Luke felt pressed to write a record of the Son of God coming to earth. Everyone who would read his gospel account would know of a certainty that the things are true.
Luke 1: 1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
Then he began to write it down those things which took place.
Each gospel is unique and with all four of them, the epistles, and the Revelation we have a complete understanding of salvation, living right, and the way to heaven. The Old Testament compliments it. Luke has the most detailed account of the coming of Jesus. From the time of the angel’s visit to Zacharias concerning the birth of John to Jesus going back to the right hand of the Father and many things in between, we find a good picture of his life. There are 24 long chapters in the book. He states his purpose right off the bat in the first four verses. He wanted his friend Theophilus (and thereby everyone who read it afterward) to know for sure what happened, and that it was indeed the truth.
There is a lot of doubt in the world today. The devil works hard to get people to doubt that Jesus really came and to doubt he’s who he is. He’s been successful in removing Jesus from Christmas in many realms. It’s more of a holiday season, a vacation from the rest of the year. I like all the holiday things, but if the devil had his way Merry Christmas would be completely gone. Remember that you can’t have a Happy Holiday without a Merry Christmas.
Luke wanted to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us. He was acquainted with the 12 disciples. He knew Jesus’ brothers and his mother. Church history tells us that Luke was Mary’s physician in her older years after Jesus went back to heaven. He knew the source of it all. He said it had to be written down, in order, so that we might know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
The book of Luke is easily understood. He wanted us to know the nativity really happened. He was an eye witness to many things himself. Other things he had first-hand knowledge of from the source of it through the others. His record dissolves doubt. It’s more than a story. These things happened. Zacharias was mute. Elisabeth did have John when she was too old to have a baby. Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost, and she did conceive a child while she was a virgin. There was no room in the inn. Angels did appear to shepherds and announce the birth of Jesus. It really happened, and Luke wrote it down. He’s the one to tell us that Jesus is the Great Physician. Jesus knew his family and his followers, even Paul, would need a doctor. He called Luke to become a follower. He knew how important Luke would be.
Why did Luke, this beloved physician, do this? To write a prescription that gives all we need to know of a certainty that Jesus is real. We can have a certainty of hope, a certainty in our salvation, a certainty of peace on earth because Luke wrote it all down. He set forth the declaration that we can, of a surety, believe and trust in.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 