Luke 1 – 2
A sentence from verse 1:3 caught me attention:
Like those other servants who have recorded the messages, I present to you my carefully researched, orderly account of these new teachings.
People try to discredit the Gospels as being written well after Jesus walked the earth or being second hand accounts as in Luke. Like most if not all historians today, Luke gathered his information from taking with people who witnessed the events. He ministered with Paul, so he was with many of the disciples and could talk with them about what they remembered.
The first two chapters are devoted to the foundation of Jesus’ ministry and prophetic validation. We have the birth of John who was the one making the way for Jesus and the birth of Jesus, in Bethlehem in the line of David. Verse 2:10 highlights something with Luke’s focus:
Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere.
Here the Lord’s Messenger is talking to shepherds in the field. Luke does not mention the Magi or the kings who traveled great distances, but rather the disadvantaged ones. The phrase “Jesus is for LOSERS” is driven home in Luke. See Jesus came to free the losers, not the righteous. He came for the shepherds as well as the kings, He came for all!!
Verse 2:46 is one of those verses that caught one eye:
After three days of separation, they finally found Him—sitting among a group of religious teachers in the temple—asking them questions, listening to their answers.
The common understanding is they all came to Jerusalem as a family and left without noticing Jesus was not with them. Realize at this time Jesus was almost considered a man and would not have been traveling at the side. Also, they were traveling in a caravan, so it would have been easy to miss him. This is the only account of any significance between birth and when He comes on the scene in his 30’s. I often wonder why, but at the same time notice he was asking questions and listening, not preaching as many believe. He was learning and expanding his knowledge. I often wonder if He was asking the questions to press the leaders understanding. I believe this shows the start of Jesus’ training as a rabbi.