Week 8

Luke 17-18
People at a distance

Today's write-up is from Pastor Rock's message in church. Contrary to our usual understanding of the story of the ten lepers, Pastor Rock took a different route. He brought the teaching of the social gospel through this story. Let me introduce some of his thoughts:

1. The lepers were referred as 'men' here. Unlike several other instances, were they were dehumanized. The author portrays them as real men, and not just based on their infirmity. Those devoted to God will see both the struggles and possibilities of others. Those devoted to themselves will see few struggles but their own.
2. Godly sight is enhanced when we view people in light of divine creation, rather than their difficult condition.
3. When we view people in light of their condition we lose sight of their humanity and easily devalue them.
4. When we view people in light of their condition, we lose sight of what they could be.
5. When we view people in light of their condition, we see sin and need as something residing in others than in us.
6. Suffering can easily lead us to feel distant from both God and Hope.
7. Jesus' followers look where others look away. When we heed the bible, we lose our blinders.
8. God does not draw us close so that we might escape the pain around us but so that we might see it even more clearly.
9. When we see others as Jesus sees them we will speak as Jesus speaks
10. Jesus heals us by enabling us to both see and feel the pain of people at a distance
11. When we see people at a distance as God sees them we decrease the distance between our own heart and the heart of God.

Please note that only one of the leper returned to thank Jesus - the samaritan man.
Also, their healing happened only with them showing the faith.

Additional points:
- Jesus does all these miracles on route to Jerusalem - on his way to die for us. Despite that, he spares time for miracles, parables and teachings. Even for kids. Amazing isn't it?

- Psalms 22: Jesus' crucifixion prophesied.

- The kingdom of God is within you = accurately read as - kingdom of God is in your midst. It's already here.

- Why did Jesus say to the rich young ruler "No one is good, but God? Why do you call me good?"
Jesus is actually telling him, if you are calling me good, you are essentially recognizing me as God.

By the way, why does Jesus use the mustard seed to describe both the Kingdom of God and the faith that he expects in a follower?

From http://www.gotquestions.org/mustard-seed-faith.html
The key to understanding the passages is the nature of faith, which is a gift from God. The power of faith reflects the omnipotent nature of the God who bestows faith on His own. The mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds found in the Middle East, so the conclusion is that the amount of faith needed to do great things is very small indeed. Just as in the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31–32), Jesus uses rhetorical hyperbole to make the point that little is much when it comes from God. The mustard seed in the parable grows to be a huge tree, representing the tiny beginnings of Christianity when just a few disciples began to preach and teach the gospel. Eventually, the kingdom grew to huge proportions, encompassing the entire world and spreading over centuries.

So, too, does the tiniest bit of faith, when it is true faith from God, grow to immense proportions in the lives of believers and spreading out to influence all they come into contact with.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/mustard-seed-faith.html#ixzz3VuxycpOi

Luke 15-16

The ‘Lost’ & ‘Found’

Luke has 28 parables (16 unique), Matthew has 23 (11), Mark has 9 (1) and John has none.

The three lost parables talk about one thing. God loves the sinner. The first two probably shows the great joy that Jesus has when he finds us again. The prodigal son story also talks about the issue of repentance. Only when the younger son repented was he able to get back to his father’s arms.

Homework: Why does Jesus use a scoundrel as the main character in the parable in Luke 16? What is he teaching us through this story? Is he condoning dishonesty?

Luke 16:19-31

This is the only parable where Jesus refers to someone who is real - by name - Lazarus. In fact, what is more interesting is the fact that the rich man does not have a name. Isn't it great to know that if we are suffering, Jesus knows us by our name? 

Luke 13-14

A potpourri of teaching

Luke has more parables than any other gospel. In these chapters, Jesus teaches on a lot of things.

1.       Repentance – the disasters happened not because of someone’s sins. It is a warning for us, to repent. Or face perish.

2.       Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It grows into a large tree, from a small tiny seed. In the same way, like a yeast, it enriches the dough and works all through it.

3.       Be humble (Luke 14:11)

4.       The feast parables (Luke 14:1-24) teaches us that the kingdom of God is for everyone. It’s for the Jews, the gentiles, it’s for the Pentecostals, catholics, marthomites, non-christians and everyone.

