Luke 1:1-4
Please open your Bible to Luke chapter one, verse one. Today I am presenting an introduction to this marvelous record of our Lord’s life. We will only read verses one through four as we begin.
Just before we read our text allow me to say a word about the four gospels as a whole and then a brief word about the author of this gospel.
The four gospels the Holy Spirit placed in the completed canon of Scripture present unique perspectives on the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the case of Matthew, the gospel bearing his name presents our Lord as King with much emphasis upon the coming kingdom of our Lord. Indeed, as the scripture says, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.” Matthew presents Jesus as the King of glory.
Next, the gospel of Mark presents our Lord as a servant. Perhaps the theme of Mark’s gospel can be found in Mark 10:45 where our Lord says, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” May I say this quickly: those who serve little know little about the Spirit of Christ. We are compelled to follow our Lord’s example and give our lives away in service to others.
Next, the beloved apostle John reveals our Lord as the Word incarnate. Indeed,
Jesus is the unique, one and only, begotten Son of the living God. He is fully man and fully God in the unique person who is the promised Messiah foretold by the prophets.
And now we come to the gospel of Luke. Along our journey through this book, we shall discover that Luke presents Jesus as the son of man. On twenty-six different occasions Luke refers to Jesus as the son of man. In fact, most of the time we shall find Luke quoting Jesus referring to himself as the son of man.
Of course, Luke also refers to Jesus as the Son of God. However, clearly the Holy Spirit places emphasis upon the humanity of Christ in the gospel of Luke. Our redemption required the death of the last Adam. The Savior of the world of necessity must be both man and God in one person. He must be fully man, yet sinless and without blemish, to serve as the great sacrifice for our sins. As well, he must be God to grant his all-sufficient sacrifice the infinite capacity needed to secure salvation for Adam’s race.
I will have more to say about the title “son of man” as we read it in this gospel. As well, we shall discover Luke’s emphasis upon the anointing of the Holy Spirit which rested upon our Lord. Jesus was both God incarnate and the perfect Spirit-filled man. The Lord from heaven, incarnate in the person of Jesus the Christ, chose to lay aside only his obvious privileges as the Divine Son of God. He made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a servant. He thus served in the power of the Holy Spirit. Don’t let anyone tell you that Jesus laid aside his deity. At best that is a grave error and at worst it is rank heresy.
And so, we come to the gospel whose human author is Luke. Luke is mentioned four times in the New Testament. He worked often with the apostle Paul. Paul refers to him in the book of Corinthians, the book of Colossians, in his epistle to Philemon, and finally in 2 Timothy.
It is in the book of Colossians where Paul refers to Luke as the “beloved physician.” I might pause here to say God uses physicians in a marvelous way to help us as we journey through this life. The Holy Spirit certainly thinks highly of godly physicians. How do I know? I know that because the Holy Spirit refers to Luke as the “beloved physician.”
Can I just insert a simple word of advice to you? When you are not well, do not neglect the care and wisdom God gives to physicians. It is NOT an act of unbelief to go to a doctor. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from our Father in heaven. Can I tell you something? Without the care of a knowledgeable doctor, I would have died as a little boy. Do you know what I’ve learned from that? In my older age I don’t intend to die prematurely because I fail to see my doctor. Chew on that while you eat your Sunday chicken!
One more thing about the beloved physician, brother Luke. He was a gentile. My friends, our Lord came for both Jew and Gentile. He has a place at his table for both and he can use both in his service. Thank God the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost—both Jew and gentile!
Now look with me at our text today, Luke 1:1-4:
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
As noted in these verses various believers evidently attempted to record in written form the important truths circulating amongst the early Christian community concerning those things which they most surely believed. Since Luke set forth his gospel around 60 A.D., we can conclude during the three decades immediately following the death and resurrection of our Lord, various attempts at compiling a trustworthy written record of the life of Christ occurred. While those written details circulating in the Christian community may have helped, it was necessary to have authoritative records upon which the church could rest its faith.
With that in mind, listen carefully to Luke’s assertion in verse three: It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
You will note the phrase “from the very first” in this verse. As pointed out by Greek scholars this phrase can legitimately be rendered “from above.” Luke is claiming a perfect understanding “from above.” Unlike the other efforts to set forth the things most surely believed by the authentic church, Luke’s gospel is inspired by the Holy Spirit.
While we can acknowledge the human element of Luke’s investigation into these things, not the least of which would be his many associations with believers who had knowledge of these many details as eyewitnesses, Luke did not write on his own initiative. Rather, as is the case with all Scripture, his gospel is inspired by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, that is, all Scripture is God-breathed.
Clearly in these opening remarks introducing his gospel, Luke distinguishes his writings as authoritative. Verse four states as much when Luke says he is writing “that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”
My friends, we are not playing a guessing game today. God has provided a trustworthy, authoritative record of the life of his Son so we might know the certainty of the things we believe! The church is not built upon the shifting sand of human opinion. Nor is the church built upon human philosophy and vain deceit after the rudiments of this world and the empty traditions of men.
Rather, our faith rests upon the inspired Word of God. We are “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away: But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” Amen!
