Let’s look at Luke together this Advent - Midweek Message 25th November 2020

 

Dear Friends,

‘Welcome to the joyful opening chapters of Luke's gospel. They have always seemed to me to glow, and not only through their association with the Christmas lights that sparkle in the darkness of December. Luke presents Jesus’ entry into the world as the radiant dawn of an eternal day. There's music as well as light.  Jesus entered this world accompanied by songs of celebration. Since then I'm sure these two chapters have inspired more music than any other section of the Bible. Glowing with light and ringing with music, Luke’s nativity account invites us to experience the joy Jesus’ birth still gives’

Thus begins the introduction to The Radiant Dawn, Tom Parsons’ booklet of Advent readings which we are sending to every household associated in one way or another with Inshes Church. We’re so aware of not being able to meet together as we would like this Christmas but that inability does not have to mean  we cannot share together in some manner in the abiding truth, hope and joy wrapped up in the story of Jesus coming into our world. So we’re encouraging everyone, from the first day of December to take a few moments each day to look at Luke, that with God’s help we may be led, as the shepherds were, to find the one whose birth remains good news of great joy for all people.(2.10)

Jesus IS for everyone. That is something that Luke wanted everyone to know as he wrote his carefully researched account of Jesus. If you feel yourself to be insignificant, always on the margins never in the centre, Luke is for you because he wants you to know that Jesus is for you. The one for whom Bethlehem had no room, who was born in an outhouse, has plenty of room in his heart, in his ministry for all who feel themselves excluded. If you like reversals, where those who are down and out  are lifted up and those who are up and proud of it are brought down, then again Luke is for you because he wants you to know that Jesus brings about such reversals. As Mary, the seemingly insignificant teenager chosen to be Jesus’ natural mother, both illustrates and sings, through Jesus God brings down rulers from their thrones but lifts up the humble, fills the hungry with good things but sends the rich away empty (1.52,53)

So let me encourage you to use Tom Parsons book to help you read, think and pray – indeed to do as Mary herself did with all the events surrounding Jesus birth – to treasure these things and ponder them in your heart (2.19). As you do that look out for some of the major themes and concerns of Luke’s gospel which are anticipated in these opening two chapters:

• ·         The links with the Old Testament promises
• ·         The Davidic kingly role of Jesus
• ·         The restoration of Israel
• ·      The inclusion of Gentiles (most people think Luke was                 himself a Gentile a Non-Jew and if so the only non-                     Jewish author of any of the New Testament books)
• ·         God’s concern for the poor
• ·         The role of the Holy Spirit
• ·         The anticipated opposition
• ·         The joy caused by the good news about Jesus*

But above all look out for Jesus, the one who brings light into dark places, causes young and old to sing and generates unexpected joy in unlikely people.

The 1662 Book of Common Prayer has this prayer to commemorate Luke in his writing of his gospel and also the Book of Acts:

Almighty God who calledst Luke the physician, whose praise is in the Gospel, to be an Evangelist and Physician of the soul: may it please thee that by the wholesome medicines of the doctrine delivered by him, all the diseases of our souls may be healed; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord

Or perhaps even better the prayer addressed to the Lord Jesus, with which Tom Parsons concludes his brief introduction:

O Radiant Dawn,

Splendour of eternal Light,

Sun of Justice:

Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death.

Yours in seeking to bathe in that Light

David

 

PS There are extra copies of the Radiant Dawn, which you are welcome to take and give to others, as there are of the Christmas Hope in a Covid World tract which we hope you might have opportunity to pass on to others who might benefit from it

* as identified in the introduction to Luke in How to read the Bible Book by Book – A guided tour  by Gordon D Fee & Douglas Stuart, Zondervan p287