NEW TESTAMENT
LUKE - FIRST PART
What is the Gospel of Luke about in the Bible? The Gospel of the Savior for Lost People Everywhere.
Who Wrote the Book of Luke?
Christian tradition holds that Luke, a first-century C.E. historian, physician, and disciple of Jesus, is the author of this compilation of stories and eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus.
Context:
The events described in Luke take place in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding occupied lands of the Greco-Roman Empire during the early 1st century, between 10 B.C.E and 40 C.E. Luke was likely composed between 60 and 80 C.E.
Curiosities of the Book of Luke:
Literary Styles:
The book of Luke is written in narrative, along with some discourse sections.
Key Themes:
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The upside-down Kingdom of God
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Israel’s freedom and new covenant
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God’s faithfulness to his people seen in his human incarnation
Structure:
Luke is divided into four parts. 1-2 introduce Jesus and John the Baptist. 3:1-9:50 detail the upside-down Kingdom of God. 9:51-19:27 focus on Jesus' inclusion of outsiders. And 19:28-24:53 conclude with Jesus’ persecution, crucifixion, and resurrection.
The Kingdom of God is good news for the poor:
Luke documents how Jesus ushered in God's Kingdom on Earth by creating a new Israel that includes the poor, outcasts, and marginalized. Jesus reverses the world order and elevates the humble. And he offers them a place of belonging in God’s eternal Kingdom and freedom from evil and sin.
And just as this Kingdom is unexpected, so is Jesus’ rule as the messianic King. He will reign over his people through serving and suffering. And his death on the cross ushers in a Kingdom marked by self-giving love and sacrifice.
Jesus’ Upside-Down Kingdom:
The Gospel of Luke emphasizes the upside-down nature of God’s Kingdom—a place where all are welcome and power structures are reversed. It's a place where the poor and humble, the outcasts of society, are elevated to places of honor. Luke emphasizes this through a series of parables about banquets, where Jesus illustrates that all are welcome in the family of God.
REFLECT:
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What is one way this video encourages or expands your understanding of the Gospel of Luke?
What is one way that Jesus’ Kingdom is unlike the kingdoms of this world?
Consider your community. What needs to be turned upside-down to look more like God’s Kingdom?
GO DEEPER:
Luke investigated the eye witnesses of Jesus’ life to compose his Gospel account. The story begins in the hills of Jerusalem, where Israel’s ancient prophets said that God himself would come one day to establish his Kingdom on Earth. First, we meet a priest named Zacharias who sees a vision of an angel announcing that he and his wife will have a son. This is amazing because Zacharias and his wife are old and have never been able to have children. With this detail, Luke is setting up a parallel to compare their story with Abraham and Sarah, the great ancestors of Israel. They too were old and childless until God miraculously gave them a son, Isaac, through whom the whole story of Israel began.
Zacharias’ miraculous encounter tells us that God is about to do something significant to restart Israel’s story. But how will he do it? Luke tells us that the angel also visits a young girl named Mary to announce even more shocking news: Mary will give birth to the Messiah, God in the flesh! Her son will bring down rulers from their thrones and exalt the poor and humble. Through Mary’s womb, God himself is turning everything upside-down to establish his Kingdom and way of life over all the Earth.
Read: Luke 1: 5- 38
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Compare the experiences of Zacharias and Elizabeth with that of Abraham and Sarah. How do both couples struggle to trust God’s promises? How do they express trust? See Luke 1:5 and Genesis 15:1-6, Genesis 16: 1-4, Genesis 17:15-22, Genesis 18:9-15, Genesis 21:1-7.
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How do Mary and Zacharias respond to the angel’s shocking news? Note the differences in their follow-up questions to the angel. Zacharias wants to know how he can be sure that it will happen, while Mary wants to know how it will happen. One is doubtful, and one is curious. What is your response to the announcement of God’s Kingdom?
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Compare Mary’s words (Luke 1:46-55) to Hannah’s words (1 Samuel 2:1-10). What do you notice? What is one specific quality of God’s Kingdom that you find described in these poetic verses? What would it practically look like to see more of that quality in your life and community?
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Take some time to pray for the humble nature of God’s Kingdom to shape your life and community. Be honest about your doubts, ask for renewed trust, and express your curiosity.
