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Mkhondvo High School

Department of Religious Education

Notes for EGCSE Religious Education

Paper 1:
The Gospel of Luke

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Contents Page
1. Background to the Gospel of Luke
- The Roman Rule during the Time of Jesus…………………………………………
- The Jewish Understanding of the Coming Messiah………………………………..
- The Jewish Context during the Time of Jesus………………………………………
2. Introduction to Luke’s Gospel
- Authorship/ Writing of the Gospel……………………………………………………
- The Purpose and Audience of the Gospel…………………………………………..
- Characteristics of St. Luke’s Gospel…………………………………………………
3. The Infancy/ Birth Narratives
- - Annunciations to Zachariah and Mary…………………………………………….
- Mary visits Elizabeth …………………………………………………………………
- The births of John and Jesus …………………………………………………………
- Jesus presented in the temple ………………………………………………………
- Jesus in the Temple at the age of 12………………………………………………
•4. Preparation for the Ministry of Jesus
- The ministry of John the Baptist ……………………………………………………
- The Baptism of Jesus…………………………………………………………………
- Temptation of Jesus …………………………………………………………………
5. Selected Miracles
Exorcisms:
- The demoniac of Capernaum …………………………………………………………
- The Nature/type of God’s Miracles…………………………………………………
- Purpose of Miracles…………………………………………………………………

Healing Miracles
- Healing of a leper…………………………………………………………………….
- Healing: the woman with the flow of blood …………………………………………
- The man with dropsy…………………………………………………………………..

Life Restoration Miracles

- Raising of the son of the widow of Nain………………………………………..
- Raising Jairus’ daughter …………………………………………………………

Nature miracles:
- Calming of the Storm ……………………………………………………………
- Feeding of the 5000. ………………………………………………………………

6. Early Opposition and Conflict

- Claim to Forgive sins………………………………………………………………………
- Eating with Sinners…………………………………………………………………………
- Failure to Fast…………………………………………………………………………………
- Working on a Sabbath…………………………………………………………………………
- The Character of Jesus in the Early Conflict…………………………………………………

7. Specified Parables
About the Kingdom
- The Good Samaritan…………………………………………………………………
- The Ten Pounds………………………………………………………………………

About Prayer
- The Friend at Midnight……………………………………………………………….
- The Widow and the Unjust Judge…………………………………………………..

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About Wealth/ Material Possessions

- The Rich Fool…………………………………………………………………………
- The Rich Man and Lazarus……………………………………………………………

About the Lost

- The Lost Sheep………………………………………………………………………….
- The Lost Coin……………………………………………………………………………
- The Prodigal Son………………………………………………………………………..

8. Later Opposition
- Questions about the Authority of Jesus…………………………………………………………
- Questions about Paying Taxes to Caesar………………………………………………………
- Questions on Resurrection ………………………………………………………………………
9. Jesus’ Ministry in Jerusalem/Passion Narratives
- Triumphant entry into Jerusalem …………………………………………………………………
- Importance of the Triumphant Entry……………………………………………………………..
- The last supper ……………………………………………………………………………………
- Interpretation of the Last Supper………………………………………………………………….
- Arrest and trials …………………………………………………………………………………….
- The Character of Jesus in the Trials and Lessons for Christians………………………………
- Importance of the Trials…………………………………………………………………………….
- Via Dolorosa (Sorrowful Way to the Cross)………………………………………………………
- Significance of Crucifixion to Christians…………………………………………………………..
- The Character of Jesus in the Crucifixion………………………………………………………..
- The Burial……………………………………………………………………………………………
- The Empty Tomb …………………………………………………………………………………….
- The Role of Women…………………………………………………………………………………..
10. The Post-resurrection Appearances of Jesus
- On the Way to Emmaus ………………………………………………………………………………
- Appearance to the Eleven Apostles ………………………………………………………………….
- The Ascension ………………………………………………………………………………………
- The Importance of the Resurrection and Ascension Nowadays……………………………

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Background to the Gospel of Luke

The Roman Rule during the Time of Jesus
During the time of Jesus, the Israelites (Jews) were colonised by the Romans; they did not have freedom
to do things their way. The Romans appointed their own government to watch over the Jews. For
example, the Roman rulers who governed the Jews in Jesus’ time were Herod the Great, Herod Antipas,
Herod Agrippa and Pontius Pilate. These rulers had a responsibility to ensure that the Jews or Israelites
were loyal to the Romans. They made sure that:
- There was peace among the Jews and all their colonies
- Taxes were paid accordingly
- The population was under control
Being controlled by the Romans was a big insult to the Jews. This is because they considered
themselves as a special nation of God. In their holy books, it was written that the Jews were chosen by
God, and they were holy: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen
you to be a people for his own possession, out of all the peoples that are on the face of the earth.”
(Deuteronomy 14:2)
However, the Jews had strong hope that one day they would be freed from the rule of the Romans. In
their holy books (the Old Testament), they had been promised that God would send a messiah, a chosen
one, to set them free and establish peace among them:
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren
– him you shall heed” - Deuteronomy 18:15
“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and
bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” – Isaiah 7:14

The Jew’s Understanding of the Messiah

As it has been explained earlier, the Jews were not happy that they were ruled by the Romans, and they
were expecting a messiah (God’s chosen one) to liberate them or set them free. The Jews expected this
messiah to have certain characteristics, as described in their holy books:
- He would be God’s servant to bring judgement or punishment upon the enemies of Israel. These
enemies included the Romans that governed them at the time.
- He would be a national hero and lead the Jews to political victory over the enemies like the
Romans.
- He would rebuild God’s kingdom and restore the Jews’ identity as God’s chosen people.
- He would have supernatural powers
In other words, they were expecting a political kind of messiah. This messiah should be a traditional
Jew: he should follow the laws of God and not be a friend to the enemies of Israel and sinners.

The Jewish Context during the Time of Jesus

During the times of Jesus, the Jews were divided into different religious and social groups: the
Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, High Priests, Samaritans, and Tax Collectors, among others.
The Pharisees
These were religious leaders who claimed to know the laws of God better than anyone else. In public,
they appeared to follow all the laws, and they believed that following the laws would make God to
destroy the Romans. However, in the Gospels, they are shown to be hypocrites who do not practise
what they preach; they only do things to be seen by others.

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Sadducees
This group, unlike the Pharisees, did not care much about religious matters; they were concerned with
wealth and politics. They were wealthy and wanted to please the Romans. They did not believe in
resurrection and life after death. They did not believe in miracles and angels.
Scribes
These were educated religious men who made copies of the scriptures. They were teachers and
interpreted the laws. They were respected for their ‘knowledge’ of the laws. However, just like the
Pharisees, they are accused of hypocrisy in the Gospels.
The High Priests
These were representatives of God on earth; failure to obey them was equal to disobeying God. They
were the ones who were in charge of the Holy Place in the temple: they burnt incense and communicated
to God directly. They were the link between God and the Jews: people confessed their sins to God in
the presence of the High Priest.
The Sanhedrin
This was the Jewish court. It was a council of about 70 men who were responsible for resolving
religious and political conflicts among the Jews. The Sanhedrin was made of the Sadducees, the
Pharisees, and the High Priests. A High Priest was chosen to be the leader of the Sanhedrin.

Samaritans
These were believed by the Jews to have mixed blood; they were said to be half Jewish and half
Assyrian. Their religion was also a mixture. As a result, they were discriminated by the Jews.
Tax Collectors
These were appointed to collect taxes from the people to the Romans. They were hated by the Jews
because they were often corrupt, collecting more tax than they were supposed to. The Jews also hated
the tax collectors because they mingled with many people, even non-Jews (Gentiles), which made them
unclean.

The Essenes
These tried by all means to live a life pure from sin. They followed the laws of Moses perfectly. They
even left the city and lived in the desert because they did want to associate themselves with the sin in
the city (they lived an ascetic life). Living in the desert would help them to remain pure until the
messiah came. They held their property in common, which means that they shared what they had.
The Zealots
This was a strong group which wanted to use violence to gain freedom from the Romans. They even
hated the Jews who wanted to use peaceful means to achieve freedom. They strongly refused to be ruled
by the Romans.

Introduction to Luke’s Gospel

The term ‘gospel’ means ‘good news’. It is used to refer to the books that narrate the life history of
Jesus Christ: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They are called gospels or ‘good news’ because they
are about Jesus (Saviour) who came to save humankind (‘Jesus’ means ‘to save’).

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Authorship/ Writing of the Gospel of Luke

There is nowhere in the gospel where the date of the authorship of the gospel is mentioned. However,
the date is speculated to be around 60 A.D. (Anno Domini). This is because there is evidence that the
gospel was written when the temple of Jerusalem was still not destroyed. In Luke 21: 5, Jesus predicts
that the temple of Jerusalem would be destroyed. This temple was destroyed by the Romans around 70
A.D. which means that Jesus predicted its destruction before this date.
The Purpose and to whom the Gospel was Written (Audience)
- The gospel of Luke is addressed to a person named as the “most excellent Theophilus”.
‘Theophilus’ is a Greek name which means ‘lover of God’. This means that the gospel was
written, not to Jews only, but to even Gentiles because ‘Theophilus’ is not a Jewish name but a
Gentile (Greek) name.
- The gospel can also be said to have been written to anyone who loves God and is interested in
the news of salvation. This is because ‘Theophilus’ who is the addressee of the book means
‘lover of God’. So the title of Theophilus probably refers to anyone, which is why the Gospel
is called a universal gospel (a Gospel for everyone).
Purpose:
- The purpose of Luke’s gospel was to present the good news of salvation brought by Jesus to
the whole world.
- It was also written to give the most accurate narration of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ
so that people would have faith and be saved.
- The gospel was also written to emphasise the humanity of Christ, to portray Jesus as a humble
king whom everyone can easily relate to, as it is pointed out in the characteristics of the gospel.

Characteristics of the Gospel of Luke

The Gospel of Luke is different from the other four gospels because:
- It presents Jesus as a messiah for everyone, even the marginalised groups in the society.
- It emphasises on the power of the Holy Spirit
- It emphasises on worship and prayer
- It presents Jesus as a humble, human figure
- It shows great interest in food

(a) Luke as a Gospel for everyone

This gospel shows that Jesus brought salvation to all sorts of people, even those who are
marginalised or not considered important in the society. Jesus in this gospel shows concern for
lowly groups such as women, children, the poor, the sick, Gentiles (non-Jews), Samaritans and
tax collectors. For example, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus,
and calls her “favoured one” (Luke 1: 26), yet in the Gospel of Matthew, the angel appears to
Joseph. Even during the presentation of Jesus in the temple, there is a woman, the prophetess
Anna, who witnesses the baby Jesus (Luke 2:36). On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus also spends
some time in the house of a woman, Martha, and even allows Mary to sit at his feet although in
Jewish context women were not given that much attention and freedom.
The gospel also shows concern for the poor. For example, Mary sings that God “has filled the
hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away” (Luke 1:53). Jesus also says
he has been anointed to “preach good news to the poor” (4:18).
The gospel further shows concern or love for tax collectors. Although Jews looked at tax
collectors as outcasts, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to be his disciple. He even attends a
feast or party of tax collectors (5:26). He also visits the house of Zacchaeus, a tax collector
(19:9.

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Furthermore, Jesus in this gospel paints a good picture of the Samaritans, although they were
hated by the Jews. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, he shows a Samaritan having a good
heart, helping the wounded man (10:29).
The Gentiles (non-Jews) are also favoured in the gospel of Luke. For example, during the
dedication of Jesus in the temple, Simeon says Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles”
(2:32). Jesus also praised the faith of a centurion in Capernaum. The centurion, a non-Jew,
asked Jesus to heal his slave by only saying a word and not come to his house. Jesus praised
the centurion, saying he had never found such faith even in Israel (Luke 7: 1-9).
Jesus also had a favourable attitude towards children. In the Jewish context, children were not
treated as complete humans. But Jesus associated himself with children. For example, when
the disciples argued about who was the greatest among them, Jesus took a child and put him by
his side and told them that whoever accepted the child in Jesus’ name also received Jesus
himself. He was saying that children were like himself (Luke 9: 46 – 48). Also, the disciples
stopped people when they brought children to Jesus for blessings. However, Jesus called the
children saying they should be allowed to come to him and not be stopped because the kingdom
of God belongs to them (Luke 18: 12).
The fact that the marginalised groups or outcasts are given recognition in this gospel shows that
Luke is a universal gospel; it presents the news of salvation to everyone without discrimination.
(b) Luke presents Jesus as a humble, human figure
In this gospel, there are many instances where Jesus is shown to be humble. It is in this gospel
that Jesus is born like a poor person, placed on a manger because there was no place in the inn.
He is also shown to have compassion or love for people. This is seen in forgiveness for people,
such as the repentant robber on the cross where he said “Truly, I say to you, today you will be
with me in Paradise” (23:43). Even when he was being crucified, he asked God to forgive his
persecutors, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (23:34). He also shown to
be a humble human being when he raised the son of a widow at Nain. Here, no one asked for
his help, but he just “had compassion on her” (7:13). The writer of the gospel wanted to present
Jesus as someone whom everyone can relate to.
(c) Luke as a gospel of food
In this gospel, there are many passages about food and feasting or celebrations. From the
beginning, it states that with the coming of Jesus, God has “filled the hungry with good things”.
Jesus went to dinner at a Pharisee’s house and taught using a parable of a great feast or party
(14:1 – 24). The gospel writer wanted to present Jesus as someone who also cared about the
people’s physical needs.
(d) Luke as a gospel of the Holy Spirit
Many events that take place in the gospel of Luke are inspired by the Holy Spirit. For example,
Jesus is conceived of the Holy Spirit – the angel tell Mary that “the Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (1:35). During the baptism, “the
Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form” (3:22). After teaching about prayer, Jesus
says God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him (11:13).
(e) Luke as a gospel of worship and prayer
In this gospel, there are many passages and teachings about worship and prayer compared to
the other gospels. After receiving the news of the birth of Jesus, Mary sings a worship song
called the Magnificat (1:46). Even Zechariah worships God after the birth of John; he sings a
worship song called the Benedictus. It is only in the gospel of Luke where Jesus uses parables
to teach about prayer: he uses the parable of the friend at midnight, the parable of the Pharisee
and the Tax Collector, and the parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge. Apart from teaching
about prayer, Jesus in this gospel led by example in many instances, leaving the crowd to pray
alone or with a few disciples. For example, after healing people, he went to the wilderness to
pray (5:16). Also, he prayed for the whole night before choosing the twelve apostles (6:12).
Even before he was arrested at Gethsemane, he took his disciples for prayer, asking them to
“pray that [they] may not enter into temptation” (22:39 – 46).

(f) Luke as a gospel of salvation

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This gospel emphasises on salvation. When Jesus is presented in the temple, Simeon says he
may die now because his eyes have seen salvation (2: 29). Even when the angel visits the
shepherds, he asks them not to be afraid because a saviour was born for them in the city of
David (2:11). Jesus also tells the sinful woman who anointed his feet that her faith has saved
her (7:36 – 50). When Jesus visits the house of Zacchaeus, the Jews complain that he mingles
with sinners. But Jesus says, “Today, salvation has come to this house, since he is also a son
of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost” (19:9).

The Infancy Narratives

The infancy narratives are the birth and childhood stories of Jesus. Before the birth of Jesus, Luke gives
us an account of the annunciation of the birth of John. This means that John will be born before Jesus.
This is because John is the one who will prepare the way for the coming of Jesus.
The Annunciation of the Birth of John (Luke 1:5 – 25)
This is the announcing of the news of John’s birth by the Angel Gabriel. John was to be born to a very
old couple who had priestly backgrounds: Zechariah, the father, was a priest, and Elizabeth, his wife,
was the daughter of a priest, from the daughters of Aaron. The couple is described as very holy: they
were “righteous” and “blameless”, and they followed “all the commandments and ordinances of the
Lord”. Even when the angel comes, Zechariah is found in the temple, performing his priestly duties.
However, although they were so holy before the Lord, they were faced with one of the most
embarrassing problems among Jews: they cannot have a child because “Elizabeth was barren” (could
not bear a child). To be barren, in the Jewish context, was a source of unbearable shame – they believed
that if you have no children, you were living under a curse. They said you were being punished for a
sin that you committed or a sin that runs in the family, a generational curse.
However, Zechariah and Elizabeth do not have any sin before God, but still they do not have any child.
They are now too old to have a child; they are “advanced in years”. So why are they punished?
Luke wanted to teach a certain lesson through the portrayal of this old couple: that barrenness does not
indicate that you are a sinner or that you are cursed. Zechariah and Elizabeth had no sin, but they still
could not bear a child. So the writer of the gospel wanted to oppose the belief of the Jews.
When the angel Gabriel came to announce the news of John’s birth, Zechariah was serving as priest in
the temple, burning incense. The angel came and stood on the right side of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled and fell down due to fear. The angel told him not to be afraid because his
prayers had been heard by God: his wife would bear a son and call him John. The son would bring joy
to his parents. He would be great before the Lord and would drink no wine or strong drink. He would
also be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. He would also have a special mission
to preach repentance in Israel, turning many sons of Israel to God. He would have the power of the old
prophet Elijah. He would also bring unity in families: “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children”,
and he would make those who disobey to be wise. In short, John would prepare the way for the coming
Messiah (Jesus). Zechariah asked how he would know this; he asked the angel to give him assurance
that this news was true, since they were too old to have a child. As a result, he was punished for failing
to believe the news – he was made dumb or unable to speak until the birth of the child.
Again, the writer wanted to teach certain lessons:
- He wanted to teach believers to be strong in faith like Zechariah and Elizabeth. They kept
believing that their prayers would be answered even when it was clear to everyone that they
were now past the child-bearing stage.
- He wanted to teach believers to be persistent in prayer and never lose hope. Zechariah and
Elizabeth continued to pray. The angel found Zechariah in the temple, performing his duties
as a priest. He even told Zechariah that his prayers had been heard. So the writer wanted to
encourage readers to have the same patience as Zechariah and Elizabeth.

