The Bible Recap - Journaling in Luke's Gospel

I started to use The Bible Recap in 2025 but stopped during the summer as I deep dived into the book of Psalms. Then in September I decided to return and read the New Testament for the last few months of the year.  I have compiled in this post all my thoughts from the gospel of Luke.

Luke 4 verse 24 "Verily I say unto you. No prophet is accepted in his own country." I love this quote from C H Spurgeon in reference to this verse:

“I learn, from this incident in our Lord’s life, that it, is not the preacher’s business to seek to please his congregation. If he labors for that end, he will in all probability not attain it; but, if he should succeed in gaining it, what a miserable success it would be!”

Should be a motto for every preacher!

Luke 4 tells of how Jesus walked into his local synagogue in Nazareth. It was local in the sense that he had grown up in this place and he had attended the synagogue every week. But he was considered an invited speaker on this particular day because he now lived in Capernaum. The people were expecting to see signs following him - in other words - in Capernaum Jesus had performed miracles and they wanted that to happen in Nazareth. But Jesus talked to them about 2 incidents in their past - going right back to Elisha and Naaman. The widow women who Elijah met after he travelled from the brook Cherith was gathering enough sticks to go home and make the last meal for her and her son. Naaman was a leper and a little maid carried captive to his home spoke to him about his leprosy. Jesus used these 2 incidents to show that they were not the only ones in the area who could have been saved or healed. There were many others. The Enduring Word commentary puts it this way:

"The fact that they did not receive Jesus had nothing to do with Jesus, but everything to do with them. He was truly from God, but they would not receive Him. Their rejection said more about them than it did about Jesus. Second, it showed that God’s miraculous power operates in unexpected and sovereign ways. People that we often consider undeserving and perhaps strange are many times recipients of God’s miraculous power.

Spurgeon points out that it was true that Naaman’s healing was an example of sovereign grace and election at work; but it could also be turned around to say, “Every foreign, heathen leper who came to Elisha and did what he said to do in seeking the Lord was healed and received a blessing.” This was also true, and can be set alongside the first aspect.

Naaman was healed by sovereign grace but note how it happened. First, he heard a word that he could be healed. He then responded to that word in faith that connected with action (the act of travelling to Israel). Next, Naaman obeyed the word of the prophet to wash in the Jordan seven times, and he obeyed with humility, surrendering his pride to the word of God through the prophet."

In Luke 5 we have the miraculous story of Peter, having fished all night and caught nothing, at Jesus' command let down his net and caught a great multitude of fishes. The Enduring Word Commentary has this wonderful story:

"This is reminiscent of what God did in a man named James McGready on the frontiers of Kentucky starting in the 1790s. In Kentucky he pastored three small churches that met in roughly built shacks. He said that the winter of 1799 for the most part was weeping and mourning with the people of God and that it was like living in Sodom and Gomorrah on the rough, lawless, and often godless frontier. McGready started the concerts of prayer, but he also got his congregations praying for him and for his ministry of the word of God – for a half hour before they went to bed on Saturday night and for a half hour when they woke up on Sunday morning. In 1800 came an extraordinary outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and so many people began to come to Christ that McGready called out: “Any preacher of any kind who loves the Lord Jesus come and help me.”

Luke 6 - The man with the withered hand. A miracle performed by simple obedience - Jesus told him to simply stand and stretch out his hand. There was possibly a hidden motive in him being in the synagogue - a trap set by the religious leaders.

As I thought about this story I realised that I am guilty as them. I moan and groan without seeing the miracle. Sometimes I get caught up in unnecessary thoughts without seeing God in the middle of the situation working things out for my good. Such a blessed revelation this morning when I think about my reaction to situations and how God works them out for his plan and purpose in my life. I am secretly crying and thanking God today for all the many miracles in my life right now. What gratitude I have today!

Yesterday I was reading Luke 7 and read this comment from The Enduring Word Commentary ...

People criticised John but look at what he did - he led thousands of people to repentance preparing the way for the Messiah.

People criticised Jesus but look at what he did - he taught and worked and loved and died like no one else did.

Have you been criticised lately? I have, too many times to count! But then I remember Jesus told us to rejoice ... why because we are showing people Jesus!

I have to admit that Luke 11 was really hard today! The resounding message was condemnation of those who make faith all about rules to abide by rather than a relationship to enjoy. It is shocking to read that we could actually turn people away from Christ by our attitudes - we are called fools!

Luke's gospel chapter 16. Sometimes it feels like I am writing out the words of scripture but actually what I am doing is getting a grip on the main points of Jesus' teaching. Today I read the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16. Many read the story of the rich man and Lazarus in this chapter and miss out this first bit of teaching.

One day we will be called to give an account of our time, talents, our substance and our influence before God. What will we bring? Do we live in light of eternity?

This entire chapter is about our priorities - do we put God first - in everything. Easy to say but harder to do.

I was challenged about eternity - yes we hear sermons on eternity where but few on what. What will we have to lay before God on that day?

Remember Jesus told the Pharisees listening that God knew their hearts and his judgment is of a different set of values. Men may honour someone because of their wealth or their public display of spirituality but God sees who they really are.

Challenged?

Luke 18 verse 12 - fasting is best understood when you consider why this man fasted. It was part of their Jewish laws - they fasted on the second and fifth days of each week because they believed that Moses went up to Mount Sinai to receive the law on the fifth day and came down with the law on the second day.

It was his practice to fast. In doing so he was relying on his own power and deeds before God.

He thought he was better than others.

Again I see so many contrasts between these 2 men but it makes me ask the question - what does this teach me about God? It's not our outward show God is interested in but what is in the heart. The tax collector was justified because he came humbly. Notice that the tax collector continually beat himself. It was a honest reflection of his situation.

Another challenge today.