Reading the Gospels Together The Storyline of Luke’s Gospel – Part 2 We have seen how Mark and Matthew begin their gospels in strikingly different ways. Luke’s beginning is also striking and very different from either Mark or Matthew. Luke begins by introducing his readers to the parents of John the baptist. These are not ordinary people but devout Jewish believers. Zechariah is from the priestly families as is Elizabeth and, in fact, Zechariah functions as a priest. Luke tells his readers that both were “righteous before God, living blamelessly according to the commandments and regulations of the Lord.” They are faithful Jews. But there is a problem – a problem that has arisen throughout the history of God’s people – Elizabeth is barren. Thus she joins the ranks of Sarah and Rachel and Samson’s mother and, as we shall soon see, Hannah who is the mother of Samuel. Luke now proceeds to tell of the announcement of the coming birth of John and of his father’s inability to perceive it. In a story that sounds a bit like that of Isaiah in the Temple, Zechariah is confronted by a vision and told that he will be the father of one who will come in the spirit of Elijah as spoken of in Malachi 5. Zechariah does not perceive what is happening and, as a sign, is made mute. But he and Elizabeth do become the parents of the child John. In the meantime, Luke tells of another occurrence and another visit, this time to a young woman who is a virgin who is engaged to a man named Joseph. Her name is Mary. She is told that she will bear a child from the Holy Spirit and this child will be the one who sits on the throne of David – he will be the Messiah. Mary trusts in the message and places herself in the Lord’s hands. Luke now brings the two mothers together and while they are together Mary sings the first of a series of songs all of which highlight God’s coming action to bring down the high and mighty and raise up the lowly. Once Mary has departed for home in Nazareth, Elizabeth gives birth to John. And Zechariah is given his speech back and now he sings a song similar to that of Mary. And so Luke has brought John the baptist on stage. Luke is now ready to tell the story of the birth of Mary’s child. He sets the stage in the midst of the history of the Roman Empire. Augustus is the Emperor and Luke gives him the role of calling for a census which will bring Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. When they arrive Luke tells his readers that there was no place for them – no welcome – and that the child was born in a lowly stable. This is the first time that Luke will tell his readers that the people of that time did not welcome the visitation of God to his people. But the birth is not without a witness. Luke tells us that shepherds were greeted by angels who told them to go to Bethlehem and there they would find the Savior of the World. The shepherds go and find the child. And Luke tells us that Mary ponders all these things in her heart. Luke is not quite finished with his beginning. He now tells of the circumcision of Jesus on the eighth day which fulfilled all righteousness. Mary and Joseph are devout believers just as Zechariah and Elizabeth were. And then Luke tells his readers that after another 33 days Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem where he is presented to the Lord and sacrifices appropriate for a poor family are made to the Lord. While in the Temple two faithful followers of the Lord greet Jesus, Mary and Joseph. One in named Simeon and like Mary and Zechariah he sings a song of the deliverance about to happen to God’s people – and this deliverance will reach to all people as a light to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. But Simeon also warns of the impending sorrow that will mark the life of Jesus and his mother. Another faithful Israelite, Anna, also greets and welcomes Jesus. Perhaps the visitation of God to his people has not gone unnoticed after all. Once the circumcision and the rites of purification have been completed Luke tells his readers that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus return to Galilee. And then Luke adds one more story – the coming of Jesus to Jerusalem with his parents to celebrate Passover when he is twelve years old. Jesus remains in the Temple and for three days he is lost to Mary and Joseph – three days are perhaps a subtle foreshadowing of Jesus death and resurrection. And so Luke ends his beginning of the story of Jesus. As we listen to this story there are some things that strike us. First of all, this is a very different story from the one that Matthew told his readers. Jesus appears in open view in the Temple. There is no mention of Magi or of Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus. There is no flight to Egypt. We will need to ponder these differences between Matthew and Luke. And, more importantly, as we begin to consider Luke’s story we notice a few very important things. Luke is intent on telling his readers about the faithful followers of the Lord who make up the story – Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Simeon, Anna; all of them are faithful and righteous people. They all fulfill the Law. And although Jesus is born in a remote part of Bethlehem the action soon centers on the Temple. Luke’s story begins in the Temple and as we will see it ends there as well. And one more thing of note is that Luke has deliberately constructed his story to mimic the OT stories, especially the story of the birth of Samuel. So, we might say, Luke has placed three portraits side by side by side. We see the birth of John the baptist and of Jesus through the lens of the birth of Samuel. Luke is a brilliant storyteller. He gives us much to consider as we move forward into the story of Jesus.