5.       Jesus heals on Sabbath day – those who opposed him gets rebuked. He hates people who stick on to traditions, without seeing the meaning of it.

6.       Salvation is certainly free. But there is a cost of discipleship. You should hate your family, but love your enemies. There are similar paradoxes in bible. If you cannot see the true meaning in them, they will remain paradoxes. For instance, ‘hate your family’ means, consider family not as equal to your relationship with Jesus. It does not mean HATE them. Hope you understand that it is not a paradox anymore, once you understand what Jesus is saying.

7.       Salt without saltiness are worthless. Christians without Christ are useless. Are you a Christian with a K?

Luke 12

Accountability

Jesus talks about accountability in this chapter. One has to be accountable in all that he does – work, faith, words, deeds, everything.

1.       Jesus warns that there is no neutral position when it comes to him. You either know him as God, or not (Luke 11:23). He also warns that his followers must expect to be persecuted. You cannot be comfortable with life, if you are a follower of Jesus. Disown him and face the consequence (Luke 12:8,12:51).

2.       Jesus believed in a literal Hell. The bible does not give any evidence that there is not a place called Hell. There is a popular theology out there that it does not exist. Wrong teaching.

3.       The rich fool is a classic materialist. If you are one, be warned. Jesus is talking about YOU.

4.       The story of the servants waiting for the master may not be about the second coming of Jesus. He has not introduced that teaching yet, if you consider this parable was chronologically in order. It appears that he is teaching about accountability instead. Be accountable in your work.

5.       If  you have been entrusted with much, more will be expected of you. He may not be talking about one’s talents. Instead, he maybe talking about the revelation of God (Hebrews 12).

6.       But don’t get stressed out. He will help you. The Holy spirit will teach you what to say when it matters (Luke 12:11-12; 22-34). He hears your every heartbeat. Don’t worry!

Luke 11
The Lord's prayer

After two years of close observation, the disciples now venture to ask Jesus how he prays. They must have noticed that most of Jesus' works happens after a time of prayer. Two lessons for us:
1. The way to teach is to model it.
2. He didn't teach them how to pray until they asked him for it.

Let your mentee set the agenda. Don't force feed them, or set their agenda for them. Do like Jesus did.

Snippets about the Lord's prayer:
1. Calling God as 'father' was truly revolutionary. Up until then, he was God. Jesus revolutionized our relationship with God.
2. Appreciating God's glory should come before our petitions and intercessions.
3. The Lord's prayer covers our past sin, present needs and future trials.

About the ask-receive comment by Jesus. He is talking about the Holy spirit. But in any case, if you wish to ask for something, ask in accordance with his will. 

What does Jesus mean by the ‘Sign of Jonah’?

-          Like Jonah, Jesus, the son of man, would be missing for three days, buried in the earth, and would live again. If the people of the day cannot fathom this sign, there is nothing more greater than this.

6 things that Jesus hates – The 6 woes (Luke 11:37-52)

1.       Showing a hypocritical zeal over the little things while neglecting the important things that matter to God

2.       A selfish pride – a fight for positions and fame

3.       Hiding one’s own sins, while judging others

4.       Imposing certain standards and expectations on people without fulfilling them yourself

5.       Honoring prophets of yesteryears and yet, destroying today’s saints

6.       Using peripheral issues and traditions to distract people from the real relationship with Jesus

Week 7

Luke 10

The preaching your and the neighbor 

Jesus talks about his first preaching tour. One thing we should remember is that the NIV says he sends out 72 disciples whereas the KJV says 70. Why is tigers such a discrepancy? These small insignificant typos happen due to 'primitive error'. There are 40 such errors in the bible (NT) as we know it. Remember that all of them are insignificant and does not result in doctrinal issues. These happen because of copying mistakes. When Luke wrote the original manuscript, it was divinely inspired. But some of the earliest manuscripts had some minor errors which could not be rectified due to the fact that these happened early enough. The bible is the most reliable book ever. Considering that we read Shakespeare although it was written only 500 years ago and believe it to be the real one, it is a miracle that we have the bible saved in such perfect manner and verified with several 100 manuscripts. The error described in verse 1 happened due to an early manuscript missing out on a small word which makes it unclear whether he wrote 72 or 70. 