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- The writer further wanted to encourage readers to be obedient and submissive at all times.
Christians should copy from the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth who remained “righteous”
and “blameless” although they were considered to be living under a curse. They did not move
away from their position in their relationship with God. So Christians can learn to do the same.
- The writer wanted to teach readers God’s power cannot be limited by nature. According to
nature, there is an age limit for the bearing of children. However, Zechariah and Elizabeth had
lived beyond that age limit, but still, God gave them a child.
The Annunciation of the Birth of Jesus (Luke 1: 26 – 38)
God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary in the city of Nazareth in Galilee, and it was the sixth month after
the angel had visited Zechariah to announce the birth of John. He greeted her as a ‘favoured one’,
telling her that the Lord was with her. When Mary was confused by the greeting, the angel told her not
to have fear because she had found favour in God; she would conceive and bear a son and name him
Jesus.
The angel then outlined the character and mission of the son to be born, indicating that this son would
be the long awaited Messiah:
- He would be great, and would be called the son of the Most High.
- He would be given the throne of David and would be king forever.
- He would be called holy.
When Mary asked how this would happen as she had no husband, the angel explained that it would be
through the Holy Spirit. He further told Mary that her kinswoman Elizabeth had also received a son in
her old age, to prove that God’s power is not limited. Mary humbled herself, saying she was only the
‘handmaid of the Lord’. She then agreed to the message, saying “let it be to me according to your
word”.
Mary’s Character from the Annunciation
- In the story of the angel’s visit to Mary, we deduce that Mary is just a poor girl with no
significant family history. Unlike Joseph, her husband-to-be who is said to be from the house
of the famous king David, Mary’s family history is not recorded at all, most probably because
it was not a well-known family.
- Furthermore, Luke shows us that Mary was an honest girl of good morals. She is still a virgin,
which shows that she has always taken good care of herself; she has never contaminated herself
by having sex before marriage, and this proves her as a morally upright girl. Her honesty is
further revealed when the angel informs her that she will conceive. She asks the angel how this
can happen because she has no husband. She shows that she is loyal or trustworthy to Joseph;
she does not want to betray him by falling pregnant to someone else. Mary believes that no
one can fall pregnant before marriage. She is betrothed or engaged to Joseph but she has never
been tempted to engage in sexual intercourse with him. When the angel tells her that she will
give birth to the Messiah, Mary shows herself to be a humble girl. She recognises herself as a
lowly person, a servant or ‘handmaid of the Lord’. She does not brag or boast that she will be
the mother of the Lord, but she humbles herself. When she says she is “the handmaid of the
Lord”, she reveals to us that her only work on earth is to worship God, and this reveals her
character of being submissive to the will of God. This is why she never argues with the angel
when she learns that the message is from God – although she has been confused by the news,
she accepts it, saying, “let it be to me according to your word”. These words show that she is
always ready to be sent by the Lord – she is as submissive as a servant is to his master. The
fact that Mary accepts the message further shows that she is a faithful girl. She believes that
what the angel has said will be fulfilled, although it is against the laws of nature.
Christian Values and Lessons from the Annunciation
From the character of Mary above, Christians can learn the following values: honesty, loyalty and
trustworthiness both to God and to their partners, being submissive and ready to be God’s servants,

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humbleness and faithfulness. (You will/may use the information on Mary’s character to explain
these values.)
Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth
After the angel had departed, Mary went to visit Elizabeth in the city of Judah. When she greeted
Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb (John) jumped. This confirmed the angel’s annunciation that
John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. The movement of the baby
was a sign that John recognised the Messiah in Mary’s womb. Elizabeth was then filled with the Holy
Spirit, she prophesied and blessed Mary as the mother of “my Lord”. She further blessed Mary for
believing the angel when he brought the news of the birth of Jesus.
Mary then sang a song called The Magnificat, in which she magnified or praised God for choosing her
to be the mother of the Lord. In this song, Mary show that she is a grateful or thankful woman; she
thanks God for choosing her, although she was a poor person: a “handmaiden” of “low estate”. She
praises God that from that time onwards, she would be recognised in the society; all generations would
call her blessed. In this way, Mary is a role model even to Christians of nowadays; they can learn to be
grateful when God has shown mercy to them.
Mary’s song further reminds us of the characteristics of the Gospel. Firstly, we are reminded that this
is a gospel of worship and prayer. The whole of the song (the Magnificat) is a worship. Mary is
worshipping and praising God for being favoured. Secondly, the Magnificat reminds us that in the
Gospel of Luke, Jesus is a Messiah even for the marginalised groups (the groups of people that are taken
for granted). In the song, Mary says that God has filled the hungry with good things, and those who are
rich have been sent away.

The Birth of John

Elizabeth gave birth to John, and her relatives rejoiced with her because the Lord had shown her mercy.
They believe that God has finally removed or lifted the curse from the family, since they believed that
barrenness was a result of a curse. When it was time for the baby’s circumcision on the eighth day,
they wanted to name him as Zechariah, the name of his father. But his mother told them that he already
had a name, John. When they questioned her, she communicated with Zechariah in sign language.
Zechariah asked for a writing tablet where he wrote, “His name is John”. From there, Zechariah was
able to speak again, and the neighbours were shocked. They asked himself what kind of child John
would be.
The Benedictus
This is a prophetic song that Zechariah sings after his tongue has been loosed; it is a song that praises
God for finally bringing the Messiah that the Jews had been waiting for. In this prophetic song,
Zechariah reminds the readers about the mission of the messiah. According to Zechariah, the messiah
would be a redeemer; he would redeem or save God’s people from their enemies. Zechariah says they
would be saved “from the hand of all who hate us”. This prophecy by Zechariah shows that the Jews
were expecting a political messiah who would set them free from the Romans.
In the Benedctus, Zechariah further reminds us about the mission of John. He would be the prophet of
the Most High and prepare the way. He would make the people to repent from their sins, and give light
to those in darkness. He would bring peace among the people.
The Birth of Jesus
Jesus was born when Caesar Augustus was in power, and when Quirinius was the governor of Syria.
Caesar Augustus ordered the people to go to their towns to be counted or enrolled – it was a census.
Since Mary was engaged or betrothed to Joseph, they went from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be enrolled.
This was because Joseph was from the house of David, and the city of David was Bethlehem. When

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they got to Bethlehem, Mary’s time to deliver came. She gave birth and wrapped the baby in swaddling
clothes then placed him on a manger “because there was no place for them in the inn”.

Importance of the Birth of Jesus

- Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem proves that he was the long awaited Messiah. The Old Testament
prophecies stated that the messiah would come from the house of David. For example, Jeremiah
prophesied that the Lord would raise a branch of righteousness to David. So when Jesus is
born, it is a sign to the Jews that truly he is the messiah; the Old Testament prophecies are
fulfilled.
- Jesus’ birth shows that he had come to bring salvation to everyone, even those of low status in
the society. Jesus was born to poor parents, Joseph and Mary, and he was placed on a manger
which is a place where animals feed. This would make him accessible to those who are not
considered important in the society.
- The birth of Jesus also shows God’s love for his people. Jesus is a gift from God. God gave
him as a sacrifice for people to reunite with him. The people had sinned, and God brought
Jesus to make a new covenant so that all who believed would be saved.
The First Revelation of Jesus
After Jesus was born, the angel of God appeared to shepherds to inform them about the good news of
his birth. When the angel appeared, there was glory that shone around them such that they were filled
with fear. The angel told them not to be afraid as he was bringing good news. He told them that they
should go to the city of David (Bethlehem) where they would find the Saviour wrapped in swaddling
clothes and placed in a manger. After that, another multitude of angels joined and together they praised
God. The shepherds then went to Bethlehem to see what the angel told them about, and then they went
to spread the news, praising God.
Importance of the Revelation of Jesus to Shepherds
Again, it is important that the news of salvation are first revealed to shepherds. It shows that the messiah
has come for even the marginalised groups in the society. Shepherds were not treated with respect;
their job or occupation was an occupation for the poor and neglected, so when Jesus is first revealed to
them, it shows that they are also worthy of salvation. If he was revealed to rich people, it would seem
like Jesus had come for the rich; the poor would continue to be marginalised. The Jews would continue
thinking that salvation was not meant for the poor; they would maintain that the poor are under a curse.
So by revealing the news to the poor shepherds, God wanted to change that thinking.

The Purification (Luke 2:22 – 24)

After forty days of Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph took him to the temple in Jerusalem. This was not
only for the purpose of presenting Jesus to the Lord, but also to purify themselves as it is stated in the
Jewish laws. As per the requirements of the purification ritual, they brought with them a pair of
turtledoves or two young pigeons to offer as a sacrifice.
Meaning and Importance of the Purification
- The purification proved that Jesus’ parents were obedient both to the Jewish laws and to God.
By going for the purification ritual, they were following the laws of cleanliness that God gave
to the Jews in the book of Leviticus. According to these laws, if a woman conceives and
gives birth to a male child, she remains unclean for seven days, and the purification period
lasts for thirty-three more days. After this period, she should offer a sacrifice.
- Obeying the laws of purification also showed that Jesus was in the right hands; he was to be
raised by a God-fearing family.

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- The ritual further proved that Jesus came from a poor family. They brought a sacrifice of
turtledoves because they could not afford a lamb. This is the poor background that makes
Jesus accessible to even the poor people in the society. Even the poor will find it easy to
relate with him.
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2: 25-40)
In the temple, Jesus was received by an old holy man called Simeon who had been waiting for the
Messiah to set Israel free. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and blessed him
saying he could now die in peace because he had seen the Lord’s salvation. He also called Jesus a light
for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Israel. Mary and Joseph were amazed by the words, and
Simeon continued prophesying that Jesus was set for the fall and rising of many people in Israel and
that Mary would feel pain about him (a sword would pierce through her soul). After Simeon’s prophecy,
an eighty-four year old widow called Anna, a worshipper of God who lived in the temple, also thanked
God about the birth of Jesus and spread the news to everyone who was looking for the redemption of
Jerusalem. After the purification and presentation, Jesus’ parents went back to Galilee with him.
Interpretation of the Presentation Story
- The story is another proof that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. Simeon was prompted by
the Holy Spirit to go to the temple, and he knew nothing about Jesus, but when he got there, he
could feel that the child he was carrying was to bring salvation.
- The story further shows that Jesus was born for the salvation of everyone, not only the Jews.
When Simeon prophesies, he starts by mentioning that Jesus was salvation prepared “in the
presence of all people” and “a light for revelation to the Gentiles”. He only mentions Israel at
the end. In this way, Gentiles are given first preference in the kingdom of God.
- The story of the presentation also shows the nature of the ministry of Jesus, that some would
reject him while others would accept him. This is revealed when Simeon prophesies that the
child (Jesus) was set for the fall and rising of many in Israel. It also predicts the suffering of
Jesus. This is revealed when Simeon prophesies that “a sword would pierce through” Mary’s
soul.
- The presentation in the temple also portrays Jesus as a Messiah for even the marginalised groups
in the society. During the dedication, not only Simeon sees Jesus, but even an elderly widow,
Anna. This eighty-four year-old woman is from the tribe of Asher, a tribe was considered
worthless among the Jews, but she is among the first to get the news of the birth of Jesus. This
is a sign that even people like the prophetess Anna – widows and those from the forgotten tribes
- will be welcome in the salvation that Jesus brings although they are not recognised as
important and worthy of anything in the society.
- The story of the dedication of Jesus also sends the message that the responsibility of spreading
the news of salvation lies with everyone; even women will and should play a pivotal role in
preaching about God’s salvation. When Anna gets the news about Jesus, she does not only
“give thanks to God”, but she goes on to spread the news, preaching “to all who were looking
for the redemption of Jerusalem”.

Jesus in the Temple at the age of Twelve Years (Luke 2: 41-52)

- Jesus taken to Jerusalem during the feast of Passover when he is twelve years
- Stays behind in the temple when the feast or celebration is over – parents not aware, thinking
he is in the crowd
- After a day’s journey, they look for him among their relatives (kinsfolk and acquaintances),
unsuccessfully
- Go back to search for him in Jerusalem
- Find him in the temple listening to elders and asking questions after three days
- Parents astonished: Mary asks why Jesus did this to them
- Jesus asks why they looked for him because he was in his father’s house

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- Parents baffled and did not understand

- Took him back to Nazareth and he obeyed them

Interpretation of the Story

- The story encourages Christians to always respect the laws of God and of their society. Mary
and Joseph went with Jesus to Jerusalem because it was the custom; every Jew was expected to
go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast. In the Old Testament, God ordered the Jews to
celebrate the Passover, which is the time when they were set free from Egyptian slavery. They
are showing respect for the laws of God and of the Jewish society even by taking Jesus with
them at the age of twelve. It is a custom of the Jews to take their boy children for a ceremony
of introducing them to another stage of life when they are twelve years old. Therefore, Mary
and Joseph are setting an example that all Christians should follow – to respect. They know that
they are parents to a messiah, but they do not boast about that; they continue to abide by the
laws of the land and of God. Some Christians, having found favour and become recognised in
their society because God has blessed them with wealth, tend to be boastful and forget about
respecting God and the laws of the land. However, Mary and Joseph remained humble and
continued respecting even though they had found favour with God, and this is a lesson to be
learnt by all Christians even nowadays.
- The story also shows young people where they should be when they are not with their parents
– they should be in the presence of God and associate with the right people that will help them
grow in truth about what God wants. From this story, young people learn that they should not
be found in bad company. They should copy the example of Jesus who, at the age of twelve,
spent his time in the temple with teachers of God’s law, listening to them and asking questions.
This is what made him “increase in wisdom” and “in favour with God and man”. Nowadays,
young people spend their time having fun with wrong-doers, gossiping about each other and
engaging in ungodly practices like imbibing alcohol and taking drugs. So the story of Jesus at
the age of twelve sets a good example of what they should do and where they should be.
- The story further encourages young people to obey their parents like Jesus did. When Mary
and Joseph found Jesus in the temple after three days, he obeyed and followed them home
although he was in his “Father’s house” in the temple. From this early age, Jesus knew that his
father was God, but when his earthly parents came to seek him, he was obedient, and this is a
lesson that young people should copy even nowadays.

The Ministry of John the Baptist (Luke 3: 1 – 20)

John was in the wilderness when he was called by God to start preparing the way for the coming of
Jesus. It was in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was the governor
of Judea and Herod was the tetrarch of Galilee. He went around Jordan preaching “a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.
When the multitudes gathered around him to be baptised, he called them “brood of vipers” and
commanded them to bear fruits of repentance if they wanted to escape the wrath or severe punishment
that was to come. He warned them not to brag about Abraham as their father because God was able to
raise children of Abraham from stones. He used an analogy of a tree that does not bear good fruits,
saying an axe is laid on its roots to cut it and have it thrown into the fire.
When the crowd asked him what they should do to be saved, he told them to share their coats and their
food with those who did not have. To the tax collectors, he commanded them to collect not more than
they had been appointed to. He also ordered the soldiers not to rob anyone by violence or by false
accusation, and that they should be satisfied with their wages. When the people heard his preaching,
they thought John was the Christ, but he told them that he was only baptising them with water, but the
Christ, mightier than him, would come and baptise them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He further

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told them that the Christ would come with a winnowing fork to clear his threshing floor and to collect
the wheat into his granary. He would also burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Herod then put John into prison because John rebuked Herod for doing evil, including marrying his
brother’s wife.

