INTRODUCTION

Luke is the third of the four canonical Gospels.It tells of the origins,  births, ministry, atonement ,  death, resurrection and ascensions of Jesus Christ.It is the longest of the four Gospels and the longest in the new testament, Together with acts of the apostles, it makes up to –volume work from the same author

The cornerstone of Luke theologies “Salvation history,” the author’s understanding that God’s purpose is seen in the way he acted and will continue to serve in the history

It divides the history of first-century Christianity into three stages with the gospel making up two of these, the arrival among men of Jesus the Messiah, from his birth to the beginning of his earthly mission in the meeting with John the Baptist followed by his earthly ministry,  passion, death and resurrection.

Authorship

Luke does not name its author, but according to the church tradition, it was Luke, the Evangelist, the companion of Paul.While these view is still occasionally put forward the scholarly consensus emphasis the many contradictions between Acts and the Pauline Letters.

According to Luke’s introduction (Luke 1:1-4), he wrote the Gospel to Theophilus.

Before he wrote the book he investigated everything from the beginning

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 from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the world

Therefore since I have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to write an orderly account for you most excellent Theophilus. So that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught

Date

The gospel of Luke is believed to have been written something between AD 63 and 68, and there is evidence that it was still being revised well into the 2^nd century.

Main Message in the book of Luke

It tells of the origins, birth, ministry, atonement, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ .”The son of man came to seek and to save the lost “(Luke 19:10) With these closing word s to Zacchaeus , a chief tax collector and a man deeply despised by his fellow Jews.Jesus states the message of Luke to the global church today.

Christ did not come for the clean and the religious, The upright and the educated, he went for those who knew themselves to be lost.Throughout Luke we see Jesus welcoming outsiders into the blessings of grace, while those who appear to be insiders are shut out.

Universal themes in Luke

God’s heart for the poor and needy.

An essential event in Luke’s gospel takes place right at the start of Jesus’ ministry

Jesus reads the following statement from Isaiah and identifies himself as thus statement fulfilment

“The spirit of the lord is upon me. Because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of Lord’s favour (Luke 4:18-19 quoting Isaiah 61:1-2 )

Throughout Luke, we then see the social and cultural reversals that take place as insiders are unconcerned about who Jesus is and what he is doing while outsiders are drawn to understand Jesus Time and again, Long-held assumptions about Jew and Gentiles, rich and poor, educated and ignorant, moral and immoral are inverted.Luke drives  home God’s great love for those who are marginalised (for example  Luke 1:48.52-53;6:20-26;13:30;14:11;18:9-14)

The danger of money

In Luke’s Gospel Jesus pronounces severe woes on those who love money yet he blesses those who are poor and therefore recognises their needs (Luke 6:20-26;8:14;12:13-21;16:10-13,19-31;18;22).Amid the ongoing gap between the upper and the lower classes around the globe as well as frequently unstable world economy.

The Holy Spirit

The spirit is emphasised more in Luke than any other Gospel and expanded in Acts (also written by Luke)

The Holy Spirit does not need our human cleverness or ingenuity. Instead, the spirit is drawn to all whose hearts are open to God and his grace (Luke 11:13)

At the beginning of history, two people ate food offered to them by Satan , their eyes were opened and the whole human race was plunged into sin and death (Gen 3:6-7)At the climax of the story two people ate food offered to them by Christ, their eyes were opened and they saw who Christ was and the new age that was dawning in him (Luke 24:30-32)

This prophesies fulfilling restoration of God’s people who now come from surprising places, cultures and social spheres –is the role Luke’s gospel fills in redemption History.

Placed against the backdrop of the whole bible Luke’s Gospel shows us that the one for whom Gods people had been waiting so long had finally come.In him, all the hopes and promises of the old testament were coming to final fulfilment. He was the true son of God (Luke 4:41,22:70-71) who unlike Adam, God’s first son (3:38)walked faithfully with God

He was the true Israel who unlike Israel before him passed the test in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13)

After generating sin, failure and finally exile one had come who would bear the punishment for his people and fulfil the ancient promises. The people would be restored to God. This was one about whom the entire old testament spoke.

