Luke 3-4

• Luke 3:1-2: Notice the historical information that Luke gives. He sets the Jesus Story in a specific time and place. This info helps prove these events as actual history and not just mystical or spiritual ideas.


• John the Baptizer: Called, anointed, bold and obedient. John confronted the people in his day with repentance, godliness and the preparation for the coming Messiah. He is given the privilege of pointing out Jesus as the Messiah. He baptizes Jesus in the Jordan. He completes his assignment. He later dies in faith. Up to this point in history, John is the greatest man that has ever lived (according to Jesus).


• Luke's genealogy traces Jesus all the way back to Adam. These are names of real people many of whom can be read about in the Old Testament. Luke is establishing Jesus' rightful claim as the Messiah. The historical aspect of all this comes into play again. Interesting to see how God uses people to establish His Kingdom. Father could have had Jesus descend out of the clouds or rise up out of the sea but He didn't. He worked His plan and used people to establish it. He still does the same thing today and we have a part to play.
• Just think, if Jesus' family tree was traced forward all the way to today, you and I would be in it. You could say that the Lamb's Book of Life is basically God's family tree.
  

Luke 4 - The Temptation
See these parallels between Israel, Adam and Jesus:

Israel in the desert, hungry, tempted, failed, diobeyed, unfaithful, sinful.
Adam in a garden, hungry, tempted, failed, disobeyed, unfaithful to the Father, sinful
Jesus in the desert, hungry, tempted, overcame, obeyed, faithful to the Father, sinless.
Adam listened to the adversary, Israel listened to the world and the flesh. Jesus listened to the Word of God. In fact, He spoke the Word to defeat the adversary.

Jesus is being presented as the Son of Man who remains faithful and overcomes the adversary. Where all the rest of humanity and Israel had failed God, Jesus lives a sinless life and pleases the Father. This is what qualifies Him to be Messiah and to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. For more clarity on these parallels, read Deuteronomy 8 and Genesis 3.