear he was a leader of men and understood what it meant to have great authority. Yet this man in such a position was humble enough to call upon Jesus yet not assume himself so great as to be worthy of Jesus’ help or presence.
Jesus then tells the people, and therefore us, that there will be many gentiles, those not born of the line of Abraham, not of Jewish heritage, who will come to Jesus, but that there will be some born of Abraham’s line who are not truly faithful to God and will not see the Kingdom of Heaven. This teaches us that anyone can come to Jesus, and that He wants true repentance and faith, not lip-service or false faith. Christ came to save ALL who would come to Him in faith.
What difference has faith and repentance made in your life? Why is it important to remember this?
Later in Luke 7 we see Jesus bring a widow’s son back to life. This is such a wonderful story and reminder of God’s power. We also see that this was to bring God glory – not just to help the widow and restore the boy.
We must always remember that all we do should be to glorify God, and that what He does is for His glory. This is a blessing that we get to be a part of His plan and participate in bringing Him glory so that others may also come to Him and likewise bring Him glory through their faith.
Describe a time in your life God was glorified in a way you did not expect.
Jesus reminds us through this chapter of Luke that those who are not offended by Him, those who come to Him in faith, those who truly repent, those who seek and receive His forgiveness are those who bring God glory. Those who have been forgiven much love much.
Those who fail to repent, who remain in their unbelief, do not know the forgiveness and love of God because their hearts remain hardened against Him. Those who have been forgiven the most are more grateful and love God deeper than those who harbor or deny their sin, or who don’t have as much to be forgiven of.
How have you experienced or witnessed the reality of Jesus’ statement that those who are forgiven much love much?
Studying the gospels in chronological order is wonderful for comparing the different perspectives of each person’s account. This week we are diving into a section of Matthew that is packed with wisdom and warnings.
Last week we ready through the Beatitudes in Luke’s account of the gospel, and this week we begin with Matthew’s account. Matthew recalls more of what is usually called the Sermon on the Mount. He tells us that those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, are humble, who long for righteousness. are merciful, are pure in heart, are peacemakers, and are persecuted are blessed.
What about the Beatitudes stands out the most to you and why?
Jesus goes on to explain that we are the salt of the earth as well as the light of the world. He uses these images to explain that we are meant to go out and share the love and light of Jesus with the world. Salt must maintain its seasoning and light must not be hidden. We must be active participants in God’s plan to redeem the whole world by sharing what we have learned with others.
What are some ways you can share your faith in your day-to-day life?
One of the main lessons in the whole of Matthew 5-7 is that all we do should be for the glory of God. Jesus gives specific ways we can bring God glory, and He also provides many warnings for us. He commands us to not judge, hate, murder, commit adultery, lie, and may other things. Where there are instructions for how to live, there are also warnings for what to avoid.
One aspect of Matthew 5 that is a particular struggle in our culture is Matthew 5:38-48 where Jesus tells us that we are to be different than the world – when the world says to take revenge, to do as others have done to you, Jesus says do as you would want others to do to you. He takes this even further in commanding us to love our enemies. With this command it is vital to remember and understand God’s definition of love found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
How can you love your enemies better, according to God’s definition of love?
Matthew 6 focuses on not showing off and stresses the point to be earnest. There is a time to share your faith and pray with and for others, and there is also a time for private intimacy with God alone. On the one hand, share your faith! Live it out! On the other, make sure you take time to grow in your relationship with the Lord privately just between the two of you.
Where do you need more balance in your own faith and relationship with God?
Through Matthew 6 and 7 Jesus instructs us in generosity, prayer, fasting, finances and wealth, anxiety, judgment, obedience, and bearing fruit. I appreciate that Jesus took time to specifically address each of these points.
What about these instructions stands out the most to you and why?
This week we are focusing on a beautiful set of passages that include so many important lessons. Matthew 12:1-21, Mark 3:1-12, and Luke 6:1-11 all reflect on Jesus proclaiming Himself as Lord of the Sabbath. He and His disciples were walking through a field and picking grain to eat, and later Jesus healed a man with a withered hand when He was teaching in the Synagogue, both of which happened on the Sabbath which caused quite a stir.
Jesus has quite a message for those who were angered at these works being done on the Sabbath. Jesus declared in Matthew 12:12b “…it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.”He also declared in Luke 6:5 that He, the Son of Man, is Lord of the Sabbath.
What do these declarations tell you about God’s intent for the Sabbath?
After this, we see Jesus choose the twelve apostles; Peter, Andrew, James, and John sons of Zebedee, Philip, and Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alpheus, Simon the zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who would betray Him.
What about Jesus’s choices in Apostles stands out to you the most?
Personally, I love that there is such a variety of people from a variety of backgrounds. This paints a picture for us that Jesus doesn’t look for perfect people or those who are not seeking Him. He chooses those who are in need of a spiritual doctor, whom only He can be for them.
Luke 6:20-49 is filled with so much wisdom straight from Jesus Himself. Throughout most of Luke 6, Jesus is clarifying who are the blessed ones and who are in danger. He instructs all of us in how to live, treat others, not judge, be generous, love others, do what is good, and to build our lives on Him and Him alone.
His message here is very clear – if you are not building every area of your life on the foundation of Christ alone, it will not last. If we are not living and loving the way He teaches us to both in commands and example then we are not centered on Him.
Are there areas of your life, or relationships you have that are not built on Christ? How can you give that area or relationship to the Lord?
At the end of Luke 6 Jesus asks this question: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?”
This question really hits home every time I read it, as it should. Reading this passage this week I encourage you to reflect on this question. He asks this right after giving a lot of necessary wisdom and instruction, and scripture is filled with even more godly wisdom and instruction. We can too easily fall into complacency and fall away from Christ’s instruction, and we should constantly strive to identify those areas, repent, and seek His help to remedy the situation, and follow His instruction. We should always be seeking how to obey Him better.