Interpretation of John’s Preaching

- John meant that salvation is not earned automatically, but everyone should work to earn it.
Being born a Jew or Abraham’s son does not mean that you will automatically be saved. And
if people fail to bear ‘good fruits’ or to do good, they will not flee from God’s wrath or
punishment. The trees that do not bear good fruit are the people who fail to do God’s will, and
they will be severely punished (cut and thrown into the fire).
- John’s preaching also encouraged love for one another. When he ordered the multitudes to
share their coats and food with those who did not have, he meant they should love one another
so that there is no gap between the rich and the poor.
- John’s preaching also encouraged justice (fairness) among citizens. He encouraged this
through his message to the tax collectors when he told them to collect not more than what is
appointed them – he was discouraging cheating.
- He further encouraged peace through his message to the soldiers, that they should not rob
anyone by violence or false accusation. In short, violence and injustice emanate when people
are not satisfied with what they have; hence he ordered the soldiers to be content with their
wages.
- In his preaching, John also demonstrated humility which is another important Christian value.
When the people thought he was the Christ, he was quick to refute that and told them that the
Christ was yet to come. He did not want to elevate himself to the status of the Messiah but
humbled himself, saying he was “not worthy to untie” the throngs of the Messiah’s sandals.
- He lastly gave a hint of the mission of Jesus. According to John, Jesus would come with a
winnowing fork to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his granary. This meant
that Jesus was coming to bring God’s people (the wheat) into the Kingdom (his granary). He
would also come with a harsh judgment (unquenchable fire) for the sinners who will reject his
message (the chaff).
Importance of John’s Preaching
- A fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies: it was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah that there
would be “a voice crying in the wilderness”, and John was that voice. This provided proof that
Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah.
- Prepared the people for the coming of Jesus: by calling the people to repent and to bear fruits
(of love, peace, and justice), he laid the ground for the ministry of Jesus because it would also
be centred on these lines. Therefore, it would not be difficult for the people to understand the
message that Jesus would bring.
- Highlighted Jesus’s mission on earth, that he was coming to gather people to God’s Kingdom
and to pronounce judgment for those who would reject his message of salvation
The Baptism of Jesus (Luke 3: 21 – 22)
Jesus was baptised by John at the River Jordan after all the people had been baptised. After he had been
baptised and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form
of a dove. A voice came from heaven confirming Jesus as God’s beloved Son whom he was “well
pleased” with.
Interpretation of the Baptism
The baptism of Jesus did not mean that he was being cleansed from sin, but it had a symbolic meaning:

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- By being baptised, Jesus was showing the multitudes that he was in agreement with the message
that John had passed to them. He set an example for all who repent to be baptised.
- He was also showing that he was one of them – although he was the Christ, he had come to live
with them as a human being following the laws like everyone. In short, his baptism was a sign
of humility.
- It was a sign that his ministry was to be characterised by love and peace. This was shown by
the coming of the dove which came upon him after he had been baptised – a dove is a symbol
of love and peace.
- It was to show his dedication to and readiness for the ministry that he was to begin.
- It confirmed that he was indeed the Christ. This is why all parts of the Holy Trinity were present
during his baptism: the Son was the one that was baptised by John; the Holy Spirit came in the
form of a dove; and the Father was head by his voice that came from heaven. All were
confirming that he was the Christ.
Importance of Baptism for Christians
- It is a way of following in the footsteps of Jesus who set the example when he was baptised by
John in the River Jordan.
- It is an outward sign of repentance. When you are submerged in the water, you leave the old
sinful body in the water and take a new purified body. The water is a symbol of cleansing from
sin.
- It is a sign that you are dedicated to live a Christian life. Like Jesus who was baptised to show
his readiness for his ministry, you show that you are ready to bear good fruits of repentance.

The Temptation of Jesus (Luke 4: 1 – 13)

After his baptism at the Jordan, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness. He fasted for forty
days, and at the end of his fasting, the devil came to him and asked him to command a stone to become
bread if he was really the Son of God. However, Jesus reminded the devil that it is written in the Bible
that a man shall not live by bread alone.
The Meaning of the First Temptation and Lessons for Christians
- This temptation by the devil shows Christians the power and role of the Holy Spirit in those
who have it. It guides Christians in making decisions and gives them power to conquer the
devil’s temptations. Jesus was able to make the right decision here because he was filled with
the Holy Spirit, as the Bible says. It was the Holy Spirit that guided him not to perform the
unnecessary miracle of changing a stone in to bread. It was the Holy Spirit that advised him
not to perform a miracle just to please the devil. Christians can therefore learn to seek the
guidance of the Holy Spirit when confronted by temptations in their daily living.
- From the temptations, we also learn about the importance of fasting to Christians. We learn
that fasting is a source of spiritual strength for Christians. Jesus became weak physically after
fasting, but spiritually, he was strong. This is the strength that enabled him to conquer the
temptation of the devil. Not only that, but fasting also encourages self-control to Christians.
You avoid any pleasures, including food, and focus on achieving a certain spiritual goal. It is
the self-control that enables the Christian to live according to God’s purpose for him/her.
Through fasting, even Jesus was able to control himself and guard himself against the devil’s
distraction – the devil wanted to divert his focus but Jesus exercised self-control which he had
acquired from the fasting. In this way, Christians even nowadays should use Jesus as their role
model – they should fast because Jesus, the author of their faith, also fasted.
- From the devil’s first temptation of Jesus, Christian can learn that the devil is an opportunist;
he always looks to exploit their weakest point. In the story of Jesus, the devil knew that Jesus
was hungry and physically weak at the moment, so he wanted to capitalise on that temporary
weakness in order to defeat him and make him lose focus on God’s purpose. Therefore,

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Christians can learn to be careful and not give the devil a chance even in during the weakest
moments of their life.
- Christians can also learn not to let their physical needs rule them and make them lose focus –
although people’s physical needs are important, just like hunger, but they do not supersede
God’s purpose for his people. God’s purpose with Jesus was to show his love for his people,
so if he listened to the devil, this purpose would be defeated because he would show to be
concerned about himself and not God’s people. So Christians can also learn not to allow their
temporary physical needs to defeat God’s purpose with them.
- Christians can learn not to use their God given power for selfish gain, just as Jesus did. Jesus
had the power to perform any miracle, but if he had listened to the devil and changed the stone
into bread, it would show that he was concerned about himself, which is a sign of selfishness.
- They can also learn to refer to what the Bible says in times of temptations. Jesus was able to
overcome the temptation because he used the Bible as his source of guidance, telling the devil
that “Man shall not live by bread alone”.

In the second temptation, the devil took Jesus to the highest mountain in the wilderness. There he
showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and told him that he would give him
authority over all of them if he bowed down and worshipped him. Again, Jesus told the devil that it is
written in the Bible says only God is to be worshipped.
The Meaning of the Second Temptation and Lessons for Christians
- This temptation shows that material wealth on earth is ruled by the devil, and he uses it to lure
or attract Christians away from God’s way. The kingdoms of the world that the devil showed
to Jesus stand for the riches of the world that Satan often uses to divert Christians away from
the true worship of God.
- Christians can learn that they should not compromise God’s principles or standards in order to
acquire material wealth – worship or obeying God should always come first. They should not
accumulate wealth in dishonest or devilish means. The ‘worship’ that the devil was talking
about in the second temptation may mean anything ungodly that people may do to get rich, like
theft. In other words, if someone steals in order to get rich, it means that he/she is worshipping
the devil. And Christians can learn to run away from this worshipping of the devil like Jesus
did in the second temptation.
- Like in the first temptation, they can learn to be guided by the scripture in times of temptations,
like Jesus did. He reminded the devil about the laws of the Old Testament, that only God is to
be worshipped.
In the third temptation, the devil took Jesus to the pinnacle or the highest point of the temple. There he
told him to throw himself down to prove that he was really the Son of God. The devil even quoted the
book of Psalms, telling Jesus that God would send his angels to “bear him on their hands” so that he
did not get injured. Even here, Jesus quoted the laws from the book of Deuteronomy where it says
“You shall not tempt the Lord your God”. The devil then departed.
The Meaning of the third Temptation and Lessons for Christians
- In this last temptation, the devil shows that he also knows the Bible. Having seen that Jesus
uses the scripture to defeat his temptations, the devil also tries to use the scripture to tempt him.
He quotes a verse from the book of Psalm where God promises his people that he will always
protect them. He wants Jesus to throw himself down and prove God’s love for him. However,
Jesus knows the journey that he must undertake. He knows that God will save him but he has
to go through the whole painful journey so that people see God’s love. If he listened to the
devil and threw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, God would save him, but the
people would not see clearly the love that God wanted them to see through the lengthy suffering
of Jesus on the way to the cross. This is why Jesus refused to take the short cut that the devil
wanted him to take. He wanted God’s purpose to be fulfilled.

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- In the third temptation, Christians can learn that they should not push God to prove his love for
them, but they should do God’s will and discover his love for themselves.
- They can learn not to take short cuts but to wait for God’s purpose to be fulfilled.

The Ministry of Jesus

His Rejection at Nazareth
After his temptation in the wilderness, Jesus started preaching in the synagogues, and one Sabbath day,
he entered a synagogue in Nazareth where he was given the scripture to read. He opened from the book
of Isaiah where it talks about someone anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach good news to the poor, to
proclaim release of the captives and freedom of those who are oppressed, and to open the eyes of those
who are blind. After reading, Jesus told the Jews in the synagogue that the scripture he had read had
been fulfilled. They praised him for his great reading of the scripture. He then told them that no prophet
is acceptable in his own town.
Jesus then reminded the Jews that during the times of great famine in the past, God sent the prophet
Elijah to save Zarepath who was a Gentile widow from Sidon, although there were many widows in
Israel. He also reminded them that even the prophet Elisha saved a Gentile, Naaman the Syrian, from
leprosy, although there were many lepers in Israel.
With these reminders, Jesus meant to show the Jews that God was also for the Gentiles; he did not
discriminate. He meant to show them that there was no special place reserved for them in the kingdom
of God; even Gentiles were as special to God as the Jews were. This preaching by Jesus set the tone
for the rest of his ministry, that he would not discriminate, as the Jews were expecting from their
Messiah. This is why they were angry with him and led him to the hill to push him and have him killed;
he did not live up to their expectations of their long awaited Messiah. However, he was able to escape
and went to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. In fact, his rejection in Nazareth gave him the opportunity
to continue with God’s work and spread it throughout the region. At this point, his rejection was a
blessing for the people of Capernaum, as he went there to preach and perform miracles.

Selected Miracles of Jesus

Exorcism Miracles
The Healing of the Demoniac of Capernaum (Luke 4: 31 – 37)
Jesus was teaching one Sabbath in a synagogue in Capernaum. A man who had a spirit of an unclean
demon cried out to him, asking Jesus what he had to do with them (demons) and also asking if Jesus
had come to destroy them. The man also told Jesus that he knew who he was and called him ‘the Holy
One of God’. Jesus rebuked the man or ordered him to keep quiet and commanded the evil spirit to
come out of him. The demon threw the man down and then came out without harming him. The crowd
in the synagogue was amazed at Jesus’ words that with authority and power, he commands the unclean
spirits to come out.
Lessons about the Character of Jesus in the Miracle
- In this miracle, Jesus shows to have power over evil spirits. He commands the demon to come
out of the man, and it does just that. Although the demon first throws the man down, but it is
Jesus’ word that is final as the demon comes out without harming the man. The coming out of
the demon stands for God’s victory over Satan, just like we saw when Satan was defeated during
the temptations in the wilderness.
- The miracle also shows that Jesus is compassionate or merciful. He immediately realises that
the man is being troubled by an evil spirit and needs deliverance. The man has not asked to be
delivered, but Jesus is moved by his mercy to cast the demon out of him, thus showing mercy

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over the troubled man. He never judges or shouts at the man, but he rebukes the evil spirit that
is troubling him.
- In the miracle, we also learn that Jesus has the same authority as God himself. When he casts
the demon out of the man, he does not pray to God or invoke power from somewhere as healers
and prophets do, but he just rebukes it himself with authority. This shows that he is God
himself, omnipotent or all-powerful. The amazement of the crowd shows that they have never
seen anyone cast out an evil spirit like Jesus does.
- Jesus also shows to be brave or fearless in the face of evil. He confronts the demon, which
represents the devil, without any fear although evil spirits are known to be harmful.
The Demoniac of Gerasenes (Luke 8: 26 – 39)
When Jesus stepped out of the boat in the country of Gerasenes, opposite Galilee, he was met by a man
who had demons; this man did not wear clothes for a long time and lived among tombs. He had also
been guarded and bound with chains and fetters. When he saw Jesus, what he had to do with him, and
called Jesus “Son of the Most High God”. The man also beseeched or begged Jesus not to torment or
harm him. Jesus asked him his name and he said “Legion” because many demons had entered him.
The demons in the man begged Jesus not to command or send them into the abyss or bottomless pit but
to send them to a herd of swine nearby, and Jesus did so. The herd of swine rushed into the lake and
drowned. The people who herded the swine fled and told people in the city and the country. People
came and found the man sitting at the feet of Jesus, wearing clothes and in his right mind, and they were
afraid. Those who had seen Jesus cast the demon out told them how it had happened. All the people
were filled with great fear and asked Jesus to leave them, so Jesus got into the boat and left. The man
who had been healed begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus sent him away to declare how much God had
done for him, and the man went away and spread the news.
The Character of Jesus in the Miracle
- Jesus shows to be omnipotent here – he has power over evil spirit. The demoniac in this story
had been bound with chains and fetters which shows how violent the demons were, but Jesus
just cast them out. He shows his victory over evil like he did when he was tempted by Satan in
the wilderness and when he cast out the demon in Capernaum. Christians can learn to run to
him in times of suffering, even when their problems seem difficult; the story is a reminder about
how powerful Jesus is.
- The story also shows that Jesus has compassion for the suffering, and his compassion is
without boundaries – it extends to even outcasts or those who are neglected. The demoniac in
the story was an outcast; the fact that he lived among tombs with no clothes means that he had
been neglected, and everyone had lost hope in him. However, Jesus had mercy on him even in
his sorrowful situation. He even allowed him to sit at his feet after healing him which shows
that his love was without discrimination. It is also possible that the man was a Gentile because
there was a herd of swine nearby – Jews viewed swine as unclean animals. But Jesus did not
discriminate against the man. Christians can copy the same compassion from Jesus, that they
should also love those who are neglected the same way as they love themselves.
The story also shows that Jesus is humble; he does not take the glory for the healing of the man. Jesus
has the same powers as God – he knew he was the son of God, but he did not boast about it after healing
the man. Instead, he told the man to go and declare how much God had done for him – he did not say
he was the one who healed the man, but it was God which means that he performed the miracle so that
God would be glorified or praised, not for himself to be praised. Even Christians can learn to be humble
and extend the glory to God; they should not take credit for God’s work.
The Nature/ Characteristics of God’s Miracles
A miracle, by definition, is a supernatural act of God where God intervenes or comes in to change an
event beyond human understanding. An event is called a miracle because it involves God. From this
definition, we can observe that true miracles of God are clearly set apart from other unusual events:

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- True miracles of God are a direct intervention of God to make something happen. For example,
the healing of the demoniac in the synagogue in Capernaum is a miracle because it is a direct
intervention of God the Son (Jesus).
- True miracles of God are immediate or instant. They do not take time to happen, but they
happen immediately when they are performed and they are permanent. For example, in the
miracle of the demoniac at Capernaum, Jesus casts out the demon and the evil spirit just comes
out immediately. It is also permanent as we never hear again that the man is possessed by the
evil spirit. This is unlike some so-called miracles performed by people nowadays where you
find the pastors or so-called prophets taking time to pray for a sick person. Even when the
person is healed, the sickness attacks again when the person leaves that pastor.
- God’s miracles bring glory to God; they do not bring praise to people. These miracles show
God’s power and as a result, they attract people to God, not to men.
- God’s miracles never fail, but they are always successful. In the story of the demoniac in
Capernaum, the evil spirit shows to have power when it throws the man down, but at the end,
it is Jesus’ word that emerges victorious.
- The faith of the victim is not always a pre-requisite for him/her to receive God’s salvation or
deliverance through a miracle. In other words, it is not compulsory for the sick person to have
or to show faith before he/she can be delivered. Instead, God’s love just pours out to anyone
who needs it. For example, the demoniac at Capernaum never showed any faith in Jesus, but
it was Jesus who chose to deliver him from the bondage of the evil spirit. This is unlike in
some instances nowadays where you will hear the so-called ‘man of God’, prophet or healer
asking the victim to have faith. Even when the healing has failed, they usually blame the victim
for lack of faith.
Purpose of God’s Miracles
- Miracles are meant to prove that God’s kingdom is real; they are an evidence of the rewards of
having faith in God. Miracles make those who believe in God to be strong in their faith. When
the believers have evidence or see that they believe in something that is real, their faith grows.
Miracles reward believers.
- Miracles are also meant to bring back the natural order of the world. When God created human
beings, he never created suffering, so through the miracles, God shows his willingness to restore
the natural order.
- Miracles also show the sovereignty of God, that God is in charge of everything in the world
and he has the power over evil. They demonstrate God’s victory over Satan.
- Miracles are important because they show the mercy or compassion of God on his people. They
show that God is ready to meet the physical needs of his people – he is moved by the suffering
of his people because when he created people, he did not create them to suffer.

