at a glance
author: Luke, a doctor and Gentile Christian.
date: Probably about AD 60.
setting: Luke probably wrote from Rome, or perhaps from Caesarea. He wanted the Gentiles to hear the true details about the life of Jesus.
verse to remember:“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (19:10).
theme to consider: Dr. Luke presents a carefully documented biography of Jesus, the perfect Son of Man, who came to save all who are lost. Look for the emphasis on Jesus’ relationships with others and, in particular, the prominence given to women in this book.
unchanging truth
Think about what you treasure the most. Many people value relationships above all else. It’s great to make new ones and hold on to old ones, isn’t it? Consider how much better your life is because of your friends and family. Which relationships do you especially treasure? Who do you spend the most time with?
Look throughout the Gospel of Luke, and what do you find? People. The Gospel of Luke is like the People magazine of the Bible (but in a non-gossipy way). It zeroes in on relationships. Of course, the main character is Jesus, and Luke focuses on how his story weaves into the fabric of others’ lives—including yours.
Throughout the Gospel are several stories within a story—the parables Jesus told. Since Jesus was so social, it’s only fitting that he would use stories in order to explain deep, spiritual truths. His stories were for a wide range of people. Sometimes even small children could understand them.
What’s also fitting is the fact that Luke wrote to a friend of his in order to explain the story of the most influential person who ever lived. As a doctor and missionary, Luke met and became friends with a lot of people. He especially wanted his friend Theophilus to know the truth about Jesus. Is that your hope for the people in your life? How do you use what you know about Jesus to influence your friends and family for good?
1. Jesus acknowledged the task that God had given him: to preach the gospel and save the world (4:16–21). God wants you to be willing to take on whatever task he has for you.
2. Back in a time when women were considered second class, Jesus gave them an important place in his ministry. Many women provided for Jesus’ earthly needs (8:1–3). We can give our time, money and resources to further Jesus’ work today.
3. Like Martha, we’re often distracted by what we have to do. However, like Mary, we can choose to spend time with Jesus (10:38–42).