While the second coming of Jesus Christ is clearly taught in Scripture (Luke 12:40; 1 Thess. 5:2-4; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15), many in the church today are either consumed with making fanciful predictions about his return or simply neglect this doctrine out of frustration and confusion. For a disciple of Jesus, however, neither of […]
The successful mission of the seventy-two signified that Satan’s kingdom was beginning to collapse (Luke 10:17-18). The captives and the oppressed were finding liberty, the poor were hearing the good news of the kingdom, the blind were receiving their sight—and it was all pointing ahead to the cross where Jesus Christ would decisively crush the […]
What does it mean to be truly blessed? According to the kingdom of this world, the blessed are those who earn the most and have the best. They are the rich, those satisfied with the comforts of this life, and those who are accepted and praised by all. But according to Christ Jesus, the blessed are […]
So far in Luke’s gospel, we’ve seen that Jesus came “to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18; 4:43). The calling of Levi, and Jesus’ association with tax collectors and sinners, here in this passage is a powerful demonstration of this mission of redemption, but the Pharisees and scribes are offended. Yet this is more […]
Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, summarizes the gospel of our salvation: Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, he was buried, and he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Though the spotless Lamb of God was slain to take away the sins of the world, three […]
“The chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe'” (Mark 15:31-32). As Jesus hangs upon the cross, suffering the physical pain of crucifixion and spiritual anguish of the […]
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days to enter into battle with Satan (Luke 4:1-2; Mark 1:12-13). This temptation in the wilderness was a pivotal moment in the mission of the Son of God to accomplish salvation for humanity. As the wonderful hymn states, “Come behold the wondrous […]
Unique to Luke’s Gospel is the mention of two characters who play a small but profound role in the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. These two saints, Simeon and Anna, had been faithfully committed to serving and worshiping God. They knew that God had promised a Messiah who would come to save and restore his people and […]
The familiar story of Christ’s birth includes a variety of characters, from the powerful Caesar Augustus all the way down to the lowly shepherds. Most would think that the sending of God’s own Son into the world would take place in the most extravagant, influential, politically expedient, and visible way possible. Yet here we find Jesus, […]
Luke’s gospel begins with two angelic announcements and two prophetic songs. In these narratives, through both the words of the angel and the doxologies of Mary and Zechariah, we are given a further glimpse into God’s plan of salvation that would soon find its fulfillment in Christ Jesus. John’s miraculous birth prompted Zechariah to use his loosed tongue […]
In the early stages of Luke’s gospel, before Jesus Christ is even laid in the manger, we are given a foretaste of his life, his ministry, and his mission. Gabriel tells Mary that he will be great, the Son of the Most High and holy, and will reign over his kingdom forever. Then, the Spirit reveals to Elizabeth that Mary […]
In this sermon delivered on Christmas morning, Pastor Dave opens up God’s Word to reveal and explain the gracious gift of the incarnation: how God himself came to dwell among us, live for us, suffer like us, and die to save us from our sins.
“Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:4). Traditionally sung by pilgrims traveling up to the temple in Jerusalem, this Song of Ascent declares the faithful, vigilant, keeping power of God over his chosen people. But can we Gentiles sing and apply this Psalm today? If we aren’t making pilgrimages to Jerusalem, celebrating Jewish feasts, or even […]
In this final psalm in the collection of psalms sung during the celebration of the Passover (Pss 113-118), God is thanked because of his perfect goodness and his unending mercies toward his covenant people. Though the church may be surrounded by enemies on all sides, though Satan himself seeks to accuse, to oppress, and to devour, and though we might […]
Just as we were once characterized by our spiritual death and alienation from and hatred of God, his immeasurable power in the gospel of grace has miraculously brought us from death to life for good works: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in […]
