Luke 4:3-4 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’”
 
BREAD – or food in general – is necessary for life, isn’t it? But we know there is more than physical life. Spiritual life is the essence of our relationship with God because it is about our forever life.
   Jesus used Scripture to turn Satan away. Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus trusted God’s Word completely, even when he was starving. Speaking God’s Word will strengthen you in your deepest troubles. That is what Jesus did. The Teacher quoted Moses’ teaching of the LORD’s physical provision for the Jews in their 40 years of desert wanderings. Deuteronomy 8:3-4 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word, that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” Yes, God spoke, and bread came from God to feed his people every day (but the Sabbath) for 40 years. Moses affirmed the LORD was supernaturally caring for the Jews’ physical life to demonstrate he was also at work to enrich their spiritual life. Submitting to Satan causes death. Submitting to the LORD is life eternal.
   John 6 emphasizes both physical and spiritual bread. First is the feeding of the 5000. Then is Jesus’ teaching he is eternal bread. John 6:35 “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”  Jesus’ words became even stronger when he announced in John 6:50-51 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer, so the world may live, is my flesh.”  Once again we read how God had come to demonstrate he could give life with the spoken Word. By grace, we can consume his word – his teaching and preaching – to receive eternal spiritual bread.
   Are you in need of God’s provision? Perhaps you need food on your table. Maybe you are hungry to know God is with you. Possibly your soul feels empty because you try to feed it with the world’s junk food. Follow Jesus away from temptation. Consume Jesus’ words, the Bread of Life, into eternal life. Become filled with all the life power he has to feed you.  

Luke 4:1-2 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
 
THIS is the first of five lessons on the devil confronting Jesus in the Judean desert. The first fact to consider here is the Holy Spirit’s role in Jesus’ ministry and the entire temptation confrontation. From Jesus’ Holy Spirit’s anointing at his baptism, the Holy Trinity is at work. The Father has ordained the plan. The Spirit empowers the plan. The Son will work the plan.
   With the power of the LORD God Almighty, wouldn’t it make sense for Jesus to go directly to Jerusalem to proclaim his kingship? Not in God’s plan. There is a different work that must be done. Thus, in a very surprising beginning to Jesus’ kingdom ministry, Jesus was led by the Spirit in the desert  to encounter a human life-threatening trial and temptation. Jesus, fully man, will suffer severe thirst and hunger. He will be scorched with the desert sun. The Judean desert is no place to be without food and water for a few hours not to mention days. Only under the miraculous care of the God’s Creation Spirit could one survive. Our Lord will suffer terribly. Why?
   As we remember God’s Story, there are two primary reasons for Jesus’ suffering. First, God had prophesied the suffering since Eden in Genesis 3:15 that Satan would “strike (the Savior’s heel).” The Amplified Bible interprets God’s prophecy to Satan, “You will lie in wait and bruise his heel.” Satan has awaited Jesus’ appearance, and he will strive to corrupt the Son of God as he corrupted Adam, the son of God.
   Jesus’ suffering is explained in Hebrews 2:10 “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.” In this desert suffering as on the cross, our Lord would know the profound misery of the human flesh. He would exhibit humility and submission to God’s Word to obey the Father under great distress.
   This obedience is the second reason for the desert suffering. As Jesus resisted the devil amid the hardships, Jesus teaches us the profound power of God’s Word. In Jesus’ miserable, deprived condition, Satan cannot persuade Jesus to move “the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18-19) This is in eternal contrast to Adam and Eve. Satan’s slightest question to the first couple amid the plenty of Paradise caused them to doubt God’s Word. Their prideful disobedience opened the door for suffering and death to infect God’s creation. In contrast, Jesus’ perfect obedience in his suffering would open the door for joy and life into God’s new creation.
   Thus, Jesus becomes the new Adam. Romans 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Underline is mine.)
          Spirit-empowered and Word-enriched, Jesus remained sinless. As you pray, “Lead us (me) not into temptation, but deliver us (me) from the evil one.”  know that you need the Spirit and the Word to turn away Satan as did Jesus. He is your King, who has shown you the way to righteous living with God.