Coming to the preaching tour as described in the first part of chapter 10. The lesson for us is this: 

When God uses you and me, let's not get impressed with our successes. Rather let's be joyful that our name is written in heaven. 

Again, you can read that Jesus was joyful in the Holy Spirit. He enjoys our small victories. The joy of The Lord is one of the greatest marks of a spirit filled life. 

Finally, the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is narrated by Jesus in response to a question by a lawyer. "What must I do to get eternal life". He replied to his own question and says that one should love God and his neighbor. He knows that no one can fulfill both of this. Therefore he asks a rhetorical question to avoid his guilt. "Who's a neighbor"?  Jesus says, through the parable, a good neighbor is one who shows mercy on you when you need help. Even though Samaritans and Jews are sworn enemies, this man ventures to help the Jewish man lying wounded. 

Are you a good neighbor? 

Luke 9

The apprenticeship

I would like to call chapter 9 as the “lesson in Apprenticeship.” My father had apprentices in his shop. I used to watch them when I was young. There would be a senior employee and several juniors who would do the work according to strict instructions from the senior man. Jesus employs the same strategy. He picks his apprentices and gave them the tools (power and authority to cure diseases). And, he sent them out to work in Galilee. He tells them how they should be compensated (abide in houses that welcome them) and how they should respond to people who neglect them (have nothing to do with them). This part of his instruction is a bit of a mystery to me – but as I heard in church today, I should learn to accept the mysteries of faith, if not, how can there be a higher power – God – who knows more than I do.

Even his miracle of feeding the 5000 is an exercise in discipleship. He first lets them handle this responsibility. And, it is only when they failed he stepped in to work his miracle.

If you notice, Peter when asked by Jesus, who he thinks Jesus is, replies – “the Christ of God.” In other words, The God’s Messiah. He is yet to call him God. There maybe some theological meanings about this statement, which I leave for your curiosity.

Jesus talks about taking up the cross daily, denying himself. Does this mean that salvation is a daily experience? No, the bible teaches that salvation is a one time experience. The ‘taking of cross and denying’ is probably an expression of discipleship.

Jesus lets few of the disciples witness the transfiguration. If that does not show who is God, what else can. I know I said this last day as well – when Jesus calmed the storm. But, still the disciples needed more evidence so that they could withstand the severe tribulation that is to come. I think that is why he gave them the experience of the transfiguration.

Finally, Jesus talks about his death a year prior to his eventual crucifixion. The gospel says he set his eyes upon Jerusalem. He chose the death voluntarily, in a purposeful manner, well planned. He knew that his death was necessary for God’s redemption plan for man.

No other battle has ever been won with the victor’s death. Jesus did that for us. Hallelujah.

Luke 8:22-55

Authority over all

Matthew, Mark and Luke are considered the synoptic gospels. It essentially means that all three describes similar incidents from slightly different angles, which when read together provides a clear synopsis of the event. John’s gospel was written last. He ventures to describe more of the conversations and the teachings rather than incidents.

In today’s passage, we see Jesus exercising authority over nature, demons and sickness or death.

In the first incident, Jesus is sleeping in the boat. The disciples who are expert fisherman, who probably have seen plenty of storms see a major one and get scared. They soon discover the authority Jesus has over the storm and nature. Surely, they must have thought of Psalms 89:9 ‘You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.’ Or psalms 107:29 – ‘He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.’ The psalmist says that Jehovah stills the storm. Here they see Jesus calming the storm. If this does not prove Jesus as God, nothing will. The disciples, out of their fear, asks “Who is this?”

In the second incident, Jesus casts out numerous demons from Legion. Are all sickness due to demons or is all cases of epilepsy due to demons? Certainly not. When the son of man started performing miracles, the master of this world may have created trouble in this world by increasing demon possessions. The key message here is two fold – Jesus can cast out demons. Nothing can stop his power. Second, some of the sickness that you see in today’s world could be due to a non-physiological ailment. Only a man of God given wisdom can identify it. And, when that is known, the only cure is through prayer.

Finally, Jesus shows his authority over sickness and death. It is interesting to note that he recognizes the small miracles even when he is about to do the big ones. Here, on his way to give life to a dead girl, he stops to take care of a woman with sickness. He knows our every problems. Isn’t it comforting to read these passages and think about your own life’s circumstances? And, knowing that He is in your side!

