411 on Luke

There will be a ton of messages taught using the book of Luke as the text during this Christmas season. It is all about the birth of Christ. To me, if you begin to read Luke and have a basic understanding of what was going on when all of these "divine" encounters began to take place you see the Christmas story in a new fashion or way.

So here are some facts that you might not have known about Luke and book that bears his name.

1.) Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14)

2.) He was the only Gentile contributor to the New Testament

3.) Luke gives us the longest account of Jesus' birth (Could it have something to do with him being a physician?)

4.) Luke records 20 miracles / 6 of which are not recorded in the other gospels.

5.) He gives us 23 parables (teachings of Jesus) -- 18 of them found nowhere else.
A.) In particular, he gives us the parable of the prodigal son and of the good Samaritan.

6.) Luke records Jesus' appearing to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Here is some insight to events prior to Jesus' birth.

1.) Between the end of the Old Testament writings and the announcement of the birth of the Christ child, there was a period of 400 years where no communication came from heaven. This was prophesied in Amos 8:11.

2.) Many self-proclaimed messiahs came and went during this time.

3.) Serving God had become even more a matter of ritual and tradition. Within all this silence and lack of communication from God, we found that some still remained true to God's call to be a holy people.......such as Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the baptizer.

Throw into this mix a sudden intrusion into our time and space of angelic visitors with communication from the throne of God as to coming events and you have God at work bringing forth his plans.

Don't let the commercialization of Christmas rob you of re-learning the true story of Christmas. A story of political intrigue and mystery. A story of families whose very lives were changed forever as they were called to follow God. A story of a baby boy whose birth shook the political foundation of a nation as a king searched to have him killed. People fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night, being warned in dreams of the intent of King to have their son killed.

Celebrate this birth.....
Hear the words again for the first time....."Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Christ the Lord."

Merry Christmas!
mb