By now, some of these Gospel stories will be quite familiar to you. If we had the time, there is much that would be spiritually helpful to 'compare and contrast' how the Gospel writers put their own distinctive 'divinely-inspired' spin on how they tell what happens. Often, it's a reflection of their own character and writing style; at times however, it's driven by a particular point or nuance that the author wants to make to his original audience that was relevant to them at the time.
Anyway, again rooting his stories at a particular moment in world history (3:1-2) and in fulfilment of Biblical promise (v4-6), Luke tells us almost the whole story of John the Baptist at one sitting in his own personal way. Many of the details he includes are not found elsewhere. Luke notes that John's ministry begins when "the word of God came to" him (v2). The implication being that such was the burning impact of God's Word first of all upon his own life that he could not but respond with obedience. He calls the people to return to the Lord with all of their truly repenting hearts and with appropriate fruit to demonstrate sincerity of their profession of faith (v7-14). As we read the Bible ourselves, may that 'living Word' come alive to us, powerfully motivating and mobilising us towards an ever-deepening repentance and a renewed commitment and service for the Lord (see 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5).
Having dealt with John's story (v7-20), Jesus now occupies the centre stage. Like Matthew, Luke highlights Jesus' baptism (3:21-22), His genealogy (v23-28) and His wilderness temptations (4:1-13), but in a different order to Matthew. Why? Well, God has declared His pleasure in Jesus as His Son - to this point (3:22). Now what will happen? Luke is underlining that Jesus is the new representative of humanity. Will Jesus, God's only begotten Son, do better than God's first created "son", Adam (3:38)? Adam fell quickly to temptation by acting in unbelief to what God had said (Genesis 3:2-6); will Jesus, the second Adam, do any different? Will He behave as God's Son should - by believing and obeying His Father's Word (4: 4, 8, 12), remaining faithful to His Father despite the real possibility of starvation (v2-3), rejection (v6-7) or death (v9-10)? True sons and daughters of God know it is better to trust the Father's Word rather than to love life itself (see Acts 20:24).
Luke tells us that having failed on this occasion, Satan left Jesus alone "until an opportune time" (v13). However, that time is not long in coming as He soon has to confront demons early in His public ministry (4:31-44). As well as teaching and healing, it's what the true Messiah does (v16-30). And yes, Jesus is that true Messiah, even if the people, while impressed (v22) are not yet wholly persuaded (v28-29)…
Anyway, again rooting his stories at a particular moment in world history (3:1-2) and in fulfilment of Biblical promise (v4-6), Luke tells us almost the whole story of John the Baptist at one sitting in his own personal way. Many of the details he includes are not found elsewhere. Luke notes that John's ministry begins when "the word of God came to" him (v2). The implication being that such was the burning impact of God's Word first of all upon his own life that he could not but respond with obedience. He calls the people to return to the Lord with all of their truly repenting hearts and with appropriate fruit to demonstrate sincerity of their profession of faith (v7-14). As we read the Bible ourselves, may that 'living Word' come alive to us, powerfully motivating and mobilising us towards an ever-deepening repentance and a renewed commitment and service for the Lord (see 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5).
Luke tells us that having failed on this occasion, Satan left Jesus alone "until an opportune time" (v13). However, that time is not long in coming as He soon has to confront demons early in His public ministry (4:31-44). As well as teaching and healing, it's what the true Messiah does (v16-30). And yes, Jesus is that true Messiah, even if the people, while impressed (v22) are not yet wholly persuaded (v28-29)…
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