Luke 3:23-38 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
 
THIS genealogy of Jesus’ human birth is different than Matthew 1:1-17. Many ask, “Why the different genealogies?” Such a difference could be reason, too, for some to say, “See, the Bible contradicts itself with the different accounts of Jesus’ life.  
   The different generations are debated among many, but the simplest explanation in this space is that Matthew’s genealogy is the history of Joseph’s ancestors, beginning with Abraham and going to Jesus. And Luke’s list is considered to be directed in part to Mary’s family history, which becomes the Jews’ and mankind’s history as Luke follows the line to Adam. Neither genealogy has every generation, but they have enough to trace the necessary heritage of the Son of God become man. Note that Luke says He was the son it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli. This is affirming Jesus was not Joseph’s son.
   In addition, Matthew, the Jew, wrote to convince the Jews that Jesus is the Savior prophesied to Abraham. Luke, the Gentile, pointed all people to Jesus’ as Savior for all mankind. As Luke has detailed Jesus’ Heaven-sent birth in Luke 1-2, he here teaches us of Jesus’ human lineage to Adam. In Jesus’ heaven and human origins, we can see the evidence of Jesus as fully God, who became fully man in the way the Father had promised. The genealogies help us know the Bible has revealed God’s plan for mankind’s salvation from ages past. And thus, we can trust his saving promises for the ages to come.
   Luke places this evidence directly after Jesus’ baptism and before the actions of his ministry. This is the historian defining the truth claims of Christians. Luke has given us evidence to this point that Jesus is the Son of God, Son of Man, come to proclaim the Kingdom of God.   
 

Luke 3:21-22 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized, too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
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Matthew 3:13-15 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 
 
IT was time for the LORD God to inaugurate Jesus’ ministry and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus’ baptism is as necessary to Jesus’ redeeming ministry as is his teaching, healing, preaching, death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus said so when he told John, “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”  Why was it proper and necessary for the sinless Son of God to be experience the baptism of repentance?
    God’s story declares from Genesis to Revelation that God’s Kingdom is defined by God’s righteousness. Look, for example in Genesis 6:9 “This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” The righteous Noah became God’s Kingdom representative to save mankind from total destruction. Then see how the wayward King Saul defined God’s anointed David: 1 Samuel 24:17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.” And note well the description of God’s people in Revelation 19:8 “Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” Fine linen illustrates the righteous church. Jesus came to be a man, so he could demonstrate obedience to the law as a man. Jesus’ baptism witnessed to all Israel that each man must repent. It is God’s design for the Kingdom of God. The Son of God did not need to be baptized. But Jesus, the man, did. That’s why he told John, “It is proper for us to do this.” His baptism would show the way of eternal repentance for each person washed clean in Jesus’ blood. Kingdom rules are very specific. Jesus followed the Father’s direction.
   Be so very thankful for the perfect Savior. His perfection makes your eternal righteousness possible. One day, as the Holy Spirit has made you perfect in Jesus’ resurrection, you will wear the white linen of righteousness in Heaven.
   A final note regards the dove, which is always associated with the Holy Spirit. Did the Holy Spirit settle onto Jesus in the form of a dove? The Bible doesn’t say that.  Instead, The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. It seems the Spirit came as a visible body, so John would know that Jesus is the Son of God. John, the prophet, was given a glimpse of heaven as granted to other prophets. This entire scene is reminiscent of  the Transfiguration. Earthly men see God’s glory. God affirms their calling and prepares them for heaven’s glory to come. 

Luke 3:19-20 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
 
GOD’S Word written long ago reads as if it was recorded “yesterday”. For example, before opening to these verses, I read two items that demonstrate how Herod-like persecution still attacks God’s people. One item involves two Christians who were sentenced to 18 months in prison for teaching God’s Word. One of them wrote, “Almost every week they took me to a different building and put me into a dark room and announced that the day of my death is at hand. They say I should deny my faith or be killed.” This is the same as John’s plight, isn’t it? John rebuked Herod for his many sins. Then Herod added to them all when he locked John up in prison. Darkness constantly attempts to hide the Light.
   A second item I read involves Satanists’ attacks on a ministry called Child Evangelism Fellowship, which forms Christian clubs for school-aged children in public schools. These evil leaders want Satan clubs in schools in the same way the Child Evangelism Fellowship clubs are in schools. Their strategy is to cause an uproar among Christians, so the Christian parents will ask the schools to prohibit “religious-based” clubs. The Satan-followers hope that rules and laws will be passed to stop them. Then, of course, those same rules would apply to prevent Christian clubs from meeting, too.
   As we consider our future in the Kingdom of God, we’ll come to understand that spiritual warfare is unrelenting. Evil spirits are frightfully strong and active. We must be prepared to constantly fight the war because the King is our Commander, calling us to be his warriors, so the world will know the truth.
   One question often asked about persecution is, “Why does God allow this?” One answer is this: Persecution helps us see salvation’s wonder. How is that?
   Let’s consider what happens when hunger gnaws at your stomach. You appreciate any food set before you. Grateful for the food provider, you eat to ease the pain and to be saved from hunger. In turn, what happens when persecution shows you how bad sin is? Hopefully you are extremely grateful for the Bread of Life Jesus has set before you. To remove sin’s gnawing pain you consume Jesus’ teachings. How good it is to know that filled with Jesus we are saved from Satan!
   As you confess Christ, be acutely aware of the spiritual conflict this causes. Satan is very concerned with the faithful believers. He and his demons are working to turn you from the Savior. The Holy Spirit has come to transform and empower you with a full life in Jesus. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. (John 1:14) And in the fullness of your salvation you can joyfully celebrate your victory that you will never be hungry again…never be thirsty. (from John 6:35)
   Stand strong in your wondrous life. In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-38)
   Be satisfied, strong and filled in your salvation.
          

