Problems and fears arise when we forget the Word of the Lord. This is what happened to the women when they made their way to the tomb on Resurrection Morning. They were hearing what common sense was saying, and they had forgotten what Jesus had said. Never forget what Jesus Christ has said and taught. If we do, fear and… [continue]

Now, we come to that other vital aspect which lies right at the very heart of our Christian Faith - the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - that amazing event for which words are inadequate - we can but Worship and give thanks. No other faith in the whole world has a Leader Who is Alive. Are the others not simply philosophies… [continue]

Over these past two months, reading from Luke Chapters 22 and 23, we have moved slowly through, from that Passover meal in the Upper Room in Jerusalem through the Garden of Gethsemane and the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Saviour and Lord. Consider some of the people in these verses. Firstly,… [continue]

We have been spending weeks looking at some of the details leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In Luke Chapter 23 and verses 39 to 41, we read that Jesus is crucified between two criminals. It is interesting that Jesus does not correct their thinking on capital punishment. At this time of writing… [continue]

“For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” One friend, when he has gone on speaking engagements, has read these words and then has asked, “Now where does this sentence come from? Old Testament, New Testament, or William Shakespeare?” The majority have usually… [continue]

After a most exhausting and draining thirty hours or so, Jesus Christ is led away to be crucified. We are in Luke Chapter 23 and at verse 26. The authorities force a dark skinned man from Tripoli to carry this heavy wooden beam. No Roman would carry the cross, and the Romans would not ask a Jew, not in this situation, in… [continue]

In Luke Chapter 23 and at verse 24, Pilate caved in, and gave the people what they wanted. He is so weak. He is so spineless. He has no moral backbone, and just goes along with the critics of Christ Jesus and with the crowd. In reality, it was not Jesus who was on trial. It was them! Jesus is going to the Father, admittedly… [continue]

We are in Luke Chapter 23 and in verse 12 we read Pilate and Herod, who had been enemies, became friends that day. Foes of God and enemies of Jesus Christ, frequently become friends, and begin to talk together, conspiring against the body of Christ. This is happening all across our world as people oppose the Word of God… [continue]

In Luke Chapter 23 the whole united assembly march Jesus Christ off across town from the House of Caiaphas the High Priest to Roman Governor Pilate. There is an array of false charges and when they cannot get Jesus on one charge they changes the charge. In verse 5 the charges change again. Now, these men are becoming annoyed… [continue]

In Luke Chapter 22 from verse 63, we read of Jesus Christ being persecuted for righteousness sake. He said this would happen and now it is happening and we need constant reminding of how this wave of persecution is causing much suffering within the body of Christ around our world in these present times and the ferocity… [continue]

Once these soldiers and religious leaders escort Jesus Christ across town from the Garden of Gethsemane to Caiaphas the High Priest’s house further wickedness explodes. We are studying in Luke Chapter 22 and we read of what happened at verse 63. Luke 22 is a long chapter. For Jesus Christ it had been a long day and… [continue]

We have been reading of Jesus Christ being betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane following a time of intense prayer. Sometimes painful experiences can result following a time of real prayer. We have to come to terms with that possibility because there is an enemy of God who detests our fellowshipping and communing with the… [continue]

We have taken a longish time look in detail at this last day in the physical life of Jesus Christ as Dr Luke relates it in Chapter 22, but it is important that we do not hurry over the crucial issues raised in this passage. It is also helpful too to read the parallel passages in Matthew Chapter 26 and Mark Chapter 14. These… [continue]

We are studying the detail in Luke Chapter 22 at verse 47 where Judas and that gang approach Jesus Christ to have Him arrested. It is possible to be physically close to Jesus Christ and have rebellion in your heart. Jesus makes no attempt to frustrate Judas's hellish scheme. Jesus is calm and poised and in control. Jesus… [continue]

In Luke Chapter 22 at verse 45, we read of Jesus being in anguish in prayer and we also read of the disciples asleep. What a warning to us all. What a warning to each of us. These disciples do not realise what is going on in the world, this spiritual battle. They couldn't at that point, of course. Sin had blinded them.… [continue]

We have slowly reached, and deliberately so, Luke Chapter 22 and verse 39, where Jesus Christ leaves the Upper Room where they had celebrated The Passover, and He makes His way to that place to which He resorted when He wanted peace and quiet and space, to pray. There would be a full moon, giving sufficient light to see… [continue]

We have been ‘lingering’ around these verses 31 to 33 in Luke Chapter 22, where Jesus Christ tells Peter that he is going to be sifted. Why have I ‘lingered’? We all go through the most awful experiences at times, but Jesus prays that our faith may not fail, and Jesus sees and soothes. Peter's… [continue]

In Luke Chapter 22, we read of that scenario in verses 31 and 32, where Jesus is informing Peter that he is about to be sifted, but Jesus also reassures this man who is to lead the early church that he is being prayed for. We need to know this too in these challenging and peculiar days when so much of what we have been… [continue]

Peter was going to have a wild 24 hours, and be in tremendous turmoil over these next three or four days, but Jesus had prayed for him that his faith would not fail. We are reading and studying in Luke Chapter 22 and we move on from verse 31. Jesus knows that Peter is going to have a very difficult few days ahead of him… [continue]

We are in Luke Chapter 22, and this week from verse 31. Jesus Christ is spending His last night on earth with His chosen men. That is significant. Final words are always highly significant. They have been remembering the Passover, and Jesus has given new meaning and significance to the bread and the wine. Then there arises… [continue]

