October 24, 2014
Luke 22-24
As with much of the gospel of Luke, we’d be very much poorer without Luke’s account of Jesus’ passion. Though Luke does not seem to be concerned for strict chronology at the Lord’s Supper, all the important elements are there. Though Luke’s account of Gethsemane is not as long as Mark’s or Matthew’s, the critical moment is there: “Not my will, but yours be done.” (22:43)
At the arrest, only Luke tells us that Jesus’ healed the man (Malchus) whose ear Peter cut off. During the night of trials, only Luke tells us of Jesus’ audience before King Herod (23:6-12). On the way to the cross, only Luke quotes Jesus’ words to the weeping women (23:28-31). At the cross, only Luke relates Jesus’ words of forgiveness for his tormenters (23:34), of assurance for the repentant thief (23:42), and of commitment to His Father (23:46).
On Easter, only Luke recounts the story of two weary and saddened disciples along the road to Emmaus, who are joined by Jesus. They do not recognize the Lord, but Jesus listens to their grief, instructs them in the all that the scriptures say about Him, and accompanies them to their destination. As Jesus breaks the bread, He disappears, and the disciples finally realize who He was, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?” (24:32).
Luke ends his gospel with Jesus’ promise to “clothe” His followers with power from on high! Then, He ascends into heaven. What will this “clothing with power” look like? We’ll have to wait until Luke second book: the book of Acts!
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
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