Summary of the three incidents:

1. Safety is where Jesus is, even if it is in the middle of the storm.

2. There is no such thing as a hard case for Jesus.

3. Jesus is never too busy for your issues.

Luke 8:1-21
Parables

1. If you notice the introduction, one can see that Luke again places much importance on women. Mary, a woman with 7 demons, and the high class aristocratic Joanna can work together easily only under Jesus. That's what God does. Rich or poor, whatever may divide us, we come together when we are in Him.

2. Jesus style of mentoring is hands-on. Apprenticeship style. If you want to learn about him, be with him.

3. Jesus uses parables as a teaching method. A parable is a earthly story with a heavenly meaning. John's gospel has no parables. The synoptic gospels have plenty of them. John's gospel is the last to have been written, probably to complete unfinished matter.
Anyway, returning to parables - there are three important things in a parable: the setting, story and the application.

A parable usually only provides one teaching point. Do not try to dig more into parables. You may risk over interpreting and bringing forth un-biblical teaching and doctrine. In the parable of the sower, the teaching point is that the soil is most important. How we receive the gospel is most important.

Interpreting parables involves few basic steps:
1. Think about the stories' natural meaning
2. Note the occasion where he says them. Luke 15 talks about the 'lost' series as a response to the Pharisees questioning Jesus on the company he keeps.
3. Find the central teaching point.
4. Check the meaning with scripture elsewhere. Does it fit?
5. If you have problems, get hints from the social situation - for eg, parable of the wedding gifts in Matthew.

Jesus may hide the meaning of a parable from certain people. For them, though they hear, they may not understand (Luke 8:10). If you constantly reject God's word, it may not be revealed further.

4. Finally, Jesus stresses that his family is people who hear God's word and put it into practice. He shows the oneness of Christ's family here.

Sorry I am not writing in Malayalam, since I am bogged down with work. I will resume in calmer, peaceful circumstances. Maybe, once I have time, I will get a chance to translate all that I have written in English anyway. 

Luke 7
Three incidents - three prayer approaches

If you look at Luke's gospel, what strikes us is the importance he gives to women and gentiles. His gospel emphasizes that the coming of Jesus is for ALL nations. 

Again, here you see two women and a gentile. 
1. Widow at Nain
2. Centurion
3. Women with the Alabaster jar

The centurion's story shows us the omnipotency of God's word. His one word was able to heal and bring forth a miracle in the Roman Centurion's home. All powerful God. The faith of the centurion is amazing. 
There is just two instances where Jesus is "amazed". 
1. Seeing the Centurion's faith
2. Seeing his own people's unbelief (Nazareth)

The Centurion is a righteous man. Unlike most people who pray for miracles in the bible, he prays for his slave. He is humble, sensitive (to know that it is not OK for a jewish Rabbi to visit his house), righteous and full of faith. In this instance, his faith is so much that he prays God heals his slave with one word. 

The second instance is the widow at Nain who lost her son. She does not say a prayer. Jesus sees her sorrow and is merciful and does a miracle. 

The third instance is one of the women with the Alabaster jar. She does not come with a request to receive something. Instead, she comes with a thank offering. She is full of gratitude. She probably used up her life's savings to do this. She probably did a huge risk by coming to the house of Simon the pharisee to anoint Jesus with oil. Real love produces action that is extravagant. 

Reading all these three stories, I am left wondering which approach I should take in my prayer - should I pray in faith and ask God for that one word, or should I be so much sad that God sees my sorrow and shows his mercy or should I come to him with gratitude and not with a request. I maybe over extrapolating this chapter to area of prayer, but these are just random thoughts or a random blogger. 

The next big lesson from this chapter is John the Baptist's question:
- even John had doubts - is Jesus the Messiah?
His doubt comes due to two reasons:
1. it comes in the extremely difficult circumstance that he is in - the jail, facing death
2. it comes due to an incomplete knowledge of the son of God. 

Like him, we too have doubts. If John the Baptist (the man who Jesus recognized as the greatest to be born of a woman) can have doubts in faith, we too can have questions. Jesus understands us. What a relief!

