Eyewitnesses and Servants of the Word: The Gospel of Luke
In the opening verses, Luke states his purpose for writing a compilation of events surrounding Jesus’ ministry to Theophilus: so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
How did he complete this task?
He carefully investigated every detail from eyewitnesses and servants of the word of God (Luke 1:1-4).
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate those words.
I love a good story, and I love to hear it told by someone who saw, heard, and felt every part of it themselves. Would you not agree that it only gets better when the storyteller is passionate about the details they actually witnessed? That’s why I don’t want to provide my own commentary on any part of this Gospel (which happens to be my favorite one).
Each Advent, I love to read the stories surrounding Jesus’ birth—from Gabriel’s good news to Zacharias, Mary, and (I think) the shepherds—to Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, and Anna’s enduring faith. And throughout the year, you will find me re-reading the details surrounding a weeping woman’s unintimidated love for Jesus (Luke 7), His words about a father’s love for his wayward son (Luke 15), and His instructions to those who choose to follow Him (Luke 12). These are just a few you’ll find on my go-to list each year.
But, can I just be honest? Those stories mean something because I have read them more than once. And I am convinced they are true because I have studied the details from every angle, meditated on Jesus’ responses, and prayed the promises made by those who fought for faith just as I do. I didn’t begin with a commentary from a fellow-reader; I began with the word of God itself, and the Spirit’s voice.
This is where you come in.
Can I invite you to become an eyewitness today?
Instead of producing a list of what I’ve seen in this Gospel, I want to give you three (just three) places to read in Luke’s Gospel. I’m inviting you to read the story, and then ask your heart this question: What am I seeing?
That’s right.
You’re the eyewitness.
It doesn’t matter which translation you use (NASB, NIV, ESV, etc.). This is about seeing, hearing, and feeling what’s right in front of you.
And even though this is a Synoptic Gospel (with Matthew and Mark), please don’t turn to their interpretations either.
Instead of racing to another opinion, allow yourself to sit with the story, read the words, and listen to the Spirit of God.
For each of the following:
What do you see?
Which part of the story is drawing you in?
Luke 5:1-11
Luke 8:43-48
Luke 22:54-62
Did these seem like random stories? Could you identify both the struggle to believe and the bold testimony of faith?
What did you witness at the Lake of Gennesaret in Luke 5? What did you hear as you stood alongside the crowd in Luke 8? And, what did you feel beside the fire in the courtyard of the high priest?
Take some time to process this.
Now, can I ask you to do one more thing? Would you be willing to go back and read these stories once more, and this time ask: What did Jesus see?
That’s right.
Before you even get to His words spoken, imagine how He saw Peter (in Luke 5 and 22) and the woman in Luke 8.
Then imagine what He felt.
Because He was there.
He was an eyewitness to every one of these events.
He saw.
He heard.
He felt.
In our hurry to check our Bible-reading activities for the day, I think we often forget that.
Let’s be stewards of God’s word together.
Let’s examine the fine details.
Let’s sit with, meditate upon, and take into our heart each of Jesus’ words as we pray to see, hear, and feel compassion towards every story the Lord puts in our path over the next several days.
Then we won’t just read the exact truth; we’ll know it.
