A centurion sent a request for Jesus to heal his servant at a distance because he said that he didn't deserve his presence under his roof. Jesus remarked that he hadn't seen such faith in Israel and he healed the servant. Jesus then raised from the dead the only son of a widow that was passing at Nain in a funeral procession. All the people "were filled with awe and praised God". Then John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the expected one or not, and Jesus answered with his miraculous works rather than with his words. Then Jesus spoke to the crowd about John saying: "This is the one about whom it is written: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you". Then Jesus went and had dinner at a Pharisee's house and "a woman who had lived a sinful life" wet Jesus' feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. The Pharisee was skeptical and thought that if Jesus were a prophet he would realize who was doing these things to him. But Jesus said to him that he who is forgiven most loves the most, and proceeded to say to the woman that her sins were forgiven, and yet said to the woman: "Your faith has saved you; go in peace".
Thursday, 20 August 2026
Twenty-five percent
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Luke 6 (résumé): Lord of the Sabbath
Jesus and his disciples were criticized by the Pharisees for having picked some corn when they were hungry on the Sabbath and Jesus pointed out that David had taken similar measures with consecrated bread centuries earlier. Then Jesus healed a man with a shrivelled hand on a Sabbath and answered criticism asking was it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath? Then after a night of prayer Jesus designated the following 12 disciples as apostles: 1) Simon Peter. 2) Andrew. 3) James. 4) John. 5) Philip. 6) Bartholomew. 7) Matthew (Levi). 8) Thomas. 9) James son of Alphaeus. 10) Simon the Zealot. 11) Judas son of James. 12) Judas Iscariot. Then Jesus taught an enormous crowd and healed many saying, "blessed are you who are poor... and you who hunger... and weep... for you will laugh, be satisfied and receive the kingdom of God... and when hated... rejoice because great is your reward in heaven... but woe to the rich... and to those that laugh now... and are spoken well of... for you have received your comfort... and will mourn and weep". Jesus said "love your enemies... bless those who curse you... if someone hits you give the other cheek... do to others what you would have them do to you... lend to your enemies without expecting return... be merciful just as your Father in merciful". "Don't judge and you won't be judged... give and it will be given to you... don't look at the speck in your brother's eye and ignore the plank in your own eye... no good tree bears bad fruit... the good man brings out the good stored in his heart". "Don't call me Lord if you don't put my word into practice... he who builds his house on rock survives the storm... but he who builds without foundation is destined to complete destruction".
Luke 5 (résumé): The Calling of the First Disciple
Jesus taught the people from Simon's borrowed boat, and when he had finished Jesus told Simon to put down the nets in the deep. He shrugged that he would do what was asked, but they'd just worked there all night for nothing! The result was phenomenal with a net-breaking catch which needed extra hands to cope with. Simon Peter fell on his knees saying "Lord, I am a sinful man". Jesus said "don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men"! So Peter, James and John left everything and followed Jesus. Next Jesus healed a man covered with leprosy. One day when Jesus was teaching some men brought a paralytic on a mat for healing, but they couldn't get to Jesus owing to the crowd so they went up on the roof and lowered the man in front of Jesus. When the Lord say their faith he forgave the paralytic his sin which angered the Pharisees as it was a prerogative of God. So Jesus proved his authority healing the man too and people were amazed. Jesus then went on to call tax collector Levi (Matthew) to follow him. When there were complaints about Jesus' friendship and links to publicans Jesus retorted: "It's not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick". Jesus was than questioned as to why his disciples didn't fast. Jesus said that their time for fasting would come, but not whilst they had the bridegroom with them. Things were changing and "new wine must be poured into new wineskins".
Luke 4 (résumé): The Temptation of Jesus
Following his baptism Jesus was temped by the devil to be sidetracked from his divine mission and initially he suggested that Jesus should change stone in to bread to satisfy his intense hunger, but Jesus fired back Bible at Satan saying: "Man does not live on bread alone". The devil then showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world from a high vantage point and offered them all to Jesus (without suffering) is he would worship him. Jesus replied: "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only". Finally the devil challenged Jesus to jump off a high spot and trust God! Jesus reacted: "Don't put the Lord your God to the test!" Jesus then went teaching in the synagogues of Galilee and he read Isaiah 61:1-2 saying the Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel... and Jesus said that that day this scripture had been fulfilled. Jesus then clearly pointed to the Gospel being for the gentiles referring to the widow in Zarepath and Naaman the Syrian and this infuriated the people and they wanted to push him from a cliff, but he got away. Jesus then set free a demon possessed man in a synagogue and amazed the people. He than healed Simon Peter's mother-in-law and healed many other people. Then Jesus "kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea".
Luke 3 (résumé): John the Baptist prepares the way
John the Baptist "went preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" and Luke quotes Isaiah 40:3-5 linked to this saying "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him". John called the crowds coming to him: "You brood of vipers... produce fruit in keeping with repentance... every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and burnt". John told them to share what they have with others... tax collectors do it correctly... soldiers don't extort money from people. Then John said, "I baptize with water... but one is coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit... and John preached the Gospel"! However John was thrown into jail because he had rebuked Herod for having an affair with his brother's wife. But prior to this Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove and God confirmed Jesus as his son in whom he was well pleased, and Jesus commenced his ministry at the age of 30. Finally Luke presents a genealogy of Jesus back through David and Abraham to Adam showing his fully human roots.
Lucas 2 (résumé): The Birth of Jesus
Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to comply with census requirements, and there Mary gave birth to her first son whom she "placed in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn". Then angels appeared to nearby shepherds watching over their flocks at night and announced the birth of the Saviour. They sang "glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men". The shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw Jesus lying in a manger and they praised and glorified God. Then at 8-days-old Jesus was circumcised and officially named Jesus, and they offered a pair of doves as a sacrifice. A devout man named Simeon took Jesus in his arms and declared "my eyes have seen your salvation... a light for the gentiles and for glory to Israel". Also an old prophetess named Ana "gave thanks to God... and spoke about the redemption of Jerusalem" and then Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Nazareth where Jesus grew in wisdom and in grace. Then when he was 12-years-old Jesus went to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and Jesus' parents lost track of him until they found him in the temple courts listening to the teachers and asking them questions. When his parents complained about his disappearance Jesus replied: "Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?" Back in Nazareth "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature".