Luke the Physician—The Man, Christ Jesus
Luke was not with Jesus during His life on earth. In Luke 1:1212And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. (Luke 1:12) he tells of things “most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses.” Luke set down in order what he received from eyewitnesses that Theophilus (and we) could understand.
His gospel is not in chronological order but given in a moral order, teaching purpose and principles. He tells of the Samaritan’s care of the wounded man (ch. 10). Then follows Martha’s question, “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?” Of course He did. “He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:77Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)).
Luke had “perfect understanding” as he wrote about an aged couple, past childbearing age, having a child. Then he tells of the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus. The Bible is a marvelous book! God has a doctor tell us of God’s miraculous intervention as truth. We, too, accept his divinely inspired words by faith.
Isaiah had said, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isa. 9:66For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)). John tells us, “The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:1414And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)). Luke gives us the details, taking care to establish the holiness of the Man Christ Jesus. “That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)). The hymn says, “His glory not only God’s Son in manhood He had His full part.”
In Malachi 3:1616Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16) we read, “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another. ” Luke presents some of them at the time of Jesus’ birth: Zacharias and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna, with “all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” They were representative of the Jewish remnant that will, in a future day, welcome their Messiah.
Luke relates more of Jesus’ birth and early life than the other gospel writers. As a boy of twelve Jesus knew the Word of God but kept His place as a youth, hearing doctors of the law and asking them questions. He was going about His Father’s business, but He was subject to His parents and in humanity increased in wisdom and stature.
The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism. He was full of the Holy Spirit at His temptation in the wilderness and went forth in His ministry in the power of the Spirit.
Luke, who was likely a Gentile, writes to a Gentile, Theophilus. Jesus the Son of God has also become the Son of Man. Luke’s genealogy is that of Mary rather than of Joseph. Matthew started with Abraham and David to establish the royal line. Luke goes back to Adam to tell of Him who is the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)). Adam was the creation of God and thus is called son of God.
Luke alone relates what Jesus said in the synagogue at Nazareth where He had been brought up (ch. 4). The people marveled at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth. When He related two incidents of blessing to Gentiles, however, it aroused their hatred. Throughout the gospel Luke relates incidents of Gentile blessing.
Acts, we judge from the early verses of the book, was also written to Theophilus by Luke. It begins where the gospel ended, at the ascension of the Lord Jesus. Luke was the companion of the Apostle to the Gentiles and includes himself by adding “we” when relating Paul’s journeys.
John, the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved—Jesus, the Son of God
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life... declare we unto you” (1 John 1:1,31That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (1 John 1:1)
3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)).
By three of his senses John presents in a very heartwarming way the person of God’s beloved Son. John, who leaned on Jesus’ bosom, is the one who said, “In Him is no sin” (1 John 3:55And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5)).
He refers to himself in the gospel, not by name, but as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” We are all entitled to say, “I am the disciple whom Jesus loves.” It is the personal enjoyment of what belongs to every believer. How John must have thrilled to hear John the Baptist declare, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
The Son of God needs no genealogy, baptism or testing in the wilderness, nor is there mention of the mount of transfiguration, His agony in the garden, the hours of darkness, being forsaken of God or His ascension. They are not befitting One who is God incarnate—the eternal Son “in the bosom of the Father” (John 1:1818No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)). His person is pictured in words found only in this gospel: “The coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout” (John 19:2323Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. (John 19:23)).
John was an eyewitness of the crucifixion. It was he to whom the Lord committed the care of His mother. He witnessed the shedding of the blood of the Lamb and “his record is true.”
John writes of the family of God and uses the term “children.” As born into that family we have the family characteristics. Nothing can break that bond. If we sin, we have an advocate with the Father. We are still in the family! To be restored to the joy of that position we must confess the sin (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). John rejoiced greatly when he heard of the children walking in the truth (2 John 44I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. (2 John 4); 3 John 44I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 4)).
John was inspired to write what suited the object of the Spirit of God. He alone of the gospel writers was on the mount of transfiguration and the only one who does not mention it. He could never forget such an occasion. It would not suit the account of Him who, while on earth, said, “No man hath ascended up to heaven but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven” (John 3:1313And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13)).
Though very close to Jesus, John only knew a small part of His infinite person. He wrote this profound statement: “There were also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (John 21:2525And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)).
T. A. Roach