Distinctively Luke

There are a number of things that are distinctively apart of Luke’s Gospel that are worth noting. All of these distinctions are intricately consistent with angle Luke is presenting of Jesus and the audience he is addressing. Though there are many more distinctions that could be noted, we will only focus one aspect of them.

Luke is writing primarily to a Gentile audience, and as such he goes to great lengths to emphasis various features of this task. Here in Luke’s Gospel alone do we have allusion to “the times of the Gentiles;” here alone do we read of “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (21:24). Here alone, in the telling of the parable of the fig tree, is the fig-tree (Israel) seen with “all the trees” (21:29). Here alone is the place of crucifixion called by its Gentile name, “Calvary” (23:33), whereas in the other Gospels, its called Golgotha. Here alone is the dying criminal seen as saved by grace (23:39-43). Here alone, in the Garden, on the Mount of Olives, as He was in agony and prayer do we read of the angel who appeared “to Him from heaven, strengthening Him” (22:43). Luke is a master storyteller. So it is that as His narrative begins to turn the corner, reach the apex of tension, just before the climax and beyond does He reiterate that Jesus is truly Man, thus in need of receiving the angelic ministry. In the same vein, here alone do we read that “His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (23:44). Here alone does He say to the betrayer, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (23:48). Here alone does the Centurion (a Gentile military commander) say, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” (23:47). Here alone on the cross does the Lord as a Man “commit His spirit” (23:46). And it was here, after His resurrection that He eats with the disciples, verifying His manhood by partaking of “a piece of broiled fish and some honey-comb” (24:42). All of these are consistent and illustrative of the distinct portrait of the Lord being presented to us by Luke.

Portraits of Jesus




Hope of Freedom
Born in a stable 
His mother a virgin 
He was raised in a carpenter shop
His parents were poor
His people were slaves
His friends were a lowly lot
His chances in life are very slim
He’s expected to be a slave
But people in darkness
Saw light in Him and hope of freedom He gave.
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