The Truth About Jesus
Have you ever written to encourage someone in something of massive importance? As in you needed them to see the whole truth of a matter so they wouldn’t miss believing what is right?
Consider Dr. Luke. Writing his gospel to Theophilus and what would become the ages and all therein, his was an unrelenting thirst for getting at and saying what’s true about Jesus.
Why so? Let’s hear it from Luke: “…it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning to write it out for you in consecutive order most excellent Theophilus so that you might know the exact truth about the things that you have been taught.” (Luke 1:3-4)
Luke has studied – meticulously. He’s chased down, vetted out sources of the primary kind. Not for a second has he flown solo in this. The Spirit has guided, clarified, enlightened – things Jesus said He would do. Now Luke aims to pass Theophilus “the exact truth” about Jesus’ life and ministry. This physician examiner-writer wants Theophilus to know that he knows what he believes about Messiah-King is sure, credible – from angelic notices passed to aging Zacharias and mild Mary to the new infant Christ twined in cloths, sleeping in obscurity. He wants Theophilus to marvel at Simeon’s moment, witness evil in the wilderness, behold Jesus’ compassion for what’s lost – sheep, coins, but mostly sons. It’s sons and daughters who sin, break the peace, and live lost in the far lands, away from God. It’s sons and daughters who so desperately need a way back, a divine search and rescue that outright cancels sin and reconciles back to the One who saves. So when Theophilus’ gaze falls on Jesus’ summary, “The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost,” there’s a full stop message Luke just doesn’t want Theophilus to miss: Jesus has come to rescue. He has come to settle sin’s fathomless cost through the price of the cross. Because we’re guilty and lost and far from God, Jesus steps in, ransoming us back with His sinless life. And Luke wants Theophilus to let that sink in…trust it…have it change his life.
Luke’s good news and work are ours, too. Just as for him, it’s fitting for us to sincerely pursue and re-present Jesus with the full measure of our lives. Because if we claim we follow Him, it’s so important we know who Jesus is. Not who we think He is. Not who we want Him to be. Like Luke to Theophilus, we want to know – really know – “exact truth” about Jesus so the world around us, beginning with us, doesn’t stay the same.
Elizabeth Hankins, Peace Worker
