The gospel of Luke is believed to have been written between 60 and 70 A.D. Luke was not an immediate disciple of Jesus — Luke is believed to be a Greek physician, and likely a companion of Paul, who wrote his gospel based on interviews with eyewitnesses.
It’s also interesting about Luke’s gospel is that it was written to an audience of one – a man named Theophilus. We don’t know much about Theophilus, but we know that Luke’s purpose was to verify or validate the stories that were being told about Jesus Christ.
One thing that stands out about Luke’s gospel is that it is incredibly detailed, and the story of John’s birth in chapter one is a perfect example.
Now, any good story can influence the way you feel and the way you think, but the story of Jesus is much different. The Bible is clear that Jesus is not simply a character in a story, but that he has the power to transform our entire lives. The Bible tells us that when we come to faith in Christ:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:1–2
“Put off… the old man… And… put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24
This is what sets the story of Jesus apart from any other story that’s ever been written.
Jesus Christ is without a doubt, the single, most influential figure in all of human history. The events of the Christian faith have been the most influential events in shaping the history of the world. Christianity has literally shaped human history. It has shaped nations, and it has shaped cultures.
The question is…how has this story shaped you? Your family? Your community? Has this story made you a person who more readily acknowledges your sin? Has it made you a person who willingly repents?
Are you a more loving person, a more forgiving person, a more compassionate person? A person who is less angry, more patient, and more hopeful? Are you a person who has joy in the midst of hardship? Are you less selfish, and more generous?
Or to sum it up…are you a person who is becoming more and more like Jesus Christ? I pray this series will shape each of us personally to walk more like Jesus himself.
Romans 8:29 (KJV)
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…”
