Jesus is the Savior of All
Jesus is the Savior of the World
Luke
April 3, 2017 Time Magazine published one of its most iconic and controversial covers. There was no picture, just a simple black background with the bold red letters, “Is Truth Dead?” It is only the second time the magazine chose to only use words on their cover. The first and only other occasion Time had such a cover was about 50 years earlier on April 8, 1966 with the question, “Is God Dead?” Both questions were controversial and sparked a nationwide conversation on the nature of reality and knowledge. Although fifty years apart, the questions are connected. How can one know things with certainty? Famed humanist philosopher, Voltaire, once said in a letter to a friend, “Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position, but certainty is an absurd one.” Voltaire was one of the first philosophers to challenge truth and the church’s doctrine of salvation. Voltaire challenged certainty and the authority of God in the world.
Most Americans have never heard of Voltaire but his influence nonetheless looms large in our society. Is there such a thing called certainty? Is there truth in the world? We have become a nation of skeptics. We are not a nation of Atheists who don’t believe in God, but one of Agnostics, who don’t believe we can know God. One denies the existence of God while the other simply says we can’t know if there is a God. They are following in the footsteps of Voltaire who is following in the footsteps of the ancient Gnostic heretics of the first century. Although the Scriptures reveal that there is nothing new under the sun, more and more people are not searching for certainty and truth, but satisfied simply to say, “Certainty is absurd.” They say, “We can’t know so why try to know.”
Agnosticism is a perpetual suspension of judgment. It refuses to decide. It believes it is safer to say, “I can’t know,” then to actually try to know. Christianity is a religion of history. It is a religion built on facts, on documented events in history. It is not based merely on ideas, but on history. Certainty is defined as the quality of being reliably true or the firm conviction that something is the case. The Gospel of Luke was written so that one could have certainty about the person and life of Jesus Christ. Luke was written by a well-educated doctor who researched and documented the life of Jesus Christ so that one could have certainty on who Jesus claimed to be and what he did in history. Luke 1:1–4,
[1] Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, [2] just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, [3] it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, [4] that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
If you are a skeptic, or if you interact with skeptics, the Gospel of Luke was written so you could know that Christianity is reliably true or have a firm conviction of its truthness or simply have certainty about the person and work of Jesus Christ. Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position, but certainty, knowing something is reliably true, is not absurd, it is wise. Let’s not suspend logic and reason with perpetually withholding judgment, but rather let us consider the orderly account written by Luke so we can have certainty of what we have been taught about Jesus.
Before we get into Luke’s claims, it is important to understand his process. First, there is no dispute that Luke was the author of this gospel. He was not an eyewitness to the life of Jesus, but had researched the life of Jesus from eyewitnesses including the apostles. Luke 1:1–2
[1] Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, [2] just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,
Luke first alludes to others who have compiled a narrative of the life of Jesus which leads most scholars to believe he was referring to Matthew and Mark. He probably wrote the gospel around the late 50s or early 60s. Luke then claims this work was collected from eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, most likely the apostles. Luke 1:3–4,
[3] it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, [4] that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
Luke has written an orderly, logical account for the most excellent Theophilus. Theophilus means God-fearer. He was most likely a Roman official who supported Luke to research and write about the person and work of Jesus. Theophilus may have been a Christian, the text is not explicitly, but if not a Christian, he at least had been taught about Jesus and wanted to know more and to have certainty of what he was taught. Luke is the first book or a two book set with Acts being the second volume as Acts is addressed also to Theophilus. Theophilus was a Gentile so Luke’s main audience was a Gentile one. His two volume set, Luke/Acts, makes up 27% of the New Testament and provides the historical background for the life of Jesus and the beginning of the early church.
One of Luke’s aims was to show how Christianity was not hostile to the Roman empire. The Romans allowed Jews to practice their religion. And one of the claims made by Jews was that Christians were causing dissension in the empire. They tried to stop the spread of Christianity and the talk of the Messiah but leaning on the government to shut down their freedoms to silence their message. Luke writes in part to show how Christians were no danger to Rome, but were rather a blessing to the empire. We won’t consider this in depth today for we want to focus rather on Luke’s emphasis on the person and work of Jesus.
