Today we begin our fourth and final gospel for this cycle. It feels to me like Luke’s gospel is right for this moment.
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Luke tells us right from the start why he wrote his gospel: he wanted to put together a careful and intentional version of Jesus’ life and ministry. He knew that others had already written down stories about Jesus, but he wanted to gather them, sift through them, and set them in a way that would help people be confident in what they believed. Unlike the more community-shaped origins of some of the other gospels, Luke’s feels the most like one person sitting down to write a whole story from beginning to end. And yet, of course, he was deeply tied to the community of believers whose stories he passed along.
We always need such intentionality, but it feels particularly important in this moment. Is there any individual whose name and person is more known than Jesus Christ? With such notoriety and widespread appeal comes significant confusion and misrepresentation. Add to it the phenomena of the Internet and social media, and anyone who has access to a laptop or phone can put out whatever they want about Jesus.
And they do.
So as we begin Luke’s gospel again, let us continue to strive every day to match our understanding of Jesus with what has been handed to us in the actual gospels. At the same time, let’s not be so bound to the text that we miss the Spirit’s voice.
Luke 1:1-4
Many people have already applied themselves to the task of compiling an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used what the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed down to us. Now, after having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, I have also decided to write a carefully ordered account for you, most honorable Theophilus. I want you to have confidence in the soundness of the instruction you have received.
Psalm 119:105-107
Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey.
I have sworn, and I fully mean it: I will keep your righteous rules.
I have been suffering so much—Lord, make me live again according to your promise.
Prayer
God,
Help me to see the story of your entrance into the world through Christ with child-like eyes. What I mean is that I want to read and receive these things without attachment. I understand that this is not completely possible, exactly. I am not asking for an erased memory! But I truly desire to know how and why you did what you did such that my life be shaped by its character rather than by the extra stuff we add to the story.
Simply put: help me to see Jesus as you sent him.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.