This restoration is for all people in all places around the world.After his resurrection, Jesus tells his disciples that they are his witnesses and the repentance and forgiveness of sin should be proclaimed in his name to all nations.(Luke 24:47)

This happens when the holy spirit is poured onto in Acts 2, and the gospel begins to flood out to diverse people groups.

RELEVANCE OF THE BOOK OF LUKE TO KENYA

Through the book of Luke, we learn how to pray. This is shown when Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray. In Luke 11:2-4

“Father hallowed is your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread forgive us our sins for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”

At Mt Olives, he told his disciples to pray so that they don’t fall into temptation

In the gospel of Luke, we learn to be faithful and reliable.

This is evident in Luke 4:1-12 where Satan tempted Jesus

Where the devil led him to a higher place and showed him an instant all the kingdoms of the world.And he said to him “I will give you all the authority and splendour for it has been given to me and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will be all yours.

Jesus answered, “It is written, “worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.

Through the book, we learn that Jesus came for the sinners, not the righteous Luke 5:32″I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance ”

Luke’s gospel teaches about the virtue of love Luke 6:27-28 “But I tell you who hear me. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

We learn to share and give services to others Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given unto you. A good measure presses down, shaken together and running over will be proved into your lap. For with the rules you use it will be measured to you.

This is also in the Parable of the Good Samaritan

The book also teaches about of Jesus. When he drove out evil spirits at Capernaum, he also heals a man with leprosy (Luke 5:12-15) the healing of a paralytic man (Luke 5:17-26)

Jesus also fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish (Luke 9:10-17)

The book teaches about humility. In humility.In Luke 22: 70.Jesus humbles before Pilate and Herod.Also the Pharisees and the tax collector in the temple.

We learn Jesus’ love for humanity.Luke 24:49

Jesus said to his disciples.”I am going to send you what my father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. ”

Jesus teaches the need to be careful and watchful

Luke 21:34-36 Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always the watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen and that you may be able to stand before the son of man

Luke 12:35 Be dressed ready for services and keep your lamps burning

We learn that the kingdom of God is near

Luke 21: 31.Even so, you see these things happening you know that the kingdom of God is near ”

It is in the book that no one is perfect except God Luke 18:19No one is good except God alone “.

People learn to let children go to church and teach them to live according to the law

Luke 18: 16. But Jesus called the children and said

”Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them from the kingdom of God belongs to them.

People learn to go out and spread the gospel to the world.In Luke 10 the mission of the seventy-two

People learn to offer to God.Luke 20:25.”Jesus said to them.”Then give Caesar what is his and to God what is God’s.

We are warned not to judge and always forgive.Luke 6:37 “Do not decide and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be convicted. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke’s Gospel confronts us, however with the persuasive remainder that it is precise to such felt insignificance such smallness that God is drawn. He has a great heart for the marginalised. As Mary portrayed “ He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate, he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty” (Luke 1:52-53).

Throughout Luke, Jesus befriends the Samaritans the poor, the outcasts, the tax collectors, those on the social or cultural periphery.

, the Gospel of Luke, tells of the origins, birth ministry, atonement, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

It was written by Luke a physician a companion of Paul the book contains teachings that are very relevant to our lives today.

 

 

References

Aune, David E. (1988). The new testament in its literary environment. West minuter John Knox press

Carrel, John T.(2012). Luke A commentary .Westminister John Knox Press

Green , Joel (1997)The Gospel of Luke . Erdmans

Holladay , Carl R.(2011)A critical Introduction to the New testament .Interpreting the message and meaning  For example. Jesus Christ. Abingdom Press

Perkins , Pheme (1998)The synoptic Gospel and the Acts of the apostles : Telling the Christian story . Westminister John Knox press.