How to Understand and Teach the Gospel of Luke
The Gospels are a lot like ice cream: though the base of all four is the same, each one has its own unique “flavor.” It’s not always easy to resist the urge to treat them all as essentially the same (like when my eight-year-old self mixed multiple flavors into “ice cream soup”).
Considering the Gospels separately helps us appreciate the beauty and brilliance of each one and, through them, our Savior who cannot be captured in a single biography. So far in this series, we’ve looked at Matthew and Mark. But what is the “flavor” of the Gospel of Luke?
Authorship of Luke’s Gospel: Compilation of Various Accounts
Though the Gospel of Luke is not signed by the author, early church tradition attributes it to Doctor Luke, Paul’s partner-in-crime during part of his missionary journeys. One name that is mentioned, however, is the man on the dedication page: Theophilus (Luke 1:3). Not much is known about Theophilus, but his Greek name (which means “lover of God”) is a clue that Luke’s target audience is probably Gentile believers. In Luke 1:1-4, he says that his goal is to write an orderly account of the story of Jesus by piecing together eyewitness testimonies, likely including Matthew, Mark, and even Mary, Jesus’ mother. Some parts of Luke parallel Matthew and/or Mark. These Gospel parallels are a feature, not a flaw; Luke used all the resources at his disposal to inform his account. This means there are similarities between Matthew, Mark, and Luke. However, other parts of Luke are unique, especially in Jesus’ extended journey towards Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-19:27).
Focus of Luke’s Gospel: Good News to Those on the Fringes
One key theme throughout this Gospel is the ministry of Jesus to “outsiders.” In Luke, the guests of honor included in the Nativity scene aren’t wisemen with treasure chests, but ordinary shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Jesus begins His public ministry with a sermon proclaiming good news to the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19). Zacchaeus isn’t stopped by his role as a tax collector from approaching Jesus, even though many viewed him as a traitor to his people (Luke 19:1-10). Women play important roles throughout Luke’s gospel, making them central characters in a culture that often pushed them to the margins (e.g., Luke 8:1-3).
Content of Luke’s Gospel: Attention to Detail
Without Luke, we would miss out on all sorts of details from Jesus’ life. Unlike Mark, which skips Jesus’ birth narrative entirely, and Matthew who seeks to highlight Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, this Gospel opens with an extended look at the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. From the songs of Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna (Luke 1:46-55; 68-79; 2:29-32; 36-38) to the story of twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple and the extended genealogy tracing all the way back to God (Luke 2:41-51; 3:23-38), Luke’s attention to detail fills in our understanding of Jesus’ early years. Doing so emphasizes the humanity of Jesus. Luke is also the Gospel with the most parables and the only account where some of the most iconic parables are found, including the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), which help fill in our understanding of what Jesus meant by preaching “Kingdom of God.” Luke is the longest Gospel with more room to give a detailed account of Jesus’ life and ministry.
Climax of Luke’s Gospel: Passion Week
The unique journey to Jerusalem found in Luke ultimately leads to the cross, as Jesus is betrayed, arrested, condemned, and crucified. Yet even during His darkest hour, Jesus continues to minister to the marginalized, assuring the repentant criminal hanging next to Him that they would soon be together in Paradise (Luke 23:43). At this point in the other Gospels, Matthew and Mark emphasize the suffering of Jesus by including His famous cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34); however, Luke doesn’t mention this cry, instead focusing on two other expressions that reveal Christ’s radical forgiveness and prayer: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34); “Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit!” (Luke 23:46).
After the resurrection, Jesus appears twice, once on the road to Emmaus and again in a room with the Eleven. During some of His last moments on earth Jesus connects His death and resurrection with the plan revealed in Scripture: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47). Having accomplished the first half, Jesus inaugurates a new chapter: all nations can now be welcomed into the family of God.
Last but certainly not least, Luke is the only Gospel to describe the Ascension of Jesus (Luke 24:50-53). When Jesus ascended into heaven, His body didn’t de-incarnate into wispy clouds or floating pixels. Jesus is still fully God and fully man, interceding for us at the right hand of the Father until His triumphant return.
Ending of Luke’s Gospel: The Story Continues
Luke is the only Gospel with a sequel. While the order of the books in the New Testament can make this feature easy to miss, reading both of their opening dedications to Theophilus reveals that Luke and Acts are actually a two-part series (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-2). Acts picks up where Luke left off, telling the story of what happens after the resurrection of Jesus. Because of this continuity, many of the same central themes found in Luke can also be found in Acts.
From Luke to Youth Group
So far, we’ve looked at what makes the Gospel of Luke unique. But how can Luke’s Gospel help us as we minister to teenagers?
Luke’s Gospel is Good News for Students on the Fringes
The Gospel of Luke’s emphasis on outsiders offers good news and comfort for those teenagers who feel overlooked. Even though they might not show it, they are desperate to be known and accepted. When you’re preaching from this book, keep your eye out for opportunities to show students that Jesus loves the popular and unpopular alike… the ones picked last for dodgeball, who won’t be receiving any college scholarships, and who go to the prom without a date.
Luke’s Gospel Presents a Jesus Like Our Students
While affirming that Jesus is fully God, students also need to learn that Jesus is fully man. He experienced puberty. He faced temptation. He felt hungry. Luke’s Gospel provides a portrait of Jesus that students can relate to. For a generation that highly values authenticity, we have a real Savior who knows what it’s like to be a teenager.
Luke’s Gospel Links the Story of Jesus with the Story of the Church
Gen Z students long to be a part of something bigger than themselves. The Gospel of Luke connects the story of Jesus to the story of His Church, providing a compelling ‘To be continued…’ for us to invite students into. When they get wrapped up in the quest for identity, our job is to remind them that in Christ, their stories become a part of the ultimate story: God’s saving work for all peoples!