Jesus is the New Adam
Luke begins his gospel account focusing on the birth narrative of Jesus and John the Baptist. He documents how their births fulfill prophecy and shows their human origins. Luke 1:26–38,
[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. [28] And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” [29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. [30] And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
[34] And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
[35] And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. [36] And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. [37] For nothing will be impossible with God.” [38] And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
And after Luke tells of John’s birth, and his naming, Luke returns to Jesus in chapter 2.
[4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [5] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. [6] And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. [7] And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:4–7)
Luke provides two chapters showing the human yet miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Luke also is the only who speaks of Jesus as a young boy growing in wisdom and stature at the end of chapter 2. He is providing more details of the early life of Jesus.
Matthew begins his gospel with a genealogy, Mark chooses not to offer any genealogy, and Luke provides his genealogy at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, Luke 3:23;38
[23] Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli…son of Enos, the son of Seth, the Son of Adam, the Son of God.
Luke documents the human and miraculous birth of Jesus and then declares his lineage goes all the way back to Adam, the son of God. And then Luke places the temptation of Satan immediately following. So imagine the chapter break is not there you would have heard,
The son of Adam, the Son of God. And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. (Luke 3:38-4:2a)
Luke is clearly comparing the first Adam and his temptation in the Garden with the second Adam or the new Adam, and his temptation in the wilderness. Where the first Adam failed, taking the fruit and eating, the second Adam, answered the Devil every time with, “It is written.” The first Adam disobeyed the Word, the second obeyed. The first fell to sin, the second stood tall.
Luke shows that Jesus came as the New Adam, the true son of God, who will redeem what happened in the Garden. Luke 4:13,
[13] And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
The opportune time came at the end of his earthly ministry when he was standing before Pilate ready to be crucified. And Luke testifies through the trial how Jesus, the new Adam, continues to be innocent of all sin. Luke 23:1–5,
[1] Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. [2] And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” [3] And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” [4] Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” [5] But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” (ESV)
Notice how Luke is showing it is not Jesus who is stirring up the nation against Caesar but it is the Jews. Of Jesus it is said, “I find no guilt in this man.” And then in Luke 23:13–15,
[13] Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, [14] and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. [15] Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. (ESV)
And a few verses later, Luke 23:22a
[22] A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death.”
And after Jesus was sentenced and sent to the cross, Luke 23:39–41
[39] One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” [40] But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
And then again Luke puts an exclamation point on Jesus being the new Adam who succeeded in all the ways Adam failed. Luke 23:44–47,
[44] It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, [45] while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. [46] Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. [47] Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”
Luke makes the centurion’s confession the climax of the gospel saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” This man, this human man, this son of Adam, this son of God, was innocent! Do you see what Luke is doing? He is showing that Jesus is the New Adam who was without sin. Paul picks up on this idea in Romans 5:12–21,
[12] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—[13] for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. [14] Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
[15] But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. [16] And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. [17] For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
[18] Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. [20] Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, [21] so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Luke masterfully teaches how Jesus was a human being, born of Mary, and divine, born of God, and who perfectly obeyed the Father. Certainly he was innocent and because he was innocent, salvation is now possible through this one man.
Jesus is the Savior
Luke gives the theological underpinning of Jesus’ humanity and his righteous life in the bookends of his gospel. Jesus withstood temptation in the wilderness and was declared innocent in his death. And all this was necessary because Jesus came to save. Luke writes of salvation more than any other Gospel writer. Zechariah’s confession by the Holy Spirit, Luke 1:68–69,
[68] “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
[69] and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
Luke 1:76–79,
[76] And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
[77] to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
[78] because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
[79] to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Simeon’s confession, Luke 2:29–30
[29] “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
[30] for my eyes have seen your salvation (ESV)
And then John the Baptist coming to fulfill the words of Isaiah, Luke 3:4–6
[4] As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
[5] Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
[6] and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
And we see Mary’s testimony her great song, Luke 1:46b–47
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
[47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
And the Angel’s testimony to the shepherds, Luke 2:10–11,
[10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The opening pages of Luke’s gospel are clear, Jesus is the Savior!! He has come to bring salvation. And this is why the Christmas season is full of joy and hope. We remember and reflect on salvation.
