In his gospel’s last chapter, Luke twice wrote that the risen Jesus taught his disciples what the (Hebrew) Scriptures said about him. One of his parables said if people wouldn’t heed “Moses and the Prophets,” they wouldn’t be persuaded even if someone rose from the dead (cf. Luke 16:27-31). Jesus wanted his followers’ faith to have a firm Scriptural basis. This week we’ll study some of the Old Testament passages he likely referred to in his teaching.

• Lies from governments, large corporations and important people have made most of us deeply skeptical, often prone to trust only our own senses and experiences. Do you believe Jesus had good reasons for teaching his followers about the Scriptures, rather than just running around appearing in person to as many people as he possibly could? Are you willing to trust God even in areas that go beyond your personal experience?

• Think back to Jesus’ temptations (cf. Luke 4:1-12). Each temptation invited Jesus to do a dazzling outward deed that might bypass the need for faith, and establish him as the Messiah beyond all doubt. He firmly refused, in each case citing the Scriptures. In what ways have you found that faith, like love, needs to be freely given, rather than compelled by overwhelming “proof”?