THE GOSPELS – intro Luke & John

26 July 2024

We are proceeding with our study of the GOSPELS, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And we are going to focus today on a short INTRODUCTION to the GOSPEL of Luke and John, working mainly from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians with cross references to other Bible versions.

As you know we are using the Hebrew names of God the Father, namely YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD is used in standard versions of the Bible, and we will also use the description Heavenly Father and Abba Father.  We also use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.

The Book of Luke

Although there is disagreement – Luke was possibly a Greek. He however displays detailed understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures. Non-Jewish believers were apparently called God-fearers – they attended synagogues (Jewish worship facilities) and lived lives informed by Judaism, but they did not convert to Judaism. Luke addresses both his writings in the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts to Theophilus, apparently a High Priest from a wealthy and influential family in the second temple in Jerusalem according to Josephus a historian writer. Luke writes (probably in the early 60’s C.E.) to reassure Theophilus of the things he has learned. Luke shows him that all along, God (YHVH) had a plan to include Gentiles (non-Jews).

Luke focusses on presenting Yeshua as the ONE God the Father has sent to fulfill His promises He made long ago. In the ancient world, it was not what was new that was important in religion, but what was tested by time. Luke therefore argued that Yeshua was the actual fulfillment of YHVH’s promises made to Abraham. Luke also highlights how Yeshua repeatedly urged those who opposed Him to take note of how God (YHVH) was working through Him.

LUKE focusses on YESHUA as the SON OF MAN:

• The Son of Man arrives.
• The Son of Man ministers consisting of John the Baptists’ ministry, immersion genealogy and temptation, healings, teachings and miracles.
• The Son of Man rejected consisting of the final week, the last Seder (Passover meal) and the Mount of Olives, His trial and crucifixion and burial.
• The Son of Man glorified women visit the tomb, on the road to Emmaus, appearing to the disciples and ascension.

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice confirms this view. According to the Bible writers the PURPOSE of the Gospel of Luke is to depict God (YHVH the Father’s) plan of SALVATION as REVEALED in YESHUA THE MESSIAH.

The writer is LUKE, an educated man, possibly the medical doctor that accompanied Paul as we read in Colossians 4:14. Possibly a non-Jew (therefore not from the tribe of Judah and Benjamin) and a follower of Yeshua the Messiah. Luke is also the writer of the Book of Acts and these two Books – The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts actually form a unit.

The core verses for the Gospel of Luke are indicated as chapter 4:18-21 (NIV) wherein Yeshua, after His baptism and forty days in the dessert, went to the synagogue on the Sabbath Day as it was His custom and He stood up to read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah given to him. Unrolling it He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of YHVH is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim GOOD NEWS to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of YHVH’s favor. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him. He began by saying to them: Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke is the most comprehensive GOSPEL of the FOUR GOSPELS. He also gives a special place to women, children and other socially despised people. Large parts of the GOSPEL of LUKE do not appear in any of the other Gospels. We will talk more about it in our detail study of the Gospels.

The major themes in the Gospel of Luke are indicated in the Afrikaans Bible in Practice as:

Yeshua the Messiah, the Savior

Luke depicts Yeshua as the perfect example of how one should live. After Yeshua’s perfect ministry He also died as the perfect offering for our sin that we may be saved. Yeshua is the perfect Mediator between YHVH the Father and us. We receive forgiveness when we accept Yeshua as the Savior of our lives and we FOLLOW HIM by accepting, believing and DOING the things He said.

An Historic Perspective

Luke was an educated man and also a historian. He placed the life of Yeshua within the framework of the history of the world and he emphasizes Yeshua’s connection to people and events in history. He does this in order for us to have certainty in our faith and to know that Yeshua is the Mediator between YHVH the Father and mankind.

A People Perspective

People and relationships were of utmost importance to Yeshua. He was sincerely concerned about His followers – including men, women and children. The fact that Yeshua loves people is GOOD NEWS for us. His message is for ALL PEOPLE and for ALL NATIONS. EVERY PERSON is given the opportunity to accept Him in FAITH.

The next major theme is:

Compassion

Because He was fully human, Yeshua had sincere compassion with the poor, the rejected, those with sorrow, distress and the sinners. He did not reject or ignore anyone. Yeshua is more than a preacher and His messages more than ideology (philosophy, doctrine or belief systems). He CARES for us. Therefore, He can also provide in our needs.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit was involved with Yeshua’s birth, baptism, ministry and resurrection. Yeshua is for us the perfect example of someone who live dependent on the Holy Spirit and He calls us to follow His example. YHVH our Father sent the Holy Spirit to confirm the authority of Yeshua. People also receive the Holy Spirit when they become born again to enable us to live a life set apart for God and to serve as a witness for His Kingdom.

Other interesting comparisons to the BOOK OF LUKE are the following:

• The camp layout in NUMBERS chapter 2 that had to be done in accordance to the SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS of YHVH their God and we read in verses 10-16: “Those camping on the SOUTH are to be under the banner (or flag) of the camp of REUBEN; they are to camp according to companies (or houses); by TRIBE and LEADER they are as follows: Reuben, Simeon and Gad totaling to 151,450 people. This group is to set out second.”

The tribe of Reuben had to pitch their tents on the SOUTH SIDE of the Tabernacle and their flag was a MAN on a GOLDEN FIELD.