That's all for today - week 7 day 1. Thanks for staying with me. As I write this, I know no one is staying with me, but maybe in a few years down the line, there maybe one person who maybe reading this blogpost and maybe blessed. In such a case, drop me an email and bless me too. Or, better still, remember me in your prayer. God bless you.

Week 6

Luke 6
Jesus says...

Legalism
The name pharisee means the separated one. They separated from ordinary people so that they could be pure. They were purists. Maccabees and their followers evolved into pharisees. They were responsible for keeping the Jewish culture pure. They became almost fanatical as a result of Pagan influences. Pharisees wanted to keep the Sabbath clean and perfect. Sabbath day was not for work. But no one knew how to define work. So pharisees just prohibited anything on that day. Even walking a block is prohibited. Even now in New York, a major hospital has an elevator that runs constantly and stops in each floor. This is so that the orthodox Jews do not have to press the button on a Sabbath day.

Today, Phariseeism stands for legalism.

Jesus did not break any laws. But broke Pharisees rules - legalism is also disastrous.

Jesus chose disciples
Again, Jesus prays before making the big decision. Luke constantly brings this to our attention. How Jesus prays before every major event in his life. Jesus' agenda is determined by prayer. If he needs to pray that much, what about you and me?

But at the end of the prayer, look at who he chooses? He chose the less traveled, less educated people. They were unpolished. The qualities Jesus was looking for was evidently simple. His disciples had to be Faithful, Available and Teachable. Can you meet these characteristics?

PS: Bartholomew and Nathaniel seems to be the same person (different names). Similarly, Levi and Matthew.

Sermon on the mount - an abridged version (Full one - Matthew 5)
It appears that this is an abridged version. But, Luke adds the woes statements.
Although the differences between Matthew's and Luke's statements are there, one should remember that each of these are bombshells in itself (Matthew Henry commentary). We may have read it so much that we have lost its remarkable revolutionary nature.

The rest of what Jesus says is self-explanatory. 

Luke 4:14 - 5:39
The Authority of Jesus

ഇന്നത്തെ ഭാഗത്തെ ഒറ്റ വാക്യത്തിൽ ചുരുക്കിയാൽ അത് "അധികാരം" എന്നതായിരിക്കും. 

പക്ഷെ ആദ്യം 4:14-28 -
Jesus is being rejected at Nazareth - his home town. It reminds us that Jesus can be a cornerstone (the most important stone in a building) - for the believer vs. a stumbling block (something that we stumble and fall over) - for the unbeliever.
What is he to you? A cornerstone or a stumbling block?

Please note that Luke does not arrange his book chronologically. In fact, Mark does it quite chronologically, of all the gospels. It can be thought that this particular incident happened a while after he starts his ministry officially, and a bunch of healing and miracles have already taken place.

Now coming back to the word of the day - Authority

യേശുവിനു മാത്രമാണ് ദൈവീകമായ അധികാരം ഉള്ളത്. താഴെ പറയുന്ന ഏഴു കാര്യങ്ങളിലൂടെ ലൂകോസ് അത് നമുക്ക് ചൂണ്ടി കാട്ടുന്നു.
1. ഭൂത ബാധിതരുടെ മേലുള്ള അധികാരം (4:31-36)
Jesus casts out the demon from the possessed man in Capernaum.

2. രോഗങ്ങളിന്മേലുള്ള അധികാരം (4:38-39)
He heals the fever of Simon's mother-in-law spontaneously.

3. പരിസ്ഥിതിയുടെ മേലുള്ള അധികാരം (5:1-7) - പത്രോസിന്റെ വലയിൽ മീനുകൾ വന്നു നിറയുന്നു. 
He persuades Simon, John and James to fish again when they (the most trained fishermen) have failed already. He persuades the nature (fish) to act according to his direction. He had the ability and the authority to persuade both man and nature.

4. പാപത്തിന്റെ മേലുള്ള അധികാരം (5:12-15)
Leprosy was a symbol of sin at that time. Probably because it slowly eats away a person. Even God used it as a punishment (Miriam, Gehazi, King Hosiah). So, when Jesus heals the leper he challenges the Jewish system by showing his control over the sin.

5. പാപം ക്ഷമിക്കാനുള്ള അധികാരം (5:17-26)
By forgiving sin and thereby healing a man, Jesus again challenges the pharisees. They considered any sickness as related to sin. When you are healed of a sickness, you are redeemed of a sin. By healing this man, Jesus puts the pharisees in a fix by showing that he had the authority to forgive sin.

