Day 240 – Luke: Introduction
“Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:9-10 NLT
Every birth is a miracle, and every child is a gift from God. But over 20 centuries ago, the miracle of miracles occurred. A baby was born who was the Son of God – the Gospels tell of His birth, but Dr. Luke (as though he were the attending physician) provides the most details surrounding this holy occasion. With a divine Father and a human mother, Jesus entered the history of this world as God in the flesh.
Luke affirms Jesus’ divinity, but the real emphasis of his Gospel is on Jesus’ humanity – Jesus, the Son of God, is also the Son of Man. As a doctor, Luke was a man of science, and as a Greek, he was a man of detail. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that he begins by outlining his extensive research and explaining that he is reporting the facts.
Luke was also a close friend and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul, so he could interview the other disciples and the family of Jesus, had access to other historical accounts, and was an eyewitness to the birth and growth of the early church. His Gospel and the book of Acts are reliable, historical documents.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the inspiration and dedication to detail You gave Luke to write this Gospel and the book of Acts. Thank You for his attention to detail and meticulous research and record giving on the life of Jesus, the Son of God, and historic accounts pre, during, and after His ministry. May we read this Gospel with the same attention to detail as he wrote it. Amen.