What areas of your life are you not doing what Christ tells you to do?
This week we explore John 5 which begins with the story of Jesus healing a man at the Pool of Bethesda. The Greeks built “healing centers” around natural springs and pools because they believed the pagan god of healing would use the water to heal the sick and disabled.
They built a sort of temple around the “healing center” where the sick would sleep, pray and fast while they waited for what they believed was this pagan god and his serpents to churn the water and release the healing powers. When the natural springs would bubble up, the people would then drink or bathe in the water to experience healing miracles and lay around the pool while it was calm.
When Jesus comes to the Pool of Bethesda, he wasn’t just there to heal this man – Jesus was there to debunk yet another pagan myth and display His divine power and authority. Immediately, though, and the Jewish people there rebuked the healed man for getting up and picking up the mat he’d been sleeping on by the pool, as Jesus had instructed him to do.
It was the Sabbath and Jewish Law had a lot of rules for the Sabbath, which these people believed the healed man was violating. They focused on this man, healed by a divine miracle, breaking the rules rather than seeing the miracle for what it was.
Have there been times you miss the work of God in your life because you are focused on the wrong things? How did this impact you?
Jesus goes on to proclaim Himself the Son of God, which kindled much hatred in the hearts of the people, and also explained that anyone who does not honor Him as the Son of God does not honor God. Jesus boldly proclaims His position and authority, and rebukes and warns those who do not believe Him.
One of the key things that stands out to me is that Jesus knows the heart, thoughts, intentions, words and deeds of everyone. We do not, but He does. He knows the deepest secrets and cervices of our very hearts and minds. We cannot hide anything from Him, and He will reveal all darkness in us.
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How does this knowledge that God knows our very heart and deepest thoughts and intentions help or change you in your relationship with Him?
In John 5:28-29 Jesus gives us an important lesson. We know from all over scripture that only God is good, but here Jesus says “those who have done good things” and “those who have done wicked things”. He goes on to explain that those who have done “good things” are those who have faith in Jesus as the Son of God.
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Those who have faith in Jesus are destined for the resurrection of life, while those who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God are destined for the resurrection of condemnation. No “good works” are done without faith in Jesus Christ, and Jesus tells us this so that we may believe and be saved, as He explains in John 5:33.
Jesus takes it further and explains that just because someone reads scripture, or says they have faith, that does not mean they have a relationship with God. Only those who have true faith in Jesus are saved and enter a personal relationship with God.
What about this passage resonates with you and why?
This study is part of the Study with Me: Chronological Gospels study series. It is an annual 48-week Bible study designed to encourage readers to follow along all year and dive deeper into the meat of the passages designated each week. I pray that you learn more about your Savior and grow in your relationship with Him through this study series. There is a free printable booklet available for download as well which allows you to print and take notes as you go through this study with me.
This week we will explore Mark 2 where there are quite a few big points to hit on. This chapter opens up with the story of the paralytic man being lowered down into the house Jesus was teaching in. I absolutely love this story as it is a great example of the lengths these people went because their faith was so strong. They did what it took to be in the presence of Jesus and believed that He would heal the man.
As they had faith He would do, Jesus healed the man – but not in the way many onlookers expected. He told the man “your sins are forgiven” rather than telling him that he was healed. Jesus then showed His divinity by acknowledging the thoughts of the crowd and displaying His power and authority.
I appreciate these reminders that Jesus knows our inner thoughts and our very heart and intentions. We cannot keep anything hidden from Him. I find this helpful as it reminds me to keep my mind, thoughts, intentions and heart focused on Him and when I realize I am not, I hear this verse 8 where Jesus asks them “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” It causes me to evaluate my thoughts and intentions, and to repent and refocus.
What does this passage teach you about Jesus and your relationship with Him?
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When we are convicted, we should be led to repentance. When we repent, this is turning away from sin and turning to righteousness. When we are convicted this is a cause for worship. So often when we realize we have sinned we beat ourselves up and so often that ends up pushing us away from Christ.
I encourage you, though, to take those as opportunities to grow in your faith and come closer to Jesus, not further away. Worship Him with a heart that is grateful for your Savior and the works He is doing in you.
Later we read about Jesus calling on Matthew (Levi) to follow Him, and He was then seen by the Pharisees sitting with and teaching “tax collectors and sinners”. The Pharisees cannot understand this, but Jesus explains to them that sinners are like sick people who need a doctor, and He is the Great Physician.
How does seeing Jesus as your Great Physician change your perspective of Him?
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The goal of spending time with those who are not yet believers of Jesus Christ is to help lead them to His truth and to repentance so that they, too, can accept Him as their personal Savior and come into a personal relationship with Him as well. We should not be selfish with our own salvation but go out and share the truth so that others may share in salvation as well.
What are some things you can do in order to draw people to Jesus?
Another point that has taught me a lot within my own relationship with the Lord is that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” The Lord commands us to take a day of rest, which is intended to be a day of spiritual rest and refreshment as well as physical rest. Spending that time being replenished with and by the Lord and growing in our relationships with Him.
How can/do you participate in the Sabbath? How has/can this help you in your faith?
This study is part of the Study with Me: Chronological Gospels study series. It is an annual 48-week Bible study designed to encourage readers to follow along all year and dive deeper into the meat of the passages designated each week. I pray that you learn more about your Savior and grow in your relationship with Him through this study series. There is a free printable booklet available for download as well which allows you to print and take notes as you go through this study with me.
In this week’s study, we open up with Jesus’ first sign where He turned water into wine. I love this story in John 2 because His mother, Mary, pleaded with Jesus to help the wedding hosts and Jesus obliged. Jesus’ love for His mother is so beautiful and I love each glimpse we get into their relationship. As a mother myself, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be raising the Begotten Son of God, but I do know the love of a mother for her child and this moment is such a mom moment to me.