Healing Miracles
The Healing of a Leper (Luke 5: 12 – 15)
Jesus was in one of the cities, most probably around the Sea of Galilee, after he had chosen his first
disciples (Peter, James and John). A man who was full of leprosy came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell
on his face and besought or begged him to make him clean if Jesus willed or desired. Jesus stretched
out his hand and touched the man, saying “I will; be clean”, and immediately, the leprosy left the man.
Jesus then charged or ordered the man to tell no one about what had happened, but to go and show
himself to the priest and make a sacrifice for his cleansing according to the laws of Moses. News spread
abroad about the miracle, and great multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed.
Lessons about the Character of the Leper in the Miracle
- Christians can learn to run to Jesus in times of suffering, and not be afraid of people, like the
man did. He understood his sad condition and wanted to be healed. Although lepers were

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neglected in society, but the man did not care about the people around and went to Jesus for
deliverance.
- Christians can also learn how to humble themselves when they pray. When the leper in the
story fell on his face before Jesus, he was showing signs of humility; he belittled himself to the
level of dust to show that he knew he was unworthy. Even when he talked to Jesus, he did not
demand, but he ‘besought’ or begged. On top of that, he asked Jesus to heal him if it was his
will, which shows that the man knew that at the end it was the will of Jesus that would lead to
his healing, not his own will. This is the kind of humility that God wants from his people, as
he says in the book of Chronicles when he says, “If my people who are called by my name
humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land”. The leper was healed because
he humbled himself, which is something that Christians should also learn.
- Christians can also learn to have strong faith in Jesus as it is through faith that they can earn
salvation. The leper in the story was cleansed from the leprosy because of his strong faith; he
begged Jesus to cleanse him because he believed, and Jesus saw that faith and healed him.
The Character of Jesus Revealed in the Story
- In the story of the leper, Jesus shows to have bountiful love without discrimination. He heals
the man in a Jewish environment where leprosy is an abomination – if you have leprosy, you
are seen as an outcast, and you are not expected to mingle with people as you are unclean.
However, Jesus disregards or does not consider the stigma or shame associated with leprosy.
He does not run away from the man or chase him away, but he heals him. Jesus is a role model
to all Christians here; they should not discriminate those who are viewed as outcasts, but they
should treat everyone equally.
- Jesus also has compassion for those who are suffering. In the story, he does not only command
the leprosy to leave the man, although he has that power. Instead, he goes on to touch the man.
A person who has leprosy develops very bad sores all over the body becomes an unpleasant
sight. But Jesus, filled with love, does not care about that; he touches the man, unclean as he
is. This is another value that Christians should copy – they should have compassion like Jesus
who is the author of their faith.
- The story of the leper also strengthens the faith of believers as it shows Jesus as an omnipotent
figure. He has power over all kinds of suffering, and this is seen in his ability to heal the man’s
leprosy without using any medicine – he simply touches the man and speaks a few words, and
the leprosy disappears immediately. This gives courage to Christians as they know they have
someone to run to even in the worst of situations.
NB: Look closely into the healing of the leper and try to find the characteristics of God’s miracles.
Also think about the characteristics of the Gospel of Luke as you read the story.

The Healing of a Woman with the Flow of Blood (Luke 8: 43 – 48)

Jesus had just returned to Capernaum from the healing of the demon-possessed man at Gerasenes, and
he was on his way to the house of Jairus to heal his critically ill daughter. As he went, the people
pressed round him; and a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by
anyone came behind him and touched the fringe of his garment. Immediately, the woman’s flow of
blood stopped. Jesus asked who had touched him because he felt power had gone off from him.
Everyone denied, and Peter told Jesus that the crowd surrounded and pressed around him. When the
woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, falling down before Jesus, and declared in
the presence of all the people why she had touched Jesus and how she had been healed immediately.
Jesus told the woman that her faith had made her well, and she should go in peace, calling her daughter.
What the miracle reveals about the character/person of Jesus and Lessons for Christians
- The miracle shows that Jesus had a favourable attitude towards the marginalised and outcasts.
This woman was a ‘double-marginalised’ because women were not treated with respect and

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dignity in Judaism, and she was also suffering from a flow of blood which Jews believed made
her unclean and not fit to mingle with people because she would make everyone unclean.
However, Jesus did not have the negative attitude that Jews showed to such people; he was on
his way to heal the daughter of Jairus who was dying, but he had to stop and give attention to a
woman. He even called the woman ‘daughter’ which shows that he took her as a child of God
and a descendant of Abraham. By calling her ‘daughter’, Jesus wanted everyone to treat her
with dignity like all other people. Even Christians can copy this positive attitude towards
women and outcasts from Jesus. They should learn to love everyone without
discrimination like Jesus did in the story of the woman with the flow of blood.
- The story further shows the power and benefits of having strong faith in Jesus. The woman
was healed because of her strong faith; she believed that just by touching the fringe of Jesus’
garment, she would be healed and she was rewarded for her great faith. The woman is a role
model for all Christians even nowadays – they should have faith in Jesus even when they
face the most difficult problems like this woman. Her condition had troubled her for
twelve years and no one could heal her, but she believed that Jesus could stop it.
This miracle also shows Jesus’ power over all forms of diseases. He is sovereign (rules over everything)
and omnipotent (all-powerful). The woman had lived with the flow of blood for twelve years and could
not be healed by anyone. Jesus was not there in all the twelve years, but now that he is here and the
woman comes in faith, the diseases is cured immediately. Jesus has authority even above all the others
healers who had probably tried and failed to help the woman. Christians can learn to believe in him
instead of running to other ordinary human beings for help – when others have failed, Jesus will
not.

The Healing of a Man with Dropsy (Luke 14: 1 – 6)

One Sabbath, Jesus went to have dinner at a Pharisee’s house, and everyone was watching him. There
was a man before him who was sick from dropsy, and Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees if it was
lawful or right to heal on a Sabbath. When they did not reply, Jesus took the man, healed him and let
him go. He then asked if anyone of them with a son or an ox that has fallen into a well would not
immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day, and they did not reply.
What the miracle reveals about the character/person of Jesus
- The miracle shows that Jesus’ compassion is not limited by any laws. The Pharisees believed
that nothing should be done on a Sabbath, including healing. However, Jesus healed the man
with dropsy although it was on a Sabbath. Human life is more important than the strict
observance of laws. The miracle exposes or criticises the Pharisees who claim to know and
follow the laws. Even Christians should have this compassion; they should be concerned
with extending God’s love to people than being worried with laws. Laws are meant to
help not to oppress people.
- The miracle also shows that Jesus had a favourable attitude towards the sick. In Jewish
communities, the sick were often discriminated because people believed that a sick person was
being punished for a sin he or his forefathers committed. However, Jesus did not discriminate
– his love and compassion was also extended to the sick. Jesus was showing that even the sick
deserved love, and this is why he healed the man with dropsy in front of Pharisees. Christians
should also love everyone without discrimination. They should do like Jesus when he
healed the man with dropsy.
- The miracle also proves Jesus’ power over sicknesses – he is omnipotent and can heal any
sickness. This shows God’s victory over evil because sicknesses come from Satan. If he can
heal, it means he is the author of life. So even Christians should have faith in Jesus because
he is the one with power and authority.

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Life Restoration Miracles

The Raising of the Son of a Widow at Nain (Luke 7: 11-17)
After healing the servant of a centurion in Capernaum, Jesus the next day went to the city of Nain with
his disciples and a great crowd. There Jesus saw a funeral procession – a man had died and was being
‘carried out’ to be buried. This man was the only son of a widow who was with a large crowd from the
city. Jesus was filled with compassion or great mercy for the widow. He told the widow not to weep.
Then he went closer and touched the bier and commanded the dead young man to arise. The young
man sat up and began to speak. Jesus then gave him back to his mother. The crowd was seized with
fear, and the glorified God saying “a great prophet has arisen” and “God has visited his people”.
The Character of Jesus in the Miracle
- This miracle shows that Jesus has compassion for his people. There is nothing that the widow
did – she did not even ask Jesus to raise her son. Jesus only saw the funeral procession and
went to raise the widow’s son, and this shows his bountiful love for his people.
- The miracle also teaches that Jesus’ compassion is not confined or prevented by human laws.
The laws of the Jews stated that if you touch a dead body, you remain unclean for seven days.
But Jesus ignored those laws – he went closer and touched the bier that carried the young man.
- The miracle also shows that Jesus has got authority over death. It shows that God’s purpose
for people was not to have them die, but he wanted people to live forever and have abundant
life, as it says in the book of John (10:10).
- Jesus is shown to be omnipotent – he is all powerful, even over death.
- We also get that Jesus loves without discrimination; he is a Messiah for even the people who
are marginalised. The marginalised people are those who are usually neglected and not taken
seriously in the society, including women, widows, children and the sick. Jesus in this story
shows to be a saviour for even the widows – he knew that the widow would be nothing without
his son, as he was his only son.

Lessons for Christians:

- Christians can copy the compassion that Jesus showed towards the widow; they can learn to
also show compassion even when no one has begged them like Jesus did. Jesus just raised the
son of the widow without being begged and he did not expect anything in return. This is the
same that Christians should do; it is the agape love that Jesus taught in his sermon on the Plain.
- Christians can learn to trust God in any situation they come across. If Jesus shows power over
death, as shown in the miracle, it means Christians can depend on him.
- We also learn that when you have received favour from God, you must be grateful or thankful.
After Jesus had raised the widow’s son, the crowd was thankful – they glorified God.
The Raising of the Daughter of Jairus (Luke 8: 40 – 56)
Jesus had just returned to Capernaum from Gerasene where he cast out demons from a man. Jairus, a
ruler of the synagogue, fell at the feet of Jesus, begging him to go to his house to heal his 12-year old
only daughter who was dying. While he was delayed in the healing of the woman with the flow of
blood along the way, a man from Jairus’ house came and told him that the daughter was dead and Jairus
should not trouble Jesus anymore. Jesus heard the man and told Jairus not to fear because his daughter
would be well. When he came to the house, he took Peter, James, John, and the daughter’s mother and
father into the house, and did not allow any other person to come inside. When he saw that they were
weeping, Jesus told them not to weep because the daughter was not dead but sleeping, but they laughed
at him, knowing that he was dead. He then took the child by the hand and called her to arise. The child
got up at once, and Jesus directed that she be given something to eat. Her parents were amazed, but
Jesus ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

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What the Miracle reveals about the character/ person of Jesus and Lessons for Christians
- The story shows that Jesus did not hold grudges. As a ruler of the synagogue, it is possible that
Jairus is one of those who opposed Jesus earlier, accusing him of blasphemy and of violating
the laws of fasting and of the Sabbath. But Jesus agreed to go to Jairus’ house to save his
daughter. Christians can also learn not to begrudge those who appear to be their enemies.
They should be friendly to everyone and help when they can without thinking about past
clashes with them just like Jesus who agreed to save Jairus’ daughter although Jairus was
a ruler of the synagogue.
- The miracle further reveals Jesus’ compassion for those who call upon him. It was his bountiful
compassion that moved Jesus to go all the way to the house of Jairus to raise the child. He did
not ask Jairus to bring the child to him, but he went there himself showing that he cared. This
is unlike some so-called healers of nowadays who expect people to bring the suffering to them
for healing. Jesus could have just sent a word to the child without him going there physically,
but he wanted to show that he really cared by humbling himself and going there. He could not
even be limited by the Jewish holiness laws about touching a dead body as he even went to
touch the child, making himself unclean. Christians can also emulate this character of
Jesus; they can learn to have the same unlimited compassion towards those who are
suffering. They should not be arrogant but should humble themselves and come down to
the level of the suffering like Jesus did when he went to the house of Jairus.
- In this miracle, Jesus also shows that he has power over death. He could not be stopped by the
man from Jairus’ house who came to inform Jairus that the child was already dead, and even
when they laughed at him. However, he went on to show that he has authority over death.
Christians can learn to depend on him even in the situations that seem impossible.

Nature Miracles
The Calming of the Storm (Luke 8: 22)
Jesus was crossing over to the other side of the lake of the Sea of Galilee in a boat with his disciples.
Jesus fell asleep in the boat and a heavy and violent storm attacked. When the disciples saw that the
boat was beginning to sink, they awoke Jesus, saying “Master! We are perishing!” Jesus awoke and
rebuked the storm, and it was calm. He then asked the disciples where their faith was. They all
marvelled and were shocked, asking themselves, “Who then is this, that he commands even the wind
and water, and they obey him?”
What the Miracle Means (Symbolism)
This is a nature miracle which shows Jesus having power and authority over the natural world. But also,
this miracle describes what happens when the church or people are attacked by problems. The boat
stands for the church, and the storm represents the troubles that attack people. The sleeping of Jesus
stands for the times when people feel that their prayers are not answered, and the disciples represent the
people praying during difficult times. Jesus waking up shows that God never forsakes his people.
So the miracle comforts believers that during their times of suffering, God does not forsake or leave
them, as long as they have faith. The disciples had been given power by Jesus, but they did not even
try to stop the storm because they had no faith. This is the same with Christians nowadays – they fail
to overcome challenges because of lack of faith. So the miracle encourages Christians to have faith to
overcome challenges.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Luke 9: 10 – 17)

After the apostles returned from preaching the kingdom and healing people, Jesus took them to a city
called Bethsaida. The crowds of about five thousand men heard that he was there, and they followed
him; he welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, also healing those who needed

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healing. When the day began to wear away, the apostles told Jesus to send the crowds away to the
village and country to stay or lodge and get food or provisions. However, Jesus asked the apostles to
give the crowds something to eat, but they said they only had five loaves of bread and two fish. He
asked the apostles to make the people sit in companies or groups of about fifty each. He then took the
five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples
to give to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they took the left-overs which filled twelve
baskets of broken pieces.
What the miracle reveals about the character/ person of Jesus, and Lessons for Christians
- The miracle proves Jesus’ power over nature. He has the ability to do anything with creation
because all is under his authority. If there was need to change the stone into bread when he was
tempted by Satan, he could have done it – he had the power and he proves it in this miracle
when he multiplies five loaves of bread and two fish to satisfy five thousand men. He is
omnipotent and sovereign. Christians can depend on him because of his authority and
sovereignty.
- The miracle further shows Jesus’ compassion. He is not only concerned with people’s spiritual
needs, but he cares also about their physical needs. He had preached to the people and healed
their illnesses and they were satisfied spiritually; but he also wanted them to be satisfied
physically. The preachers and healers of nowadays should do the same; they should not
only be concerned with just preaching, but they should provide for the physical needs of
the people they preach.
Jesus is shown to be hospitable and loving. He had had not invited the crowds when he went to
Bethsaida, but he wanted to be with his apostles. But when the crowds followed him, he did not drive
them away – he showed them love by providing something for them to eat which is a sign of hospitality.
Like Jesus, Christians should learn to be hospitable and show love even to strangers.

The Teachings of Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6: 20-)
After choosing his twelve apostles, Jesus taught his disciples or followers on a level place (the Plain).
In this sermon on the plain, we get Jesus’ teachings on love, forgiveness and retaliation, judging and
giving or charity.
Forgiveness and Retaliation
The Sermon on the Plain also contains Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness and retaliation. The Jews had
always followed the law of ‘eye for an eye’; this was a law that meant that if someone treats you badly,
you should do the same to that person – if someone gorges your eye, you should also gorge his eye.
However, during his sermon on the plain, Jesus emphasised that evil should not be countered by evil,
but it should countered with love. He said that people should always demonstrate love, and that love
should not be limited to those who love you. You should love those who hate you, bless those who
curse you and pray for those who ill-treat or abuse you. If you love those who love you, you are doing
like the sinners. In other words, we should not retaliate or revenge but show love. If someone strikes
you on one check, let him strike your other cheek as well; if someone takes your shirt, give him your
coat. This means that people should forgive, regardless of what has happened. In the sermon on the
plain, Jesus says you should forgive so that you will also be forgiven. People should forgive whenever
someone shows signs of repentance. This is why even Jesus forgave the penitent robber who asked
Jesus to remember him when he comes to his kingdom; Jesus forgave him because he admitted his guilt
and was repentant. The same story shows that forgiveness should be instantaneous; Christians should
just forgive without thinking. Jesus simply forgave the penitent robber on the cross without thinking
or counting his sins. This further shows that Christians should forgive countless times. This is why
Jesus forgave the sins of the sinful woman in a Pharisee’s house. The woman was known to have many
sins, but Jesus did not count her sins. Jesus also forgave his persecutors when he was crucified on the
cross and did not count their sins. Even though they did not show signs of repentance, Jesus simply

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forgave them because they did not know what they were doing. The Christian teachings on forgiveness
can be summed up in the following way:
- They should not repay evil with evil.
- They should forgive instantaneously.
- They should forgive when someone shows signs of repentance.
- They should forgive even when someone has not showed signs of repentance.
- They should forgive countless times.

