The Life of the Christ - ForMinistry

Intrroduction
Luke, like Acts, often mentions God’s Holy Spirit (1.15, 35; 4.1, 14,
18; 10.21; 11.13). Luke also shows how important prayer was to Jesus
(3.21; 6.12; 9.18; and 23.34,46). From Luke we learn of three stories that
Jesus used in teaching about prayer (11.5-9; 18.1-8, 9-14).
Jesus’ concern for the poor is an important theme in Luke. The
good news is preached to them (4.18; 7.22); they receive God’s blessings
(6.20); they are invited to a great banquet (14.13,21); the poor beggar
named Lazarus is taken to heaven by angels (16.20,22); and Jesus
commands his disciples to sell what they have and give the money to the
poor (12.33).
Traditionally, the writer of Luke and Acts has been identified as the
companion and co-worker of Paul (Phlm 24; Col 4.14). He wrote in the
style of the Greek and Roman historians and biographers of his day.
Many think that he was not Jewish and lived outside of Judea, and that he
was writing for a Gentile audience. This is supported by a key theme in
Luke: God sent Jesus to be the Savior of all people, both Jews and
Gentiles.
How is Luke constructed?
Note in the following outline how Luke is organized around important
events in Jesus’ life and the places where these events happen.
Preparing the way for Jesus (1.1—4.13)
Introduction: Why Luke wrote this book (1.1-4)
Two miraculous births (1.5—2.21)
Jesus as a child (2.22-52)
Jesus is God’s own Son (3.1—4.13)
Jesus preaches and heals in Galilee (4.14—9.50)
Mixed reactions toward Jesus (4.14-37)
Jesus heals many and chooses his disciples
(4.38—5.32)
Jesus continues his work in Galilee (5.33—9.17)
Who Jesus is and what he must do (9.18-50)
Jesus goes to Jerusalem (9.51—19.27)
Followers and unbelievers (9.51—10.42)
Jesus teaches many things (11.1—12.59)
Teachings about God’s kingdom (13.1—14.35)
The lost are found (15.1-32)
Faithful servants (16.1—19.27)
Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem (19.28—23.56)
Jesus teaches in Jerusalem (19.28—21.38)
Jesus’ trial and death (22.1—23.56)
Jesus rises from death and appears to the disciples
(24.1-53)
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Preparing the Way for Jesus
Preparing the Way for Jesus
Luke begins by explaining why he has written this Gospel. Then he
shifts the focus to events surrounding Jesus’ birth. One important
event is the birth of John the Baptist who, as an adult, will preach a
message that is intended to get people ready to receive Jesus. The
last part of this section tells about John baptizing Jesus and how the
devil tests Jesus in the wilderness.
WHY LUKE WROTE THIS BOOK
1 Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done
among us. 2 They wrote what we had been told by the ones who
were there in the beginning and saw what happened. 3 So I made
a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you
exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, 4 I have done
this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.
TWO MIRACULOUS BIRTHS
Angels announce the birth of both John and Jesus. Elizabeth, John’s
mother, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, both become
pregnant in miraculous ways. This section includes Mary’s famous
song of praise and events surrounding the births of John and Jesus.
An Angel Tells about the Birth of John
5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the
name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife
Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron. 6 Both of them were good
people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had
commanded. 7 But they did not have children. Elizabeth could not
have any, and both Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old.
8 One day Zechariah’s group of priests were on duty, and he
was serving God as a priest. 9 According to the custom of the
priests, he had been chosen to go into the Lord’s temple that day
and to burn incense, 10 while the people stood outside praying.
11 All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah