Luke 3:15-38

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Our Lord’s Baptism and Genealogy

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The baptism of Jesus by John linked Jesus to the godly Jewish remnant.

  2. The genealogy of Jesus by Luke linked Jesus to the whole human race.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t rush into full-time ministry.

  2. Remember, the story is not over yet.

QUESTIONS

  1. Why were the people in a state of expectation?

  2. Explain the baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire” in verse 16.

  3. What would be the fate of John the Baptist?

  4. Why was Jesus baptized by John?

  5. How is Luke’s genealogy of Jesus different from Matthew’s?

ANSWERS

  1. They realized that something big was about to happen. No prophet had spoken in Israel for 400 years; now a prophet had come to announce the Messiah! Some of the people were expectant because they realized the timetable of Daniel’s vision in Daniel 9 meant the Messiah was at hand.

  2. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was at Pentecost and every believer today is brought into that baptized company of believers. Most likely the baptism with fire links to verse 17 and speaks of the judgment of unbelievers at our Lord’s return.

  3. About a year and a half after these events, John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod Antipas because John had denounced Herod for divorcing his wife in order to marry his brother’s wife.

  4. Jesus did not need a baptism of repentance – He never sinned! But He underwent John’s baptism to set the example for the people and to identify with the godly remnant of Jews who were rightly separating themselves from the corrupt religious establishment of Judaism.

  5. Luke traces our Lord’s lineage all the way back to Adam who was created by God as head of the human race. Matthew’s genealogy of the Lord goes back through David to Abraham to emphasize that Jesus was the promised Messiah – the king of Israel.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Jesus did not need to repent of any sin, because He never sinned. Review the following verses which emphasize that Jesus never sinned and did not have a sinful nature: 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22, and 1 John 3:5.

  2. The genealogy of Jesus by Luke linked Jesus to the whole human race. Stop and thank the Lord for the glorious truth that Jesus is the Savior for the world – not just for the Jewish people.

CHALLENGE

  1. Are you discouraged that the doors of full-time ministry have not opened to you yet? Just be faithful and obedient in the ministry at hand. Remember, Jesus and the Levites in the Old Testament began ministry around 30 years of age.

KEY VERSES

  • “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16

  • “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” Luke 3:22

  • “[Jesus]…the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” Luke 3:38



Luke, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsLuke 3:15-38