Are you looking for a meaningful way to celebrate Christmas this season? Starting December 1, let’s read one chapter from Luke each day—24 chapters, 24 days—leading up to the greatest Gift of all. This is happening each day in 2024 on my Instagram and Facebook pages; an archive, plus additional links is found here.
In Luke 1:46-55, when Mary greets Elizabeth, Mary says a poem or a song that has become known as “The Magnificat,” based on the first word in Latin (in the KJV it’s the fourth word—magnify). This is famous song in many Christian traditions (more on that below).
Reflect for a moment on Mary’s first line: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” To magnify is to intensify, to make big. What would our lives be like if we walked around thinking, “My soul magnifies the Lord”? I love how Mary sets an example of magnifying the Lord in her soul.
Bonus: Here’s a link to a musical version of the Magnificat, as well as The Chosen’s version of it.
As I reread Luke 2 this year, a line stood out to me that I had never noticed before. When young Jesus went missing, his parents were frantic. When they finally found him, Mary said to Jesus, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” (Luke 2:48, New International Version).
Two insights: 1. Am I “anxiously searching” for Jesus? How serious am I searching for him? 2. Mary found Jesus __in the temple__. I can find him there too!
Bonus: Here’s a link to The Chosen’s rendition of the birth of Christ, and Mary and Joseph looking for Jesus in the temple.
If I were to ask you, “What did the voice from heaven say at Christ’s baptism?” you would probably think first of Matthew’s account. In Matthew Chapter 3, after Christ was baptized, a voice from Heaven said, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
But Mark and Luke record things differently. In Luke 3 we read, “A voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Beloved Son, with you I am well pleased’” (Luke 3:21-22, NRSV).
In this account, and in Mark, this is a message that’s coming directly from God to Jesus. That’s tender. It shows that in response to Jesus’s acts of devotion and prayer, God gave him messages of love and encouragement.
Obviously Jesus already knew he was God’s son—he knew that as a twelve-year-old at the temple (see Luke 2:49). Perhaps this additional manifestation was another layer in Christ’s own understanding, an example of what Doctrine and Covenants 93 teaches about Jesus: “He received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace” (D&C 93:12).
Right after his baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness and fasted for 40 days.
The devil came to Christ and said, “If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread” (Luke 4:3).
A few verses later the devil tempted, “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from [the pinnacle of the temple]” Luke 4:9.
Remember that at Christ’s baptism, God directly said to Jesus, “You are my son.”
Then the very next thing that happens is Satan comes to attack that message—“If you’re the son of God.”
Have you ever felt an impression from the Holy Ghost and then, as you’re trying to move forward in that direction, you’ve been tempted to doubt the revelation you received?
I love what Elder Holland teaches about what to do when we are tempted to walk away from revelation we have received: “Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence.’ Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you.”
Bonus: This link takes you to Elder Holland’s talk on not casting away your confidence.
One key lesson from Jesus’ temptations is the simple fact that Jesus was tempted.
The word, “tempt” suggests something really enticing or alluring. Jesus had a genuine opportunity to sin but he chose not to do so.
The author of the Book of Hebrews writes, “Because [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18, NIV).
Are you ever tempted? Jesus can help. He knows what that’s like.
We read, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NIV).
We know this in our heads, do we feel it in our hearts? Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are. But he didn’t sin. He resisted.
Therefore, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV).
We can have total confidence going to God and saying, “Heavenly Father, I’m being tempted. Send me strength through thy son Jesus Christ. Help me to resist the temptation.” Because Jesus has experienced temptation, he can strengthen us in the temptations we receive.
Bonus: This video shares more insights into the birth, baptism and temptations of Jesus Christ.
Imagine, if Peter had just had the worst night of fishing in his life, he didn’t catch anything, and Jesus said, “Do you want to come follow me?” Peter might have said, “I hate fishing anyways, this is a great time to leave.”
But that’s not what Jesus did. He asked Peter to leave after Peter just had the greatest catch of fish in his life—when his nets were full. Sometimes that happens to us as well.
Here’s a modern example from Elder Robert D. Hales. He said, “I was at Harvard Business School. I was stretched to my capacity…At an important point in my schooling, a mission president asked me to be an Elders Quorum President.” Can you see how Elder Hales’ nets were full? He was at an elite school, how could he devote a significant part of his time to a church calling?
Elder Hales continues: “So I went home and said to my wife, ‘There is a chance of failing in my schooling if I become an elders quorum president.’ She [replied], ‘Bob, I would rather have an active priesthood holder than a man who holds a master’s degree from Harvard.’ But as she put her arms around me, she said, ‘We’ll do them both.’”
Note what Elder Hales says next, “That decision was much harder to make then than when, years later, I accepted the call to serve as [a General Authority] and left my business career behind.” Here Elder Hales alludes to a later time when his net was full. He was the president of a large company and President Kimball asked him to leave it all behind to become general authority.
Elder Hales concludes with an interesting observation: “You really show the Lord who you are and what you are willing to become when you make those hard decisions as a young person.”
Elder Hales choice to serve Christ as a graduate student—even when his nets were full—changed the whole course of his life. What does this look like for you and me? How will Christ ask us to leave when the nets are full? How will we respond?
Bonus: Here’s a link to “The Chosen’s” version of this miracle, plus a video explaining the miracle of filming this scene in “The Chosen.”
Jesus Christ is a powerful example of taking time to ponder. When the Savior had some big decisions to make, “he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12).
In Luke 5:16-17 we read, “Crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” And in Luke 4:42 it says, “At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place.” (New International Version).
