THE GOSPEL OF LUKE (CHAPTER 3): A Reflective Guide Preparing the Way for the Saviour of the World DR. NG KEE CHUAN The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide Preparing the Way for the Saviour of the World By Dr. Ng Kee Chuan Preparing the Way for the Saviour of the World Page 1 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide Preparing the Way for the Saviour of the World Written by: Ng Kee Chuan First print: December 2020 Scripture references taken from Good News Bible. Right to copy (yes, you read that right!): Feel free to reproduce, store in a retrieval system, or transmit in any form or by any means without prior permission of the publisher. Published by: Ng Kee Chuan Please send feedback to author at this email: [email protected] Pictures taken from Unsplash, Pixabay. Pexels and Google Image. Thanks to all the wonderfully creative and generous photographers who shared their works of art freely. Your pictures that adorn the pages in this booklet have made it so much more interesting and attractive. Layout done by using Designnr. Credit Page Page 2 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide Edited by: Chow Kwai Yok, my faithful and beautiful companion of my best years of life here on earth. To God be the Glory! Credit Page Page 3 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide Table Of Contents Introduction 5 THE GOSPEL OF LUKE (CHAPTER 3) 8 1. John’s Baptism of Repentance (Luke 3:1-14) 8 2. Jesus’ Baptism With The Spirit and Fire (Luke 3:15-20) 21 3. Jesus’ Divinity and Humanity (Luke 3:21-38) 31 References 43 Table of Contents Page 4 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide Introduction Studying the Bible is one of the greatest joys a Christian can experience. We learn so much about God and his heart when we take time to do so. Taking time to study the Gospel of Luke is a really good introduction to the life and works of Jesus because Luke had taken great pains to write a detailed and orderly account for us to study. You will appreciate his precision in details and description. Even though you might be teaching or studying the Gospel of Luke as a subject for SPM, nevertheless you can take time to slow down and smell the owers, as it were. This means you are not just studying the facts but also endeavoring to relate the divine text to your life and situations. Most of all, focus on getting to know Jesus personally and grow in your relationship with God as you study this gospel written by Luke and his sequel the Book of Acts. This short guide is a tool to help you build that bridge between the ancient text and your context today. As you take time to study the text and reect on what this little e-booklet seeks to guide you to meditate on, I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak straight into your heart. Introduction Page 5 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide Here is a short description about the parts in each section that is set up to help you make this journey even more exciting: Learning Objective : This statement helps you set up your expectations as you read this passage and study it. Success Criteria : After you have nished your study, check if you have achieved what you set out to do using the criteria stated in this part. Engage : This is like a little ice-breaker to set your mind on the topics in the passage. Explore : This section helps you dig into the text of the passage telling you what it says. Explain : This section helps you to draw out the meaning of the topics raised in the passage. Elaborate : This section helps you relate what you have learnt in the previous sections to your own life and situation. Evaluate : This section helps you nail down some actions that you can implement in your life immediately. Discussion Questions : These questions are quite personal and if you have time to sit down and share with others, it will be mutually edifying and you will consolidate your fellowship one with another. Teachers can use this booklet to lead meaningful discussions as you teach the text in the Gospel of Luke. You can use this guide to help your students think more deeply and personally about what they are studying. If you are a student, you can use this guide to help you go deeper in your study, not just memorising the facts. You can even incorporate this guide as part of your daily devotions as you anticipate God speaking to you personally and directly into your life. Introduction Page 6 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide Most of all, let the voice of God be heard by both teachers and students as you engage in the most important book in the world - the Bible. This will be a lifelong practice that will be such a positive impact in your life and transform you into a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Amen! Your fellow pilgrim, Dr. Ng Kee Chuan Introduction Page 7 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide THE GOSPEL OF LUKE (CHAPTER 3) 1. John’s Baptism of Repentance (Luke 3:1-14) Luke 3:1–14 (GNB) It was the fteenth year of the rule of the Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, and Annas and Caiaphas were high priests. At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. So John went throughout the whole territory of the River Jordan, preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.” As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: “Someone is shouting in the desert: ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel! Every valley must be lled up, 1. John’s Baptism of Repentance (Luke 3:1-14) Page 8 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide every hill and mountain levelled off. The winding roads must be made straight, and the rough paths made smooth. The whole human race will see God’s salvation!’ ” Crowds of people came out to John to be baptized by him. “You snakes!” he said to them. “Who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don’t start saying among yourselves that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these stones and make descendants for Abraham! The axe is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the re.” The people asked him, “What are we to do, then?” He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it.” Some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?” “Don’t collect more than is legal,” he told them. Some soldiers also asked him, “What about us? What are we to do?” 1. John’s Baptism of Repentance (Luke 3:1-14) Page 9 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your pay.” Learning Objective At the end of the interaction, I should be able to: Evaluate the genuineness of my own repentance. Success Criteria At the end of the interaction, I am be able to: Check for true repentance based on a change in my heart, mind, direction, action and behaviour. Attribute my conversion based on the fruits of my life in keeping with true repentance. Engage Who was the most ery preacher that you have ever heard? How did he or she make you feel? Why? 1. John’s Baptism of Repentance (Luke 3:1-14) Page 10 The Gospel of Luke (Chapter 3): A Reective Guide Explore Luke, as a historian, tends to give details in his writings that authenticates the date and setting of his records. He does this at the beginning of chapter three when he names at least seven historical gures to establish the date and setting of John the Baptist’s ministry. The political rules he names were Tiberius, Pilate, Herod, Philip and Lysanias indicates that the period was about A.D. 27-29 (Kent, 1998). Together they formed the dark and wicked political leaders of the Roman/Palestinain powers. Luke also names the spiritual leaders Annas and Caiaphas who were the degenerate Jewish priesthood of the day. Annas had been high priest from A.D. 6-15 and was succeeded by four sons in succession and eventually by his son-in-law Caiaphas. Nepotism was clearly practiced and Annas maintained power and control by keeping the high priest position within his family. It is in this climate of evil and wicked rulers that John the Baptist bursts into the scene as a ery and fearless preacher.