WEEKEND RECHARGE!

June 28, 2026

Monday, June 22–Luke 2:21–35
Tuesday, June 23–Luke 2:36–40
Wednesday, June 24–Luke 2:41–52
Thursday, June 25–Luke 3:1–14
Friday, June 26–Luke 3:15–22

Below are reflective questions for you to prayerfully consider; choose one or two to focus on. You'll also find a discussion of Annas and Caiaphas, the high priests during the ministries of both John the Baptist and Jesus and information about "Adoptionism" an early church heresy. 

1. PRAY: Ask God to open your heart so you can hear him speak to you about the issue.
2. RESPOND: Confession. Repentance. Surrender. Thanksgiving.
3. ACT: Take the steps to do what God is calling you to do. 

1. Simeon recognized that following Jesus would reveal people's true hearts and require a response. In what areas of your life is Jesus calling you to deeper obedience, trust, or surrender?

2. How has God used the different seasons of your life—including disappointments, losses, or unexpected changes—to deepen your trust and devotion to him?

3. When you recognize God's work in your life, do you keep it to yourself, or do you joyfully share his goodness with others as Anna did when she proclaimed the arrival of the Messiah?

4. Even though Jesus understood his unique calling, he still submitted to his earthly parents and grew patiently in wisdom. Where might God be calling you to practice humility and faithful obedience during your current season of life?

5. How can you intentionally prepare the way for others to encounter Jesus through your words, actions, and witness this week?

6. Jesus identified with sinners through baptism and ultimately through the cross. How does his willingness to identify with you shape the way you view his love and grace? 

7. Jesus publicly demonstrated obedience to the Father's plan. Are there areas of your life where God is calling you to take a public step of faith or obedience, even when it may be difficult?

THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD OF ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS

In the Old Testament the high priest always came from the line of Aaron (Moses' brother) and served for life. However, the Romans turned the priesthood into a purchased political office. The high priest controlled and operated much of the merchandising in the temple. 

According to the historian Josephus, Annas was the high priest from AD 6 to 15. His relatives succeeded him, but Annas remained the power behind the office. Jesus was first taken to Annas to be tried according to John's Gospel (John 18:13, 19–22). 

Caiaphas, Annas' son-in-law, served as the Roman-appointed high priest, likely in exchange for a price. He held this office from AD 18 to 36. So while Caiaphas was officially the high priest, technically, Annas remained in power. Bible scholar Rober Utley notes, "This powerful family was motivated more by politics and wealth than by spirituality." 

Robert James Utley, The Gospel according to Luke, Volume 3A, Study Guide Commentary Series (Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International, 2004), Lk 3:2. 

ADOPTIONISM

When God said at Jesus' baptism, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22), he was declaring the eternal existence of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity. This distinction is important because in the early church a heresy called "Adoptionism" was taught that claimed Jesus was chosen and adopted by God because he was sinless. This was declared a heresy by the church in the second century. 

If you'd like to study this further, I've included the following article from Got Questions:

Scripture makes it clear that adoptionism is not true. Jesus Christ is not adopted; He is "begotten" (John 3:16, KJV).

Adoptionism claims that, before His adoption, Jesus was a mere man, although sinless. However, we know, biblically, that all men are under the curse of Adam and there are no sinless men (Romans 5:12–14). Further, no man can be justified by the works of the Law (Romans 3:19–20). Jesus was sinless (2 Corinthians 5:20–21), but that was because He was not just a man; He was fully God, as well (John 1:1, 14). The pre-existence of Christ, the titles applied to Jesus, and the worship He received all bear witness of the divine nature of the Lord. 

Adoptionism is disproved in the first few words of John's gospel. John equates Jesus with "the Word of God" and says Jesus was "in the beginning with God." In fact, "all things were made through him," and "in him was life and the life was the light of men" (John 1:1–5). These are not statements one makes about a sinless man adopted by God. Furthermore, John points out that John the Baptist was sent to bear witness to the light (verse 14). If Jesus were simply a good man whose good deeds caught God's attention and earned God's love, the role of John the Baptist would be pointless. Prophecies in the Old Testament that anticipate Jesus' virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), crucifixion (Psalm 22), and atoning sacrifice (Isaiah 53:5, 12) would not make any sense if God simply "noticed" that Jesus was sinless and adopted Him after the fact. 

Lastly, John says, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). The phrase "one and only Son" is translated as "only begotten Son" in some other translations. The idea is that Jesus is the only one of His kind: He is uniquely God's Son, the only One who shares the same divine nature as God. The Word "became flesh," so He obviously had an existence before becoming human. Jesus was God's only Son before He came to earth. Believers have been adopted into God's family (Ephesians 1:5), but Jesus was always God's unique Son.

https://www.gotquestions.org/adoptionism.html