Lesson 45

Luke 3–4

Introduction

John the Baptist preached repentance and testified of the coming Messiah. Jesus Christ was baptized by John and then fasted in the wilderness for 40 days. After traveling to Galilee, Jesus declared in Nazareth that He was the Messiah. The people of Nazareth rejected Him, and He went to Capernaum, where He healed the sick and cast out devils.

Suggestions for Teaching

Luke 3:1–22

John the Baptist prophesies of Jesus Christ

Before class, ask a student to study the account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:1–16 and another student to study the account of Naaman and Elisha in 2 Kings 5:1–15. Explain that they will give a brief summary of these accounts later in the lesson. Ask them to emphasize what Naaman and the widow of Zarephath did to demonstrate their faith and to point out that both were Gentiles (not of the house of Israel).

To begin the lesson, ask students to write on a piece of paper about a time when they felt separated or isolated from those around them as a result of living the restored gospel of Jesus Christ (make sure that students do not write their names on their papers). After sufficient time, ask students to give you their papers. Read a few of the experiences aloud to the class.

Invite students to look for a truth as they study Luke 3:1–22 that can explain why those who live the gospel may feel separated from others at times.

Explain that under the law of Moses, the high priest functioned as the presiding officer of the Aaronic Priesthood and political head of the nation of Israel. However, by the time of the Savior’s ministry, the office of high priest had become corrupted. Rather than being selected by God, high priests were chosen by men such as Herod and other Roman officials (see Bible Dictionary, “High priest”).

Invite a student to read Luke 3:2–6 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for whom God spoke to instead of the high priests.

• Whom did the word of the Lord come to instead of the high priests? (“John the son of Zacharias,” also known as John the Baptist.)

• What was John the Baptist teaching?

Explain that in John’s day some people believed that because they were descendants of Abraham, they were better or more loved by God than non-Israelites. Invite a student to read Luke 3:7–9 aloud, and ask the class to look for what John the Baptist taught the Jews they needed to do to please God.

• What did John teach the Jews they needed to do to please God? (Explain that the “fruit” is a symbol of the results of the choices we make.)

• According to verse 9, what will happen to those who do not bring forth “good fruit,” or live righteously?

Summarize Luke 3:10–15 by explaining that John taught specific groups of Jews how they could bring forth good fruit. John’s ministry was impressive, and some thought he might be the Messiah.

Invite a student to read Luke 3:16–17 aloud, and ask the class to look for what John said the Messiah would do when He came.

• What did John say the coming Messiah would do?

Explain that the phrase “baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (verse 16) refers to the purifying and sanctifying effect of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

To help students further understand verse 17, display a handful of kernels or small pebbles and some sawdust or small pieces of newspaper. Mix the kernels and sawdust together, and place the mixture in a shallow tray.

• How might someone separate the kernels from the sawdust?

Explain that after wheat was harvested and threshed (when the grain was separated from the rest of the plant), the grain would be winnowed. Winnowing is an ancient method used to separate wheat kernels from the chaff (the outer shell) and the husk. A winnower would use a large shovel or wooden fork (translated in the scriptures as “fan”) to throw the threshed wheat into the air. The breeze would then carry away the lighter, undesirable chaff, and the heavier wheat kernels would fall in a pile on the threshing floor.

To illustrate this concept, display a handheld fan (you can use heavy paper, cardboard, or folded paper if necessary). Invite a student to come to the front of the class, and ask him or her to wave the fan over the kernels and sawdust. As the student waves the fan, gently toss the mixture so that the moving air begins to blow away the sawdust while the kernels drop back to the tray. Invite the student to be seated.

• What do the wheat and the chaff represent? (The wheat represents the righteous, and the chaff represents the wicked.)

• According to verses 16–17, who separates the righteous from the wicked? (After students respond, write the following truth on the board: Jesus Christ separates the righteous from the wicked.)

• Although the final separation of the righteous from the wicked will take place at the Day of Judgment, in what ways can following Jesus Christ and living His gospel cause His disciples to be separated from others now?

• Why do we need to understand that seeking to follow Jesus Christ and live His gospel can cause us to be or feel separated from others?

Summarize Luke 3:18–22 by explaining that Jesus came to be baptized by John the Baptist. Later, John the Baptist was put in prison by Herod.

Luke 3:23–38

The lineage of Jesus is set forth

Summarize Luke 3:23–38 by explaining that Luke included a genealogy of Jesus and testified that Joseph was the “supposed” (not actual) father of Jesus, who was the Son of God.

Luke 4:1–13

Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness

Explain that Luke 4:1–13 contains an account of Jesus fasting for 40 days in the wilderness and rejecting Satan’s temptations.

Luke 4:14–30

Jesus announces that He is the Messiah

List the words broken, bruised, captive, poor, and blind on the board. Ask students to ponder a time when one or more of these words may have described how they felt about themselves. Invite them as they study Luke 4:14–30 to look for how they might find relief from these feelings.

Summarize Luke 4:14–17 by explaining that after Jesus returned from the wilderness, He began to preach in the synagogues in Galilee. Soon, He returned to His hometown of Nazareth. While there, He stood in a synagogue and read from the book of Isaiah.

Invite a student to read Luke 4:18–21 aloud, and ask the class to look for what Isaiah taught about the divine mission of the Messiah.

