PURPOSE: To present the most accurate accounting of the life of Christ and to present Christ as the perfect human & Savior.
AUTHOR: The author of this Gospel is the only Gentile to author a book in the New Testament. That would be Luke the physician (Colossians 4:14). Luke was a close friend & companion of the Apostle Paul. Luke was also the author of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles or simply the Book of Acts. The Gospel of Luke & Acts are meant to follow one another ... as if the Gospel is supposed to be followed by Acts; and it is.
DATE WRITTEN: Roughly A.D. 60.
SETTING: Luke wrote from Rome or possibly from Caesarea.
SPECIAL FEATURE: This is the most comprehensive of the Gospels. Using common vocabulary & diction shows that the author was well-educated. Luke made several references to illnesses and diagnoses. He stresses Jesus’ relationships with common folks; emphasizes prayer, miracles, & angels; records God inspired praise hymns; & gives a prominent position to women. Most of Luke 9:51 - 18:35 is only found in Luke ... not in the other Gospels.
“Luke affirms Jesus’ divinity, but the real emphasis of his book is on Jesus’ humanity - Jesus the Son of God was also the Son of Man. Luke’s close friendship with Paul gave him access to interview the other disciples, thus had other historical accounts, & was an eyewitness to the birth & growth of the early church. His Gospel & the book of Acts are reliable, historical documents.” [1]
THE BLUEPRINT
A. BIRTH & PREPARATION OF JESUS, THE SAVIOR (Luke 1:1 - 4:13)
Starting out as an infant unable to do anything for himself, Jesus grew into a fully grown man able to fulfill his earthly mission. He was fully man & yet still fully God. He took no short cuts and certainly wasn’t isolated from the daily pressures & temptations of life. There are no short cuts for us as believers either. We are to serve God with our lives. Jesus is our example.
B. MESSAGE & MINISTRY OF JESUS, THE SAVIOR (Luke 4:14 - 21:38)
Jesus taught before great crowds, especially thru parables, which are stories that illustrate great truths. Sadly, not everyone caught on to what Jesus was teaching. It was only those who had ears to hear what Jesus was saying. There are an overwhelming number of truths throughout scripture & it is up to us as believers to hone our discernment so that we are able to grasp the significance of what Jesus is saying.
C. DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS, THE SAVIOR (Luke 22:1 - 24:53)
Jesus, as the Savior of the world, was arrested unjustly & executed without cause, but death couldn’t destroy him. Jesus took the keys of death & hell & then, after showing himself to his disciples, ascended into heaven with the 12 watching. There is one way to heaven. Thru the blood of Christ. When you absorb these facts never forget that with faith & belief comes forgiveness, for Jesus died once for all time. He didn’t need to continue to die for us because being human & not divine, we still sin from time to time. Christ’s forgiveness completely covers sin. Understand the significance of his death on a cross. His blood’s for you!
Up next are the Mega-Themes from the Gospel of Luke. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His name & for His glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible
[1] The Life Application Study Bible; p 2168.
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