I also love that through this first sign it says that His disciples believed in Jesus by this display of His glory. Jesus displayed His glory in helping with the wine, which brought praise on the wedding hosts, but it also revealed Jesus’ glory and led to true belief in Him.
What about this story jumps out at you and why do you think that is?
The next part of the story tells us about a moment where Jesus was angry. This story is an easy one to miss the true message within. Jesus is showing His anger, and yes God does get angry, but remember that we are instructed to be angry and do not sin. Here, Jesus is displaying righteous anger – this is anger caused by the defiling of God’s temple by turning it into a marketplace, a place for profits to be made, versus reserving it with honor as a place of worship.
What is the difference between righteous anger and sinful anger? Why is this important?
Chapter 3 teaches us of the importance of focusing on things of Heaven versus earthly things. Jesus explained to Nicodemus, a Pharisee, that only those born of the Spirit will understand things of Heaven, things of light. Unfortunately, people love the darkness and struggle to enter the light where their sin is revealed.
This is where Jesus says one of the most quoted passages in all of scripture – John 3:16. Don’t miss the next verses, though. Because of the love of God, He sent His only begotten Son so that those who will believe in Jesus will have eternal life – but that’s not all. Jesus came not to condemn, but to save the world through Him. The world is saved through Jesus – through faith in Jesus as the only begotten Son of God.
Those who choose to live in the light will learn the truth, love the truth, live in the truth, and shine the light of Christ wherever they go. We must be lovers of the light and not lovers of the darkness, attempting to live in and conceal our sin. We must repent and believe in the only Son of God to be saved from the penalty of sin and be born again, made alive by God’s Spirit, and receive the promise of eternity with Him.
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What about this passage stands out to you for the very first time?
Through the remainder of John 3 and into John 4 there is a very clear message – all that we have is a gift from God. When we have faith and believe in Jesus, He blesses us immeasurably, and provides rest for our souls. Jesus Christ is the Living Water for the thirsty land of our very soul.
Throughout our lives we are drawn into Jesus by our Heavenly Father. We are given a great thirst that can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ. We all long for Jesus, but so often we are deceived into thinking our longing is for things of this earth instead.
How does this news impact your life today?
Not only is Jesus the Living Water our souls long for, but He is also the Gardener of our souls. He refreshes us, satisfying the thirst of our souls, and then He plants, prunes, and waters us as we grow in our faith and relationship with Him and bear fruit of His Spirit.
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By abiding in Him, we abide in the Vine, and we bear His fruits in this world, planting seeds for the gospel in the lives of others who have not yet discovered that Jesus is what they are longing for. We have been given a great honor to be saved by the grace of God through faith in His Son, and with this we then have another great honor to be used by God for His great purposes.
We see the Samaritan woman go and tell her whole village of her testimony, drawing others to Jesus, and they too came to believe in Him. Testifying to the truth of the gospel, letting the Living Water of Jesus and the fruits of His Holy Spirit plant seeds in the hearts of others through your faithfulness is a vital responsibility and privilege every Christian has.
We are called to be unashamed of the gospel, and we also are taught here that our testimony is meant to be shared with others in order to plant seeds for the gospel and help draw others to Him. We get to participate in God’s great plan, doing the work He has prepared for us to do, and sharing our own testimonies along the way.
Who in your life could you share your testimony with this week?
This study is part of the Study with Me: Chronological Gospels study series. It is an annual 48-week Bible study designed to encourage readers to follow along all year and dive deeper into the meat of the passages designated each week. I pray that you learn more about your Savior and grow in your relationship with Him through this study series. There is a free printable booklet available for download as well which allows you to print and take notes as you go through this study with me.
In this week’s passages we read about the temptation of Jesus. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He fasted and underwent temptations by Satan for 40 days and nights. This story in scripture is incredibly important for all Christians to read as we get to see the Son of God go through temptations and resist as only He can do.
This example of His divine strength should stand as a hope and encouragement to us that Jesus understands what it is like to be tempted, but also, we can trust in His strength to resist our own temptations. By His strength we can endure, persevere, and grow in faith and strength.
What is it about Jesus’ time in the wilderness that sticks out to you the most, and why?
The devil leaves, John the Baptist is arrested, and then Jesus ventures over to Galilee which fulfills the prophecy from Isaiah 9:1-2. In the very beginning of His public ministry Jesus immediately jumped into preaching about repentance.
Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, Bythe way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
Soon after Jesus began His public ministry, He began calling His first disciples to follow Him. We see Andrew go and get his brother Peter, which is a great example to us. Andrew has a habit of going to get others to come and follow Jesus with him. We then see John and James, sons of Zebedee, called to follow Jesus. He then calls on Philip, Nathanael and Matthew to follow Him.
When Jesus calls on Nathanael, Nathanael is stunned that Jesus knows him and understands that Jesus is the Son of God. Nathanael’s faith is also a wonderful example to us of how we are called to respond when we learn about Jesus. We should have faith that He is truly who He says He is, that He is in-fact the Only Begotten Son of God.
What stands out the most to you about Jesus calling on these disciples to follow Him?
The remainder of Luke 5 shows us some of the first miracles Jesus performed in His public ministry. We also see Jesus take time away from the crowds and the disciples to pray alone. For me, this speaks volumes about the need for us to take time to do God’s work, and also to take time to be alone with God. Even Jesus took time to be alone with God. In our culture there are extremes of people being completely anti-social and introverted, and the opposite of feeding off of social interaction. It can be difficult to find balance.
I am also reminded here that there is a time and a place for being with others, for doing the Lord’s word, and for being alone with God. In all of this we also see that no matter where Jesus was, no matter what He was doing or who He was with, He was praying, worshiping, serving, teaching, healing… He was constantly focused on God the Father and His plan.
Are there areas of your life, relationships, or situations where you do not focus on God? How can Jesus’ example in our passages encourage you today?
