Chaplains Corner - April 2019

Again, guest writer Deane Schultz has provided us with a column, this time he writes about the Gospel of Luke.

Gospel of Luke:

In studying scriptures, so many times the pastor (or someone) will say, “Turn to the book of Luke.” And you do.

But...who is ‘Luke’? Being this is the Gospel I will be starting this series of devotions with, let’s check out who Luke...is. (Being I’m writing to different people from multiple countries and religions, some of my explanations may seem a bit simple to some of you. But it is ‘fill in’ for those who are not familiar with any of this from the Bible. Don’t worry – it will get ‘heavier’ later.)

(Speaking of ‘not familiar’, when my wife Teri was a teenager she somehow ended up in a high school class, as she puts it, ‘with a bunch of motorheads’ (mechanics). Although Teri is quite intelligent, when she was around a subject that was, well...‘not her subject’, the motorheads had sport with Teri in deliberately talking over her head about engine parts, drives, belts, gears and gadgets. But after they had their fun and saw Teri doing her best to keep up (and not backing down), they backed off and ‘include her in the group’.....easing up and explaining things in ‘real English’. In ways that made sense. That is what I’m trying to do in presenting various Biblical subjects and concepts from this point forward – in ways I wish I had been taught as a youth when, honestly.............I had no idea what they were talking about. To me as a kid it was “a bunch of big religious words” that didn’t make sense in any practical way. Not in any way that made me want to hear more. I now want to hear more. And share more...)

All that being said, I do not mean to insult anyone’s intelligence as I present certain Biblical truths, stories and concepts in perhaps a slightly different way.)

Luke: Writer of one of the four gospels. A doctor. A Gentile = ‘non-Jew’– (the only non-Jew of the four gospel writers and the only known Gentile writer in the New Testament). Likely written from Rome, Luke was the first historian of the early church.

Purpose of Luke’s account? My Bible note say this: “To present an accurate account of the life of Jesus and to present Him as the perfect human and the Savior.” The notes – in story form – continue with the below.

“Every birth is a miracle, and every child is a gift from God. But nearly 20 centuries ago the miracle of miracles occurred. A baby was born, but more than a gift from God, this baby was the Son of God. The Gospels tell of this birth, but Dr. Luke, as though he were the attending physician, provides most of the details surrounding this awesome occasion. With a divine Father and a human mother, Jesus entered history – God in the flesh.

“Luke affirms Jesus’ divinity, but the real emphasis of his book is on Jesus’ humanity – Jesus, the Son of God, is also the Son of Man. As a doctor, Luke was a man of science, and as a Greek he was a man of detail. It’s not surprising, then, that he begins by outlining his extensive research and explaining that he is reporting the facts that he gathered. Luke was also a friend and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul, so he could interview the other disciples, had access to other historical accounts, and was an eyewitness to the birth and growth of the early church. His Gospel and book of Acts are reliable, historical documents.

“Luke’s story begins with an angel appearing to Zechariah (a Jewish priest) who was the father of John the Baptist. Then an angel appeared to Mary. They told them of the upcoming births of their sons. From Zechariah would come John the Baptist who would prepare the way for Jesus. Mary would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit and bear Jesus, the Son of God. Soon after John’s birth Caesar Augustus declared a census. So Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem – the ‘town of David’, who was their ancient ancestor. There the Child was born. Angels announced the joyous event to shepherds, who were initially afraid, and who then rushed to the manger. When the shepherds left, their fear was gone as they went praising God and spreading the news. Eight days later Jesus was circumcised and then dedicated to God in the Temple where a devout man named Simeon and a prophet named Anna confirmed Jesus’ identity as the Savior, their Messiah.

“Luke gives us a glimpse of Jesus at age 12 discussing theology with the Jewish teachers of the law at the Temple. Eighteen years later Jesus went out in the desert to be baptized by His cousin John the Baptist before beginning His public ministry. At this point Luke traces Jesus’ genealogy – back thru David and Abraham all the way back to Adam, underscoring Jesus’ identity as the Son of Man.

“After Jesus’ temptations in the desert, He returned to Galilee to preach, teach, and heal. During this time He began gathering His group of 12 disciples. Later Jesus commissioned them and sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God. When they returned Jesus revealed to them His mission, His true identity, and what it meant to be His disciple. His mission would take Him to Jerusalem where He would be rejected, tried, and crucified.

“When Jesus carried His own cross to Golgotha, some women in Jerusalem wept for Him, but Jesus told them to weep for themselves and for their children. Luke’s Gospel does not end in sadness – it concludes with the amazing account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, His appearances to the disciples, and His promise to send the Holy Spirit.

“Read Luke’s beautifully written and accurate account of the life of Jesus, Son of Man and Son of God. Then thank God for sending the Savior – our risen and triumphant Lord – for all people.”

~ Deane