The Ministry of Jesus

  • Series: Year Of The Message
  • by: David Crosby 09/21/08

Luke is a Gentile believer and a physician. He is a careful observer. He anchors his account of the Lord Jesus in the words of eyewitnesses. He starts with the birth narratives of John the Baptist and Jesus. Mary is the central figure in the account of Jesus' birth, including the visit of the angel to Mary, rather than Joseph (as in Matthew).

Luke records the announcement of the ministry of Jesus in his hometown, Nazareth. Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed him to preach good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18). Jesus applied this prophesy to himself. The townspeople asked, "Isn't this Joseph's son?"

The poor, the sick, the women, and the Gentiles are prominent in Luke's Gospel as is the humanity of Jesus. In fact, immediately after the announcement in Nazareth, Jesus talks about Elijah being sent to a Gentile widow and healing a Gentile of leprosy. Jesus says, "It is not the healthy who would need a doctor, but the sick" (Luke 5:31). A Gentile centurion comes to Jesus for the healing of his servant. Jesus says, "I have not found such great faith even in Israel" (Luke 7:9). Luke records that a band of women followed Jesus and helped to support his work (Luke 8:3).

Luke alone records the famous parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. The first describes vividly what it means to love your neighbor, and the second describes the amazing grace of God for sinners.