Why it is important for Christians to forgive:

- Forgiveness was started by God when he forgave the sins of everyone by sending Jesus to die
as a sacrifice for people’s sins. Therefore, when Christians forgive, they are following the
example that God set.
- Also, forgiving is a sign of respect for the commandments because it is Jesus who commanded
his disciples to forgive. In his sermon on the plain, Jesus commanded his disciples to forgive
so that they will also be forgiven. He later told them that if a brother sins and repents, he should
be forgiven even if it is seven times.
- When Christians forgive, they are following in the footsteps of Jesus who also forgave the sinful
woman in the house of a Pharisee. He also forgave those who persecuted him and crucified
him on the cross, asking God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing.
So by forgiving, Christians show that they are true Christians.
- Forgiving others also earns you forgiveness; it makes others to forgive you when you are wrong,
as Jesus taught that you should forgive so that you are forgiven.
- Forgiveness purifies the spirit. It makes you grow and not live in the past. If you live with
grudges, you live with a heavy heart, yet if you forgive, you are purified.
Judging Others
Jesus also taught people not to judge others. During the Sermon on the Plain, he says do not judge or
condemn so that you are not judged. Instead of judging, Jesus encourages people to do introspection –
they should first examine themselves. This is why he says you should not focus on the ‘speck that is in
your brother’s eye’ and forget about the log that is in your own eye. When you judge, you are a
hypocrite because you pretend as if you are innocent and holy, yet you also have your own sins.
Loving
Jesus’ teachings on loving are summed up by the ‘Golden Rule’ which states that you should do to
others as you would want them to do to you. In the sermon on the plain, Jesus taught that people should
demonstrate Christian love; this love is called ‘agape love’. The word ‘agape’ means ‘wide open’,
which means Jesus encourages Christians to show love that is wide open, endless, and for everyone.
Such love is demonstrated by loving without discrimination or unconditionally even when it is difficult
to do so; in fact, agape love includes loving everyone, including your enemies. This is why Jesus says
“love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…” These teachings about loving are also contained
in Jesus’ teachings about giving: you should give everyone who begs. It is pointless to love only those
who love you because even sinners do that. However, you should love and help those who will not be
able to help you in return. Jesus showed this kind of love when he healed the leper who came and
begged Jesus to heal him. Jesus did not discriminate the leper like others did, but he even touched him
when he healed him. Jesus also showed this love by consenting to die for the sins of humankind.
Why it is important for Christians to love:
- If Christians show love for everyone, they please God. It shows that they follow God’s
commandments because it is God who says you should love your neighbour as you love
yourself. According to Christians, a neighbour is everyone that you meet. Even Jesus

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commanded Christians to love their enemies and do good to those who hate them. So when
they show love, they are showing respect for God and Jesus. By loving one another, they also
show that they appreciate the love that God showed them when he sacrificed with his only Son,
Jesus, to die for their sins. In this way, they create a special relationship with God.
- When Christians love everyone, they also show that they are following in the footsteps of Jesus
who also demonstrated unconditional love in his ministry when he healed the suffering without
discrimination. For example, he even touched a leper and healed him although lepers were
considered unclean. So by loving, Christians show that they are true Christians who are ready
to do like Christ who is the author of their faith.
- Loving others without discrimination also earns Christians entry into the kingdom of God. This
is why Jesus in the sermon on the plain told his disciples that if you love only those who love
you, there is no credit or reward for you. But if you love your enemies without expecting a
return of favour, your reward is great and you will be sons of the Most High.
- Loving others unconditionally sets Christians apart from sinners; it makes them different. In
other words, if you only love those who love you, you are like sinners because they do the same,
yet Jesus wants Christians to be different from sinners. Even Paul asked Christians not to
conform to this world but to be transformed or changed to prove the will of God. In short,
Christian love is important because it is a sign of repentance and distinguishes between a sinner
and a Christian.
- Love also creates peace and equality among Christians. If they love one another, they always
seek to do good to one another. For example, those who have will share with those who do not
have because they love them, and there will be no gap between the rich and the poor which is
what God wants.

Giving or Charity
Jesus’ teachings also emphasised on giving. He stated that we should give to everyone who begs. He
teaches people to be generous so that they receive blessings from God. If you give more, you attract
more blessings, but if you give less, your blessings also decrease. This is why Jesus says “the measure
you give will be the measure you get.” Even Paul emphasised this when he said he who sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. However, people
should give willingly, out of the heart. They must not be forced to give or give reluctantly as God loves
a cheerful giver. We should give like the widow who offered her last two copper coins (Luke 21: 1-4).
Jesus blessed this widow because out of her poverty, she offered all she had and did not spare.
In Matthew (6:2), Jesus says when you give, you should not let others know that you have given –
“sound no trumpet” and do not “let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Your giving
should be secret so that God rewards you.
Jesus’ teachings on giving can be summed up as follows:
- Giving attracts blessings from God.
- Christians should give willingly.
- Christians should not give to please people or to show off.
Why it is important for Christians to give
- When Christians give, they show that they are following the example of God who sacrificed
with Jesus – Jesus was a gift from God to humankind so that everyone is cleansed from sin.
- Giving is a sign of love which is a key attribute or characteristic of a Christian, so by giving,
Christians show that they are true Christians. In other words, giving pleases God.
- Giving attracts blessings from God, as Jesus taught that Christians should give so that they will
also be given.
- Giving is also important because it is commanded by Jesus.

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Teachings on Anxiety and Wealth (Luke 12: 22-34)

Jesus teaches that it is futile or pointless to be anxious about worldly life. He says being worried about
how you live now does not add your days of life. This teaching is in line with the parable of the rich
fool: the rich fool in the parable was worried about the plenty of harvest that his land had produced but
God came and told him that he would die that night. This shows that, according to the Bible, being
restless about the present is not important; however, people should be worried about eternal life. Jesus
warned Christians saying they should be careful not to be covetous or greedy because a man’s life does
not depend on the abundance or large amounts of his possessions. This is why Jesus says “sell your
possessions, and give alms; provide yourself with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in heaven
that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” Being worried about the riches of
the world can also be a problem in a person’s relationship with God; it can make a person to forget
about God and be obsessed about the wealth, as Jesus says that “where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also”.
Jesus makes an example of the birds (ravens): they do not sow or reap but they live because God feeds
them. This is the same with flowers (lilies) – “even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed” like them
because God takes care of them. Jesus explains that human life is more valuable than that of the ravens
in lilies in the eyes of God; therefore, people should have faith in God as their provider and not be
worried about earthly pleasures. People should seek to please God first and all the worldly things will
follow.
The story of the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18: 18) also warns Christians about being anxious or obsessed
with wealth. In the story, a ruler asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus asked
him if he knew the Ten Commandments. The ruler said he had followed the commandments since his
youth. Jesus told him that there was only one thing left: to sell all that he had and give to the poor so
that he would have treasure or wealth, and then he would be able to follow Jesus. The young ruler
became very sad when he heard this because he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said it is very
hard for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God; it is easier for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom.
Teachings of Jesus about being rich
- It can disturb a person in worshipping God because he will be worried about his riches; it will
be like serving two kings.
- Riches or wealth should be shared with the poor.

Jesus Teachings on Prayer (Luke 11: 1-4; 18: 1-11; 22: 40)
When the disciples requested him to teach them how to pray, Jesus emphasised on brevity and simplicity
(that you should be brief and simple). He taught them the Lord’s Prayer which begins with addressing
God to show that you revere or respect him. The first part of Jesus’ prayer shows reverence or respect
for God, that his name should be made holy, “hallowed be thy name”. This first part also shows that
we should show hunger for the Kingdom of God and willingness to follow his will: “Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done…”
The second part of the prayer addresses personal needs: “Give us each day…Forgive us our
trespasses…Lead us not into temptation…” This shows that when people pray, they should be humble
and acknowledge their sinfulness; they should not claim to be holy like the Pharisee in the parable of
the Pharisee and the tax collector. This part of the prayer is also challenging people to have a forgiving
heart – you cannot expect forgiveness from God if you do not forgive.
The last part of the prayer goes back to worship of God, just as in the start: “For thy is the kingdom, the
power and the glory…” This worship of God is called ‘doxology’. It is a way of re-affirming or
confirming that you know that God is omnipotent (all powerful). It expresses that you have faith that

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he will do all you have asked for because he owns the Kingdom and all the power. It is also important
that what dominates in the Lord’s Prayer is worship of God rather than one’s personal needs: the
worship is in the beginning and at the end of the prayer. In the Gospel of Matthew (6:2), Jesus also
emphasises sincerity and honesty in prayer. He says prayer should be secret: “go into your room and
shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret; and your father who sees in secret will reward
you.” Jesus says it is only hypocrites who pray standing in the synagogues and in the streets so that
they will be seen by men. He also says it is pointless to ‘heap a lot of phrases’ or say many words
because God knows what you need even before you ask. What is important in prayer is honesty,
humility and worship of God as it is shown in the Lord’s Prayer.
Apart from the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught that people should pray with importunity or persistence –
never give up. This is illustrated in the parable of the widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18: 1-8) and
the parable of the Friend at Midnight (Luke 11: 5).
Jesus’ teachings on prayer can be summed up in the following manner:
- Show respect for God and show willingness to follow his will.
- Pray with humility and be penitent or repentant.
- Glorify God and show that you have faith in him to do what you pray for.
- Pray with sincerity or honesty, and not pray to be seen by others.
- Pray with importunity or persistence.
Why prayer is important for Christians
- Prayer is important because Jesus taught his disciples to pray the Lord’s Prayer. By teaching
them to pray, Jesus was showing them that they should pray often.
- When Christians pray, they are following in the example of Jesus who prayed frequently. After
teaching, he would go to the wilderness and be alone to pray. For example, before choosing
his twelve apostles, he had spent the whole night in the praying in the mountain.
- Prayer gives Christians an opportunity to humble themselves before God as they ask for
forgiveness; it enables them to always confess or admit their sins and repent. For example, in
the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught them to confess their sins.
- Prayer gives Christians the chance to think about the needs of others and not only think about
themselves; as they pray, Christians are encouraged to pray for others.
- Prayer encourages Christians to remember that they cannot do anything by themselves but they
need to depend on a supreme being which is God. This makes them to remain humble.
- Prayer creates a special relationship between Christians and God. It is a direct conversation
with God, so as they pray, they feel connected to him. It reminds them that they belong to God
to whom they report all their problems.
Early Opposition to Jesus
As Jesus continued to teach and perform miracles, he drew great crowds to him including some Jewish
religious leaders who were unhappy and disagreed with his teachings and actions. In other words, they
were opposed to him. These leaders were the Pharisees and the Scribes or teachers of the law. Having
heard about the teachings and deeds of Jesus, they came “every village of Galilee and Judea and from
Jerusalem” to hear and see for themselves this new teacher. Their intention, however, was beyond just
that – they sought to trap Jesus in order to find out if what he taught and did was in line with their
teachings. These are people who claimed or thought they knew the laws of God better than anyone
else, so they thought Jesus was violating or breaking the laws (Go back to re-read your notes about
the religious groups during the times of Jesus). The laws they said Jesus was breaking are the laws
of fasting and the laws of the Sabbath. They also hated or opposed Jesus because he claimed to forgive
sins and ate with sinners.
(a) Claim to Forgive Sins (Luke 5: 17 – 26):
Jesus was teaching inside a house, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were there. Some
men removed the tiles of the house and brought in a paralytic (paralysed man) on his bed

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through the roof. Due to the crowd around Jesus, they could not get in through the door. Jesus
saw their faith and forgave the sins of the paralytic (The Jews believed that if you were sick, it
was because you were having a certain sin or sins so God was punishing you).
The Pharisees were angry with Jesus and mumbled among themselves because they thought
only God could forgive sins. So they said Jesus was blaspheming (insulting God). They said
he was likening himself to God which was a blasphemy or insult to God. Jesus perceived their
complaints and asked them why they had questions in their hearts. He also asked them which
was easier between saying “Your sins are forgiven” and saying “Rise and walk”. He then told
them that ‘the Son of Man’ has power and authority on earth to forgive sins. This further
angered the Pharisees and Scribes – for them, ‘Son of Man’ means the Messiah, yet he did not
fit into their understanding and expectation of the Messiah they were waiting for (Go back to
re-read your notes about the Jewish understanding of the Messiah). Jesus then healed the
paralytic by commanding him to rise, take his bed, and go home. The man immediately rose
and took his mat and went home glorifying God. The people were amazed, and they also
glorified God saying they had seen strange things.
(b) Eating with Sinners (Luke 5: 27)
Jesus then called Levi the tax collector to be his disciple. After that, Levi made a big feast or
party and invited Jesus and his disciples. He also invited many tax collectors, and they sat and
ate together with Jesus.
When the Pharisees and Scribes saw this, they were angry with Jesus and his disciples and even
asked why they were eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. They hated the tax
collectors because they made people pay more taxes and kept the money for themselves. Tax
collectors also worked with the Romans to ill-treat the Jews. Lastly, tax collectors were hated
because they mingled with Gentiles, which was not acceptable to the Jews. As a result, the
Pharisees and Scribes thought it was wrong for Jesus to eat with tax collectors if he was the
Messiah. To them, tax collectors were outcasts.
However, Jesus told the Pharisees that those who are not sick do not need a physician or doctor;
it is the sick that need a physician. So he himself had come to call the sinners to repent, not the
righteous. Jesus’ response showed that Jesus had come for everyone in society.
(c) Failure to Fast (Luke 5: 33 – 39)
The Pharisees then asked Jesus why his disciples were not fasting, yet the disciples of John and
the disciples of the Pharisees were always fasting and praying. To the Pharisees, fasting and
keeping the laws was the only thing that would give them access to the Kingdom of God.
However, Jesus told them a parable (story) that wedding guests cannot fast while the
bridegroom is still with them. This meant that there was no need to fast because Jesus was still
alive (the wedding guests stood for the disciples and Jesus was the bridegroom. So they would
start fasting when Jesus had gone back to heaven. This statement of Jesus angered the Pharisees
because they thought Jesus was against fasting and was teaching people the wrong thing, yet
Jesus was only saying people should only fast when there is need. They were also angry
because Jesus called himself the bridegroom which means that he was the Messiah. This was
also blasphemy to the Pharisees.
Jesus also told the Pharisees a parable of old and new garments, saying that no one can cut or
tear a new garment to mend an old garment because two would not match. He then used a
parable of old and new wine skins or containers, saying no one can put new wine into old wine
skins or containers because the old wine skins would burst or get damaged.
Jesus used the two parables to show that he was bringing a change to the old beliefs of the Jews.
The old garment and the old wine skins stood for the old Jewish beliefs while the new garment
and the new wine skins stood for the new beliefs that Jesus was bringing. He was saying they

