Bible Reading Blog
“We Can Trust the Gospel”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Luke 1
From the get-go, Luke clearly states the intent of his gospel: to give his readers certainty regarding the plan of God through Jesus (Luke 1.4). No doubt by this time many stories had evolved about Jesus that sounded like fiction or legend (i.e. the Gospel of Thomas). It seems his recipient, Theophilus, may have been exposed to some of this misinformation (Luke 1.3). And so, Luke wanted to solidify his understanding and debunk rumors with a systematic account. As he begins this account, Luke tells us 4 things about his work:
(1) He has investigated the story. He has taken a long and careful look at what he is about to tell us. (2) He went back to the beginning. This is why he starts his story with John the Baptist, the forerunner, who points to Jesus. (3) Luke was thorough, having studied “everything.” Luke includes lots of fresh material not found in the other gospels, including several of Jesus’ parables. (4) Luke worked carefully, taking great care to develop his orderly account in a way that told the story clearly. His primary concern is to relate the account of Jesus’ ministry in a logical way.
Luke goes to great lengths to explain the roots of this new movement, by detailing the story of its founder and the tie he has to God’s long-promised redemption. He includes facts that were observed and verified by multiple witnesses. As a solid ancient historian, Luke referenced both written and oral accounts, as well as his own experience in his effort to compile this narrative. Luke’s statement of intent coupled with his carefulness and thoroughness makes his gospel a credible source of information for believers.
Such credibility in a multicultural context like ours today is still necessary. We live in a world that often regards Christianity as a man-made religion, as one of many ways to God, or as one cultural expression of religion. Many say the scriptures are filled with fabrication or have been altered to meet the specific interests of a particular group. The exclusive claims of Jesus as the only way to the Father (John 14.6) fly in the face of a worldview that sees all attempts to reach God as legitimate.
And so, we need to know that we can trust the gospel as we read it. People today need to be reassured that the decision to follow Christ is for the best. Luke argues that Christianity is unique. What God did in Jesus, he did for those who have come into this community, as well as for others like them who recognize they must come to God on his terms, not their own.
The exclusivity of Christ offers great confidence but should give us great pause. Should I invest my life in only following Jesus? Can we know with certainty that Jesus is the only way? Luke believed so, but he invites us to examine the evidence for ourselves.