At one point, things got crazy busy–so busy there was no time to eat! Do we stop to pray at such times? Mark records, “So many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat…[So Jesus told his disciples] ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”
Over and over again we see Jesus Christ seeking solitude, finding extended periods of time for stillness, for pondering, for communing with God.
It’s hard to think of a better way to prepare for Christmas than following the Savior’s example of taking time to be still.
Bonus: Here’s an article I wrote in the Ensign about improving our prayers. And check out this video of Jesus’s disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath, and Jesus healing a man in a synagogue.
Luke records that John sent his disciples to Jesus and told them to ask Christ, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Luke 7:19).
Some people have said that John was sending these disciples so that they would follow Jesus. But the scriptures suggest another possibility. When John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus if he was “the one,” Jesus simply responded, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard” (Luke 7:22). Note that Jesus tells them to go back to John. This suggests that they really did have a question from John the Baptist and Jesus is sending them back with an answer. In other words, John, in prison, seems to be asking, “Are you really the Christ? Because I thought you were coming to establish a new kingdom, and here I am—a political prisoner!”
Jesus says, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Luke 7:22). It’s like Jesus is saying, “I am the Messiah, but I’m doing things differently than you expected.”
Then, Jesus adds, “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me” (Luke 7:23). Perhaps this is a gentle rebuke, a message for John: “Even if my ways are not what you envisioned, do not be discouraged. Continue to have hope in me.”
Some may wrestle with the idea of John the Baptist doubting. How could one with such a profound witness of Jesus Christ face uncertainty? But Joseph Smith, in the depths of Liberty Jail, cried out, “O God, where art thou?” People of extraordinary faith can experience seasons of struggle.
Right after John’s disciples left to deliver Jesus’ message, Jesus declared, “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John” (Luke 7:28). John’s concerns didn’t change his standing with the Savior. Even in our doubts, we are still treasured by our Savior.
Bonus: See The Chosen’s version of the exchange between Jesus and the followers of John the Baptist.
Luke 8:1-3 states, “Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
Do we spend enough time considering Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and the MANY OTHER WOMEN who were a part of Christ’s ministry?. These women used their own means to support the Savior and the Twelve. Luke 8 suggests these women were present at many of the miracles the Savior performed. They heard his teachings, and were an important part of building up his kingdom!
Their names are fewer than their impact, their stories shorter than their faith—yet their service speaks volumes in the work of salvation. I plan to spend some time today contemplating these faithful women and I hope you will too!
Bonus: Watch clips from The Chosen where Jesus heals Mary Magdalene, heals a women with an issue of blood, and talks to a woman from Samaria.
It seems like each chapter in Luke is so full of powerful teachings from Jesus Christ!
One phrase that stood out to me from the feeding of the 5,000 is the Savior’s phrase, “You give them something to eat.” Obviously it was the Savior who was going to do the miracle, but he was asking his disciples to at least do what they could.
I was at a stake conference recently, and Elder Brian K. Taylor shared an insight I had never thought of before. He said, “What if they had only had 4 loaves and 1 fish? Or 1 loaf and half a fish? Could the Savior have still performed the miracle? Of course!
So we don’t need to compare what we’re offering…we just give what we have, and trust that with the power of Jesus Christ, it will be enough.
Share your insights from Luke 9 in the comments!
Bonus: Watch the feeding of the 5,000 scene from The Chosen. You also might like Dallas Jenkin’s BYU Devotional on the Loaves and Fishes (the first 2 minutes is really funny, and the rest is really powerful!)
If I had to pick one scriptural account that has deeply touched me this year, it would be that of Mary, Martha and Jesus. You know this story. Martha is busy in the kitchen. She’s getting seven dishes ready. She’s in the living room making sure the toys are cleaned up. She’s checking to see if the toilet seats turned down. Then she looks over and notices her sister Mary is doing nothing! She’s just sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to him.
Martha is kind of bugged. So she says, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come help me!” I don’t know exactly what Martha was hoping for, but my guess is that she was thinking that Jesus would take her side or she wouldn’t have brought it up.
Maybe she was hoping Jesus would say something like, “Verily, verily, she that asketh thee an hour in the kitchen, give her twain.” I think Martha was surprised by the Savior’s response. He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.” (Luke 10:41, NRSV).
Can you hear the Savior speaking these words to you? “John, John, you are worried and distracted by many things.”
It’s so easy to get distracted–especially at Christmas.
And then the clincher:
Jesus said, “One thing is needful”
There is need of only one thing. The one thing is what Mary was doing–sitting at the feet of Jesus.
There is need of only one thing.
One Rock.
The Rock.
Jesus Christ.
Bonus: Watch The Chosen’s rendition of this conversation between Mary, Martha and Jesus. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw it in the theater! I also expand on this and connect the “one thing” that Jesus talks about with “one thing” that Alma talks about in the Book of Mormon Master Class #23.
“Be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.” (Luke 11:41, NIV).
Have you noticed how frequently the Savior focuses on helping the poor? If you haven’t seen it yet, watch for it in the upcoming chapters. It’s clearly important to him.
We all want to help those in need.
Especially at this time of year.
But we might not know what to do.
Or how much to give.
Or who to give to.
I love these words from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. He said, “I don’t know exactly how each of you should fulfill your obligation to those who do not or cannot always help themselves. But I know that God knows and he will help you and guide you in compassionate acts of discipleship if you are conscientiously wanting and praying and looking for ways to keep a commandment He has given us again and again.”
Perhaps today we could take a few minutes to take Elder Holland’s invitation. Who knows what revelation might come, what opportunities to help another!
Bonus: Consider this message from Elder Holland about serving those in financial need, as well as this one from Elder Kearon.