• What did Jesus testify of to the people of His hometown of Nazareth? (Students may use different words, but make sure they identify the following truth: Jesus is the Messiah who was sent to heal the brokenhearted and deliver those who are spiritually captive.)

• What experiences have you had that have shown you that Jesus Christ continues to heal and deliver us in our day?

Invite a student to read Luke 4:22 aloud, and ask the class to look for how the people of Nazareth responded to Jesus’s bold declaration that He was the long-awaited Messiah.

• How did the people react to Jesus’s declaration?

• Based on verse 22, why do you think the people of Nazareth had a difficult time believing that Jesus was the Messiah?

Summarize Luke 4:23 by explaining that Jesus knew that the people in Nazareth would challenge Him to prove He was the Messiah by repeating the miracles He had performed in Capernaum.

Invite students to scan Luke 4:24–27 silently, looking for two Old Testament accounts the Savior referred to as He responded to the people of Nazareth. (You may need to clarify that Elias refers to Elijah and Eliseus refers to Elisha.) Invite students to report what they find.

Ask the two students you previously invited to study these accounts to now present their summaries. Afterward, explain that Jesus taught those in Nazareth that although there were Israelite widows and lepers, it was two non-Israelites (Gentiles) who experienced miracles.

• In what ways did Naaman and the widow of Zarephath demonstrate faith?

• How was the faith of the widow and Naaman different from the faith of the people in Nazareth?

Compare and contrast

A passage of scripture is often clarified when it is compared or contrasted with something else. Helping students note the similarities and differences between teachings, people, or events can bring gospel truths into sharper focus for them.

Point out that Jesus performed very few miracles in Nazareth because the people there generally lacked faith in Him (see Matthew 13:54–58; Mark 6:1–6).

• What principle can we learn about faith when we contrast the people in Nazareth with the widow and Naaman? (Help students to identify a principle similar to the following: When we demonstrate our faith in Jesus Christ, we can see miracles occur.)

Ask students to come to the board and make a list of ways we can demonstrate our faith that Jesus Christ is our Savior. After students have completed the list, ask:

• What are examples of blessings or miracles that come only as we first act in faith?

Invite a student to read Luke 4:28–30 aloud, and ask the class to look for how those in the synagogue responded to Jesus. Invite students to report what they find.

• In what ways does this account illustrate how Jesus Christ will separate the wicked from the righteous? (See Luke 3:17.)

Luke 4:31–44

Jesus casts out devils and heals the sick

Divide students into pairs. Invite them to read Luke 4:31–44 aloud with their partners and look for the blessings the people of Capernaum received in comparison with the blessings the people of Nazareth received. After they read, invite them to discuss their answers to the following questions with their partners (you may want to write these questions on the board):

• How did the people in Capernaum respond differently to Jesus, in comparison with those in Nazareth?

• What blessings did the people of Capernaum receive, in comparison with the blessings received by the people of Nazareth?

• How do these accounts illustrate the principle that as we demonstrate our faith in Jesus Christ, we can see miracles occur?

Invite a few students to share their responses to the last two questions with the class.

Conclude the lesson by sharing your testimony of Jesus Christ and of the blessings you have received as you have demonstrated faith in Him. Ask students to write in their class notebooks or scripture study journals several ways in which they can demonstrate their faith in Jesus Christ. Invite them to make a goal to do the things they wrote down.

Commentary and Background Information

Luke 3:17. “[He] will gather the wheat into his garner”

One interpretation of the garner that the wheat, or the righteous, will be gathered into is that it represents the temple. Citing a similar analogy (see Alma 26:5) as that in Luke 3:17, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the following:

“The garners are the holy temples. Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained: ‘Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should be gathered is the holy temple’ (in John L. Hart, ‘Make Calling Focus of Your Mission,’ Church News, Sept. 17, 1994, 4). This instruction clarifies and emphasizes the importance of sacred temple ordinances and covenants—that the sheaves may not be wasted” (“Honorably Hold a Name and Standing,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 97).

Luke 4:25–27. Naaman and the widow of Zarephath

Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles provided the following commentary about the faith demonstrated by the widow of Zarephath and Naaman compared to the faith of those in Nazareth in Jesus’s day:

“Where there is faith, there is the miracle; where there is no faith, no miracle is wrought. And if the prophets of old went outside the fold of Israel to find those worthy of their ministry, so Jesus would go outside Nazareth to find receptive souls who would believe in him and receive the blessings that he came to bestow. Should the people of Nazareth desire to see the wondrous works done elsewhere, then let them accept Him who now preached in their synagogue, and they too would receive the blessings of heaven” (The Mortal Messiah, 4 vols. [1979–81], 2:26).

Supplemental Teaching Idea

Luke 3:4. The prophecy of John the Baptist

Invite a student to read Luke 3:4 aloud, and ask the class to look for whose prophecy John the Baptist fulfilled.

• Whose prophecy did John the Baptist fulfill? (Isaiah’s prophecy [see Isaiah 40:3–5].)

Explain that Joseph Smith Translation, Luke 3:4–11 includes additional prophecies from Isaiah; these prophecies describe the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. Invite students to read silently Joseph Smith Translation, Luke 3:4–11 in the Bible appendix. Ask the class to look for prophecies about the Savior. Invite students to share prophecies that stood out to them and explain why.