By the time Luke had penned his Gospel narrative, it was close to the turn of the first century A.D. He is writing some 25-30 years after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, in 70 A.D. By now, all the apostles are gone, and the early Jerusalem church had been scattered as persecution had reached a terrifying intensity. And so, Luke’s Gospel speaks to a post-temple, post-Jerusalem, post-apostolic church as the first century draws to a close – and Jesus hasn’t come back yet, either. The heightened expectation of the Messiah’s imminent return had waned, and the church – wherever it was – was struggling.
Though, in many places of the Roman Empire, the persecution of the early Christians had almost run its course, those early believers had little in the way of apostolic reference points that spoke directly to their contexts. Luke writes to address this disappointment, and to remind the church who they were, and why they were still here. Yes, Jesus had not yet returned; yes, that was disappointing; yes, the apostles had gone home to the Father – but Matthew’s and Mark’s earlier Gospel accounts were widely circulating, as was probably John’s, each speaking prophetically and faithfully recalling the crucial aspects of Jesus ministry while He was here. None of them could record it all. Remember John’s observation?
John 21:24-25 (NLT)
“This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate. 25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.”
The Gospels are important summaries of Jesus’ ministry, but there is so much more we do not have. The letters of the apostle Paul had been circulating too - 1 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, Romans, and others - since the early 50s. So, the church had more to work with than the fledgling group who shot to prominence on the Day of Pentecost. So, why is Luke writing a fourth Gospel? Well, there are several reasons. One of the key reasons is to encourage that 1st-2nd century church, which had been beset by different heresies, doubts and disappointments, to remember what Jesus had commanded in the Great Commission, which Matthew’s Gospel had made clear. He recorded the risen Lord’s final command …
Matthew 28:18-19 (NLT)
Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
A decade before, in the late 50’s, a later version of Mark’s account also references Jesus’ command. So, wasn’t all that enough? Well, Luke gets a bit more explicit than does Matthew and Mark. He goes further than the Great Commission statements themselves and details, from the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, how Jesus went about His proclamation of the Good News (the Gospel of the Kingdom), which was confirmed time and again with signs and wonders (miraculous healings and the casting out of demons and unclean spirits, and so on). Then Jesus sends out the 12 apostles – without Him – to do the same. Their story and testimony is amazing, and they are so excited. They had seen signs and wonders confirming the Gospel message through them, too …
Luke 9:6 (NIV)
“So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.”
But then Luke shifts up a gear. He recounts how ordinary people did exactly the same as the apostles when they were sent out – without Jesus.
Luke 10:1-11 (NIV)
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8 When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 'Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The Kingdom of God has come near.'”
Luke makes many points here. The first is that Jesus sent out ordinary people like us – we don’t even know their names – and He commands them to implement the Great Commission command He would later reiterate before His ascension into heaven. He gives them very clear instructions. They’re foolproof. They go without Jesus, without extra money or overnight bags, because Jesus is totally confident of His authority vested in them. And signs and wonders followed. That excited band of 72 return completely changed.
Luke 10:17 (NIV)
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name."
They had never had an experience like it! They were never the same again. And so, Luke, amongst other concerns, seeks to encourage the flagging church with his Gospel, even though Jesus has not yet returned, even though the temple is gone, and even though the apostles are gone, they are still Christ’s church, and His authority is still vested in them to proclaim the Gospel. And signs and wonders will still follow – the proclamation of the Gospel will be endorsed, confirmed, proved and experienced as signs and wonders attend.
They returned with joy – this is way more than excitement. They were more than just on a high. Joy is from heaven; it is not a naturally occurring thing on earth – it comes from the Father. He gave it to them as they went proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Luke impassioned the church again as he reminded them of who they were and why they were still here, even though Jesus had not yet returned. One more thing … only in Luke do we have the incident recorded of when Jesus was left behind in Jerusalem as a 12-year-old after the Passover Festival. Late in day Joseph and Mary, realising Jesus wasn’t with the family group, rushed back to Jerusalem only to find Him in the temple courts after three days of frantic searching. They were so worried, but they find him talking to the teachers and rabbis who were astounded at His wisdom and insights. Mum and dad express their exasperation, to which the boy Jesus innocently responded, …
Luke 2:49 (NIV)
"Why were you searching for Me?"
He asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in My Father's house?"
That’s the NIV translation, but the original Greek text reads … "Why were you searching for Me?" He asked. "Didn't you know I had to be engaged in My Father's business?" NOT “in my Father’s house”. The word “house” (oikos) is nowhere in the text. He was just 12 years old. And Luke makes the point to the church who would read his orderly Gospel account, that, “If Jesus, at 12, knew what to do without Mum and Dad around, the church should know by now, too!” It was not about the temple – which was long gone by now - but about the Father’s business … the Great Commission. From here, Luke unfolds the priority of the proclamation of the Gospel, and he ensures that the church gets it. He shows them how to get started by finding persons of peace, and be engaged in the Father’s business. The signs and wonders will follow. Nothing has changed.
Think on these things. Start looking for the person of peace near you.
Ps Milton