Luke - an orderly account of Jesus’ life

Over the last two weeks, we’ve considered the unique perspectives that the gospels of Matthew and Mark give us on Jesus. This week, we look at Luke’s gospel and the distinctive way that he presents Jesus to us.

Luke is the longest gospel. Written by a doctor with an eye for detail, Luke’s gospel is carefully and accurately written. In his opening lines, Luke makes it clear why he wrote his account of Jesus’ life and ministry (1:1-4). Relying on eyewitness testimony, Luke “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” and compiled “an orderly account”. He did this so that Theophilus, the Christian man to whom he was writing, might be assured of the firm historical foundation of his faith: “so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught”. Luke’s gospel is not so much academic history as it is discipleship teaching intended to help a believer grow in his faith. As you read Luke’s gospel, a few things stand out:

1. Jesus is the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy

From the very beginning of his gospel, Luke is concerned to show how Jesus is the one who fulfils God’s promises. Even in the first verse of his gospel, Luke refers to Jesus’ life and ministry as “the things that have been fulfilled among us” (1:1). Mary and Zechariah’s songs are filled with Old Testament references and allusions, and testify to God’s faithfulness in “raising up a horn of salvation” for them (1). Indeed Jesus stands in the synagogue reading Isaiah, and identifies himself as the one about whom Isaiah was speaking: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (4:21).

2. Jesus came to seek and save the lost

Luke keeps reminding his readers that the heart of Jesus’ ministry is the gospel of salvation. Luke characterises Jesus’ ministry as one of “preaching the gospel” (4:18, 16:16, 20:1). As he taught, healed and performed miraculous signs, Jesus was proclaiming the good news. And the content of Jesus’ good news is salvation: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (19:10). Luke tends to emphasise the salvation we have now in Jesus, though the future dimension is by no means lacking.

3. Salvation is for all people and even the outcasts are welcome

Since all are lost, all need to be saved. Luke is clear that the salvation Jesus brings is not only for the Jews, but for all people and all nations. Luke recounts men and women, adults and children, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles being saved by Jesus. But Luke draws particular attention to Jesus’ concern for the vulnerable and the outcast. Luke shows how Jesus was concerned for the Samaritans (17:11-19) and for the Gentiles (7:1-9). He draws our attention to the way in which the gospel message was received by the poor, the ‘sinners’ and the tax collectors (7:36-50, 19:1-10). Women are also given special attention in Luke (7:11-17, 36-50, 21:2-3). These women are sensitive to Jesus’ message, and though they were often on the fringe of first-century society, they are in the middle of Luke’s story.

Luke’s gospel is the only gospel with a sequel. In that sequel, the book of Acts, Luke goes on to show us how the gospel of Jesus spreads to the ends of the earth.  Luke has gone to great lengths to demonstrate the historical foundation of that gospel message. And it is certainty about this gospel which Luke offers to Theophilus and ultimately to us.

With love in Christ,

Stephanie Menear
Women’s Pastor