This study is part of the Study with Me: Chronological Gospels study series. It is an annual 48-week Bible study designed to encourage readers to follow along all year and dive deeper into the meat of the passages designated each week. I pray that you learn more about your Savior and grow in your relationship with Him through this study series. There is a free printable booklet available for download as well which allows you to print and take notes as you go through this study with me.
We begin this week with Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3. Here we read aboutJohn the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea calling on the people to repent. He declares that the kingdom of heaven is near, and proceeded to baptize people in the Jordan River.
Repentance and baptism are important parts of each person’s faith journey. There are so many different beliefs and various traditions regarding both. This passage makes me stop and prayerfully consider if there are any areas of my life I might be harboring sin, or that I have not yet given over fully to the Lord. In these moments of conviction, I find encouragement in recalling my own baptism and what it means for me.
Is there any sin you have not repented of? Take some time to pray to God, repent, and seek Him today. Pray for a clean heart and a renewed spirit, that you may glorify God.
Personally, I love the story of John the Baptist. He is the first person in the New Testament we see martyred for his faith in Jesus, and he was the one sent ahead of Jesus to prepare the way for Him. This is someone people think is a total lunatic. He was bold and fearlessly stood up for his faith and convictions.
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John also got to baptize Jesus, whom he did not feel worthy to even remove Jesus’ sandals. Yet Jesus was baptized by John, the heavens opened up, and God declared His pleasure for His Son.
What about this moment stands out to you the most, and why?
Luke 3:7-14 stands out to me as a pivotal moment. John rebukes the people, gives them various encouragements, and tells them to produce fruit consistent with repentance.
What does it mean to produce fruits consistent with repentance? Do you see this in your own life?
It is so important for us to remember that John was a human being just like you and me. He had a God-given job to do and faithfully did it even to death. His methods often make our eyebrows go up to our hairlines, but his boldness is a wonderful example for us to stand strong in our beliefs and faith in Jesus no matter what we face.
At the end of Luke 3, we see another account of Jesus’ genealogy. If you are like me, you notice that it is different from that in Matthew 1. I was interested to find out more about this and discovered there are 3 possibilities, but they all seem to tie together into one answer – Luke’s account likely includes Mary’s AND Joseph’s genealogy.
To me, this is one of those moments in scripture where faith takes a front seat. We see 2 very different accounts, but we can rest in the truthfulness and promises of God, and know without a doubt that regardless of the reason for this God’s Word is without error. Just because we may not understand does not make the Bible wrong.
I encourage you to do a little digging of your own regarding the genealogies and make some notes of what you discover. What did you learn after doing so?
This study is part of the Study with Me: Chronological Gospels study series. It is an annual 48-week Bible study designed to encourage readers to follow along all year and dive deeper into the meat of the passages designated each week. I pray that you learn more about your Savior and grow in your relationship with Him through this study series. There is a free printable booklet available for download as well which allows you to print and take notes as you go through this study with me.
We don’t know a lot about Jesus’ life between His birth and Him coming into His ministry, but Matthew 2 touches on some important events during His early life. We see King Herod find out about the birth of the “King of the Jews”, deceive the wise men, and then murder children under the age of 2. God sends a message to Joseph warning him of King Herod’s intent to murder the baby Jesus and instructs him to flee with Mary and Jesus to Nazareth.
Sometimes the way God protects us is by warning us and making a way to flee from danger. He did this with Jesus and He does this with us as well.
Describe a time God gave you a way of escape to protect you from danger. How did this impact you and your faith?
I also find it important to note that Herod believed these prophecies about a coming Messiah, but instead of worshiping Him Herod committed mass murder of infants and toddlers to protect his earthly kingdom and treasures.
What are some other passages of scripture that come to mind here and how do they encourage and convict you?
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In Luke 2:39-52 we again see a small bit about Jesus’ early life. We learn that young Jesus becomes strong, wise, and gracious. Fast forward to 12-year-old Jesus. While Joseph and Mary are taking their annual trip to Jerusalem for Passover Jesus decides to stay behind in the temple. Mary and Joseph found Jesus teaching with great authority after they had failed to notice He was missing for several days.
What about this peek into Jesus’ early life stands out to you?
This part of the story always makes me laugh because it shows us an example of Mary and Joseph, mortal people, raising their son, the divine Son of God. This would have had to be an incredible task for them.
Throughout these passages, I love seeing so many examples of how God took care of His Son while He dwelt among us on earth, as well as Mary and Joseph who were raising Him. I also enjoy seeing the ways that Jesus’ childhood was like any other kid’s yet seeing glimpses of His divine nature even as a child. He displays such confidence, which reminds me that as I am also a child of God and am called to be confident in the Lord also.
What does this insight into Jesus’ childhood teach you about who God is?
This study is part of the Study with Me: Chronological Gospels study series. It is an annual 48-week Bible study designed to encourage readers to follow along all year and dive deeper into the meat of the passages designated each week. I pray that you learn more about your Savior and grow in your relationship with Him through this study series. There is a free printable booklet available for download as well which allows you to print and take notes as you go through this study with me.
This week we explore Matthew 1 and Luke 2:1-38 for part two of our Chronological Gospels study. Matthew opens up with the genealogy of Jesus. It seems like most people see lists of names and kind of gloss over it, but I encourage you to truly investigate and absorb the names on this list.
What names in the genealogy of Jesus listed in Matthew 1 stand out to you and why?
I love that Rahab, the prostitute from Joshua 2 and Joshua 6, is part of Jesus’ genealogy. In Joshua, she was an unexpected participant in the story of Jericho. She hid some men of the Lord, saving their lives, and she was spared when the city fell. We then get to see that she was the mother of Boaz, who later married Ruth, which we learn in Ruth 4.
Each of these people is named in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Every name mentioned in scripture is important and intentional. This passage may seem mundane, but I find it incredible to discover ties to other stories of the Old Testament right here in this list of names. We get to learn so much from a seemingly simple list of people, but each served an incredible role in God’s plans to send His Son to earth.
