For Self-Study in 2007:

 

 

Prepared by Pastor Peg Schultz-Akerson  

 

A Brief Overview of Luke  

Gracious God, as we look into the faces of Luke’s Gospel, may it be a starting point for our own engagement with your word and reflection on its meaning for our lives.  Empower this Gospel that it may guide us to be a part of your ongoing redemptive work in the world.  Help us to hear of Jesus’ ministry as if we had been eyewitnesses and to see the implications of this Gospel for our times and for the challenges and circumstances in which we live.  Open your Living Word to us, we pray.  Amen

Each Gospel presents the story of Jesus in a different way. 

Disciples of Matthew’s Jesus keep his teachings and make new disciples.

Disciples of Mark’s Jesus take up the cross and follow Jesus.

Disciples of Luke’s Jesus are commissioned to share the Good News of Jesus with all the world; model his concern for the overlooked; tear down the social barriers that divide and exclude; and respond with joy to God’s inclusive grace.

Disciples of John’s Jesus respond with belief; receive living water; eat the bread of life and become a part of the community of Jesus.

MORE TIDBITS ABOUT LUKE’S GOSPEL: 

1] Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us,  [2] just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, [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 The-oph'ilus, [4] that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.

Theophilus). Who is Theophilus?  A believer!  Nothing else is known of him.

THE PROMINENCE OF JOY IN LUKE’S GOSPEL

For Luke, the response of those who see God’s power at work

and hear the good news of God’s reign is JOY!!!

 

[14] And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth;

[44] For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.

[58] And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

10] And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;

[17] The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"

[7] Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
[8] "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
[9] And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' [10] Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

[41] And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" [42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish, [43] and he took it and ate before them. [44] Then he said to them, "These are my words which 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 and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem . [48] You are witnesses of these things.
[49] And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."
[50] Then he led them out as far as Bethany ; lifting up his hands he blessed them.
[51] While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.
[52] And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

ALONG WITH THE PROMINENCE OF

JOY

 IS THE ACCOMPANYING RESPONSE OF PRAISE.

In Luke those who see the power of God at work or hear the good news are not only filled with joy, but their response is to glorify/praise/bless God as well (doxology)

[64] And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.

[20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.  

[28] he took him up in his arms and praised God and said,

[25] And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God.  [26] And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today."  

[16] Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen

among us!" and "God has visited his people!"

[13] And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God.

[15] Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;

[43] And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

[47] Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!"

[13]Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God.

[37] As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, [38] saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

[52] And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, [53] and they were continually inthe temple praising God.  

The Gospel begins and ends in JOY! 

What are the implications of this?  

 

PART 2
SONGS OF LUKE’S GOSPEL

See how well you know Luke’s Christmas story:  This is an abridged version of Luke 1 and 2 to give you a taste of how much you know of this beautiful life-transforming story of incarnate love.

5 In the days of King H______ of Judea , there was a priest named Z____________ whose wife was E___________. 6Both were righteous before God but they had no _________. An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, and fear overwhelmed him. 13But the angel said, ‘Zechariah, your p_______ has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a s_____, and you will name him J______. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

18Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an o_____ man, and my wife is getting on in years.’ 19The angel replied, ‘My name is G__________. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to bring you this good news. 20But because you did not believe my words, you will be unable to s________, until the day these things occur.’

24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. 26 In the ___ month the angel named G________ was sent by God to a town in Galilee called N__________, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was ________, of the house of D_______. The virgin’s name was _______. 28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’* 29But she was much perplexed and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said, ‘D_______ ____________, Mary, for you have found favour with God.  You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him________. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.’ 34Mary said, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’* 35The angel said to her, ‘The H_____S______ will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born* will be holy; he will be called Son of God.

36And now, your relative __________in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be ____________with God.’ 38Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it ________________________________.’ Then the angel departed from her.  39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted ___________. 41When ____________ heard Mary’s greeting, the child ____________________.  46 And Mary said:                                                             

THE MAGNIFICAT  “My soul magnifies the Lord . . .”  Luke  1:46 -55

Sing a favorite version of the Magnificat.  Holden Vespers has a lovely one.

56 And Mary remained with her for about ______ months and then returned to her home.  57 Now the time came for ____________to give birth, and she bore a son. 59 On the _____day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him ____________after his father. 60But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called ______.’ 61They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is ______.’ And all of them were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 67 Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke:                                   

THE BENEDICTUS “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel . . .”  Luke 1:67-79

Sing a lovely version of this song of Zechariah.  “Blessed Be the God of Israel” in the With One Voice Song Book is nice.

Then follows the traditional Christmas story… “In those days a decree went out from C_________A____________ that all the world should be enrolled.  You can read it in Luke 2  . . . . . and suddenly there was with the angel a ______________of heavenly host, praising God and saying:    

THE GLORIA “Glory to God in the highest . . .”     Luke 2:14

The traditional Christmas Carol “Angels We Have Heard on High” is a wonderful Gloria.

Mary ponders all these things.  The shepherds return to the fields praising God.  After ____days are passed, the child is c______________ and named ________.  When the time for purification came according to the law of M______, they brought him to J_____________.  A man in Jerusalem , named S__________, was looking for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  It had been revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Messiah.  When Simeon saw _________ he took him in his arms and praised God saying:

THE NUNC DIMITTUS 'Lord, now you let your servant go in peace…’   Luke 2:29-32

My favorite version of this song is in the Lutheran Book of Worship, Setting 2, pages 93-94.  (I'd like this sung at my funeral – which, by the way, I hope isn’t for a long while!   But back to the story.)

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.  Then Simeon blessed them and said to _______, his mother, “This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be o_____________, so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a s_________ will pierce your own s______ too.”

SEE, YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE THE STORY BY HEART – WHERE IT YEARNS TO BE – ON OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR DAILY LIVES!

SOME QUESTIONS TO PONDER:  Pretty strong ending to the story!  Why do you think Jesus is opposed?  Do we still oppose him once he’s grown up?  We so celebrate his coming.  What might help us continue to celebrate his transformative way of living?