Peace For All People

 LUKE: PEACE FOR ALL PEOPLE

Read. Luke 3.23-38, 24.44-47

Whether it's a friend group, a joke, or a party, humans long to be included. No matter how introverted or shy someone may be, no one likes feeling forgotten. Sometimes, when we read Scripture, especially the Old Testament, it might feel like we're on the outside. We may feel like God had a plan for the nation of Israel or that God had a plan for Jesus, but we may struggle to see how God has a plan for us.

However, the genealogy in Luke's Gospel reveals that God's plan for creation and redemption always included you. It shows us that we can have peace in knowing that Jesus came to save all humanity, including you.

Luke and Matthew's Differences

While both books record many of the same events, the differences between Matthew and Luke's accounts can be seen in what they focus on and how they structure their Gospels. You may have noticed that while Matthew began his Gospel with a genealogy, Luke doesn't include one until after he has written of Jesus's birth. Why is this?

Matthew is a Jew writing to a predominantly Jewish audience, therefore, he knows that lineage, particularly the lineage of Abraham and David, matters if he wants to alert his readers to Jesus's importance. Luke, on the other hand, is most likely not Jewish. Instead, he is likely a Greek writing specifically to a Gentile (or non-Jewish) audience. As such, Luke's goal is to present a pristine historical account of the events of Jesus's life and show that Jesus came not just for the Jewish people but for all humanity. This is evident in his account of Jesus's genealogy. While Matthew traces Jesus's lineage back to Abraham, Luke traces it all the way back to Adam (Luke 3.38), another name that should sound familiar to you. Abraham was representative of Israel, but as the first human being, Adam represents all humanity. So, tracing Jesus's family line through Adam is Luke's way of showing that Jesus has come to save anyone who trusts in Him whether Jew or Gentile.

Luke knows that Jesus is indeed Israel's long-awaited Messiah, yet as a Gentile himself, he has seen firsthand that Jesus didn't just come to redeem Israel but all of humanity. Jesus is the promised offspring in Genesis 3.15, the One who God said would crush the head of the serpent and redeem humans from their rebellious and sinful state. Jesus is making things right for all humanity.

While Matthew primarily focuses on the unexpected way Jesus would establish His kingdom, Luke focuses on the unexpected people of the kingdom. Even Luke himself is unexpected as He was likely not a Jew. Throughout his Gospel, Luke draws special attention to the poor, the outcast, and the Gentiles.

In the time of the New Testament, there was a lot of conflict between different people groups, people of different classes, nationalities, and political opinions. Luke's focus on all of humanity is designed to emphasize how Jesus has come to bring peace (Luke 2.14). He has come to bring people together, Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor. Luke aims to highlight how Jesus came not to exclude people from His kingdom but to include even the outcast.

We see this emphasised at the end of Luke's Gospel. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus encourages His disciples by revealing to them how the story of the Old Testament was about Him and His defeat of sin through His death and resurrection (Luke 24.44-47). Now, because of this, "repentance for forgiveness of sin will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24.47). The message of Jesus is for all the nations, meaning all people, whether Jew, Gentile, high status, low status, popular, or outcast.

As we will see, Luke's telling of the Christmas story highlights this truth as well. From God's choice of a young teen girl to be the mother of Jesus, to giving His first gospel proclamation to lowly shepherds, God has always seen and cared for the outcast.

What Does This Mean for Me?

Perhaps you've experienced life on the outside. Maybe you've been excluded from a group of friends, an event you wanted to attend, or some other opportunity you hoped for. It's easy to think negatively about ourselves when we're on the outside. But the beauty of Jesus's coming is that He offers us the peace of knowing that we are not left on the outside. He sees our hurt, our longings, and our potential, and He desires to bring us into His kingdom.

Luke's telling of the story shows how God invites even the outsiders to participate in His plan. No matter who you are or what you have done, God has big plans for you if you've placed your trust in Him for salvation. If that's you, then you're included in the kingdom and, therefore, a part of the King's plan.

If that's not yet you, then we invite you to consider this truth, Christ came to bring those on the outside of His kingdom to the inside. Through His death and resurrection, He has made it possible for you to enter into His kingdom and His family. Will you choose to trust Him for salvation today?

Application Questions

Think back to the story of Adam and Eve from last week. What would it mean for Christ to undo the effects of the Fall?

Have you ever felt like an outsider in God's eyes? What might it mean for your life if you truly believed that God's plan includes you?

Pray and thank God that He has always had a plan to redeem humanity - you included.