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should be ready for the New Covenant that he was bringing and forget about their outdated
strict adherence to the laws.
(d) Working on a Sabbath (Luke 6: 1 – 11)
The Pharisees and Scribes were opposed or angry with Jesus also because they thought he did
not respect the laws of the Sabbath. According to their laws, no work was supposed to be done
on the Sabbath because it was holy. They believed that respecting these laws would make them
go to heaven.
Therefore, one Sabbath Jesus was walking in the middle of a grain field with his disciples. The
disciples picked the heads of the grain, ate them and rubbed them on their hands. The Pharisees
saw them and got angry because they took this as working on the Sabbath, and they asked Jesus.
Jesus reminded them that David in the Old Testament also broke the laws by eating the bread
that was only for priests in the temple. Jesus then told them that he was the Son of Man and he
was the lord of the Sabbath. This was another blasphemy to the Pharisees because Jesus likened
himself to God, so they got angrier with him.
On another Sabbath, as Jesus was teaching, he called a man who had a withered right hand.
The Pharisees and the Scribes were watching him closely to see if he was going to heal on the
Sabbath. Jesus asked them if it was right to save the man, and then he asked the man to stretch
out his hand. The man’s hand was healed. The Pharisees were filled with indignation or anger,
and they discussed what they would do to Jesus.
Jesus’ works on the Sabbath showed that human life was more important than the strict observance of
religious laws.
The Character of Jesus Revealed in this Early Conflict and Lessons for Christians
From the early opposition and conflict, we can learn some lessons about the character of Jesus and how
he reacted to or handled conflicts.
- Jesus never shied away from conflict and opposition, but he faced it with courage; he stood
firm and was never shaken by the Pharisees and Scribes who sought to trap him. For example,
when the Pharisees and Scribes accused him of blasphemy when he forgave the sins of the
paralytic, Jesus was not afraid to tell them that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to
forgive sins”. The Pharisees were known to be well-versed with the laws, and no one could
challenge them; but Jesus stood with courage before them and defended his stand. This is
the same lesson that Christians should copy nowadays when they meet opposition. They
should not run away or divert from the way when they are opposed. Instead, they should be
brave and defend the ministry like Jesus did when he was opposed by the Pharisees and
teachers of the law.
- He also handled conflicts with wisdom rather than coercive power. He did not force those
who opposed him to agree with him; rather, he engaged them in a discussion or conversation
by asking questions. For example, when the Pharisees questioned him about following the
laws of fasting, Jesus asked them if wedding guests can fast while the bridegroom is still with
them. These were rhetorical questions meant to make those who opposed him to think
critically about Jesus’ teachings and practices. Even Christians nowadays should use the same
wisdom instead of forcing their teachings on people.
- When faced with opposition, Jesus never got angry, but he resolved the conflicts with
emotional maturity. Instead of being angry, he always tried to explain to those who opposed
him, and this made it difficult for them to find fault in him.
- He used the scripture for guidance. When the Pharisees challenged him on the laws of the
Sabbath, Jesus reminded them how King David in the Old Testament also broke the laws of

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the Sabbath by eating the bread that was reserved for the priests when he was hungry.
Christians should also refer to the scripture or the Bible when they face opposition. Using the
scripture will help them copy from Jesus, their role model, as they will learn how he also
handled conflicts and how he also referred to scripture when he encountered opposition
- Jesus frequently prayed, and when he met opposition and conflicts, he was always equipped
for it. When he encountered the opposition from the Pharisees, he had just returned from
prayer – after healing the leper in one of the cities around the Sea of Galilee, he withdrew to
the wilderness to pray. It is the prayer that enabled him to face the opposition from the
Pharisees. Likewise, Christians nowadays should pray frequently so that they get guidance
from God on how to deal with conflicts.

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Selected Parables of Jesus

About the Kingdom

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25 – 37)
Jesus used this parable in response to a question by a lawyer who asked what he should do to inherit
eternal life and who his neighbour was. He said a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho
was attacked by robbers who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. A priest
who was going down that road saw the beaten man but passed on the other side. A Levite also came
by and also passed on the other side. But a Samaritan came and had compassion; he went to the beaten
man and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and then he set him on his beast or animal and
took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day, he took out two and gave them to the inn keeper,
paying for the services, also promising to pay more if need be.
Why Jesus used this parable
- The parable criticises or mocks those who claim to be men of God, yet fail to show the love of
God to others. The priest and the Levite in the parable were believed to be men of God; by
passing on the other side of the road, they thought they were following the holiness laws that
prevented them from touching a dead person. They thought the man was dead and did not want
to defile themselves. So Jesus is criticising them in this parable; he is saying they should have
lead by example and saved the beaten man. For Jesus, the strict observance of religious laws
should not supersede or overtake saving human life – human life is more important than the
laws that the priest and Levite were following.
- Jesus used the parable to encourage compassion for strangers. The Samaritan helped the beaten
man even though he did not know him. He showed great compassion by even diverting from
his journey and taking the stranger for medical care, paying his medical bill at the inn and even
promising to pay more it is also possible that the beaten man was a Jew because the road from
Jerusalem to Jericho was in Jewish territory, but the Samaritan helped him although Jews hated
Samaritans. So Jesus wants Christians to show love without discrimination. Even nowadays
Christians should show this compassion to strangers; in fact, there should be no stranger
if you are a Christian, but you should show love to everyone without expecting a return
like the Samaritan did.
- The parable further shows that Jesus had a favourable attitude towards the marginalised and
outcasts. Samaritans were discriminated by Jews; Jews thought Samaritans were of mixed
blood and did not have a place in the kingdom. But in the parable, Jesus paints a good picture
of the Samaritans; it is a Samaritan who does a godly act of kindness and Jews are shown
negatively. It is a Samaritan who shows to be a true neighbour and deserves eternal life, and
the priest and Levite do not deserve God’s kingdom because they failed to love their neighbour.
So Jesus is saying everyone show work for God’s kingdom like the Samaritan. No one is
born with rights to inherit the kingdom.
- The parable also promotes selflessness. The Samaritan risked his own life by stopping to help
the beaten man; he did not know who and where the robbers were at the time, but he stopped
to save the life of an unknown brother. Christians should do the same. The life of the next
person should come first, not yours. It is agape love.
The Parable of the Ten Pounds (Luke 19: 11 – 27)
Jesus told this parable when he was near Jerusalem, and the people thought the kingdom was to appear
immediately. In the parable, a nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom or to be crowned
as king and then come back. Before he left, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds,
asking them to trade with the pounds until he returns. But the citizens of his country hated the noble
man and sent an embassy after him to say they did not want him as their king. After he received his
kingdom, the nobleman came back and called the ten servants to ask them how much they have traded
with the money he gave them. The first servant said he had made ten more pounds, and the nobleman

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praised him as a good servant and made him ruler over ten cities. The second said he had made five
more pounds, and he was made ruler over five cities. But the third brought the pound and said he kept
it laid away in a napkin because he was afraid of the nobleman, saying he was a severe man who took
what he did not lay down and reaped what he did not sow. The nobleman condemned the third servant
for not trading with the pound, saying he should at least have put it in the bank so that it would make
interest. He ordered those who stood by to take the pound from the servant and give it to the one with
ten pounds. When they said he already had ten pounds, the nobleman told them that everyone who has
will be given more and everyone who does not have, even what he already has will be taken away. He
then commanded that the enemies who did not want him as king be slain or killed before him.
Symbolism and what the parable means
- The nobleman in the parable stands for Jesus, and the far country is heaven. Jesus
has gone to the far country (heaven) to be crowned as king, and he will come back.
- The ten servants stand for Christians who have been given the job to work for Jesus
until he returns. The pounds that they were given are the gifts that Christians have
been given by Jesus to use in doing his work; they should use these gifts to trade
or spread the message of God’s salvation. Through the first two servants, Jesus is
saying there will be great rewards for the Christians who work as good servants in
spreading the message of God's salvation; like the two servants who were made
rulers over more cities in the parable, the Christians who serve God faithfully will
be rewarded.
- The third servant stands for the Christians who stay in the church and not do
anything. They have a wrong understanding of Jesus, looking at him as a severe
man and a robber. As a result, they are in the church because they fear Jesus but
do not obey him out of love; they do not carry out his command faithfully. Through
the parable, Jesus is saying there is punishment that awaits them.
The citizens who did not want the noble man are those who do not accept Jesus as king. In the time of
Jesus, it was the Pharisees and the Jews who rejected Jesus, and now it is those who do not repent. Jesus
used the parable to warn that there will be severe judgment for those who reject him; they would be
killed like the citizens who did not want him in the parable.

About Prayer
The Parable of the Friend at Midnight (Luke 11: 5 – 8)
At an unnamed place after Jesus had taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, he told them about a
man who comes to his friend at midnight to ask for three loaves of bread so that he serves his guest
who has come to his house unexpectedly while he is on a journey. At first, the one inside the house
complains, saying the door is already shut and he is sleeping with his children. But when the friend
continues begging outside, he ends up getting up and giving him everything he needs.
What the parable means
- Jesus used the parable to encourage Christians to be persistent in prayer; they should not stop
or give up but continue praying for what they need because God will end up having mercy on
them and give them what they are asking for. They should be like the man in the parable who
never loses hope until the friend inside gets up and gives him whatever he wants. The friend
inside the house is like God listening to people’s prayers, and the man outside stands for
Christians praying to God. If the man had given up on his request, the friend inside the house
would have thought it was not an urgent need; likewise, if a Christian gives up on prayer, God
assumes that there is no urgent need. So Christians should pray with persistence or importunity.
- The parable also encourages Christians to approach God at any time they are in need. God is a
friend to Christians, and there is no specific time for going to him. Christians should go to him
like they go to their friends, at any time, even at night, when a need arises. God always expects

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his people to call upon him like the man inside the house; although it is at midnight, he never
asks who it is, but he just knows by the voice. Even God knows his people and expects them
anytime, so they should not be afraid.
- The parable also encourages Christians to go to God with faith that he will give them what they
pray for. The friend does not ask if the friend inside has the three loaves of bread, but he
believes that he will give him. This is why he is specific in his request that he needs three.
Christians should have this faith when praying to God; they should know that God can give
them anything they need.
- The parable shows the abundant love that God has for those who come to him honestly. He
gives you whatever you need if you are honest in your prayer. And if you are honest or sincere
in your prayer, you will pray at any time and pray continually like the friend who goes to his
friend at midnight and does not lose hope.

The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18: 1 – 6)
Jesus told them that in a certain city, there was a judge who did not fear God and did not care about
people. A widow kept coming to the judge, begging him to prove her justice against her adversary
(vindicate her). For a while, the judge refused to help the widow, but afterwards, he got tired and said
although he did not fear God or anyone, he would help the widow to stop her from her continual coming.
The Characters of the judge and the widow
- The judge is an arrogant, boastful man. If he never regarded man, it means he
viewed himself as better and above every one.
- The judge is a non-believer who does not fear God. By refusing to help the widow,
he shows that he is a sinner because it is his job to sort out people’s problems. It
is even possible that he was expecting bribes from people, and the widow could
not pay because she was poor. So he is likely to be a corrupt man.
- The widow is a strong and brave woman. Approaching the judge shows that she is
brave because women, especially widows were not respected in Jewish
communities, but the widow forgot about her lowly status as a widow and
approached the arrogant judge.
- The widow is also persistent and patient. She never lost hope when the judge
refused to help her, but she kept coming until her will was granted.

What the parable means and Lessons for Christians

- The parable encourages Christians to be strong in prayer. They should be fearless
in the face of the most difficult problems like the widow was in the face of the
unjust judge. She was not scared that the judge did not fear God and people, and
that she was a widow, but she approached the judge for what she needed.
- The parable also encourages Christians to be patient and never lose hope in prayer.
They should be like the widow who kept coming to the judge even when the judge
refused to help her. The widow’s will was granted because of her persistence, so
even Christians will have their prayers answered if they do not lose hope in prayer.
The parable further shows God’s favourable attitude towards people of low status like women and
widows. Although she is a woman and a widow, she is finally rewarded when she gets assistance from
the judge. This corrects the thinking that women and widows are outcasts, and it is in line with the
themes of Luke’s gospel where the marginalised are favoured. Even to widows, nowadays, the parable
gives hope that they should not look down upon themselves.

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About Wealth/ Material Possessions

The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12: 13 – 21)
When a member of the crowd asked Jesus to make his brother divide share their inheritance with him,
Jesus warned the crowd not to be greedy or covetous. He then told the crowd that the land of a certain
rich man produced a plentiful or great harvest until he did not have enough barns to store it. The rich
man then decided that he would destroy his barns and build larger ones to store his harvest. He told
himself that he would relax, eat, drink and celebrate as he would be having enough food for many years.
But God came to him, calling him a fool, and told him that his soul was required that night. Jesus then
said a person who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God is like this rich fool.
What the parable means:
- The parable is a strong warning against greed or covetousness. The rich man in the parable did
not think of sharing his harvest with the poor, but he selfishly planned to keep it for his own to
use it for many years. Christians should not be like that. The will of God is that Christians
share with the poor as a sign of love, and not be like the rich fool who plans for his own future
alone.
- The parable also encourages Christians to be worried about their relationship with God instead
of worrying about riches or wealth of this world. They should get themselves prepared for
God’s kingdom because life belongs to God, and he can take it anytime. The rich man in the
parable was caught unprepared and would die and leave all of his harvest, yet if he had prepared
his relationship with God, he would have no problem. Likewise, Christians should know that
life belongs to God who can take it any time, and therefore should not be worried about
temporary wealth.
- The parable further shows that wealth can make people to forget about God – it can make them
to be boastful like the rich fool. The man here forgot that the harvest came from the land which
belongs to God; even the writer makes it clear that the land brought forth the plentiful harvest.
However, when the man plans, it is as if he is God and know about the future. Christians are
warned against this.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

There was a rich man who wore purple and fine linen clothes, and he feasted or ate sumptuously every
day. At the rich man’s gate, there was a poor man named Lazarus who was full of sores and wanted to
eat what fell from the rich man’s table, and dogs came to lick his sores. Lazarus died, and he was
carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom, and the rich man also died but was buried and went to Hades
where he suffered painfully. The rich man lifted his eyes and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus in his
bosom. He asked Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the end of his figure in water and come to cool his
tongue because he was in pain and burning in flame. But Abraham reminded him that in his lifetime,
he received his good things and Lazarus received evil things, so Lazarus was now being comforted
while he (rich man) was in pain. He also told him that there was a great chasm or valley that separated
them which made it impossible to pass to the other side. The rich man then asked Abraham to send
Lazarus to his father’s house to warn his five brothers so that they would not come to the place of
torment or suffering. But Abraham told him that his brothers had to listen to Moses and the prophets.
The rich man told Abraham that his brothers would repent if someone from the dead goes to them, but
Abraham said if they fail to listen to Moses and the prophets, they will also not believe someone from
the dead.
What the parable means and Lessons for Christians
- Jesus used the parable to show the Pharisees that the rich should share their riches
with the poor; the kingdom of God is for those who give to the poor. And failure
to give to the poor leads to eternal punishment. The rich man in the parable suffers
after death because he saw Lazarus suffering every day at his gate but did not give

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him any food. Likewise, Christians should always share with the poor to avoid
eternal punishment. Wealth is a blessing from God, but Christians are
expected to give to the poor, and failure to do so leads to severe punishment.
- The parable also shows that the kingdom of God is also for the poor. The Pharisees
believed that the poor were neglected by God and were being punished for a sin
committed by their forefathers and did not have a place in God’s kingdom.
However, Jesus uses the parable to correct this misconception. By having Lazarus
sit on the bosom of Abraham, Jesus is saying even the poor have an equal chance
to enter the kingdom. Jesus shows his favourable attitude towards the marginalised
which is in line with the themes of the gospel of Luke. Christians should also
have this attitude towards the poor; they should know that they have a place
in God’s kingdom.
- The parable also warns people against focusing on wealth because it is temporary;
instead, they should work on their relationship with God while on earth. The rich
man was obsessed with wealth which made him forget that life belongs to God. As
a result, he died without having prepared his relationship with God. Christians
should also avoid focusing on material wealth because it is temporary and can
divert their focus on God’s work like the rich man in the parable.
The parable encourages people to read the words of God in their lifetime as there is no chance for
repentance after dead. In the parable, the rich man seeks to repent when he asks Abraham to send
Lazarus to dip his figure in water and cool him, but there is no more chance.

About the Lost

These are the parables used by Jesus to demonstrate God’s love for, and wish for sinners to
reunite with him.
The Lost Sheep (Luke 15: 1-7)
Jesus used this parable in response to the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were
complaining that Jesus welcomed the tax collectors and sinners. He told them a story of a
shepherd who loses one of his 100 sheep. This shepherd leaves his 99 sheep and goes out to
search for the lost one until he finds it. When he finally finds it, he goes home and calls his
friends to celebrate with him. Jesus then tells the Pharisees that this is what happens in
heaven when one sinner repents.
Lessons and Interpretation
- By using the example of a shepherd, Jesus also shows his favourable attitude
towards the marginalised. Shepherds were not respected in Jewish
communities because of their work which was considered as a work for the
poor, but Jesus gives them a special and very important role in God’s work.
The shepherd in the parable takes the position of God looking for his people.
Christians are encouraged to have the same favourable attitude
towards those who are neglected in the society. They should love
without discrimination.
- The parable corrects the Pharisees’ misconception about God; they were of
the view that God condemns and hates sinners. However, Jesus uses the

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parable to refute or oppose that; he shows them that God is caring and
loving. This is why in the parable, God is represented by a shepherd,
someone who risks his life for his sheep. Christians should be taking the
role of a shepherd to those who are excluded in the society or who are
lost from the kingdom of God, not condemn them, so Jesus used the
parable to show them what they ought to be doing.
- The parable also shows how much God toils or suffers for those who are
lost from the kingdom, the sinners; it shows that he never rests and he feels
pain about those who are not part of the kingdom. He is like the shepherd
who goes out into the bushes and risk his life for the life of the lost sheep
until he finds it. Christians should carry out God’s mission like this
shepherd – they should be ready to risk their own life just to save the
life of a sinner like the shepherd. They should be selfless and forget
about their own happiness just to win souls for God.

