Of the four Gospel writers, Luke is the only one who was not Jewish. He was a Greek physician who at times accompanied Paul on his journeys. It is probable that while Paul was imprisoned at Caesarea, Luke used the time to seek out and interview people who were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ ministry. He also collected the written accounts of others. He used all of this material to write a trustworthy account for a man named Theophilus, who apparently was a believing Greek official.
- How Can We Know? (Luke 1:1-4) - Every day we are bombarded with a huge amount of information. Wherever we turn another message clamors for our attention. Newspapers, the radio, TV and the Internet demand we give our time and attention to what they have to say. Advertisers try to convince us that we need what they have to sell. Politicians and … Continue reading
- He Will Go Before The Lord (Luke 1:5-25) - When a tragedy occurs it is common for someone to say, “Why doesn’t God do something?” The truth is that God often is doing something – but what He is doing is not apparent to us. The greatest tragedy of all was when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. Through them sin entered the … Continue reading
- I Am The Lord’s Servant (Luke 1:26-38) - When we want to do something which we think is important and will have a major impact on the world, we try to enlist the help and support of the wealthy, the powerful and the influential. But God works differently. The prophet Isaiah wrote, ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways … Continue reading
- All Generations Will Call Me Blessed (Luke 1:39-56) - There are some events which turn our life upside down. One minute everything is normal. Our routine is the same as all the previous days. Then, suddenly something happens and from that moment our life will never be the same again. How we respond to such life-changing events displays our inner character. Some people become … Continue reading
- What Would this Child Be? (Luke 1:57-80) - Most couples anticipate the birth of their first child with great joy. This was especially true in the case of Zechariah and Elizabeth because Elizabeth had been barren and unable to have children. It wasn’t until both she and her husband were elderly that she miraculously became pregnant. Elizabeth’s pregnancy in itself was ample proof … Continue reading
- The Savior Is Born (Luke 2:1-20) - When a life-upsetting event occurs, many of us like to go away to a different place so that we can think about the situation. Perhaps a change of environment will help to see our situation more clearly. When the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to a son through the power of … Continue reading
- Consecrated To The Lord (Luke 2:21-40) - Parents often wonder what their children will become when they grow up. Though parents do their best to raise their children properly, how their children turn out is often beyond their control. Two children born to the same parents, raised in the same environment and according to the same principles can have very different characters … Continue reading
- Growing In Wisdom (Luke 2:41-52) - There was a flurry of divine activity around the time of Jesus’ birth. But after the birth, silence descends again. We know almost nothing of Jesus’ childhood and early adult years. Only one incident is mentioned. This incident gives us an interesting insight into Jesus’ awareness of who He was and His mission. In chapter … Continue reading
- Preparing The Way (Luke 3:1-20) - When we look at Jesus’ ministry, we are amazed at what He was able to accomplish in just 3-1/2 years. Yet, it is probably fair to say that Jesus could not have done it in that short amount of time if it hadn’t been for John the Baptist. In his inspired Gospel, Luke describes John’s … Continue reading
- My Beloved Son (Luke 3:21-38) - There is no record of any prophecy from God for 400 years after the Prophet Malachi. Therefore, the Jewish people were excited when another prophet appeared and began speaking to them. His name was John and he preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As a result of his preaching many people … Continue reading
- Tempted Like Us (Luke 4:1-13) - Sometimes we experience our most severe times of hardship and testing immediately after a spiritual victory. At Jesus’ baptism God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power. God also declared, “…You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22 NIV). But then, Jesus faced a severe test. … Continue reading
- Anointed To Preach (Luke 4:14-30) - It is often easier to accept teaching and correction from an outsider than from someone whom we knew when he was a child. Jesus encountered this problem when He returned to the place where He grew up. In chapter 4, verses 14 through 30 of his inspired Gospel, Luke writes, “Jesus returned in the power … Continue reading
- What Is This Teaching? (Luke 4:31-44) - How we react to rejection says a lot about what kind of person we are. Some people allow rejection to destroy them. They withdraw from others and will not take the risk of trying again. Other people view rejection as a challenge. They will go somewhere else or try a different approach to accomplish their … Continue reading
- Let Down The Nets For A Catch (Luke 5:1-11) - We can tell what is really important to someone by seeing how he spends his time. For example, if a man says that he loves his family, but never spends any time with them – even though he has the opportunity to do so – we know that his family is not as important to … Continue reading
- As A Testimony To Them (Luke 5:12-26) - When we consider the miracles of Jesus, we are amazed not only by the number of them He performed, but also by the variety of them. Through the miracles Jesus demonstrated His power over nature, time and disease. But the miracles also raise an important question. What was the purpose of them? It is clear … Continue reading
- It Is Not The Healthy Who Need A Doctor (Luke 5:27-39) - Many people express support or enthusiasm for a particular cause. Until, that is, they are asked to give up something for it. To put it another way, we can measure the extent of our dedication to something by what we are willing to sacrifice for it. Simon, Andrew, James and John proved their commitment to … Continue reading