The Gospel of Luke - An Orderly Account

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register…. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:1-3;6-7

The Gospel of Luke opens with a preamble that explains Luke’s reason for sharing the events of the Jesus story.  His Gospel is addressed to Theophilus, a Roman government official, and is an “orderly account” of the events of Jesus’ life.  This preamble provides helpful insight into some of the unique features of Luke’s account.  Throughout the Gospel, Luke consistently provides information about different leaders and officials, to help provide timing and context for when the events were taking place.

But Luke’s Gospel also focuses on these details, because Luke is seeking to exemplify the ways that the life of Jesus is about God doing something extraordinary through very ordinary means.   There is a political undercurrent to the entire Gospel as Luke seeks to show that the power of God in Jesus is different and yet more important than the power of the current rulers and leaders.  The famous Christmas story that is found in Luke 2 begins with talk of emperors and governors but quickly turns to describe the humble birth of Jesus in a manger.

In these ways, Luke’s Gospel invites us today to remember that as followers of Jesus, our allegiance and salvation is found in Jesus Christ and not in any other powers or principalities of the day.