6. പാപികളുടെ മേലുള്ള അധികാരം (5:27-31)
He called Levi (Matthew), the tax collector, also considered the scum of the Jewish society, as his disciple. He showed his authority over the sinner.

7. മതപരമായ ആചാരങ്ങളുടെ മേലുള്ള അധികാരം (5:33-39)
He again shows his authority over religious traditions and practices.

He alone has authority over everything.

The last point to be made:
Luke 4: 42-44
Jesus stayed on mission. Despite being asked by the local town folk to stay in town with them, he was adamant about his mission and had the clarity of thought to move on to other places. Do we stay in mission or wander around based on our situations or what people ask us to do or behave like?

Luke 3:1-4:13
The ministry of John the baptist
Baptism of Jesus
The beginning of Jesus' ministry

ലുകൊസിന്റെ ചരിത്രപരമായുള്ള കൃത്യത ഇവിടെ വീണ്ടും കാണാം. Luke links the first verse of 3rd chapter to 6 historical markers. 

യോഹന്നാൻ സ്നാപകന്റെ മിനിസ്ട്രി ഇവയാണ്:
- repentance 
- forgiveness 
ഒന്നില്ലാതെ രണ്ടാമത്തെതില്ല. 

His ministry is often referred as one of hell fire and brim stone preaching. 
Repentance has to change the life, without which forgiveness is not produced. 
സ്നാപകൻ യെഹൂദരെ ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നത് ഇപ്പ്രകരമാണ് - അബ്രഹാമിന്റെ മക്കൾ എന്ന് വിളിച്ചത് കൊണ്ട് കാര്യമില്ല. പാപത്തെ ചൊല്ലി അനുതപിക്കണം. 

God has no grandchildren. Before the good news of salvation, one has to face the bad news of one's sins and repent. 

Question for the day: Why did John say Jesus will baptize with holy spirit and fire? Which fire was he referring to? 

The likely answer is that John was really an old testament prophet who was awaiting the Messiah himself. For him, the Messiah will:
- redeem his people (Isaiah 53)
- deliver judgement and reinstate the throne of David (Isaiah 9)

So, John maybe pointing to the salvation that comes from Jesus and the future judgement (fire) when Christ returns.

The baptism of Jesus

കർത്താവിനെ യോഹന്നാൻ സ്നാനം കഴിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ഒരു ശബ്ദം അവിടെ എല്ലാവരും കേൾക്കുന്നു. ഇത് യഥാർത്തത്തിൽ എല്ലാവരും കേട്ട് കാണുമോ? പൗലോസ്‌ ദാമാസ്കുസിലേക്ക് പോകുമ്പോൾ കർത്താവിനെ കണ്ടു മുട്ടിയപ്പോഴും, ചുറ്റും നിന്നവർ സ്വരം കേട്ടു എന്ന് നാം വായിക്കുന്നു. 
We can assume that everyone around have heard the voice from heaven that said "You are my son."
This voice fulfills two old testament prophesies in Psalms 2 and Isaiah 42. 

The temptation of Jesus
രണ്ടാമത്തെ ആദാമായ യേശുവിനെ സാതാൻ പരീക്ഷിക്കുന്ന സംഭവത്തിൽ നിന്നും നമുക്ക് പലതും പഠിക്കാം. അവനെ മൂന്നു തരത്തിൽ സാതാൻ പരീക്ഷിച്ചു. 

1. ജടത്താൽ (lust of flesh) - Are you hungry? Change the stones to bread. കല്ല്‌ അപ്പമാക്കുവാൻ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു 

2. കാഴ്ച്ചയിൽ (lust of eyes) - Look over there, all this belongs to you. എല്ലാ രാജ്യവും നിനക്കുള്ളത് എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞു


3. അഹത്തിൽ (pride of life) - Jump and the angels will catch you from the fall. നിന്നെ പറ്റി ദൈവം വളരെ important ആയി കരുതുന്നു എന്ന് എല്ലാവരും കാണട്ടെ എന്ന്. 

