Hi friends, I'm Annie F. Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament and the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are the stories of Jesus Christ, life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, and the miracles.

Happy Palm Sunday, everyone. This is the start of a really important week for many people, the start of Holy Week that leads to next Sunday being Easter for all of us.

Except our Greek Orthodox friends who have one more week. Y'all, we're so glad you're here. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Every month, we read all four books. It's about three chapters a day, 20-ish minutes.

So if you have not subscribed yet, go ahead and do that and join us as we read the Gospels. Just commit to this month with us, just 30 days.

And I wonder how your life might be different at the end of this 30 days, no matter what you already know or think about Jesus or where your faith journey has led you so far.

I wonder if this simple new rhythm could really shape your life for the better. It has mine.

We have two resources available for you besides the Salah podcast. One is the April reading plan.

And the other is the Let's Read the Gospels guidebook. Those are both available to you at AnnieFdowns.com slash Gospels.

So I'll read you three chapters today. You can listen or read along in your own Bible. And then I'll pray. And that's it.

Today is April 2nd, day two of the month. And I'll be reading Luke chapters four through six. And this month I am reading from the message.

Luke four. Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wild for 40 wilderness days and nights. He was tested by the devil.

He ate nothing during those days. And when the time was up, he was hungry. The devil playing on his hunger gave the first test since your God's son command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread.

Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy. It takes more than bread to really live for the second test. He let him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once.

Then the devil said, they're yours and all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I'm in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish worship me and their yours the whole works.

Jesus refused again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God serve him with absolute single hardiness.

For the third test, the devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the temple. He said, if you are God's son, jump.

It's written, isn't it, that he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you? They will catch you. You won't so much as stub your toe on a stone.

Yes, said Jesus and it's also written, don't you dare tempt the Lord your God. That completed the testing. The devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.

Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the spirit. News that he was back spread through the countryside. He taught in their meeting places to everyone's acclaim and pleasure.

He came to Nazareth where he had been raised. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written, God's spirit is on me. He's chosen me to preach the message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardoned prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind to set the burdened and battered free to announce this is God's time to shine.

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him intent. Then he started in, you've just heard scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.

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