- The celebration held by the shepherd with his friends when he finally finds
the lost sheep is the same celebration that God holds with the angels in
heaven when a sinner repents. When Christians preach about the
kingdom, they should know that even one person is of great value to
God; they should not be worried with big numbers in their
congregations but they should be pleased with every individual that
accepts the news of the kingdom.

The Lost Coin (15: 8-10)

Jesus told the Pharisees a parable of a woman who loses one of his ten silver coins. The woman
lights a lamp, sweeps the house and searches carefully or diligently until she finds the coin.
When she finds it, she calls her friends neighbours for celebration. Jesus tells them that the
same happens among the angels when one sinner repents.
Lessons and Interpretation
- By using the example of a woman, Jesus also shows his favourable attitude
towards the marginalised. Women were not treated with respect in Jewish
communities, but Jesus gives them a special and very important role in
God’s work. The woman in the parable takes the position of God looking
for his people just like the shepherd in the parable of the lost sheep.
Christians are encouraged to have the same favourable attitude
towards those who are neglected in the society. They should love
without discrimination.
- The parable emphasises God’s love for those who are lost from his kingdom.
The lost coin can be said to stand for the sinners who are lost from the
kingdom. The remaining nine coins stand for those who are currently in the
church. Christians should demonstrate the same love for those who are
outside the church; they should not treat them as outcasts, but they
should treat them as precious silver coins. They should be more

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worried about winning them back than spending time with those who
are already in the church.
- When the woman sweeps the house, lights a lamp and searches diligently
for the lost coin, she shows how Jesus sacrificed his life to win sinners’ life.
Christians should also search diligently for those who are seen as
sinners. They should be like the woman who even lights a lamp
searching a single silver coin.
- The celebration that the woman has when she finds the lost coin is the same
celebration that takes place in heaven when one sinner repents. When
Christians preach about the kingdom, they should know that even one
person is of great value to God; they should not be worried with big
numbers in their congregations but they should be pleased with every
individual that accepts the news of the kingdom.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11 – 32)

Jesus said there was a man who had two sons. The younger son went to his father and asked for his
share of their inheritance, and the father divided the inheritance between them. A few days later, the
younger son took all he had and left home to a far country where he wasted all his property. When he
had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country and the younger son suffered. He joined one
of the citizens of the country who sent him to feed swine in his fields. He was so hungry that he would
have gladly fed on the pods of the swine. He then came to his senses and remembered how his father’s
servants had enough bread, yet he was dying from hunger. He decided to go to his father to apologise
and asked to be treated as one of the servants. But his father was filled with compassion; he ran and
embraced him and kissed him. He even had him dressed in the best robe, put a ring in his hand and
shoes on his feet. He also asked the servants to kill a fatted calf and they celebrated, as he said his son
was dead and is now alive again; he was lost and is found. The older son, coming from the field, heard
the music and dancing, and he asked one servant about it. When the servant told him, he was angry and
refused to go in. When his father went to him, he told his father that he had served him loyally for many
years, yet he was never given even a kid to celebrate with his friends, but when this younger son came
from spending his property with harlots, a fatted calf was killed for him. The father told him that he
had always been with him, and all that the father had also belonged to the older son. He said it was
fitting that he celebrate with the son who was dead and is alive, who was lost and is found.
The Character of the Younger Son in the Parable and Lessons for Christians
- The younger son at first is shown to be disrespectful and rebellious towards his
father. It is not expected of a son to ask for an inheritance while he is alive. It was
like the son wished that his father was dead; he is rebelling against his father.
Christians should learn to be respectful towards their parents. They should
not be rebellious like the younger son.
- The younger son is also greedy or selfish. He asked for his inheritance because he
wanted to spend the wealth alone and not under the care of his parents and his
brother. The famine that arose was a punishment for the younger son for his greed.
Christians should not be like this. They should be satisfied with what they
have and not be greedy for more. Greed or selfishness is a sin, and God
punishes it severely like the younger son was punished with famine.
- At the end, the younger son is repentant. He humbles himself and asks for
forgiveness from his father. Christians should do the same – they should
humble themselves before God and ask for forgiveness when they have sinned
like the younger son did.

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The Character of the Father and Lessons for Christians

- The father is a humble man. When the younger son comes for his share of the
inheritance, the father does not show signs of anger. He could have scolded or
beaten the son, but he does not want to force him to obey him. He knows that
beating the son would make him fear him and not obey him, so he remains calm.
Christians should demonstrate humility as well.
- The father is a compassionate man. When his repentant son comes back, he sees
him from a distance and runs to him, embraces him, and kisses him which shows
how much he loves him. He is an old man, but he runs for a son to show love.
This is the love that God has for sinners who show signs of repentance like the
younger son. He does not judge sinners but loves them abundantly.
Christians should also show love for sinners and not judge them, like the
father showed love to his prodigal son.
- The father is also a forgiving man. He forgives the son even before he opens his
mouth. Running to him and kissing him show that he has forgiven him. He forgets
that this is the same son that disrespected him and rebelled against him, shaming
him before everyone in the society. Dressing him in the best robe, putting a ring
in his hand and shoes in his feet, and throwing a party with the fatted calf are all
signs of love and forgiveness. He has seen that the son is coming back because he
is repentant, so he does not even think but forgives him instantaneously. This is
the forgiveness that God wants, that Jesus taught in his sermon on the plain.
Christians should also forgive when a person shows repentance. They should
not count a person’s past sins, but they should just forgive without thinking
like the father who forgave his prodigal son without counting his sins.
The Character of the Older Son and Lessons for Christians
- The older son is jealous. He is angry that his father is celebrating the return of the
prodigal son. Christians should not be like this, but they should be forgiving.
- The older son is also judging and prejudicial. He does not know how his younger
brother spent the property because he was not there; but he tells his father that he
spent the money with harlots or prostitutes. Christians should not judge, but
they should look into their own lives. They should not be like this older son.
Symbolism in the Parable of the Prodigal Son
- The whole family stands for the body of Christians – it is the church or the kingdom
of God. The father represents God or Jesus in the kingdom, and the two sons are
the members of the church.
- The younger son who asks for his share of the inheritance stands for the Christians
who get lost from the kingdom and fall into sin; they are tempted by the riches they
enjoy in the kingdom like the younger son who became greedy and wanted to go
and enjoy his share alone.
- The famine and the bitter life that the younger son lives in the far country stands
for the life of suffering that sinners live when they are far from God – the far
country is the miserable life of sin. At first, it seems good, as the younger son first
enjoyed the property he got from his father. Jesus is saying that the wealth of
sinners is temporary.
- The son’s repentance stands for the sinners who come to their senses, realise their
mistake, and ask for forgiveness. Jesus is encouraging people to do the same, to
be repentant.
- The father’s forgiveness of the younger son stands for God’s forgiveness of sinners
who show signs of repentance. The father ran to his son, embraced and kissed him
even before the son said a word. Likewise, God does not even wait for you to
open your mouth; but he reads from the actions that you are repentant and

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forgives your sins without counting them. The celebration that followed is the
same celebration that takes place in God’s kingdom when a sinner repents.
- The reaction of the older son is that of the Christians who do not welcome sinners
back but count their sins. He stands for those who are in the church who think they
are better than those who have just repented.
Symbolism of the Best Robe, Ring, and Shoes Given to the Repentant Son
- The robe given to the repentant son is a symbol of forgiveness: when you are
forgiven, your shameful past life of sin is covered with a robe of love and grace.
The younger son’s past life of rebelliousness and disrespect for his father was
covered and hidden in the robe that he got from his father.
- The ring that was put on his hand stands for bringing back or restoration of his
identity. It is like the son is being married back to his family. He lost his identity
as a member of the family when he left, so the ring brings back the lost identity.
- The shoes or sandals are a symbol of renewed purpose and meaning for life. The
younger son had lost hope and had lived like a servant in the far country – servants
walk barefooted, so the shoes mean that he is not a servant but he is a son.
The Importance of the Parable of the Prodigal Son as a Whole
- The parable show God’s compassion or love for those who are sinners. This love
is shown by the reaction of the father when the younger son returns and shows
repentance. The father does not judge his son on his past life of rebelliousness and
disrespect, but he shows compassion by kissing him and throwing a party for him.
Jesus used the parable to teach Christians that they should also love sinners
and not judge them.
- The parable also encourages people to show repentance when they have sinned;
they should humble themselves like the younger son who came to his senses and
went to ask for forgiveness from his father.
- The parable further warns Christians against greed. They should not be like the
younger son who became greedy and wanted a share of his inheritance from his
father. Jesus in the parable is saying that greed can give you temporary wealth and
suffering. Because of greed, the younger son got his share from his father, but he
enjoyed it temporarily and afterwards he suffered from hunger.
- Jesus also used the parable to show that there is great happiness in God’s kingdom
when a sinner repents. This is why when the younger son returned home, the father
celebrated and threw a party, even killing a fatted calf and dressing him in the best
robe, a ring and shoes.
Why Jesus Taught in Parables
- By using parables, Jesus wanted to make it easy for the people to understand the
complicated, abstract truths about God’s kingdom. Parables make reference to the
people’s way of living; they make examples of the people’s common way of life
such as farming and kingship. For example, Jesus knew that it would be easy for
the people to understand the kingdom if he used the parable of the ten pounds
because they knew about kings under the Roman Empire. He also knew that they
would easily understand his teaching about greed if he used the parable of the rich
fool because they lived by farming.
- Parables also enabled Jesus to avoid direct confrontations with the religious leaders
such as the Pharisees, scribes and the Sadducees. Some ideas that Jesus came with
directly clashed with the beliefs of the people, so saying them directly would anger
the people and they would not understand the message. For example, when the
lawyer asked who a neighbour is, the simple answer would be that even a Samaritan
is a neighbour. However, saying a Samaritan is a neighbour would make the lawyer
and the other Jews angry, so Jesus had to use the parable of the Good Samaritan to

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explain who a neighbour is. Using this parable enabled Jesus to make the Jews
find out for themselves who a neighbour is without quarrelling with him. He had
not come to have quarrels, so he had to avoid them while teaching, and the parables
helped him do so.
- Jesus also wanted to make his listeners think critically for themselves and make
individual judgements about what he was teaching. This would make his teachings
sink into their hearts than just memorising. For example, using the parable of the
rich man and Lazarus would make the people think deeply about giving to the poor
because they would have seen clearly the punishment if you do not share with the
poor.
- Using parables also enabled Jesus to explain more than one moral lesson using one
story. For example, when he told the parable of the Good Samaritan, his purpose
was to explain to the lawyer who a neighbour is, but he also managed to teach about
taking care of those who are suffering.

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Later Opposition and Conflict

The later opposition is Jesus’ clash with the Jewish religio-political groups such as the Sanhedrin,
Sadducees and High Priests.
The Sanhedrin
- were the Jewish council of about 70 men
- they were responsible for criminal offences
- led by a High Priest who was appointed by the Roman emperor to ensure that the council
remained loyal to the Roman government
- had no power to sentence anyone to death

The Sadducees
- a traditional group of the Jews
- did not believe in life after death and angels
- were the elite, wealthy class of Jews
- were close allies/friends with the Roman government

High Priests
- the most senior religious leaders
- believed to be chosen by God as his earthly representatives
- opposing them was tantamount to disobeying God
- people could only talk to God through them

Later Conflict
In the earlier conflict, the group that mostly clashed with Jesus was the group of the Pharisees, and the
reasons for their disagreement with Jesus were mostly religious: they were opposed to him because they
thought he broke their religious laws. However in the later conflict, the reasons were mostly political.
Such reasons included questions about Jesus’ authority, paying taxes to Caesar, and questions about the
resurrection of the dead. Moreover, Jesus’ ministry is now centred in Jerusalem, a place where political
activities take place and where the political leaders live. These include the Sanhedrin, the high priests,
the Sadducees and the scribes. All these groups asked Jesus questions that were meant to trap him so
that they could hand him to the Roman leaders for killing.
(a) Questions about the Authority of Jesus (Luke 20: 1- 8)
The groups that questioned Jesus’ authority were the high priests, the scribes, and the Jewish elders.
They asked him where he got the power, not because they did not know, but because they wanted to
find faults in his response – they were looking for reasons to hand him to the Romans to be killed. Their
questions also indicated that they did not want to accept him as their messiah.
Jesus wisely responded by asking them about the authority of John the Baptist. He asked them about
John because he wanted them to deduce the answers for themselves. He knew that the Jews believed
John – they believed him as God’s prophet. Therefore, if they said John’s authority was from God,
then it meant even Jesus was from God because John is the one who prophesied about the coming of
Jesus. So they failed to trap Jesus on this question.
Another reason why they questioned his authority was that the high priests felt that Jesus was a threat
to their position, as they thought that they were the only ones who had access to God. So if Jesus said
he got the authority from God, they would accuse him of blasphemy.

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(b) Questions about Paying Taxes to Caesar (Luke 20: 19 – 26)

When they failed to find fault with Jesus, the scribes and the chief priests sent spies to talk nicely to
Jesus, asking him if it was right or not right to pay taxes to Caesar. They wanted to set a trap for him
against the Roman authorities and the crowd. They knew that if he said it was right, the crowd would
be angry with him because no one wanted to pay taxes. On the other hand, if he said it was wrong, he
would annoy the Roman leaders, and he would be killed. However, Jesus asked them whose face and
name was on the coin (money). When they said it was Caesar’s face, he told them to give to Caesar
what belonged to Caesar and give to God what belonged to God. Jesus meant that people should be
loyal to God; money and worldly things can disturb people’s worship of God, so it should go to the
people of the world. This response by Jesus made them angrier, and they wanted to kill him.

(c) Questions on Resurrection (Luke 20: 27 – 40)

Jesus also clashed with the Sadducees on the concept of life after death. The Sadducees did not believe
there is life after death, so they wanted to mock Jesus about it. They asked him about a woman whose
husband died and was inherited by the husband’s brother who also died until all the seven brothers who
inherited her died. At last, the woman herself died. The Sadducees then asked whose wife whose wife
the woman would be in the life after death.
Jesus responded by explaining that life after death is different from the present life or age: in the afterlife
(life after death), there is no marriage, and there is no death. In that life, the bodies are transformed
(changed) – those who qualify to go there become like angels. Jesus also proved that there is life after
death by quoting the passage about Moses and the burning bush where God says he is “the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. By calling these people, God showed that even though they died, their
spirit still lives in the afterlife. This was meant to correct their wrong thinking about human life – they
thought that life marks the end. Jesus corrected their thinking by citing a scripture from the book of
Exodus, a book they thought they knew and believed in. He knew that they accepted the first five books
of the Bible, and they respected Moses highly. Therefore, he was showing them that they had no choice
but to accept that there is life after death because even Moses proved that in his books. They had been
trying to mock Jesus about the idea of the resurrection, but instead, they are the ones who ended up
being fooled because Jesus shows that they do not have a full understanding of the scripture they claim
to know.

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Jesus’ Ministry in Jerusalem

The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19: 28-40)
This event is called the triumphal entry because Jesus entered Jerusalem in a triumphal or victorious
way. He entered like someone who had won. This was even shown by the way the crowd received him
with praise.
The story begins at Mount Olivet where Jesus sent two of his disciples to the opposite village to untie
a colt or young donkey that had never been ridden. When they were asked why they were taking the
colt, they should say, “The Lord is in need of it.” They did so, and Jesus rode on to Jerusalem. The
crowd of disciples laid their garments and palm branches on the road and proclaimed Jesus as “the king
that comes”. The Pharisees were angry when they saw this, and they asked Jesus to rebuke or stop his
disciples from making noise. But Jesus refused to stop them – he told the Pharisees that if he stopped
the disciples, even the stones would cry out.
Importance of the Triumphal Entry
- Firstly, this event is a fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies. The prophet Zecharia in the
Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would come humble and riding on an ass or donkey.
- The triumphal entry is also a time for the people to recognise Jesus as the Messiah, and Jesus
also admits or agrees. In the Great Confession, Jesus told the apostles not to tell anyone that
he is the Christ. However, in the triumphal entry, it is the right time – he allows them to
proclaim him as the Messiah. This is why he says if he stops them, even stones would cry out.
The spreading of the garments and branches shows that the people are acknowledging or
accepting Jesus as their king, as it was prophesied in the Old Testament. When a king was
anointed in Israel, people would spread their garments in front of the anointed king to show that
they surrender their lives to him.
- The triumphal entry also shows that Jesus was a king of peace and humility – he was bringing
peace. This is symbolised by the fact that he chose a donkey – an animal that is associated with
humbleness. He did not choose a horse. This shows that he was not the messiah that was
expected by many – he was a peaceful messiah who was bringing spiritual freedom – to free
people from their sin.