Luke 3:17-18 “His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
 
THIS points to our eternal future.
   There are times when the Bible at first glance doesn’t make sense. It fact, a passage can seem contradictory. This passage is one of those. Look at verse 17. John the Baptist is preaching about the Lord God’s judgment on mankind. He depicts the Lord as a farmer who is on a threshing floor, separating the good wheat grain from the useless chaff of straw and leaves. When the wheat is safely stored, he burns the chaff. John is preaching God will send to the fire those who are useless to his Kingdom. Then Luke writes, “And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.”  Where is the good news in John’s fiery illustration of judgment?
   For the proud, hard hearts this is, indeed, bad news! But the repentant and humble will find the eternal good news in the wheat. Fix your eyes on the grains of God’s mercy. He winnows away those who love their sins to save those who mourn their sins. God, the Promise Keeper, keeps your mind on the good promise that he loves you to separate you from evil. He has the means to keep you safely with him forever. The good harvest plan is the good news of God’s plan: repent and you will be saved. John used many words to exhort the crowd, to impress upon them their need to repent. He was urging God’s people to be ready for the long-awaited Savior, soon to come! This is good news.
   The preachers and teachers since Jesus have the same purpose. Christ has come. He is coming again. We must be ready and help others to be ready. The good news is that God is holy and just. He does deliver us from evil. He surely does save his own. This is, indeed, very much good news people need to know. The gospel must be preached.
 

Luke 3:15-17 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
 
WHY were “all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ?” They wondered and asked because something miraculous was happening in Israel. Remember John’s purpose was told to his father Zechariah: Luke 1:16 “Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Indeed, the miracle of changed hearts was beginning to affect many. People were wondering, “Is he the Messiah?” The Father was opening their hearts and minds. Wondering about the Messiah, the Jews would be more prepared for Jesus when he began his ministry.
          As John was anointed with a preaching ministry, he was also given the necessary humility to serve God. In the human sin of pride, which we all deal with, it could have happened that John’s successful work might cause him to say, “Look at everyone following me! I’m important. I’m popular. Why should I give way to Jesus?” He knew his role. His humility and submission to God’s was Spirit-empowered. These Spirit gifts were as necessary as was his preaching and baptizing work. Humility is a vital element of Kingdom living. God gives us work to do. When we do the work in his name and authority, he causes it to grow and flourish in his time and for his purpose. No pastor builds a church. God builds his church. No missionary transforms a community. God transforms a community. No Christian bears fruit for the Kingdom of God unless God is nourishing the work (see John 15). When you see God act through your work, be sure to give God the credit. Praise his work. Thank him he uses you. Help others see that the good you do comes from God. When you do, they will be more prepared to say, “It’s God.”  in their own lives. 

Luke 3:10-14 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely — be content with your pay.” 
 
IN our previous lesson, we considered how mourning our sin is a key to a changed heart for Jesus’ gospel. In this Scripture, we see that John’s very pointed preaching affected hearts to consider their lives and grieve their sins. There was good mourning and a great awakening in Israel along the Jordan River.
   You know the preaching affected their hearts because they asked the good mourning question, “What should we do?” This is a key question for any learning, isn’t it? “What should I do to drive the car?” “What should I do to become a teacher?” “What should I do to be a good husband?” “What should I do to walk with Jesus?” “What should we do to interpret and teach the Bible?” “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” cried the jailer to Paul and Silas in Acts 16:30.
   Asking the question, your heart and mind begins to turn toward the answers. You may not like some of the answers, but if you have a heart for true change, you will humbly “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called (you) heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) Now, let me ask you, “What would happen if you sat down with your Bible once a day? Then how would your heart be as you asked yourself, ‘What should I do with what I read, Lord?’” I believe the Holy Spirit would focus your mind to continue “pressing on” toward God’s will for you. Your heart would open to be filled with an understanding of God’s wisdom and knowledge. Your hands and feet would more eagerly put the gospel into practice. You would more willingly do the love of God.
   God’s Spirit used John’s preaching to begin to ignite Israel to the light of salvation – to repentance. The general population of Jews had forgotten God’s law. Tax collectors acted greedily against their own people. The soldiers represented Rome’s and the religious leaders’ oppression. These three groups were very different people with many different sins. But God was moving into Jews and Gentiles, into the oppressed and the oppressors, to “prepare the way for the Lord, (to) make straight paths for him.”      
   That’s the reason for preaching, teaching and learning today. Jesus came to preach the gospel, so you will be ready when Jesus comes again. You must be ready. In turn you must help the world be ready. That readiness begins with your own heart asking, “What should I do?” 

