Jesus Is Walking to Jerusalem. And Every Step Is for You.
The second half of Luke's Gospel is a journey. A deliberate, purposeful, costly journey — Jesus walking toward Jerusalem, toward the cross, toward the moment that would open his kingdom to anyone who would come. Luke writes with a joyful certainty that pulses through every chapter: not just that God's kingdom is perfect, but that its gates are open.
Open to the poor and the rich. Open to the outcast and the respectable. Open to the sinner and the self-righteous — at least, to the self-righteous who are willing to admit what they are. Open to anyone who will come.
In Luke 12–24 For You, Mike McKinley takes readers through the second half of Luke's Gospel with the close attention to the text and focus on real-life application that have made him one of the most trusted expository guides in the God's Word For You series. From the urgent warnings of chapter 12 to the parables of the lost in chapter 15, from the triumphal entry to the upper room, from the darkness of the cross to the breathtaking dawn of resurrection morning — McKinley brings readers face to face with Jesus in a way that is fresh, compelling, and personally searching for both experienced and new readers of this Gospel.
What This Book Covers
Mike McKinley works verse by verse through Luke 12–24, tracing the journey to Jerusalem and its extraordinary destination:
- Urgent warnings and faithful waiting — Luke 12–13: Jesus' calls to watchfulness, repentance, and the narrow door — and what they mean for those who would follow him
- Parables of grace — Luke 15: The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son — three of the most beloved parables in all of Scripture, and what they reveal about the heart of God
- The cost of discipleship — Luke 14: What Jesus says about counting the cost of following him — and why nothing less than everything is required
- Jesus and the outsiders — How Luke's Gospel consistently shows Jesus welcoming those society had written off — and what that means for the openness of his kingdom
- The triumphal entry and temple — Luke 19–20: Jesus entering Jerusalem as King — and the confrontations that follow in the temple courts
- The upper room and the cross — Luke 22–23: The last supper, the betrayal, the trial, and the crucifixion — the journey's destination reached at last
- The resurrection and the open kingdom — Luke 24: The empty tomb, the road to Emmaus, and the commission Jesus gives his witnesses — the kingdom now open to all nations
What Readers Will Learn
- Why Luke's account of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem is one of the most purposeful and theologically rich narratives in the New Testament
- What the parables of Luke 15 reveal about God's heart for the lost — and why they are among the most important stories Jesus ever told
- What genuine discipleship costs — and why Jesus is so clear and direct about the demands of following him
- How the cross is not the defeat of Jesus' mission but its crowning achievement — the moment that tears open the kingdom to all who come
- Why Luke writes with such joyful certainty about the openness of God's kingdom — and what that means for every kind of person who reads this Gospel
- How the resurrection in Luke 24 transforms everything — and why the risen Jesus' explanation of Scripture on the road to Emmaus is one of the most significant moments in the whole Bible
- How to read Luke 12–24 as a unified, purposeful narrative — and be brought face to face with the Jesus who walked to Jerusalem for you
How to Use This Book
Luke 12–24 For You is flexible, accessible, and immediately enriching:
- Personal devotions — Work through it section by section as a daily or weekly companion to your reading of Luke 12–24
- Sermon preparation — A trustworthy expository companion for pastors preaching through the second half of Luke's Gospel
- Small group studies — Rich enough to spark genuine discussion and personal application in a group setting
- Cover-to-cover reading — Accessible and compelling enough to read straight through as an expository guide to Luke's second half
- Alongside Luke 1–12 For You — A natural companion to the first volume for those wanting to work through the whole of Luke's Gospel
Who Should Read This Book
This book is for you if you are:
- A layperson who wants to go deeper into Luke's Gospel without getting lost in academic scholarship
- A pastor or preacher preparing expository sermons on Luke 12–24 with a reliable, applied guide at hand
- A small group leader wanting a solid, Christ-centred companion for leading others through the second half of Luke
- A new Christian who wants to walk with Jesus to the cross and resurrection in Luke's own words — with a trusted guide alongside
- A devotional reader wanting a structured, verse-by-verse companion that brings the journey to Jerusalem alive in fresh and personally searching ways
- Anyone who wants to understand why Luke writes with such joyful certainty — and to share in that certainty themselves
About the Author
Mike McKinley is the Senior Pastor of Sterling Park Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia, and a council member of The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of several books and is known for his warm, accessible, and practically grounded expository writing. Mike brings to Luke 12–24 For You both careful attention to Luke's narrative and a genuine pastor's desire to bring readers face to face with the Jesus who walked to Jerusalem — deliberately, purposefully, and for them. He is also the author of Believe: What Should I Know? in the First Steps series, available at forthetruth.in.
About the God's Word For You Series
Luke 12–24 For You is part of the God's Word For You series published by The Good Book Company — a growing library of expository guides designed to sit between a daily devotional and a full academic commentary. Each volume offers:
- Careful, passage-by-passage attention to the biblical text
- Accessibility for non-scholars without sacrificing depth
- Rich application for personal life, ministry, and preaching
- Flexibility for devotional reading, group study, or sermon preparation
