Reflecting on Luke 1:1-4
"Handed down by those who... were eyewitnesses and servants of the word." (Luke 1:2)A big question for many people is about the reliability of the Jesus stories.
There are some fantastic and hard to believe stories recorded in them.
Luke himself was not an eyewitness, yet he believes them with certainty.
In these opening words he explains that he did his homework.
He received the stories from those who were eyewitnesses.
He carefully investigated what they said, getting it confirmed by others.
He organized the stories together into a unified whole.
He wanted to be sure that he was telling the story in a helpful way.
He wanted to help Theophilus, but he also wanted to help all lovers of God.
(The name ‘Theo-philus’ means lover of God).
Luke is one among many who reported and recorded what Jesus said and did.
We have the stories written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as a result.
Other recorded stories were floating around, but these ones stuck.
The early believers settled on these ones as the most reliable.
There were variations among the stories, and even with these ones.
But the overall message was best captured by these four accounts.
It is amazing that so many people attempted to report and record these things.
Sometimes some famous people have books written about them.
But in ancient times, maybe one would be written at most.
There is no other person who has as many recorded stories about them.
And not just historical accounts, but devoted believers in His message.
A message that was so contrary and opposite to accepted wisdom and common sense.
A message of loving enemies, turning the cheek, non-violence, love for the least?
A message that ended in death by crucifixion – an ignominious death.
But most importantly, a message that ended with an unbelievable resurrection.
Why would so many people write about, and be devoted to Jesus and His story?
Why would so many people be willing to suffer and die for it?
One reason I believe these stories is because they are — so hard to believe.
Yet the goodness and rightness of Jesus shines through them.
They inspire hope, radical love, forgiveness, compassion and goodness.
They reject greed, selfishness, cruelty, violence, despair and death.
There were many witnesses to Jesus and the Jesus message.
It was the servants of this message/word that made sure others heard about it.
Not just bystanders or neutral observers, they were convinced and committed.
They were serving the Servant of all, loving the Lover of all.
They wanted to bless others, even as they had been blessed by Jesus.
This is why I devote myself to reading and sharing these stories.
The Jesus stories are for me the greatest and most important message of all.
I love talking about Jesus, more than all the other parts of the bible.
I use these other parts to help me understand Jesus.
But to me Jesus is the Word of God above all other scriptures.
He is what makes the rest of the bible mean anything at all.
I am carefully investigating the stories of Jesus.
I am hopefully writing an orderly account of Jesus in this blog.
My hope, like Luke, is to hand something helpful and reliable to lovers of God.
To those who long for hope, radical love, forgiveness, compassion and goodness.
I make no claim to be inspired, or to write perfectly about Jesus.
Like Luke and the others, I want to be a servant of the Word (Jesus).
By all means forget what I say and write, but don’t forget Jesus.
Spend your own time carefully investigating and writing about Jesus.
Spend your own time experiencing and witnessing to others about Jesus.
There are still people out there who do not know this Jesus.
They may have seen or heard a caricature of Jesus from the church or world.
But they need these original eyewitness accounts most of all.
As much as possible, repeat these stories, reflect these teachings.
More than anything our world needs Jesus and the Jesus message.
I want to be among the many who share and show Jesus and His message.
I want to hand down the good news as a servant of Jesus the Word of God!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, make me a storyteller like Luke, and the first eyewitnesses, an eager servant of You the Word made human. Use me to help other lovers of God to know and experience the certainty of Your good news!