Luke 1-4 lays the groundwork for the rest of the narrative showing his humanity and showing his divinity. He is the promised Son of God. Luke 4-9 is Jesus' ministry in Galilee. Like the other gospels, things shift after Peter’s confession. Luke 9:20,
[20] Then Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (ESV)
And then Jesus immediately clarifies what it means that he is the Christ. To be the Christ, means he must suffer. He must suffer, if he is going to be the Savior. And those who follow him also must suffer, Luke 9:22–24
[22] saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
[23] And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
And the intensity of Jesus' ministry changes in Luke 9:51 following the confession,
[51] When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (ESV)
To be taken up is not a reference to be taken up on the cross, but to be taken up to heaven. Jesus is speaking about the ascension. But before he must be taken up, he has to go to Jerusalem, suffer and die. Jesus has to ascend to the Father to send the Spirit to usher in salvation for the people, but before he is taken up; he must suffer. Jesus is the Savior and salvation comes with believing in who he is and what he has done.
All of us must answer the same question Peter answered, “Who do you say Jesus is?” When you look at the facts of his life, the documentation of history, you can have certainty that he is the Savior. Think about one man Luke highlights in this story in Luke 19. Luke 19:1–10,
[1] He entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. [3] And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. [4] So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” [6] So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” [9] And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Zacchaeus, a tax collector, one who turned against his people to work for the enemy. He was a thief who stole from his own people. But over a meal with Jesus, Zacchaeus considered who Jesus was and said, “Behold, Lord!” He testified his faith. He called Jesus the Lord. And yet, true faith is not just words, but it is action. “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” We don’t know Zacchaeus’ heart, but God does. And based on his confession and the desire of his heart, Jesus said,
Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. The seeking came when he set his face to Jerusalem. He set his face to the cross. He set his face to suffer. He set his face to die for thieves and sinners. He died, but was raised on the third day because he was innocent. He set his face to Jerusalem to save sinners through his death, resurrection and ascension.
Do you see those twin truths that Luke lays out for us? He shows that Jesus was a man yet innocent of sin. When he was tempted, he did not fall. When he suffered, he trusted in God. Jesus’ words and life were reliably true which gave Zacchaeus certainty that Jesus was Lord and Christ. Jesus Christ came to save the sons of Abraham, but he also came to call others sons and daughters to be children of Abraham by faith. And this is the true beauty of Luke’s gospel. Because Jesus Christ is the son of Adam, he can be the Savior of all.
Jesus is the Savior of All
The gospel of Luke holds a special place in the New Testament to show the comprehensive nature of salvation. Luke, himself, is a Gentile. And he writes as a Gentile to show how Jesus came to seek and to save others like him. Let’s take a quick walk through Luke’s gospel and see how Jesus came for the marginalized, for women, for the poor, for children, for the Gentiles and for sinners. Luke shows how God humbles the proud and exalts the lowly.
Luke highlights women throughout gospel, first starting with the faithfulness of Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth believed while Zechariah doubted. Mary, like Hannah, gives a song of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord’s kindness. Luke 1:46–55,
[46] And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
[47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
[48] for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
[49] for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
[50] And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
[51] He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
[52] he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
[53] he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
[54] He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
[55] as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (ESV)
Mary was a picture of faithfulness.
