The Bible in a MonthSample

Day 24: Power, Persecution, and a Movement That Won’t Stop

Reading: Luke 1–24, John 1–21

Luke zooms out to give us the most detailed account of Jesus’ life, from birth to resurrection. But more than just history, Luke shows us Jesus’ heart for the margins. It’s the only gospel with the parable of the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the woman with the lost coin, and Zacchaeus up in a tree. It’s filled with Jesus noticing people others overlook.

Luke wants you to know that this gospel is for everybody—sinners, doubters, the poor, the outcast, the Gentile, the religious insider and outsider alike.

From the moment Mary is told she’ll give birth to the Messiah, to the angel’s message to shepherds in the field, Luke shouts it clearly: “Peace on earth… good news for all people.”

Luke shows us a Jesus who touches lepers, eats with tax collectors, and interrupts funerals with resurrections. He’s always moving toward the hurting, never away.

Luke’s gospel comes to a close the same way it began: with hope breaking through fear. Jesus is now on His way to the cross, and everything intensifies. Parables hit harder. Conversations get sharper. And the heart of Jesus gets louder:

“I came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 15 might be the most grace-saturated chapter in all of Scripture:

A lost sheep pursued by a good shepherd.

A lost coin swept up by a determined woman.

A lost son welcomed home by a running father.

Jesus isn’t just telling stories, He’s showing us what God is like.

But as Jesus nears Jerusalem, the tension builds. He weeps over the city. He flips tables in the temple. And He makes it clear: this Kingdom is not compatible with corruption.

Then comes the betrayal, the arrest, the trial, the mockery, the cross. But even there, grace flows. A criminal on the cross next to Him whispers, “Remember me,” and Jesus says, “Today, you’ll be with Me in paradise.” One final breath. One borrowed tomb. And then, resurrection.

Luke ends with Jesus walking, talking, and opening Scripture so people can see that the whole story points to Him. Then He tells His followers:

“Stay in the city until you’ve been clothed with power from on high.”

John's Gospel opens with a profound declaration: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This isn't just a story about a man; it's about God Himself stepping into humanity. John highlights Jesus' divine nature, painting Him as the light, the life, and the truth.

Jesus performs signs, not just miracles, but actions that point to His identity. He turns water into wine, heals the sick on the Sabbath, feeds thousands with a few loaves, walks on water, and raises Lazarus from the dead. Each sign reveals more about who He truly is.

John records intimate conversations and powerful "I AM" statements from Jesus: "I am the bread of life," "I am the light of the world," "I am the good shepherd," "I am the way, the truth, and the life," "I am the true vine," "I am the resurrection and the life." These aren't just claims; they are invitations to a deeper relationship with God.

The Gospel culminates with Jesus' final week, His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and glorious resurrection. John emphasizes Jesus' ultimate sacrifice as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The book ends with the resurrected Jesus appearing to His disciples, commissioning them to continue His work, and showing His profound love and forgiveness, even to those who had doubted or denied Him. The purpose of John's Gospel is clear: "These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."

What does all this tell us about the story of God?

That He came not to be served, but to serve. That His love is loudest in sacrifice. That He’s not just for the cleaned-up crowd, He’s for the overlooked, the forgotten, and the far-off. And that resurrection isn’t the end of the story, it’s the beginning of a worldwide movement.

Takeaway: Jesus didn’t just die for you. He rose for you. And now He invites you to follow Him, not just to church, but into the everyday mess of loving people, serving well, and living boldly. The gospel isn’t just good news. It’s marching orders. Let’s go.