Who else on this list do you recognize from other Bible passages?
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After telling us the lineage of Jesus, we get to read about His birth in Matthew 1:18-25 and again in Luke 2:1-24. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 and is a beautiful reminder that God is a promise keeper.
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.[a]
What promises have you seen God keep in your life and how has this helped your faith?
In Luke 2 we learn that God used the census to lead Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in order to fulfill the prophecy from Micah 5:2. God works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), and He absolutely uses these details, that so often we see as burdensome or as getting in the way, to lead us where He wants us to go.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From [a]everlasting.”
Explain a time you felt burdened by a situation and later learned God was working in it.
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to be presented at the temple, we see beautiful examples from Simeon and Anna. They were led by the Holy Spirit to the knowledge of who Jesus, this little infant in His parent’s arms, truly was. They both not only believed what was revealed to them but proclaimed and praised this wonderful news!
This was the news they waited all their lives, and many generations, for, and here He was in their temple. These people who faithfully waited and prayed for the coming of the Messiah were blessed with being participants in presenting this Holy child to the Lord. They welcomed this opportunity and gave great, bold praise to God.
This study is part of the Study with Me: Chronological Gospels study series. It is an annual 48-week Bible study designed to encourage readers to follow along all year and dive deeper into the meat of the passages designated each week. I pray that you learn more about your Savior and grow in your relationship with Him through this study series. There is a free printable booklet available for download as well which allows you to print and take notes as you go through this study with me.
Today we are diving into Luke 1 and John 1:1-14. There are so many nuggets here and I invite you to read these passages over the next week and join the conversation to study alongside one another.
What are some things you found interesting about the message from Gabriel to Zechariah about the coming birth of John?
One thing I noticed today is that Elizabeth is from the tribe of Aaron, which was the tribe ordained by God to be priests. John the Baptist was of the line of Aaron, which is fitting for the one who would be the prophet born to go before Christ and make the way ready for His coming.
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I also love that even in the womb, John was filled with the Holy Spirit and that it was revealed to Elizabeth also that Mary would bear the Lord and Savior. Throughout this whole chapter, I love seeing Mary and Elizabeth both praising God and being faithful, willing, and obedient to the will of God, to be used in such ways as they were.
Throughout this whole first chapter in Luke, I cannot help but notice the theme of God as a Promise Keeper. Sometimes it can be so difficult to remember not only that God keeps His promises, but that He MAKES promises.
How can remembering that God makes and keeps promises encourage you or someone you know today?
Hopping over to the first bit of John we see John’s account of the birth of John and proclamation of Jesus. Throughout both passages this morning I am drawn to the different names for Jesus we see right off the bat; Son of the Most High, Son of God, the Word, the Light, the Life, the only Son from the Father.
What names of Jesus that we read today stand out to you the most, and mean the most to you?
I also love what John tells us that Jesus, the Word, was with God from the very beginning and that all things were created through Him. Not only was Jesus sent to redeem all of creation, but creation was created through Him as well as redeemed through Him.
What does knowing Jesus the light mean to you?
Jesus is the light, and no darkness can overcome Him. When we believe in Jesus as the Son of God, we have His light in us, we are children of God with Him, and His light cannot be overcome. We should bring His light into the world, and participate in the great and wonderful work of drawing more and more people to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
This study is part of the Study with Me: Chronological Gospels study series. It is an annual 48-week Bible study designed to encourage readers to follow along all year and dive deeper into the meat of the passages designated each week. I pray that you learn more about your Savior and grow in your relationship with Him through this study series. There is a free printable booklet available for download as well which allows you to print and take notes as you go through this study with me.
The Israelites had been taught for generations that a promised Redeemer, the Messiah, would one day come. They would hold festivals and have special days dedicated to providing sacrifices to cover their sins. They sacrificed animals, such as lambs, goats, and calves, and it was instilled in the people that blood was necessary for the redemption of sins, but that the animal blood provided only a temporary covering. One day there would be a lasting sacrifice and there would be no more need for sacrifices to be made for sins because the Redeemer would provide a lasting cover for all sins.
What is a Kinsman Redeemer?
All throughout Old Testament times, God was teaching His people, both then and now, that He is faithful and will redeem His people. He provides the way for salvation, and it is by belief in Him and obedience that we can find it. God’s people were constantly rebellious, but God continued to redeem them again and again. This gives us hope today and shows us that God wants His people to be saved.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman
One way God taught His people about the importance of redemption was by implementing laws and practices to redeem lands and inheritances. If a man died leaving his wife a widow with no children, a near relative of the husband would be called upon to redeem the widow, and carry on the lineage of the deceased husband. He would marry the widow, ensure the land stayed in the family, and they would have children on behalf of the first husband. This was known as a Kinsman Redeemer. We see a real example of this in the book of Ruth where Boaz becomes the Kinsman Redeemer of Naomi. This is also a foreshadowing of what was to come.
9 Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his property, so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his hometown. You are witnesses today.”
Another powerful example of redemption in the Old Testament is the Passover. The Israelites would observe the Passover Festival every year as a reminder of God’s redemption of His people at the cost of Egyptian lives. God spared His people, redeeming them, freeing them from Egyptian slavery, and in so doing paid with the blood of Egypt. God showed His people that He would redeem them from any enemy at any cost. When God’s people were freed from Egypt, they were led through the wilderness, and God continued to redeem them time after time and was patient with their disobedience.
25 When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, you are to observe this ceremony. 26 When your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 you are to reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when he struck the Egyptians, and he spared our homes.’” So the people knelt low and worshiped.
God redeemed His people throughout Old Testament times and has provided lasting redemption for all who will believe. Redemption is a deliverance from the penalty of sin. It is to be released from a debt owed, freed from bondage, and forgiven of your sins. To be redeemed is to be saved from the consequence we deserve for our sins. The price of sin is death, and redemption of sins requires a blood payment.