In Luke Chapter 22, we are reading of Jesus and His disciples in the Upper Room and they have been celebrating the Passover, but there are other things going on, and one of the lessons we have been learning is how to serve humbly and with humility. There is a reward. Those who serve as Jesus served, and those who serve… [continue]

We are in the Upper Room, and reading from Luke Chapter 22. It is the night before Jesus Christ is crucified on Calvary’s Cross, and He and His disciples are celebrating the Passover. Jesus has just given new profound meaning to the bread and the wine. A dispute breaks out among the disciples as to who is the greatest.… [continue]

We are reading and studying in Luke 22 and we come to verse 24. What is the setting? Jesus and His disciples are in the process of observing The Passover Meal, and Jesus has taken the bread, and one of the Passover Cups which would have been on the table, and, Jesus gives them this new meaning and significance, for the… [continue]

In Luke Chapter 22 at verse 7, Jesus asks Peter and John to go and prepare the Passover Meal. Jesus is aware of all that is going on, and the meeting place is to be kept as secret as possible. Jesus has to have one last evening with His disciples, and until the teaching has been given, nothing and no-one will be allowed… [continue]

We are in Luke Chapter 22. It is the Passover, a most holy and sacred time for every Jew, for every Israeli, and we read that Satan entered Judas Iscariot. He was one of the twelve, one of Jesus men; yet, his heart is open to evil. The enemy of our souls needs only a very narrow gap through which to squeeze, and once he… [continue]

We move onto Luke Chapter 22. We have been reading of the last and final week of the physical life of Jesus Christ upon this earth, the things He said, the acts He did, the people who challenged Him, and the various profound lessons He taught His disciples. We have been reading of how we must be careful that we are not… [continue]

Luke Chapter 21 can be a difficult Chapter to read and study. What is Jesus actually talking about and what does He really mean when He speaks these words to His disciples? This Chapter also deals with the place of Israel, and the significance of Israel, in the plans and purposes and economy of God. Our understanding of… [continue]

We are studying in Luke Chapter 21 and let’s be honest and admit that it is not an easy Chapter. We have been reading verses about the overthrow of Jerusalem and the Coming Again of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have looked at some of these signs which Jesus gives us, in great detail. Jesus tells us what the situation… [continue]

We are reading and studying these words of Jesus Christ in Luke Chapter 21, where Jesus is warning His disciples about what will happen one day so that they are not deceived, and so that they do not become frightened. He explains that there will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places. There will… [continue]

Following the digression over these past five weeks when I gave some attention to Debt, Adultery, the facts surrounding the birth of Jesus, pausing to reflect at new Year and the urgent desperate need for Revival, we return to Luke Chapter 21, where Jesus begins to speak about two things; the destruction of the Temple,… [continue]

A few years ago, on the first Saturday of January, around 80 of us met in an Inverness Hotel to consider the whole matter of 'Revival' in the Church of Jesus Christ. Led by Dr Paul Tan, a mature Chinese Christian from Singapore, three questions guided our thinking and praying. What is Revival? Is there a need for… [continue]

At this season of the year many make time and take time to pause and reflect. It can be good to stop and think and kneel and pray. What kind of year has it been? How have you grown spiritually? Have you accomplished and achieved what you planned to do away back in January? Has the Word of God fed you and led you? When… [continue]

It is because I know some of you use these studies and notes for your own preaching and teaching that I am digressing again from the on-going exposition of Luke’s Gospel, to take time to deal with various relevant and topical matters. As we are in December I am taking time to write again from Luke Chapter 2. We need… [continue]

In our last study I dealt with the serious issue of debt, which can suddenly become a very real issue facing many in December, but another danger is that of ‘adultery’. December witnesses more instances of adultery that any other single month, and the ‘office party’ or ‘works outing’… [continue]

In our studies in Luke, as we have watched Jesus Christ set His face to go to Calvary, various other important issues have arisen. We have become aware of how false prophets mislead the gullible and how they can upset the faithful. There is a strong warning from Jesus that when it come nearer the time for His Coming Again,… [continue]

Having warned the disciples about being deceived, one of the next things Jesus says in Luke Chapter 21 is, "Do not be frightened." Verse 9. There is a lot of fear around today as well as deception and greed and corruption and warfare and immorality and almost an explosion of sin. We need this word from Jesus. When… [continue]

In Luke 21:5, Jesus takes His disciples across the Kidron Valley, and they sit down on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Temple. Jesus has just spoken of the destruction of the Temple, and what the disciples are saying is, "Do you really mean that, and if so then, when?" We would have asked something very similar. How… [continue]

We are in the thick of things in Luke Chapter 21. Jesus has just commended that dear widow for the offering she has given in the Temple. God saw her offering, even though everything around her appeared to be so corrupt and full of sin. No matter what is going on around you and no matter how you may become upset or angry… [continue]

We have been reading these opening verses of Luke Chapter 21 and we have taken time to consider the significance of this dear woman giving everything she had, and Jesus Christ noticed it and commented. We are not told her name, but we are reading about her. Perhaps she never knew what Jesus Christ saw in her as she gave… [continue]

Having been considering one of the most demanding passages of Luke with its questioning and challenging, we now move on into Chapter 21. These words are like a breeze of fresh air, after all the questioning and criticising. Amidst all the darkness it is just like a light being switched on. People had been giving their… [continue]