The Doctor

Luke 1:1-4

What I love most about reading Luke’s writings (both the Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles) is that he was an outsider.  He was a curious bystander investigating and researching the facts.  He was not considered an apostle, but eventually became a follower of “The Way.”  He is also the only non-Jew whose writings are included in the biblical canon. There is not much known about Luke in the time before or after his writings.  What is most important to know about him is that he was a physician who took painstaking notes and gathered evidence of this Jesus guy he had heard about.  What I think is so intriguing is that his research eventually led to his belief and following of Jesus, and then he accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys.  This is why we have the book of Acts.  Luke was a firsthand witness of these things.  This is also important because he was not easily swayed by convincing speech in regard to who Jesus was, but rather did his own agnostic research until concluding that these things were true.  We also should do the same; let us not be swayed simply because something sounds like a good deal, but rather investigate it ourselves and test what we learn.

As we begin reading Luke’s letter, we learn that he was particularly writing to a friend, Theophilus, which in Greek translates to “friend of God.”  It could actually be a person’s name or, in general, mean to address someone who recognizes God and has a relationship with Him.  Luke addresses him as someone in a position of authority and stature in society.  I believe it is important, then, to recognize that this letter is appropriate to understand that if you are reading Luke’s letter, it is also applicable to you.

I love what Luke says in verse 4.  You see, we need to gather facts.  In today’s world, especially with the invention and continued influence of AI, it is becoming more and more difficult to discern what is true and what is not.  Luke encourages Theophilus to read his letter to prove or disprove what he has been taught.  Church tradition evolves.  Just because someone in authority says something, it does not mean that it is true, or even the whole truth.  I highly respect pastors and biblical teachers who challenge their audience to look into what they are saying to discern the truth.  As humans, we are all flawed.  We make mistakes and misunderstand things, even the Scriptures themselves.  Even the original writings, having been verified and researched, can be easily misunderstood and misinterpreted.  I learned a lot of this through a book titled Misquoting Jesus, a scholarly work by Bart D. Ehrman on the complexity and difficulty in translating ancient copies of the Scriptures and then understanding what is actually being said in our modern-day vernacular.  This is why there are now so many interpretations of the bible in English, Spanish, and other languages: to help us understand the principles taught within in a way we understand today.  However, this is only one piece of the puzzle.  While the ancient writings are important, we also need to consider our experience in how we interact with what we learn.

Since Luke was an outsider, I tend to feel like his writing is a little more trustworthy than the others that we find in the New Testament.  He didn’t have a preconceived belief system he was trying to prove.  He was simply trying to get to the bottom of this movement that seemed to be exploding in first-century Jerusalem.  I love that he didn’t stop there, and after coming to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, he continued his journey of discovery by congregating with fellow believers and integrating with these established teachers of Jesus’ Way, rubbing shoulders with the guys who spent a few years with Him.  He was continually putting to the test the things he had heard and then shared what he learned with others through these letters.  I cannot stress enough the importance for us as believers and followers of Jesus to do the same.  Not only must we test what we are taught and investigate the truth behind it, but we must also recognize that those around us who have not seen and heard are learning from our own experiences.  

So, as we venture through Luke’s account of what he learned from firsthand witnesses of Jesus, let us also take on the role of a scientific journalist and test what we read, so that we too may experience what he did.