The Last Supper (Luke 22:7-23)

It is Passover, and Jesus, like every Jew, is to partake in the celebration. He sends Peter and John to
prepare the Passover food. They are to go to the city centre where they will find a man carrying a jar
of water. They should follow this man into the house he enters. They should tell the house holder that
the teacher needs the guest room for the teacher (Jesus) to celebrate the Passover with his apostles.
The celebration took place in the upper room of the guest room. Jesus and the apostles sat around the
table. He told them that he wanted and wished earnestly or seriously to celebrate the Passover with them
before he suffered, and that he would never celebrate it with them again.
He then took a cup, gave thanks, and asked the apostles to divide it among themselves, saying he would
never drink again until the coming of the kingdom. And then he took bread, gave thanks and broke it
to each of them, saying that it is his body, and they should eat it in his remembrance. After eating the
bread, he told them to drink from the cup – it was the new covenant or agreement in his blood.
He then told them that someone among them was going to betray him. He told them that the betrayal
was predetermined – it was planned from the beginning – but woe to him who would do it. The disciples
murmured and questioned one another about who would do it.

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Interpretation of the Last Supper

The apostles had thought they would be celebrating the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt.
However, Jesus changes the whole theme of the Passover. Now, the unleavened bread that stood for
the bitter life in Egypt will be the body of Jesus being sacrificed by God – it now shows that Jesus is
offering himself as the way for people to fellowship or unite with God. Even the wine takes a new
meaning. In the Passover, it stood for the Israelites’ liberation, but in the New Covenant of Jesus’
blood, the wine stands for the blood of Jesus that will buy people back to God. Therefore, the whole
celebration now stands for the sacrificial suffering and death of Jesus as a gift from God to re-unite with
his people. It now stands for Jesus as the people’s way to God.
The celebration is also a fulfilment of the Old Testament. In Jeremiah 31:31, God says he will make a
new covenant with Israel, and this is the covenant that Jesus establishes in the Last Supper.
The words of Jesus in the celebration are prophetic – Jesus says the bread is his body given to people,
and the wine is his blood poured out. This predicted Jesus’ death for humanity.
In summary, the Last Supper is:
- Jesus’ sacrificial death for people
- God’s love for people
- Unity for Christian believers among themselves and with God
- Fulfilment of the Old Testament

The Trials of Jesus

These are the stories of Jesus ill-treatment after he was arrested and before he was crucified. We will
look at the description of each of the trials, their meaning, and how Jesus reacted. These trials are:
before the Sanhedrin, before Pilate and before Herod.
Before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22: 66-71)
The Sanhedrin was the highest court of the Jews. It was a group of about 72 men, including
Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, High Priests and Jewish elders, and they met in Jerusalem to discuss
Jewish issues such as crimes and disputes. But they did not have the power to sentence someone to
death; it was the Romans who had that power.
After the Jesus had been arrested at night, he was brought to these men (the Sanhedrin) in the early
hours of the morning. The men mocked him, beat him and blindfolded him (closed his eyes), asking
him to prophesy who had struck him. They also used abusive language and insulted him.
The Jewish elders: scribes and high priests asked him if he was the Christ, but told them that even if
he told them, they would not believe and if he asked them, they would not answer. He then told them
that the Son of man shall sit at the right hand of God. They then asked him if he was the Son of God,
but he told them that they are the ones who said he was the Son of God. In all the questions, they
were looking to find something to accuse him for. However, they could not find a clear piece of
evidence. Then they convinced themselves that they had enough evidence to accuse him and took
him to Pilate, the governor of Judea.
Before Pilate (Luke 23: 1-5)
When they took Jesus to Pilate, they wanted him to be crucified as it was the Romans who had the
authority to sentence someone to death. This is why they made political accusations against him.
Firstly, they accused Jesus of ‘perverting’ the nation. They also accused him of forbidding the people
to pay tribute to Caesar. Lastly, they accused Jesus of calling himself a king. They made these false
accusations so that Pilate would find him a threat to the peace of the Roman Empire. However, Pilate
found him innocent. He then took him to Herod, the governor of the region of Galilee.

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Before Herod (Luke 23: 6-12)

Herod had always heard about the miracles of Jesus while he was in Galilee, but he had never seen
him. So he was pleased when Jesus was sent to him: he hoped that Jesus would perform a miracle
before him. However, Jesus never gave any answer when he was asked to perform a miracle: he did
not perform miracles to please people. This is why even during his temptations after he had been
baptised, he refused to give in to the orders of the devil. The devil asked him to change a stone into
bread and to fall down the highest point of the temple, but Jesus did not do that.
The chief priests and scribes continued to lay accusations against him. Herod and his soldiers also
mocked him and dressed him in a king’s robes in an attempt to mock him, and then he sent him back
to Pilate.
Before Pilate (Luke 23:13-25)
Again, Pilate could not find any crime in Jesus. He told the people that he would rather have Jesus
chastised (beaten) and then release him. But the people demanded that they wanted him to be
crucified. It was the custom that the Roman governor releases one Jewish prisoner during the
Passover. So Pilate asked them whom they wanted to be released. They demanded that they wanted
Barab’bas, a prisoner who was known to be a murderer. Pilate told them three times that there was no
crime that Jesus had committed, but they insisted that they wanted him crucified. So Pilate let them
have their will to protect his position as a governor.
Jesus’ Character Revealed in the Trials and Lessons for Christians
- From the trials, we can conclude that Jesus was/is a humble person. He never retaliated or
revenged to those who ill-treated him. He was blindfolded, beaten and mocked, but he
remained silent. From this, Christians nowadays can learn to be humble when they are ill-
treated. They can learn not to retaliate or revenge even if they have the power to do so. Jesus
had the power to retaliate because he was the Son of God, but he remained calm. In this way,
he set an example for all Christians.
- The trials also reveal Jesus as a persevering person. He was able to withstand all the insults
and harsh treatment. For example, when they brought him before the Sanhedrin, they beat
him and ‘reviled’ him. This also happened when he was brought before Herod. But he never
gave up on his mission to go on and complete his mission on earth which was to die for
people. Christians nowadays also can learn to endure pain and stand for the truth even in the
most difficult circumstances or times.
- Jesus’ perseverance during the trials show that he has selfless love. He went through all this
pain because he of the love he had for God’s people; he knew that his suffering would make
people to be re-united with God and be saved from eternal punishment. This is a lesson that
even Christians nowadays should learn: they should not only think for themselves, but they
should be ready to sacrifice their lives for others just like Jesus did for them. For example,
when they see someone in poverty, Christians should save that person in the best way they
can even if it means sacrificing with their own property.
- From the way Jesus answered questions during his trials, we can conclude that he was a wise
person and knew how to handle conflicts. He knew that the Jewish leaders were asking the
questions to trap or to find fault in him so that they would have a reason to crucify him. So he
did not answer their questions directly. For example, when they asked if he was the Christ,
Jesus said, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask you, you will not answer.” And
when they asked him if he was the Son of God, he said, “You say that I am.” This was a wise
way to deal with their questions in order to avoid conflict. Christians nowadays can also learn
to solve conflicts wisely and peacefully, like Jesus did. They can learn to always try to leave
in peace with everyone, even with those who are against them.

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The Importance of the Trials of Jesus

- The trials prove the innocence of Jesus. In each of the trials: before the Sanhedrin, Pilate and
Herod, Jesus was not found to be guilty. The Sanhedrin failed to find fault in him, although
they claimed that they had enough testimony against him. Pilate stated clearly that there was
no crime deserving death that Jesus had committed. Even Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate
because he could not find any crime in him.
- The trials also remind us of the kind of Messiah that Jesus was – a peaceful Messiah. He
never retaliated, and he never used violence when he was ill-treated by the crowd before the
Sanhedrin and when ill-treated by Herod.
- The trials also fulfil the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. In Isaiah 53: 7, it was
said, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is
led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his
mouth.”
- The ill-treatment he endured in the trials also reminds believers of the love of Jesus for them,
that he suffered on their behalf, as it is said in the book of Isaiah: “Surely he has borne our
griefs and carried our sorrows”.

Via Dolorosa or the Way to the Cross and the Crucifixion

- Simon of Cyre’ne seized to carry the cross
- Women lament (weep)
- Jesus tells them not to weep for him but to weep for themselves
- Jesus prophesies about a destruction to come
- Two criminals crucified with him at Calvary (The Skull)
- Jesus prays that God forgives them
- The crowd divide his garments
- One criminal tells him to save himself
- Other criminal ask Jesus to remember him in paradise
- Jesus promises criminal a place in paradise
- Darkness over the whole land for three hours (6-9)
- Temple curtain torn apart
- Jesus cries his last, committing his spirit into God’s hands
- Centurion proclaims that Jesus was innocent
- Crowd disperses
- Joseph of Arimathe’a ask to bury Jesus’ body

Significance (importance) of the Crucifixion to Christians today

- The events of the crucifixion remind believers about the love God showed for the world. He
sacrificed his only son to die so that people re-unite with him. By agreeing to be the sacrifice,
Jesus also showed selflessness: he sacrificed his own life to buy humanity back to God. His
sacrificial death marked the end of animal sacrifice. From the cross onwards, he would be the
sacrifice or ‘the lamb’.
- It is also the events of the cross that remind believers of the plan that God had for human
beings: he created them not to die but to live forever. By sending Jesus to die, he was
restoring the natural order of things from the creation.
- At Calvary, Christians are also reminded of the mission of Jesus: to save. Already, Barab’bas
who was a murderer has been saved because of Jesus, and on the Cross, Jesus promises one of
the criminals a place in paradise. This also reminds people that the chance to repent is open
even to the last day of one’s life.
- The crucifixion also shows Jesus as an exponent of forgiveness. In his Sermon on the Plain,
he taught people to forgive. And here on the cross, he leads by example once again when he
prays that God forgives his persecutors for they do not know what they do. He had the power
to retaliate, but he did not.

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- The death of Jesus also gives everyone access to the presence of God. In the Old Testament
times, it was only the High Priests who had direct access to the presence of God. In the
temple, there was a holy place where the priest could go and talk to God about the sins of a
Jew. This place separated by a curtain from the rest of the temple.
However, this curtain was torn apart when Jesus died. This meant that there would no longer
be a separation between God and people: everyone now can talk to God without the
intervention of a priest.
The Character of Jesus Revealed in the Crucifixion
- From the events of the crucifixion, we can conclude that Jesus was/is a humble person. He
never retaliated or revenged to those who ill-treated him. As the Son of God, he had the
power to destroy his persecutors, but he remained calm he never even took offence with the
criminal who mocked him and said he should save himself if he was the Christ.
- Jesus is also portrayed as a selfless, caring person. He had the option to avoid the suffering
and the death. However, he endured all the pain and surrendered himself to the ill-treatment
because he wanted people to be saved from sin. He decided to suffer and die so that God’s
people would not suffer; and this shows him as a selfless, caring person.
- He is also revealed as a courageous person. He carried on until the end of his mission
although it was painful. He never gave up but he withstood the nerve-breaking pain and the
heavy cross until he completed his mission to save humanity. This also shows the love he has
for God’s people.
- We can also describe Jesus as a forgiving person. After all the ill-treatment, he only asked
God to forgive the persecutors “for they know not what they do”. He never held grudges
against them. Jesus’ forgiving character was further revealed when he forgave the penitent
(repentant) robber. He was on the cross with Jesus because he had committed a serious or
heavy crime. But because he showed signs of repentance, Jesus just forgave him and never
counted his previous sins.

From the character of Jesus revealed here, even Christians of nowadays can learn valuable lessons:
- They can lean to be humble even though they are ill-treated.
- They can learn to be selfless and not be self-centred; they can learn to suffer for others.
- They can learn to have courage until they achieve want they want. They can learn to endure
pain until the end.
- They can learn to forgive and not count people’s sins.
- They can learn that previous sins cannot prevent a person from inheriting the Kingdom of
God, so long as they repent.
(Support these lessons with the character of Jesus discussed above.)

The Burial and Resurrection

The Burial (Luke 23:50-56)
- Joseph of Aramathe’a went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body: he was a good, righteous man
who was against the ill-treatment and crucifixion of Jesus, although he was a member of the
Sanhedrin.
- He wrapped the body in a linen shroud and laid it in a new tomb before the Sabbath.
- Women from Galilee followed to see the tomb.

The Empty Tomb (Luke 24:1-11)

- First day of the week, in early dawn, women from Galilee (Mary Mag’dalene, Mary the
mother of James and other women) went to the tomb with spices to anoint the body of Jesus.
- Found the stone covering the tomb rolled away
- Found the tomb empty and were perplexed

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- Two men in dazzling apparel or clothes appeared

- Women were filled with fear and they bowed to the ground
- The men in dazzling clothing asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be
delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise?”
- The women left the tomb to tell the eleven apostles and everyone
- Peter ran to the tomb to see for himself.

The Role of Women

Women appeared several times during the events of the cross:
- They are the ones who supported Jesus on the way to the cross: they wept when they saw him
carrying the cross.
- They followed Joseph of Aramathe’a to the tomb.
- They were the first to witness the empty tomb.
- They were the first to spread the news of the resurrection.

The Post-resurrection Appearances of Jesus

These are the stories of Christ appearing to the disciples after his resurrection. He first appeared on
the way to Emmaus and then appeared among the eleven apostles in Jesrusalem.
On the Way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
- Cleopas was walking with another follower of Jesus to a village called Emmaus, and they
were talking about the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.
- Jesus appeared and walked with them – he asked them what they were talking about.
- They told him how Jesus was condemned by the Jewish leaders, crucified and how some
women discovered his empty tomb. They did not realise who he was.
- Jesus rebuked them for failing to believe what the prophets had said about the suffering of the
Messiah.
- They asked him to stay with them as it was already evening.
- He stayed and ate the evening meal with them. When they recognised him, he disappeared
from their sight. They remained confused, asking each other, “Did not our hearts burn with
us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?”

His Appearance to the Apostles (Luke 33-49)

- Cleopas and the unnamed disciple went to Jesrusalem to tell the eleven apostles about their
experience.
- As they narrated, Jesus stood among them, saying “Peace to you!”
- They were shocked and filled with fear, thinking they were seeing a ‘spirit’ or ghost.
- Jesus asked them why they were troubled and doubtful. He showed them the holes his hands
and feet. He then asked for something to eat. They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he
ate.
- He then reminded them of his words while he was with them, about the suffering, death and
resurrection of the Christ. He then told them that the scriptures had been fulfilled.
- He then told them that they were witnesses of his suffering, death and resurrection, so they
should start preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations, beginning from
Jerusalem. But they should stay in the city until they were clothed with power from on high
(the Holy Spirit). This means that without the Holy Spirit, they could do nothing.

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The Ascension (Luke 24: 50-53)

To ascend is to rise up or to fly upwards. Therefore, the ascension is the act of Jesus being taken up
to heaven. It took place in Bethany, on the Mount of Olives forty (40) days after
Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus lifted his hands and blessed his disciples. And a cloud took him up into
heaven as the disciples looked on or gazed at him. Two men appeared in white robes and told the
disciples that Jesus would come back in the way in which he left.
The Importance of the Resurrection and Ascension to Christians Nowadays
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith; without it, there would be no
Christianity.
- Firstly, the resurrection and ascension give Christians evidence that they believe in someone
who lives, so their faith lives. If Christ had died and never resurrected, there would be no
reason to continue believing because the centre of their faith would have died.
- The resurrection also gives Christians hope for eternal life. Because Christ was raised, they
believe that they will rise too and unite with him. And this makes their faith grow even
stronger as they have a direction in life.
- Christ’s resurrection also makes Christians to face death without fear. They now take death
as a necessary step that takes them to eternal life of joy and glory with Jesus. This is why
during the funeral of a Christian, some rejoice – they believe that the deceased has gone to be
with Christ.
- The resurrection of Christ also makes Christians to shape their behaviour. They know that
they cannot be raised if they fail to live like Christ; so they always try to model their life after
the life of Jesus so that they can be raised too when they die.
- Because of the resurrection and ascension, Christians are reminded that they do not
permanently belong to this present world. Therefore, in all they do, they prepare for the next
world with their actions.

©Mkhondvo High School 6893/1/Notes 2021-2023