Reading the Gospels Together The Storyline of Luke’s Gospel – Part 14 We have come to the end of Luke’s storyline. In many ways we have noted that Luke follows Mark faithfully. In many other ways we have noted how Luke departs from Mark’s storyline and goes his own way. Luke has shaped his storyline around the visitation of God to his people and the question of whether or not people will welcome or reject that coming. Luke has gone out of his way to tell his readers that some faithful Jewish people did welcome the Messiah. And Luke has gone out of his way to demonstrate to his readers that Jewish followers of Jesus as the Messiah are faithful Jews. Luke portrays Christianity as the true expression of Judaism. Luke has also placed the disciples in a far more favorable light by softening Mark’s words about them at almost every turn. Luke will continue this favorable appraisal of the followers in his second book, the book of Acts. We will not follow Luke’s argument there but we do need to keep Acts in mind as we consider Luke’s storyline.