Luke's Story of Jesus

Tomorrow, Advent begins, the season of the church year in which we look forward to celebrating Christ’s coming at Christmas, and with it the new year of lectionary readings begins. These are the readings to be used in worship and this is the start of Year C. It focuses on many parts of Luke’s Gospel, and I thought this would be a good year to read and study the whole Gospel while I also preach on the assigned passages. The first section, Luke 1.1-4, is called the prologue, and in it the author, traditionally called Luke, sets out his reason for writing:

1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. (New Revised Standard Version)

There are some things worth noting about the passage, but first of all of them is that Luke writes to add his story of Jesus to the other ones. It is a carefully researched and accurate story, but this reminds us that we each have our own story of Jesus to tell others. It is the account of what Jesus has done in our lives. The church, you might say, is the community of those whose lives have been touched by Christ. Some people’s stories will talk about Christ as healer, others of his love, still others of the forgiveness found in Christ. Mine begins with how Jesus led me from knowing about the Christian faith to having my own faith in him. What is your story of Jesus?
We gather each week in worship to share these stories of Jesus. We will also gather on Christmas Eve, at 5:00 p.m. in Lewiston and 7:30 p.m. at the Chatfield church, where we will retell the story in words and song of how God loved the world so much that God sent the Son into it to show us who God is and bring us back to God. You are invited to share in this special time. Until then, we prepare our hearts in Advent.

Wishing you all a blessed and joyous Christmas,
Pastor Tim