And later in the gospel another Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen to his teaching which would have been uncommon in the day. We also read of the women who supported Jesus out of their own means in Luke 8:1–3,
[1] Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, [2] and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, [3] and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. (ESV)
The ministry of Jesus and the apostles was possible because of the faithfulness of women. And Luke’s treatment of women should also help us believe his words for it would give him no advantage to his contemporaries to speak well of women. And especially to have women discover the resurrection in Luke 24. Women were not viewed as reliable eyewitnesses and yet Luke was not trying to share the gospel in the most plausible way, but simply to give an orderly account of what had happened. And even the disciples didn’t believe them. Luke 24:13–27
[13] That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. [16] But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. [17] And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. [18] Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” [19] And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. [21] But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. [22] Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, [23] and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even 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 him they did not see.” [25] And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Notice how the disciples were walking away from Jerusalem, 7 miles away. They did not believe what the women had said. Jesus rebuked them and shared from the Law and the Prophets about the Christ, how he must suffer and then enter into glory. Many scholars believe Cleopas was one of the main sources for Luke in his research.
Luke highlights the women for their faith and the men for their disbelief. Luke also highlights God’s love for the poor. Mary herself was poor and of humble estate. Lazarus was a poor man covered in sores in this life and was received and carried by the angels to heaven. And we read this of a poor woman’s faith, Luke 21:1–4,
[1] Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, [2] and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. [3] And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. [4] For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (ESV)
Luke shows how Jesus loved the poor and came to offer them salvation.
We do not have ample time to show how Luke highlights the Gentiles or children, but let me close with Jesus’ love for sinners. He gives us the three fold parables in Luke 15 of the lost coin, lost sheep and lost son. The whole gospel is overflowing with Jesus’ love for sinners. Luke 5:29–32,
[29] And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. [30] And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” [31] And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [32] I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (ESV)
And a few chapters later, Luke 7:34–49,
[34] The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ [35] Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”
[36] One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. [37] And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, [38] and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. [39] Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” [40] And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
[41] “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. [42] When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” [43] Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” [44] Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. [45] You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. [46] You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. [47] Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” [48] And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” [49] Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
Who is this? It is Jesus, the New Adam, the Savior all.
If you are a sinner, you need Jesus. If you are a sinner, Jesus has come for you. Zacchaeus, a thief, called him Lord and salvation came to his house. This sinful woman committed sexual sin, yet Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven.” The only thing holding you back from the salvation offered by Jesus is repentance and faith. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He came not for the righteous but to call sinners to repentance. Friend, if you are in sin today, know that Jesus has come for you. Turn to him and experience his heart of compassion.
Church, Jesus came to seek and to save sinners by eating and drinking with them. Jesus came to be our Immanuel, God with us. Jesus spent time with the lost; aren’t we called to do the same? Jesus came for salvation; shouldn’t we be for the salvation of others? Jesus was about the poor, the marginalized, the outcast, shouldn’t we be the same? Maybe one way to discern if we are living like Jesus is do we eat with lost people…are they invited to our tables?
I have often said that the greatest apologetic for the lost is a healthy church. It is a church who loves one another with empty tomb affections. It is a church full of repentant sinners who have been transformed by grace into a family. It is a church that holds fast to the Lord Jesus Christ and welcomes the weakest and poorest among us. It is a church that values all people as important. Are we that church? Are we an apologetic for the gospel? Will people be certain of the faith by watching our faith?
Luke wrote so that Theophilus could be certain of things he was taught. Christianity is not absurd, but reliable. Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the lost. And his life was not sudden and unplanned, but promised from every page of Scripture. Luke 24:44–48
[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 and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” [45] Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46] and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, [47] and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the promises of Scripture. Jesus is not absurd, but he is certain. Luke merely testified to these things and now it is our job to do the same.
In a world full of uncertainty, full of perpetual indecision, let us testify with certainty that Jesus is the Savior, the son of Adam, the Son of God, and brings salvation to all sinners who repent and believe. No one is excluded in Jesus except those who say they can’t know the one who came to be known. If you read all of Luke’s orderly account, you too can be certain of what you have been taught.