Luke 3:7-9 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
 
ONE walking into John’s church to see if they liked what they saw and heard may quickly leave, wouldn’t he? Certainly, too, most church attenders would soon depart if their pastor began to address them as, “You brood of vipers!” In fact, mentioning any aspect of God’s Word that reminds a church attender of their shortcomings and sins is taboo, isn’t it? We want to go to church to feel good. The human heart demands approval!
   But what happens if sin is ignored and only salvation is spoken? The short answer is, “Nothing.” Why would anyone seek Jesus if he believed he is essentially good? Such “feel good” preaching is false teaching, isn’t it?
   Why did God form the law, raise up prophets and sacrifice the Savior if we are all good? What’s the reason for Jesus’ death if we do not confront our condemnation and repent? Have you ever changed a bad habit if you felt good about it? Have you ever adjusted from soul-killing sin if you are told, “You are good.” Repentance is needed if one is to live in God’s Kingdom. Such change occurs only when we mourn our sins, knowing they separate us from Jesus. To repent is turn around and walk away from sin. That is the only way we can walk with Jesus. Jesus taught this Kingdom truth in Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted…6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. When you mourn your sin, you come to the point you surely desire to become cleansed and comforted in God’s salvation.
   Yes, “brood of vipers” is certainly a harsh term. But do you think such language is truly an outpouring of God’s love unto his people? The LORD was using John, as he had used all the prophets, to awaken the Jews to their eternally deadly sins. John knew that some of the Jews who came “out to be baptized by him” did so only for show. They desired only man’s approval and would continue to walk the spiritual route away from salvation. Too many who come to church each Sunday are the same. They are unconcerned for their sins and their souls. Their lives remain unchanged headed for destruction because their first purpose is to feel good.
   Years later, the apostle John wrote of Jesus’ Kingdom purpose in 1 John 3:8 “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
   Listen and know: Love is John the Baptist’s and all good preachers’ reasons for the “wake-up” words. We’ll later see Jesus preach the same. Such words are one way to awaken the self-righteous sinners to their souls’ danger. People must know there is a problem before they will seek the way to remove the problem.
   If your soul becomes uncomfortable about your sin when you are listening to a sermon, you are probably hearing a good sermon. Pay attention to what God is doing. Thank the Holy Spirit for opening your heart to feel bad because he is convicting you to mourn your sin. This kind of grief will lead you to a true heart change for Jesus’ gospel. This is the only way to enter the Kingdom of God.
 

Luke 3:1-2 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar –  when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene – 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah in the desert.
 
AS Luke’s history gives us a sure time to mark Jesus’ birth using Rome’s rulers at the time (Luke 2:1), he also gives a sure time reference to John’s ministry. Amid the historic facts, we must focus on the history-changing fact: the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. The LORD God, the Almighty One of Absolute Control, has moved events and people to this moment. As the Olympic Games approach, you could use the metaphor that John is the athlete a coach trains for years to perform at his peak at just the right time. The LORD God had prepared Judea’s rulers, John and Jesus for this time. All are about to enter center stage to live God’s eternal Kingdom plan of God’s story for the Jews and then the Gentiles. In effect, God told John, “Now is your time to do your good Kingdom work.” The Kingdom of God is a planned kingdom in substance, form and time. The prophets had prepared the Jews for John. John will now prepare the Jews for Jesus.
   How about you? It is an inescapable truth to know that when you say, “I’m a Christian.” the LORD God has acted from eternity past to call you to this historic confession at this point in his story. Kingdom life is living in a purposeful eternal moment. You are not an accident, conceived and born by chance. You didn’t wander into the Kingdom of God to say, “I’m here. Aren’t you glad?” Instead, you are chosen to a grand purpose. God’s revealing Word, a true preaching church and encouraging friends are your training tools. The LORD God instructs you to prepare yourself for the moment he says, “Now.”