Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 5

Luke’s Gospel Portrait

We are on Day 5 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Today we will look at the third of our Gospel Portraits, Luke and see together what it teaches us about Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

The author is Luke and is probably the same man identified by Paul as a doctor, and was one of his travelling companions (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11). The style and language used are those of a native Greek speaker. Luke’s remit is clear. He is to write an historical account about Jesus Christ for a gentile man called Theophilus. As a consequence, theological significance rises to the fore. Even though he is a Gentile, Luke emphasizes the kingdom program with Israel's place in the kingdom. This Gospel is not complete in itself but rather the first of two parts addressed to Theophilus, with the Book of Acts being the second section.

Through his investigative portrayal, Luke presents Jesus as the God-Man, as a saviour for the entire world. He does this from a broad vantage point that is compatible with the fact that he is a Greek. Luke traces Jesus’ birth, introduction, ministry, rejection, subsequent teaching in view of His rejection, the cross, resurrection and ascension.

Key writing within Luke to show what his Gospel portrayal of Jesus is all about are:

Luke 1:1-4 - “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye witnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”

Luke 19:1-10 - “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”

Come back tomorrow for Part 6 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look at the life of this most extraordinary person in all human history – Jesus of Nazareth.

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