13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption,[a] the forgiveness of sins.
Because the price of sin is death, blood must be spilled to pay for sin. Sin cannot be forgiven without blood spilled to pay for it. In Old Testament times, there was a whole sacrificial system in effect but that was not lasting. Sacrifices were needed on a regular basis to continue to receive forgiveness of sins. God had been teaching His people that there would come a time when He would provide lasting redemption.
4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our[a] hearts, crying, “Abba,[b] Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.
Redemption is needed in order for sins to be forgiven. Without the forgiveness of sins, we are still enslaved to our sins, and are unable to freely serve God. If we are slaves to sin, we cannot be free servants of God, therefore we are unable to have personal relationships with Him. God loves His people and desires all to be saved, and all to know Him personally. Without redemption, this is not possible. We needed a Redeemer, and we could never redeem ourselves.
18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Without redemption, we cannot receive forgiveness or have a personal relationship with the Lord, and therefore we remain in our sin and separation from God. Redemption not only frees us from the bondage of our sin, but also gives the free gift of salvation that comes through faith in Jesus. This salvation redeems us to God, making us children of God and coheirs with Christ. As coheirs, we inherit a place in Heaven after the Last Judgment. Redemption through Jesus is the way to eternal life with the Lord.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation[a] for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
God provided His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Redeemer of the world. All the laws and practices of the Old Testament for the forgiveness of sins were to prepare the people for the coming Redeemer, the Messiah who would save the people for eternity. Jesus came to be the spotless lamb that was slain on behalf of all who would believe in Him as their Redeemer.
68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people.
11 But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come.[a] In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), 12 he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
As blood is the price for sin, Jesus’s blood was spilled to cover the sins of the entire world for all time. He took the whole curse of sin upon Himself as He died on the cross and with His blood paid the sin debt for all of mankind. By faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we all have access to eternal redemption, the forgiveness of our sins, and the promise of eternity with the Lord.
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.[a]
When you believe that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world, and place your faith in Him as your personal Savior and Redeemer, you will receive forgiveness of your sins and enter into a personal relationship with God through the blood of Jesus. With saving faith comes true repentance, and repentance leads to a change in direction. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit to convict, teach, and guide us through this new life with the Lord now that we have been freed from the bondage to sin.
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.[a]22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ[b] to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the[c] glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as the mercy seat[d] by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
By God’s great mercy, He gives grace to those who believe in His Son, and we become His children as well. As part of God’s family, we are blessed with the presence of God, personal access to Him in prayer, and the strength of Christ to persevere in this life until the ultimate day of salvation and the Last Judgement. When that day comes, those who have faith in Christ and are named as children of God will inherit eternal life with Him. It is by God’s grace through faith that we can receive the incredible gift of redemption and salvation. We cannot obtain it on our own, but only through faith in the precious blood of Jesus that was spilled on our behalf.
16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
Isaiah 53 is one of the prophecies about Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant, nearly 800 years before Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. The prophet Isaiah penned several prophecies about the Suffering Servant. They foretell a coming Messiah who would suffer for the sake of deliverance and reconciliation. In Isaiah 53, we read about the Suffering Servant being led like a lamb to the slaughter, as well as further sufferings the Messiah would endure. When Jesus came, nearly 800 years after the prophecies of Isaiah 53, He fulfilled every single aspect of this prophecy, which rightfully gives Him the names of Suffering Servant and Man of Sorrows.
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no [a]form or [b]comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no [c]beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and [d]rejected by men, A Man of [e]sorrows and acquainted with [f]grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our [g]griefs And carried our [h]sorrows; Yet we [i]esteemed Him stricken, [j]Smitten by God, and afflicted.
Sorrow is a mental and physical pain and depression. It is deep and severe. When David was being hunted by his own son, at risk of death constantly, David was deeply grieved by sorrow. David was anguished. This is a sorrow of body and soul, just as the prophecy tells of the Messiah.
17 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrowis continually before me. 18 For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in [a]anguish over my sin. 19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. 20 Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.
Grief is a physical and spiritual sickness, anxiety, calamity, and malady. This same word is used to describe a wound of violence against Jerusalem, as well as many physical diseases and even plagues in the Old Testament. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, is acquainted with grief. This acquaintance is a deep, divine knowing. It is the same word used when referring to God knowing His creation deeply, and His creation knowing Him. It is a recognition, discernment, and revelation. For Jesus to be acquainted with grief is for Him to be deeply aware of, and experienced with, grief.
7 As a fountain [a]wells up with water, So she wells up with her wickedness. Violence and plundering are heard in her. Before Me continually are[b]grief and wounds.
In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul teaches us about godly sorrow. Grief that causes repentance and leads someone to salvation is godly sorrow. This is in contrast with sorrow that leads to death and destruction, which is worldly sorrow. Worldly sorrow is caused by remaining in sin whereas godly sorrow leads to salvation and reconciliation with God.
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
The sorrows and grief that the Man of Sorrows carried were for our transgressions. For the sins and wickedness of the world, Jesus bore our grief and carried our sorrows. He became like one of us, becoming fully man and fully God, and lived a human life in which He experienced immense pain and suffering firsthand. During His ministry, He also displayed His deep knowledge of grief by healing the afflictions of so many people. Sin leads to sorrow and grief.