ഈ മൂന്നു പരീക്ഷകൾക്കും ഉത്തരം ദിനവൃത്താന്തത്തിൽ നിന്നും യേശു നല്കുന്നു. ഇതിൽ നിന്നും രണ്ടു കാര്യങ്ങൾ പഠിക്കാം. 

1. യേശു സാറ്റാനുമായി debate ചെയ്തില്ലെങ്കിൽ നമുക്കും അതിൽ നിന്നും മാറി നിൽക്കുന്നതായിരിക്കും നല്ലത്. Don't debate Satan. Run away if you are tempted. 

2. യേശു സാറ്റന്റെ പരീക്ഷണങ്ങൾക്ക് ഉത്തരം നല്കുന്നത് വചനത്തിൽ നിന്നും ആകുന്നു. അതിനാൽ നാമും വചനം നന്നായി അറിയുന്നത് ഉചിതം.  Know the scripture and use it in times of temptations.

Luke 2
The birth of the Messiah

ലൂകൊസിന്റെ പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ രണ്ടാമത്തെ അദ്ധ്യായം ചരിത്രപരമായി വളരെ accurate  ആകുന്നു. ലുകൊസിന്റെ sources  മറിയയും യോസേഫുമാണ് എന്ന് യാതൊരു സംശയവുമില്ല. Micah 5:1-ൽ പറയുന്നത് പോലെ കർത്താവിന്റെ ജനനം ബെത്ലെഹെമിൽ ആണ് സംഭവിക്കുന്നത്‌.

1. ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ജനനം വളരെ താഴ്മയായ രീതിയിലാണ്.  In extreme humility.
He may be the only king who can relate to the lowest person in his kingdom.

2. ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ബർത്ത് announcement നടക്കുന്നത് ആട്ടിടയരോടാണ്. ഒരു അഡ്രസ്സും ഇല്ലാത്ത ആൾക്കാരാണ് ഇവർ. സമൂഹത്തിലെ താഴെ തട്ടിലെ വിഭാഗം. അവരെയാണ് ഇതിനായി കർത്താവ്‌ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുന്നത്.

3. Luke's gospel is special in that he constantly emphasizes that Jesus is the savior of all people.

4. Luke emphasizes that the Holy spirit was active well before the pentecost - see Simeon and Anna's story, Elizabeth's story for instance. Holy spirit was sent to each believer on a permanent basis on the day of pentecost.

Christ means: "the anointed one"

There is debate about whether the angels meant "Lord's Christ" or "Christ the Lord". Read about it if you have time.

One last point about the angels' birth announcement of Jesus - they say that peace is upon all people on whom the favor of the Lord rests. It is not for All people as we may read in some translation. 

Luke 1

1. ലൂകൊസിന്റെ സുവിശേഷം എഴുതിയത് Luke എന്ന വ്യക്തിയാണ്. അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ഒന്ന് introduce ചെയ്യാം.
About Luke
- doctor
- ചരിത്രപരമായ ഗ്രന്ഥങ്ങൾ എഴുതി - ലൂകൊസിന്റെ സുവിശേഷം & അപ്പോസ്തോല പ്രവര്ത്തികളും
- പുതിയ നിയമത്തിലെ 30% എഴുത്തും ലുകൊസിന്റെ കൈയിൽ നിന്നാണ്
- പൌലോസിന്റെ സുഹൃത്തും, ഡോക്ടറും, യാത്രയിൽ കൂട്ടാളിയുമായിരുന്നു
- യഹൂദ ജാതിയിൽ നിന്നല്ലായിരുന്നു

2. The peculiarities of Luke's gospel: ലൂകൊസിന്റെ സുവിശേഷത്തിന്റെ to-address തെയോഫിലോസിനോടാണ്. ഇത് ആരാണെന്ന് നമുക്ക് വ്യക്തമല്ല. ഇത് ഒരു വളരെ careful ആയി എഴുതിയ document ആണ്. Well researched - ഒരു ഡോക്ടർ ഒരു scientific document prepare ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ കാട്ടുന്ന meticulousness ഇവിടെ കാണാം. ഒരു ഡോക്ടറായ എനിക്ക്, ഇതിന്റെ importance വളരെയതികം മനസിലാക്കാം. ഈ ഡോക്യുമെന്റ് പലരുടെയും first person അക്കൌണ്ടിൽ നിന്നാണ് എഴുതിയിര്ക്കുന്നത്.   ഉദാഹരണത്തിന്, ഒന്നാമത്തെയും രണ്ടാമത്തെയും അദ്ധ്യായങ്ങൾ നല്കുന്ന വിശദമായ ചിന്തകൾ മറിയയിൽ നിന്നല്ലാതെ ലൂകൊസിനു ലഭിക്കുകയില്ല. അതിന്റെ source വളരെ വ്യക്തമാണ്.

