JESUS THE LIGHT OF HUMAN BEINGS

Many people are troubled by the apparent remoteness of God. He seems to them distant, aloof , and unreal. They cry out with Job, 'If only I knew where to find him' (Job 23 :3)

It is this image of an absentee God that John smashes to smithereens. In the prologue of his Gospel he writes of three comings of God into the world in Christ.

Firstly, he was coming into the world. It is a great mistake to suppose that the first time God came into the world was when he was born into it. No, He made the world and has never left it. 'He is the true light that gives light to every man' who, ' was coming into the world' (John 1:9) Thus long before he came he was coming, giving to all both light and life. So that everything beautiful, good, and true in the world we claim for Jesus Christ. People may not know this, for usually he retains his incognito, but he is 'the light of men' (v4) No human being is plunged into total darkness.

Secondly he came into the world 'He came to that which was his own' (v11) He who had been coming to all people now came to his particular people He who had been coming ingognito now came in person, openly and publicly. The eternal Word became a human being. The tragedy is the world did not recognize him.

Thirdly he still comes. He He comes now by his Spirit, and to thos who receive him he gives the right to become God's children, born of God (v12)

A fourth coming could be added, although John does not mention it here. But later records Jesus's promise.' I will come back and take you to be with me (John 14 :3)

So here are God's four comings .He was continuously coming as the light and life of all human beings. He came on the first Christmas Day. He conme still,waiting for us to receive Him and He will come on the last Day.

Yours Aye

Roy

JESUS THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

Last time we considered Luke as a historian this week we will see him as a theologian and evangelist. What is his message? It is that Jesus is the Saviour of the world, the reaching out to everybody, irrespective of race, nationality, rank, age or sex. So Luke deliberately places near the beginning of each of his volumes a statement of universality. Quoting OT prophets he says.

Luke 3:6 'And all mankind will see God's Salvation'

Acts 2:17 'I will pour out my Spirit on all people'

And throughout his Gospel he goes out of his way to show Jesus including those whom society often excludes.

Being a doctor it is understandable that Luke should emphasize Jesus's compassion for the sick and suffering. But he also cared for women and children, the poor and the needy, tax collectors and sinneres, and especially Samaritans and Gentiles. In each case Luke's emphasis is stronger than that of the other evangelists.

Being a Gentile himself Luke was a man of wide horizons. He never calls the water of Galilee a sea, for he himself has sailed on the Great Sea ( the Mediterranean) and by comparison he calls Galilee only a lake.

In the Acts Luke chronicles the three pioneer missionary journeys undertaken by his hero Paul, indicating the occasions when he himself was present as Paul's companion. The Acts records a triumphal progression from Jerusalem, the capital of Jewry, to Rome the capital of the world .
Wherever they went they proclaimed salvation (comprising forgiveness and the Spirit) as available in Christ to all people. And Luke records the apostle Peter's affirmation.

'Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved'. Acts 4:12

Yours Aye

Roy

Luke part 1 - Jesus the Historical Figure

Luke wrote the two volume work on the origins of Christianity, namely his Gospel and the Acts.
In his preface which covers both Books, he emphasises the reliability of what he is writing. For he is absolutely clear that Jesus was no myth but a historical figure. So he sets out his case in five logical stages. (vv 1-4)
First certain "things ....have been fulfilled among us "(v 1) These were the events of Jesus's ministry
Secondly; these events were seen by eyewitnesses who "handed down"what they had seen,to others. (v 2)
Thirdly, Luke who was one of these,"carefully investigated everything from the beginning" (v 3)
Fourthly Luke wrote down the result of his research, giving an orderly account" of it. (v3)
Fifthly, there would be readers,including Theophilus,his distinguished patron, who would find in Luke's Gospel solid grounds for his faith.

But when did Luke pursue his investigations ? For he was not one of the Twelve or an eyewitness. He later enjoyed a two year residence in Palestine while Paul was imprisoned in Caeserea (Acts 24 ;27). How did he occupy his time ? We can only guess. Surely he travelled the length and breadth of the, gathering material for his Gospel and for the early Jesusalem-based story of the Acts,visiting the sites associated with Jesus's ministry, familiarising himself (as a Gentile) with Jewish culture, and interviewing eyewitnesses. These must have included the Virgin Mary by now an elderly lady. For Luke tells Mary's story including the intimacies surrounding Jeus"s birth.These can have come only from Mary herself. All this establishes our confidence in the historical reliability of Luke's writings. (Through the Bible Through the Year )
John Stott.

Yours Aye

Roy