16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
Sorrow and grief are the results of sin and wickedness. Sin grieves God, and the sorrows imparted on Jesus were because of the sins of the world. We are grieved and experience our own sorrow because of the curse of sin on all mankind. We live in a sin-filled world that is contaminated by the presence of sin and evil, and sin leads to destruction. This destruction is eternal separation from God and all that is good.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified [a]freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a [b]propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
When Jesus bore the full weight of all the sins of the world as He hung on the cross to die, He bore our grief and carried our sorrow, and experienced that separation from God at that moment. He knew the ultimate grief and sorrow as He carried all the world’s sins so that we would not have to suffer that sorrow for eternity.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Jesus bore our griefs, and He was also acquainted with grief. To be our Messiah, our Great High Priest, Jesus had to know our grief firsthand. He had to experience the same pains and sufferings we experience. He also had a knowledge of grief by healing the ailments and afflictions of so many we read about in scripture. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, carried the sorrows and griefs of the world so that those who believe in Him as the Man of Sorrows would not have to bear their own sorrow for eternity.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines [a]and troubles. These are the beginnings of [b]sorrows.
Jesus died so that we would not have to be separated from God forever. Because God loves us so much that even though we deserve this death He sent His One and Only Son to die in our place so we could be reconciled to Him if we have faith in the blood that was spilled for our sake. Choosing to have faith in the Man of Sorrows leads to freedom from bondage to sin, and gives you personal access to God, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the strength of Jesus Christ over sin in your life.
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with [a]carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may [b]be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
With faith comes guidance through this life, leading us in the ways of God, and preparing us for eternity with Him. We must be watchful, always aware that Christ could return at any time, and we should be found ready for Him as His Bride when He returns. Faith enables us to endure to the end, resisting the evils of the world, and heals us of worldly sorrows because of unrepented sin.
Sin leads to death, and for those who never choose to believe in the Man of Sorrows, death is a permanent, eternal death of their relationship with God. While we draw breath, there is still the opportunity to choose faith in Jesus Christ. We never know how much longer we have, so we never know when our last opportunity to believe will be.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
When John the Baptist sees Jesus, he declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This is an essential point of the Christian faith, and there is so much beauty and depth to this fact all who call on the name of Jesus should know and believe. John the Baptist was born with the mission to prepare the way for the coming of the prophesied Messiah. When John saw Jesus, he saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus, which was the sign John had been told would reveal the Lamb of God. The Lamb of God, the coming Messiah, was a promise the Israelites had been waiting for many generations.
29 On the next day John[a] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God[b] who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am,[c] because he existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize[d] him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”[e]
32 Then[f] John testified,[g] “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove[h] from heaven,[i] and it remained on him.[j]33 And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining—this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”[k]
35 Again the next day John[l] was standing there[m] with two of his disciples. 36 Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”[n]
The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah who would be a lamb led to the slaughter. This lamb would be a great sacrifice, would not fight his death sentence, and by His stripes, all who believe in Him would be healed. Jesus came to earth, the Only Begotten Son of God, to live a sinless human life fully God and fully man, and then go to the cross to die on behalf of all mankind. His brutal torture and death on the cross fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah.
4 Surely He has borne our [a]griefs And carried our [b]sorrows; Yet we [c]esteemed Him stricken, [d]Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded[e] for our transgressions, He was[f]bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes[g] we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord [h]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
Back in Genesis, we see Abraham obediently take his son to be sacrificed. Abraham had been promised that his descendants would fill the earth and “be as numerous as the stars” (Genesis 22:17). This son God had just commanded him to take and sacrifice was the son God promised to Abraham to fulfill His promise, yet Abraham trusted God and took his son in faith. When Abraham gets to the place God told him to go and make the sacrifice, Abraham tells his son God will provide the lamb for the sacrifice. As Abraham lifts his blade to sacrifice his son, God stops him – and gives him a lamb to sacrifice in place of his son.
7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.”
And he replied, “Here I am, my son.”
Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide[a] the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.
This is a picture of what Jesus did for us as our sacrificial lamb. The penalty for sin is death, and for sin, there must be a blood sacrifice for redemption. To be forgiven, blood must cover the debt. In the Old Testament, the people would travel to attend the annual Passover Festival where a sacrifice would be made on behalf of the sins of the people for that year. Every year, the blood of an innocent lamb must be spilled for the people to be forgiven of their sins.
When Jesus came and died on the cross, He was the last lamb, the final sacrifice, and His blood was spilled for all the sins of all the world for all time. There became no more need for annual sacrifices, but instead, faith in Jesus as the Lamb of God and the blood He spilled on your behalf is what leads to salvation and the forgiveness of sins.
Death of the lamb for the redemption of mankind
Salvation is not obtained through money, good works, or anything else we could possibly do. Salvation is only obtained through faith in the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, whose blood was spilled for your sake. By believing in the divinity, sinless life, brutal death, and incredible resurrection of Jesus Christ you will be saved from the penalty of your sins because Jesus already paid the price of your debt. Nothing else will bring you into a relationship with God, give you the gift of eternal life and forgiveness of your sins, and nothing else will break the chains of wickedness that have kept you away from the Lord for so long.
17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
For those who have entered into a relationship with God through faith in the Lamb, you are also given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help you live according to your faith. His Holy Spirit also teaches you to persevere toward the ultimate day of salvation when Jesus will return again to defeat sin and Satan once and for all, and unite His bride to Him for eternity.
9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
The Holy Spirit is given to all who believe in the Lamb of God. He teaches us how to live according to our faith, and how to please God with our whole lives. Once we are saved, our faith should transform us from our former selves who remained in sin, to our new selves who have been made spiritually alive through Jesus. This spiritual life causes believers to live in ways that follow Jesus, glorify God, and prepare us for eternity with Him.
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore [a]purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed [b]for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
As the Lamb of God was sinless, we are called to live worthy of His sacrifice and resist the temptations of sin in our lives by the power of Christ that now dwells in us. We are now to live set apart for God, and not continue in the same ways we once lived before we knew Christ. Christ calls on us to repent, not harbor sin in our lives, and not remain in relationships that keep us in bondage to our sins. We are to be in the world but not of the world, and instead, be the light of Christ in the lives of others.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
We are not only blessed in this life by our faith in the Lamb but there are eternal promises awaiting those who believe in Jesus as their Passover Lamb. Jesus is the only One who is worthy to receive blessing, honor, and glory. As the One who defeats sin and death, He is the One we should worship, and should be the reason for all that we do. Our whole lives should be with the Lamb as our focus and cornerstone, and with eternity with Him in mind. Our reward is not here in this life, but in Heaven with Him at the end of the age.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made [a]us kings[b] and priests to our God; And [c]we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and [d]ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the [e]twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped [f]Him who lives forever and ever.