3. Is bible well-researched or God inspired or both? പിന്നെ എന്ത് കൊണ്ടാണ് ബൈബിൾ ദൈവശ്വാസീകമാണ് എന്ന് വിശേഷിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്? ബൈബിൾ ദൈവം ആരെയും ട്രാന്സിൽ ഇട്ടു കൊണ്ട് എഴുതിച്ചതല്ല. അത് ആര്ക്കും ചെവിയിൽ ഊതി കൊടുത്തു എഴുതിയതല്ല. പിന്നെയോ, മനുഷ്യൻ എഴുതിയ ഡോക്യുമെന്റ്, അതിന്റെ accuracy  & infallibility ദൈവം ensure ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നു. ചെറിയ ഉദാഹരണം പറഞ്ഞാൽ, ഞാൻ ഒരു scientific manuscript എഴുതുമ്പോൾ, അതിന്റെ റഫറൻസ് എവിടെ നിന്ന് വേണം എന്നത് എന്റെ boss പറഞ്ഞു തരും, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ കാട്ടി തരും. പക്ഷെ അത് എഴുതിയത് ഞാൻ ആണ്. അതിന്റെ accuracy ensure ചെയ്യുന്നത് എന്റെ ബോസ്സ് (expert) ആകുന്നു. ഏകദേശം അത് പോലെ. ബൈബിൾ ദൈവം തന്റെ story പറയുവാൻ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന book  ആകുന്നു. ബൈബിൾ ദൈവശ്വസീകമാകുന്നു. ബൈബിൾ വചനത്തിനു അതിന്റേതായ പവർ ഉണ്ട്. വേറെ ഒരു ദിവസം ഇതിനെ പറ്റി നമുക്ക് പഠിക്കാം.

4. God loves women: In ancient Israel, Jews used to pray, "God, Thank you for not making us slaves, gentiles or women". In contrast, God loves women. ലൂകൊസിന്റെ സുവിശേഷം സ്ത്രീകളെ വളരെയതികം highlight ചെയ്യുന്ന document ആണ്. മറ്റു ഒരു പുസ്തകത്തിലും ഇല്ലാത്ത 13 സ്ത്രീകളെ പറ്റി ലൂകൊസിന്റെ സുവിശേഷത്തിൽ വായിക്കാം.

The annunciation to Zechariah and Mary, mother of Jesus 

5. സെക്കരിയാവിനു പള്ളിയിൽ ആരാധന ലീഡ് ചെയ്യുവാൻ ഒരു പക്ഷെ കിട്ടിയ ആദ്യത്തെ chance ആയിരിക്കാം ഇത്. ഇസ്രായേലിൽ 20,000 പരം പുരോഹിതർ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. എല്ലാവർക്കും chance കിട്ടി എന്ന് വരില്ല. അങ്ങനെ ഒരു മേജർ prayer എവെന്റിനു ശേഷമാണ് ഒരു അത്ഭുതം അവന്റെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ നടക്കുന്നത്.

6. Mary's song: അടുത്തതായി മറിയയുടെ പ്രാർത്ഥന ഒന്ന് കൂടി ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചു വായിക്കൂ. 1 ശമുവേലിൽ ഹന്നയുടെ പ്രാർഥനയും ഇതും വളരെ സാമ്യം ഉണ്ട്.  Please read this link to get an understanding of the spiritual truths in Mary's song.
http://www.soundofgrace.com/piper80/120780e.htm

Finally, the virgin birth. People often say virgin birth is a myth, based on their understanding of what they have seen in the world today. It becomes a non-question, if you understand or can comprehend the greatest miracle in the "Jesus' virgin birth". That God came down to the earth to save us. If you can comprehend that, it becomes easy to understand that God's birth as man would not be an ordinary event. May God bless you to comprehend it.