Luke - a video teaching
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What does Luke say about Jesus' birth?
Luke has carefully researched the events around Christ’s birth – and he starts with the events around Jesus’ cousin’s birth – the miraculous birth of John.
The book of Luke was written to “Theophilus”.
Literally, that means “God-lover”. He could have been a wealthy patron, or it might have been a group of people. What if Greek Christians, before they were called Christians called themselves Theophilians?
Luke places Jesus in World History.
He writes about Caesar Augustus and Quirinus being the governor of Syria. His genealogy goes from Joseph all the way back to Adam.
Luke gives fuller accounts of angels.
The Greeks he was writing to were more accustomed to stories of the gods interacting with humans and so would be interested in angelic encounters.
He writes about the angel coming to Zachariah who didn’t believe He could become a father and so had his mouth shut until the prophecy was fulfilled. Luke talks about everything Mary hid in her heart about Gabriel’s visit.
He reveals the story of the shepherd in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night
and lo, the angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified and the angel said to them – “Fear Not, for behold I bring you news of great joy that shall be for all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you ‘you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts singing “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to all men on whom his favour rests”…
Luke includes unlikely people.
He includes women – Elizabeth, Mary. He includes the outcasts like the Shepherds. He includes the elderly – Simeon, Zechariah, Anna.
Summary
Luke was writing to Greek speaking believers who needed to know the Jewish Messiah was for them. You don’t have to be born into the right family. You don’t need to be the top of society. You don’t need to be a man to be loved by God.
Luke Reminds us Jesus Came for Everyone
Luke reminds us that Jesus came for everyone. Not just the Jews. Not just the righteous. Not just the important. Not just those you would expect.
So what does that mean for us today?
It means that everything you’ve done…before you became a Christian or even after you named the name of Christ, is covered by His blood. His grace is sufficient for you. You can’t mess up too much for God. Your sin did not surprise Him or disgust Him.
And yet He calls you out.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:10
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”
Don’t let His grace be without effect in you.
Paul says in Philippians 3:16
“Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
By the grace of God you can.
Do you want help to do that? See what I can do to help.