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, and all who believe in Him will have their names written in the Book of Life. Jesus will advocate for those whose names are in the Book of Life declaring their sin debt paid in full. By His blood, we will be sealed for eternity, forgiven of all sin, and dwell in the House of the Lord forever. There is no more curse of sin and evil – only the goodness and glory of God because of the Lamb who was slain.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
in 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul writes a letter to the church at Thessalonica. Paul has a beautiful way of identifying Jesus Christ in the greetings of his letters to various churches. It is important to never take these introductions for granted and miss an incredible lesson about who Jesus is. In 1 Thessalonians Paul opens his letter by describing Jesus as the one “who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 NKJV) Jesus is our deliverer.
What is the wrath of God?
9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
As our Deliverer, Jesus draws those who believe in Him to Himself to rescue them from the wrath of God. God’s wrath is His response to sin and disobedience, and those who resist the gospel. God’s wrath is a punishment for the wicked, those who relish their sin and atheism and are hostile toward God.
that in God which stands opposed to man’s disobedience, obduracy (especially in resisting the gospel) and sin, and manifests itself in punishing the same
vessels into which wrath will be poured (at the last day)
the day on which the wrath of God will be made manifest in the punishment of the wicked
9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and [a]minds. 10 [b]My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.
God is a jealous God. As our Creator, He has made each and every one of us and has given us all that we have. All that we have and all that we are is for His purposes and glory. When we do not do what God has planned for us, and we go our own way rather than God’s way we become enemies of God. Disobedience to God and failing to give Him glory is to live in sin and be His adversaries instead of His children.
2 God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;
God is very clear that those who choose to live in conflict with Him will receive His wrath. He will repay evil just as He promises, and will always be just in His judgment. His holiness requires justice for sin, and His wrath is the due punishment for all disobedience and hostility to His will and commands.
30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
He is also very clear that He makes Himself known to all of His creation, so there is not a single person with an excuse for remaining in their sin and ignorance and failing to believe in Jesus and obey the Lord. He makes Himself known and draws all of us to Himself, and sent His One and Only Son to die the death we deserve in order to deliver us from His wrath. He does not want any of us to perish under His wrath but wants us to be delivered and live in unity with Him. When we choose not to obey God, we choose to receive His wrath rather than His mercy.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who [a]suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is [b]manifest [c]in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and [d]Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
As our Deliverer, Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come. While in this life, though, there is evil all around us that Jesus has the power to deliver us from as well. When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Deliverer, we receive His Spirit and are able to fight against the evil of this world, as well as the evil spiritual forces wreaking havoc in unseen places.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Our[a] Father [b]in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. [c]Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, [d]But deliver us from the evil one.”
By our faith in Jesus, we can escape the clutches of the devil and his evil schemes, and resist sin and temptation in our lives. We are able to flee from evil and cling to God and His goodness. Without faith in Christ, we would still be enslaved to this sin and wickedness, unable to resist it. With Jesus, His power over sin and death sets us free and delivers us from the fate of those enslaved to their sin.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,[a] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
As we trust in Jesus for our deliverance, He strengthens us against the schemes of the devil in this life, and also delivers us from an eternal separation from God and all that is good. Faith in Christ as our deliverer gives us the strength to persevere through the trials of life, and the confidence to stand before God on the Day of Judgment with Jesus as our Advocate. On that day, those who have obeyed God and trusted in Christ as their Savior will be delivered from God’s eternal wrath, which is the fiery pits of Hell.
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Those who have faith in Jesus have their names written in the Book of Life, and their sins will be forgiven because of the precious blood of Jesus that was spilled for their sake, and accepted by them as their personal sacrifice. Faith in Christ delivers you from the fate of Hell and into an eternity with God and His eternal glory. Eternity with God will not be tainted by sin, pain, shame, guilt, or tears. We will spend eternity in Heaven, and because of our faith in Jesus Christ as our Deliverer, we will not suffer the eternal wrath of God we deserve.
32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 [a]Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Jesus died on the cross so that all who believe in Him would be forgiven and delivered from the punishment for sin. As He died, He prayed for God to forgive those who mocked, beat, and sent Him to die. The people disobeyed God, denied Christ, and remained unrepentant in their sins. They ridiculed Jesus as though He was powerless to save Himself while He allowed Himself to be sacrificed for the deliverance of all of mankind.
41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the [a]scribes and elders, said, 42 “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. [b]If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe [c]Him. 43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
During Jesus’ ministry, He gave many warnings. One warning He gave is to flee from the wrath to come, calling the hypocritical and blasphemous Pharisees a “brood of vipers”. He goes on to explain that there should be “fruits worthy of repentance”. To flee from the wrath to come, which is burning for eternity away from God and all goodness, we must place our faith in Jesus as the Deliverer and bear fruits of our faith.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
True faith requires repentance, which is to agree with God about your sin and turn away from it to follow Jesus. To bear the fruits of repentance means that you must completely turn from your sin and live in obedience to the Lord. By living according to the will of God, and abiding in Him, we will produce evidence of our faith and repentance throughout our lives. As we produce these fruits we are growing in faith, and in our likeness of the Lord, becoming more like Him in preparation for the day of Judgment.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your [a]impenitent heart you are [b]treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the [c]Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
I am a wife, mom, writer, crafter, and above all, a Child of God. I love to study the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, and serve God. I am thrilled to invite you to join me in seeking to satisfy our thirsty souls with the Living Water of Christ, which is what Water On Thirsty Land is here to do.
