The Ambassador Group

Luke-- Jesus, Our Savior and Friend

00. An Introduction to the Book of Luke

01. Luke: The Coming of Jesus

02. Luke: Baptism and the Temptations

03. Luke: Who Is Jesus Christ?

04. Luke: The Call to Discipleship

05. Luke: Christ as Lord of the Sabbath

06. Luke: Women in the Ministry of Jesus

07. Luke: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Prayer

08. Luke: The Mission of Jesus

09. Luke: Jesus, the Master Teacher

10. Luke: Following Jesus in Everyday Life

11. Luke: The Kingdom of God

12. Luke: Jesus in Jerusalem

13. Luke: Crucified and Risen

Welcome to Our Savior and Friend, the Book of Luke by John M.

Fowler, edited for audio by the Ambassador Group.

The Gospel of Luke was written primarily to the Gentiles.

This detail is implied in Paul's letter to the Colossians.

He refers to Luke when listing the group of those sending greetings.

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, whom ye received commandments.

And Jesus, which is called Justice, who are of the circumcision, these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

Epaphras, who is 1 of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

For I bear him record that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea and them in Heropolis.

Luke, the beloved physician and Demas, greets you.

Theophilus, to whom Luke's telling of the gospel is addressed, was also a Gentile.

In addition to being a physician, Luke was a meticulous historian.

In introducing the gospel, Luke places Jesus in real history.

He puts the story in the historical context of his times.

Augustus reigned over the Roman Empire, Luke 2 verse 1, and a priest by the name of Zacharias was exercising his turn in the temple in Jerusalem, Luke 1, 5, and verse 9.

In chapter 3, Luke mentions 6 contemporary dates related to the ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus.

In this way, Luke places the story of Jesus in history, real people, real times, in order to dismiss any idea of mythology with His narrative.

His readers must stand in awe and wonder at the fact that Jesus is real and that through Him God has invaded history with, as Luke 2 11 says, who is Christ the Lord.

An Orderly Account Acts chapter 1 verse 1 tells us that before Acts was written, its author wrote a former account.

This, and the fact that both accounts were addressed to Theophilus helps lead us to conclude that 1 author was responsible for both books.

The 2 accounts can be viewed as part 1 and part 2 of Origin and history of the Christian Church.

Part 1 is the narrative of the life and work of Jesus, the Gospel of Luke, and Part 2, Acts of the Apostles, is an account of the spread of the message of Jesus and of the early Church.

1 of the 2 references is written by Luke, the Greek physician.

Let's listen to both biblical references.

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 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.

And 2 Timothy 3.16, all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Luke was aware of many who had written about the events that have shaken the city of Jerusalem and beyond, the events concerning Jesus Christ.

The sources for such literary works included many eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, as Luke 1 verse 2 of the New King James Version tells us, a clear reference to the disciples and other contemporaries of Jesus.

Luke himself had an exposure to these witnesses and ministers, such as Paul and other apostolic leaders, and possibly also to the Gospels written by Mark and Matthew.

Luke obviously was not an eyewitness to the Jesus story.

The sources for such literary works included many eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, as Luke 1, verse 2 of the NKJV tells us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us.

This is a clear reference to the disciples and other contemporaries of Jesus.

Luke obviously was not an eyewitness to the Jesus story, but he was a credible and authentic convert to Christ.

Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience, presenting Jesus as the great teacher, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the King of the Jews.

He often referred to Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled in Christ.

Mark wrote to a Roman audience about Jesus, the person of action.

Luke, a doctor and a Gentile, wrote to the Greeks and the Gentiles about the universal Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Luke mentions 2 purposes of his writing, To present an orderly account, Luke 1, verse 3, New King James Version, and to provide certainty to the great teachings of the new era.

Certainty about truth, as in Jesus, is 1 goal of his gospel.

Luke, an inspired author of scripture, used other material in his writings.

Obviously, that use of the other sources doesn't negate the inspiration or authority of what he wrote.

What does this teach you about how inspiration, either canonical or non-canonical, works on inspired writers?

For nearly 400 years after Malachi, divine silence marked the history of Israel.

With the birth announcements of John the Baptist and Jesus, the divine silence was about to be broken.

The birth stories of John and Jesus have parallels.

In the case of John, Elizabeth had gone well past the childbearing age.

In the case of Jesus, a virgin was to bear the child.

The angel Gabriel announced both birth promises.

Both announcements were received in a spirit of wonder, joy, and surrender to God's will.

Both babies were to grow and become strong in the Spirit.

Luke describes John the Baptist's early years in Luke 1, verse 80.

And the child grew and waxed strong in the Spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

And of Jesus, Luke 2, verse 40, And the child grew and waxed strong in the Spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

But the mission and the ministry of the 2 miracle babies were distinct and different.

John was to be a preparer of the way to Jesus.

These are Luke's words in Luke chapter 1 verses 13-17.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

And he shall go before them in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Jesus is called the Son of God in Luke 1, verse 35.

Let's take a look at Luke 1, verses 31 through 35 to get the full picture.

"'And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest.

And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

Then Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I do not know a man?

And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you.

Therefore also that the Holy 1, who is to be born, will be called the Son of God.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abiah.

And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well-stricken in years.

And it came to pass that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

And When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

And many of the children of Israel shall ye turn to the Lord their God.

And ye shall go before them in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make a people ready, prepared for the Lord.

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Series

Luke-- Jesus, Our Savior and Friend

01. Luke: The Coming of Jesus

Transcript

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Near the Cross: Finis - The Last Word

45m

Biblical Missionaries

02. Biblical Missionaries: Abraham- the First Missionary

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Righteousness by Faith: Growing in Grace

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Plenary

Almost Engaged

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The Mount of Blessings

Light of the World

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The Days of Elijah

Part 1 - Barren Brooks

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Market Gardening Track

A Balancing Act

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Restoration 2023

The Zombie Apocalypse

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Throne Exchange

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Without a Wedding Garment

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