Level Up 2.11.24

Introduction to the Bible Lesson 21 - Luke Introduction ◼ Luke was a Greek. He was the only non-Jewish writer in the New Testament.

This is important because Luke highlights the gospel impact on everyone. ◼ He was important to the NT: Luke and Acts (parts 1 and 2 of Luke’s story) contain ¼ of the words in the NT. ◼ He was a doctor (Col 4:11-14) who was with Paul during much of his missionary journeys (Acts 16:10) and at the end of his life (II Timothy 4:11). ◼ The beginning part of Luke (his preface in 1:1-4) tells us several things. o His writing was polished; he used classical Greek instead of the vernacular (Koine – street language). o The preface tells us he used documents and eye-witness accounts to tell the story. o His aim: To show how the story of Jesus fulfills the covenant promise of God to Israel…and to the whole world.

Overview ◼ 1-2 – Introduction ◼ 3-9 – Jesus and His mission ◼ 9-19 – Journey to Jerusalem ◼ 19-24 – The last week and the resurrection ◼ Chapters 1 and 2 have a strong Jewish flavor. o Luke was showing that Christianity had its roots in Judaism. o Judaism is a monotheistic society as opposed to the polytheistic view of the Greeks. ◼ There were three visions of angels, lending spiritual credibility to what Luke was saying. Each includes a song. o Luke 1:8-17 (Zechariah) o Luke 1:26-38 (Mary) o Luke 2:8-14 (shepherds) ◼ John the Baptist quoted from Isaiah 40 the same way all gospel writers did, but catch what Luke adds that no one else does. o Matthew 3:3 - “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Isaiah 40:3).

o Mark 1:3 - “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Isaiah 40:3). o John 1:23 - “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Isaiah 40:3). o Luke 3:4-6 - “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’” ◼ The Luke genealogy traces back to Adam, the father of all humans (as opposed to Matthew, which goes back only to the father of the Jewish nation, Abraham). o Connection to David – Jesus is the Messianic King. o Connection to Abraham – Jesus is the promised Blessing. o Connection to Adam – This blessing is for everyone. ◼ Luke 4:14f – Jesus makes His debut in the synagogue. o Luke 4:18-19 and Isaiah 61:1-2 o Freedom – symbolic reenactment of the Year of Jubilee (freedom = release). o In Luke 4:24-28, Jesus noted that Elijah and Elisha ministered to people other than Jews, incurring the wrath of Nazareth in the process. ◼ Jesus’ big-tent view of the “poor” o Luke 4:31-37 – Jesus heals a demon-possessed man. o Luke 4:38-44 – Jesus heals many. o Luke 5:12-16 – Jesus heals a man with leprosy. o Luke 5:17-26 – Jesus heals and forgives a paralyzed man. o Luke 5:27-32 – Jesus calls Matthew and eats with sinners. o Luke 7:1-10 – Jesus heals the centurion’s son. o Luke 7:11-17 – Jesus raises the son of a widow in Nain. o Luke 7:36-50 – Jesus anointed by a sinful woman. o Luke 8:26-39 – Jesus restores a demon-possessed man. o Luke 8:40-56 – Jesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick woman. ◼ The Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:12-49) – The Bible Project o Jesus forms a “new Israel” under the guidance of His twelve disciples who are named in Luke 6:12-16. o God’s love = a reversal of our value systems. What is now important: ▪ Radical generosity ▪ Servant leadership ▪ Peacemaking

▪ Forgiveness ▪ Deep faith that rejects religious hypocrisy o Jesus will be the Moses of this new Israel, leading His people to freedom from sin (Luke 9:31). o The Passover Meal in Luke 22 represents Jesus’ new Exodus and how His body and blood will liberate the New Israel. ◼ Luke 9-19 is the journey toward Jerusalem. o In Luke 10, Jesus sends out His disciples (Key = to go). o Jesus also teaches what it means to follow Him. o Along the way, the sick, the blind, the Samaritans, and tax collectors join Him. ◼ Jesus was a man of prayer: o Baptism o Choosing apostles o Challenging them o Transfiguration o Teaching 12 to pray o For his killers o Himself

Luke 3:21 Luke 6:12 Luke 9:18 Luke 9:29 Luke 11:1 Luke 23:34 Luke 23:46

◼ Jesus kept company with everyone: o Pharisees Luke 7:36; 11:37; 14:1 o Sinners 15:1-2; 19:5-7 o Mary/Martha (women) 10:38-42 o Poor 14:13-14 o Note: Women played a large role in Jesus’ ministry.

▪ Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist.

▪ Mary was the mother of Jesus.

▪ Anna the prophetess knew Jesus when he was only eight days old.

▪ Luke 8:1-3 talks about the “devoted women.”

▪ Luke 7:11-17 tells of the widow of Nain.

▪ Luke 13:11-13 tells of the crippled woman Jesus healed.

▪ Luke 23:27-28 speaks of the daughters of Jerusalem. o Jesus and the Samaritans ▪ In Luke 9:51-56, he rebukes an apostle who wanted to call down fire from heaven on a group of Samaritans who did not show them hospitality.

▪ In Luke 10:30f, the Samaritan was the “good neighbor.”

▪ In Luke 17:11-19, the one leper (out of ten) who came back to thank Jesus was a Samaritan. o The key text is Luke 13:29 – People will come from everywhere to take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of God. ◼ Luke is a gospel about the grace of God. o Chapter 15 talks about the lost items (sheep, coin, son) and God’s joyous welcome to those who are found. o Luke 19:1-10 tells about Zacchaeus.

▪ Notice the question asked in Luke 18:26 is answered in Luke 19. o The criminal on the cross is saved in Luke 23:39-43. ◼ Luke begins (1:5f) and ends (24:53) at the temple.