Luke's Narrative

14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers[a] in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

• Serves in Luke as an introduction to Jesus’ ministry
• Jesus’ self identification through reading Isaiah
• Jesus teaching and rejection by the people: a microcosm of his entire ministry

The Savior Has Come

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The Plot of Luke's Gospel

Vol XCIII, No. 311

Luke's Prologue (1:1-4)

A Savior is born!

Q: What do you think Luke intends to show by including this passage about Jesus' youth?

Luke 1:5-2:52

Young Jesus (2:40-52)

40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents[a] saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” 49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[b] 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,[c] and in divine and human favor.

Jesus' Preparation for Ministry

Lk 3:1-4:13

Emphasis on the Holy Spirit

Emphasis on John the Baptist (3:1-20)

Major themes:

• Arrival of God’s promised salvation to Israel
• Jesus: Messiah descended from David
• John the Baptist: Elijah-like forerunner
• Role of the Holy Spirit in new age of salvation
• Gospel (good news!) for the poor

Two main structural features

1. Dual birth narratives: Jesus and John

• Links Jesus and John in God’s salvation plan and distinguishes their status and roles

2. Birth narrative hymns:

• Mary: The Magnificat 1:46-55
• Zechariah: 1:68-79
• Angelic chorus: 2:14
• Simeon: 2:29-32

In Luke, we see a marked emphasis on the Holy Spirit. Jesus' baptism is one clear example (3:22).

Jesus' anointing with the Holy Spirit signals the beginning of his ministry in Luke.

Luke contains a lengthened quote (Isaiah 40:3-5) relative to other Synoptics regarding John—the Gospel is for all people

Luke also records John's ethical teaching emphasizing concrete repentance (3:11-14)

• Coming judgment
• Social justice

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.

The Galilean Ministry (cont.)

Jesus' Galilean Ministry

The Road to Jerusalem (9:51-19:27)

Lk 4:14-9:50

Questions of Identity

Nazareth sermon (4:14-30)

The question is raised 3 times in this section:

1. John the Baptist (7:19)

2. The disciples (8:25)

3. Herod Antipas (9:9)

What seems to be the implied answer? (think back to the Nazareth Sermon)

The answer is given explicitly in Peter's confession in 9:20: "The Messiah/Christ of God." -- This is a turning point, like in Mark, and from here Jesus' identity and mission to the cross become clear.

What do we do with a passage like this:

Journey to Jerusalem (cont.)

Lk 9:51-19:27

25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem

Training of the disciples

•Theme: cost of discipleship (14:25-35)

• Many teachings about discipleship and righteous living (9:57-62; 10:38-42; 11:1-3; 12:22-31; 14:25-35; 17:20-37, etc.)
• Commissioning the seventy (10:1-24)
• Heavy use of parables and daily circumstances

Journey to Jerusalem (cont.)

Lk 9:51-19:27

Luke 9:51-19:27

Parables of reversal

• Many of Jesus' parables in Luke 9-18 (The Good Samaritan, The Great Banquet, Lost Things, The Rich Man and Lazarus, The Pharisee and the Tax Collector, etc.) have the theme of reversal--the humble outsiders are blessed, and the prideful insider are humbled.
• These parables emphasize the radical, "upside-down" nature of the kingdom of God--the last shall be first and the first shall be last.

Arrival and Conflict in Jerusalem

Lk 19:28-21:38

9:51 –“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem

• The travel narrative is not a direct route, but a phase of ministry in which Jesus is particularly focused on his Jerusalem goal
• Primarily includes teaching and miracles

Luke's even more triumphal entry:

Conflict with Religious Leaders

Series of debates:

• Jesus vs. religious leaders, including parable of the wicked tenant farmers
• In contrast: the widow’s offering, given sacrificially from poverty

• Disciples: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” (v. 38)
• Pharisees: “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”(v. 39)

The overt declaration of Jesus' kingship by his disciples in Luke contrasts the declaration from the crowds in Mt and Mk

The theme of Jesus' concern for the outcast and downtrodden is heavily developed on the journey to Jerusalem.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.

The Passion of the Savior

The Crucifixion & Resurrection of the Savior

Compare/Contrast:

Luke 22:1-24:53

Luke 22:1-23:56

What are the differences in the synoptic crucifixion accounts? What is emphasized in Luke's crucifixion account? Is there anything of theological significance to glean?

Jesus' Innocence in Luke's Passion

Major events

• Judas agrees to betray Jesus
• The Last Supper
• Arrest on the Mount of Olives
• Peter’s denial
• Jesus’ hearings
• Crucifixion
• Burial

Christological theme: Jesus’ innocence (identity as the Servant of Isaiah 53)

• Jesus is declared innocent by:
• Pilate (23:4,14)
• Herod (23:15)
• The repentant criminal (23:40-41)
• The centurion (23:47)

Same word (dikaios, LXX) used of Isaiah’s suffering Servant, who “will justify many, and...will bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11)

• Throughout the passion narrative, Jesus continues teaching/preparing his disciples—in part, prepares readers for disciples’ role in Luke’s second volume

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.[b] 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,[c] who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah[e] should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us[f] while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Risen Savior

The Road to Emmaus (24:13-35)

Luke 24:1-53

• Appearance to the Emmaus disciples is unique to Luke—important theological contribution

Q: What do we find of theological significance here in the story of the walk to Emmaus?

• Jesus’ instruction: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (v. 27)

Three resurrection appearances

1. Women at the tomb (24:1-12)

2. Road to Emmaus (24:13-35)

3. Eleven disciples in Jerusalem (24:36-49)

Q: What theological significance do we find in the story of the walk to Emmaus?

Journey to Jerusalem (cont.)

• The importance of the Hebrew scriptures (OT)

Lk 9:51-19:27

" 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah[e] should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures...44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah[n] is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses[o] of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

• How does this inform how we should read the OT as Christians?
• What does it reveal about the Jews of Jesus' time? Are they missing something obvious?

Jesus' appearance on the road to Emmaus is exclusive to Luke, and has deep theological significance.

Training of the disciples

•Theme: cost of discipleship (14:25-35)

• Many teachings about discipleship and righteous living (9:57-62; 10:38-42; 11:1-3; 12:22-31; 14:25-35; 17:20-37, etc.)
• Commissioning the seventy (10:1-24) (Add slide)
• Teaching about discipleship and righteous living (uses parables and daily circumstances)