OCTOBER 16 LUKE 1-2

October 16, 2014

Luke 1-2

Already, we can see that Luke is significantly different from either Matthew or Mark, and one of those differences becomes evident in the first four verses. Matthew was one of the disciples. Mark writes with Peter’s memories, and may also have been a young tag-along to the band of brothers we call the disciples. But Luke had never met Jesus. And the only apostle with whom he had a relationship was Paul—he was Paul’s doctor, and even Paul did not know or follow Jesus until long after Jesus had ascended into heaven. 

So what are Luke’s qualifications for writing a gospel of his own? He was a learned man and had excellent language skills; true. He also had an opportunity and a need: a friend named Theophilus, who wanted to know more about Jesus. But most importantly, he was a digger, a researcher. The first four verses of Luke’s gospel give strong indications of this.

In the first two chapters, there is much material that does not appear in the other gospel. Without it, we would not know John the Baptist’s birth story, Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, Mary’s time with Elizabeth, Mary’s magnificent prayer of praise, or Zechariah’s powerful prophesy. And what’s worse, we’d know very little about that holy night of our Savior’s birth: the manger, the swaddling clothes, the shepherds, the angels, and their glory-filled song! Without Luke, we could only assume his parents had him circumcised and dedicated at the Temple. We’d never know about Simeon and Anna, and we’d never have imagined the 12-year old Jesus in the temple “schooling” those elders.

Where did Luke get all this stuff?

Research. Interviews. Digging. Spirit-led hard work. I can imagine Dr. Luke, attending Paul, while Paul ministered in Ephesus, the same city that John and Mary, the mother of Jesus, migrated to after Pentecost. I believe that Luke interviewed Mary, and got much of what is now Luke 1-2 straight from her!

Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,

Pastor Gary