Please open your Bible to Luke chapter one, verse one. Today I am presenting an introduction to this marvelous record of our Lord’s life. We will only read verses one through four as we begin.
Just before we read our text allow me to say a word about the four gospels as a whole and then a brief word about the author of this gospel.
The four gospels the Holy Spirit placed in the completed canon of Scripture present unique perspectives on the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the case of Matthew, the gospel bearing his name presents our Lord as King with much emphasis upon the coming kingdom of our Lord. Indeed, as the scripture says, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.” Matthew presents Jesus as the King of glory.
Next, the gospel of Mark presents our Lord as a servant. Perhaps the theme of Mark’s gospel can be found in Mark 10:45 where our Lord says, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” May I say this quickly: those who serve little know little about the Spirit of Christ. We are compelled to follow our Lord’s example and give our lives away in service to others.
Next, the beloved apostle John reveals our Lord as the Word incarnate. Indeed,
Jesus is the unique, one and only, begotten Son of the living God. He is fully man and fully God in the unique person who is the promised Messiah foretold by the prophets.
And now we come to the gospel of Luke. Along our journey through this book, we shall discover that Luke presents Jesus as the son of man. On twenty-six different occasions Luke refers to Jesus as the son of man. In fact, most of the time we shall find Luke quoting Jesus referring to himself as the son of man.
Of course, Luke also refers to Jesus as the Son of God. However, clearly the Holy Spirit places emphasis upon the humanity of Christ in the gospel of Luke. Our redemption required the death of the last Adam. The Savior of the world of necessity must be both man and God in one person. He must be fully man, yet sinless and without blemish, to serve as the great sacrifice for our sins. As well, he must be God to grant his all-sufficient sacrifice the infinite capacity needed to secure salvation for Adam’s race.
I will have more to say about the title “son of man” as we read it in this gospel. As well, we shall discover Luke’s emphasis upon the anointing of the Holy Spirit which rested upon our Lord. Jesus was both God incarnate and the perfect Spirit-filled man. The Lord from heaven, incarnate in the person of Jesus the Christ, chose to lay aside only his obvious privileges as the Divine Son of God. He made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a servant. He thus served in the power of the Holy Spirit. Don’t let anyone tell you that Jesus laid aside his deity. At best that is a grave error and at worst it is rank heresy.
And so, we come to the gospel whose human author is Luke. Luke is mentioned four times in the New Testament. He worked often with the apostle Paul. Paul refers to him in the book of Corinthians, the book of Colossians, in his epistle to Philemon, and finally in 2 Timothy.
It is in the book of Colossians where Paul refers to Luke as the “beloved physician.” I might pause here to say God uses physicians in a marvelous way to help us as we journey through this life. The Holy Spirit certainly thinks highly of godly physicians. How do I know? I know that because the Holy Spirit refers to Luke as the “beloved physician.”
Can I just insert a simple word of advice to you? When you are not well, do not neglect the care and wisdom God gives to physicians. It is NOT an act of unbelief to go to a doctor. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from our Father in heaven. Can I tell you something? Without the care of a knowledgeable doctor, I would have died as a little boy. Do you know what I’ve learned from that? In my older age I don’t intend to die prematurely because I fail to see my doctor. Chew on that while you eat your Sunday chicken!
One more thing about the beloved physician, brother Luke. He was a gentile. My friends, our Lord came for both Jew and Gentile. He has a place at his table for both and he can use both in his service. Thank God the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost—both Jew and gentile!
Now look with me at our text today, Luke 1:1-4:
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
As noted in these verses various believers evidently attempted to record in written form the important truths circulating amongst the early Christian community concerning those things which they most surely believed. Since Luke set forth his gospel around 60 A.D., we can conclude during the three decades immediately following the death and resurrection of our Lord, various attempts at compiling a trustworthy written record of the life of Christ occurred. While those written details circulating in the Christian community may have helped, it was necessary to have authoritative records upon which the church could rest its faith.
With that in mind, listen carefully to Luke’s assertion in verse three: It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
You will note the phrase “from the very first” in this verse. As pointed out by Greek scholars this phrase can legitimately be rendered “from above.” Luke is claiming a perfect understanding “from above.” Unlike the other efforts to set forth the things most surely believed by the authentic church, Luke’s gospel is inspired by the Holy Spirit.
While we can acknowledge the human element of Luke’s investigation into these things, not the least of which would be his many associations with believers who had knowledge of these many details as eyewitnesses, Luke did not write on his own initiative. Rather, as is the case with all Scripture, his gospel is inspired by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, that is, all Scripture is God-breathed.
Clearly in these opening remarks introducing his gospel, Luke distinguishes his writings as authoritative. Verse four states as much when Luke says he is writing “that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”
My friends, we are not playing a guessing game today. God has provided a trustworthy, authoritative record of the life of his Son so we might know the certainty of the things we believe! The church is not built upon the shifting sand of human opinion. Nor is the church built upon human philosophy and vain deceit after the rudiments of this world and the empty traditions of men.
Rather, our faith rests upon the inspired Word of God. We are “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away: But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” Amen!