Luke 1:1-4

I clearly remember July 8th, 1994, the day news broke about the North Korean dictator's death. It was my birthday, and I was heading to my party after school when every news channel—CNN, MSNBC, CBC News—was covering it. Each reporter had their own take, offering analysis and predictions. But it did not happen. Similarly, in the First Century, the Messiah's movement sparked many interpretations. People struggled to understand the true message because their own experiences and expectations clouded their understanding of the Messiah. Today, we begin exploring the Gospel of Luke, a firsthand account of Jesus' movement. Through this Gospel, we'll discover who Jesus was and how his ministry fulfilled God's promises. Let's start by reading Luke 1:1-4.

Luke 1:1–4 NRSV

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

2. In today's passage, Luke, the author of this Gospel, emphasizes his commitment to providing an accurate account of Jesus and His ministry. He acknowledges the existence of numerous manuscripts, reports, and interpretations circulating about Jesus during the first centuries. History reveals that various heresies emerged in the early Church. One such group, known as the Gnostics, denied the physical reality of Jesus' body, questioning the necessity of his resurrection and even his divinity. They also rejected the idea of bodily resurrection for believers, claiming that the body, tainted by sin, would not be resurrected. Instead, they believed only the soul would attain salvation. This led them to teach that modifying one's behaviour was unnecessary for salvation; acquiring special knowledge of God was enough.

3. Another group doubted Jesus' actual resurrection, claiming he only appeared to rise from the dead. They attempted to understand the resurrection and God's mysterious workings through human logic. Sadly, this led some to lose their faith and follow misguided paths. They abandoned Jesus, deceived by these false teachings.

2 Timothy 4:10 NLT

Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.

4. These kinds of misunderstandings aren't just a thing of the past. Even today, we see groups picking and choosing parts of Jesus' teachings. Some deny that believers in Jesus can face persecution. They claim that suffering means you're not truly in Christ. Others insist that ministers shouldn't get sick, believing illness signifies hidden sin. This forces pastors in some churches to hide their health struggles. Then there are those who reject the physical resurrection of Jesus, saying it's a spiritual resurrection in our hearts. And still others dismiss the idea of Jesus' second coming, arguing that the time Jesus spoke of 2,000 years ago marked the beginning of the Messiah's arrival, and therefore, his second coming has already happened. At first glance, these ideas might sound somewhat reasonable. But that's where the danger lies.

5. But let's be honest, it's incredibly difficult to spot these false teachings on our own. We can't possibly master every doctrine and philosophy out there. Even if we studied concepts like Ontology, Teleology, or Existentialism, we still wouldn't have the full picture when it comes to understanding God's Word.

6. I was just 14 when I first delved into philosophy. I desperately wanted to understand my parents, but had no idea where to start. Then I stumbled upon a quote that said, "If you want to know your fate, come to the house of philosophy." Intrigued, I began reading the works of philosophers like Descartes, Hume, and Kant. It was a struggle. I couldn't fully grasp their ideas, and I still could not understand my parents. Then someone suggested I study theology to learn more about humanity. I started reading theological books, but instead of understanding others, I only gained a deeper understanding of myself – specifically, my identity before knowing God. Through theology, I realised that without God, I was a sinner. My sin had stripped me of my true identity. I was not in God, but in sin. Sin was my master when I didn't believe in God.

Romans 3:10–12 (NIV)

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Romans 3:13–15 (NIV)

“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Romans 3:16–18 (NIV)

ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 3:19–20 NIV

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

7. That's why we need the Holy Spirit's help to understand God and His plan of salvation. This is what we call God's revelation. Relying on human knowledge alone, as I've said before, leads to misunderstandings about God and Jesus. God's knowledge is far greater than our limited thinking. So, He gave us His revelation—the Bible. It contains His plans, thoughts, and the path to salvation. He didn't leave us in the dark. He used His disciples to record His revelation in a language we can understand.

John 21:24–25 NRSV

This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

8. God inspired Matthew, an eyewitness to Jesus' life, to portray Jesus as the King of the world, tracing his lineage back to King David. Mark, a second-generation disciple, focused on Jesus' actions and miracles. Luke, who was both Jewish and Greek, presented Jesus' story in chronological order. And John, the beloved disciple, emphasizes Jesus' divine nature. All four Gospels centre on Jesus – his calling, ministry, life, and divinity on earth. Later, Luke documented the work of Jesus' disciples who were with the guidance of the Holy Spirit after his ascension.

9. Do you know how experts spot counterfeit money? A documentary once visited South Korea's National Bank, interviewing an expert who identifies fake bills. I thought they'd study counterfeit money extensively. But their answer surprised me: they focus solely on the genuine bill. Once they truly know the real deal, they can easily spot a fake. This principle applies to our faith. There are countless interpretations of Jesus, His coming, and church doctrines. But none of these can alter the genuine truth found in the Bible. The Bible is the only authentic source of information about Jesus Christ. To know the truth, we must turn to its pages. Through it, we discover Jesus and the path to salvation, which is being in relationship with God. So, let's focus on Jesus through the Gospel of Luke. Let's reflect on His love and grace. May God help us deepen our understanding of Him and guide us on His path.