You will remember that Reuben was Jacob’s FIRST BORN and he says in Genesis 49:3-4 Reuben was his strength, the first fruits of his MANHOOD. But Reuben was unfortunately unstable and took the WRONG DECISION to sleep with his father’s concubine Bilhah who was Rachel’s servant that she gave to Jacob because she could not conceive and therefore Reuben lost his rights as FIRSTBORN (see Genesis 35:22). The reason for this camp to have a flag with the symbol of a MAN was probably due to man needing to be REDEEMED from sin by a SAVIOR. And YHVH loved man so much that He gave Himself in the form of His Son as Savior of mankind, emptying Himself and taking on the form of a SERVANT by becoming a MAN and thereby being able to empathize with man’s weaknesses (Philippians 2:7 and Hebrews 4:15).

We even see this saving grace in the blessing Moses makes in:

Deuteronomy 33:6 namely: “Let Reuben live and not die out, even though his numbers grow few.”

Paul, referring to Adam as the FIRST MAN demonstrates the connection to Yeshua the SON OF MAN beautifully in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 when he says: Adam the first man became a living being, but the LAST ADAM (referring to Yeshua the Messiah) has become a life giving (capital letter) SPIRIT, Note, however, the body from the (capital letter) Spirit did not come first but the ordinary HUMAN ONE; the one from the (capital letter) Spirit comes afterwards. The FIRST MAN is from the EARTH, MADE OF DUST; the SECOND MAN IS FROM HEAVEN. People born of DUST are like the MAN of DUST, and PEOPLE BORN FROM HEAVEN are like the MAN from HEAVEN; and just as we born the image of the MAN of DUST, so also, we WIL BEAR the IMAGE of the MAN of HEAVEN.”

• In Ezekiel 1:10 and in The THRONE ROOM in Revelation chapter 4:7 there are again references to FOUR SYMBOLS – the lion, the ox, the man and the eagle. There are four living beings around the throne and one of them had a FACE like a MAN. Man is the highest form of live on earth bearing the image of YHVH our Creator and God.

The Book of John

Believers often refers to the Gospel of John as the Gospel of FAITH and LOVE. Yeshua’s conflict with the religious authorities arises from His claim of IDENTITY with GOD (YHVH) which this Gospel emphasizes more than the others. Yeshua uses the words: “I Am” seven times, reflecting God (YHVH’s) self-description in Exodus 3:13-15. Again, John displays a deep familiarity with first century Jewish live and traditions and the Feasts of YHVH.

John focusses on YESHUA as the SON OF GOD (YHVH):

• The Son of God arrives.
• The Son of God ministers consisting of a Pharisee and Samaritan woman, healings, teachings and miracles and raising the dead.
• The Son of God dies to save consisting of the final week, the last Seder (Passover meal), Yeshua’s arrest and trial and the crucifixion and burial.
• The Son of God rises again – Yeshua is alive and His encounters with His disciples are described.

The Afrikaans Bible in Practice confirms this view. According to the Bible writers the PURPOSE of the Gospel of John is to witness that Yeshua the Messiah is the SON OF GOD, YHVH the Father and EVERYONE who believes in Him will have EVER LASTING LIVE in His Name.

The writer is John, the beloved disciple of Yeshua, the son of Zebedee. The Gospel of John was written after the destruction of Jerusalem 70 years C.E., and it is addressed to believers in Yeshua the Messiah who needed to be strengthened in their faith.

The core verses in the Gospel of John are indicated as chapter 20:30-31 saying: “In the presence of the disciples Yeshua performed many other miracles which have not been recorded in this book. But these which have been recorded are here so that you may have trust (faith, belief, hope) that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by this trust (faith, belief, hope) you may have life because of who He is.”

Yeshua’s farewell messages in the upper room to His disciples are unique to the Gospel of John in chapters 13-17. About 90% of the things recorded in these chapters only appear in the Gospel of John.

The major themes in the Gospel of John are indicated in the Afrikaans Bible in Practice as:

Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of God

Yeshua is unique. He not only is the Son of God, YHVH the Father, He also fully is YHVH our God and therefore He can reveal the glory of YHVH to us. Yeshua is the Son who came to reveal YHVH the Father to us and therefore we can unconditionally believe and accept what He says and does. By entrusting ourselves to Him our hearts are opened so that we can so that we can then understand Abba Father’s message and fully experience His purpose for our lives.

Eternal life

Yeshua is from eternity because He is God, YHVH. He was with God the Father from the beginning of the creation of the world and will reign with Him forever. Although we are waiting for Yeshua our Messiah’s return, He now already is present with us through the Holy Spirit, a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance of eternal life until the redemption of those who are God’s possession (Ephesians 1:14).

FAITH

John tells of miracles which discloses the glory and identity of Yeshua. He has authority over all creation, and He reveals the Father. Through these things we are encouraged to believe in Him. As the Son of YHVH the Father. Belief is an active and continuous confidence in Yeshua and YHVH the Father.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

Yeshua told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come after His ascension to heaven. The Holy Spirit was promised to come and live in all people as counselor to help and guide us in accordance with the Word of YHVH.

THE RESURECTION

Yeshua the Messiah has been raised from the dead on the third day. This event changed the fearful disciples into dynamic fearless leaders of the new established congregation. The RESURECTION of Yeshua is also the foundation on which our faith as believers is built. The same Holy Spirit power of YHVH the Father that raised Yeshua the Messiah from death will also help us s believers to daily follow Him. And we, just like the disciples have to keep on believing that we will one day be resurrected from the dead to live with the resurrected Messiah forever.

Other interesting comparisons to the BOOK OF JOHN are the following:

• The camp layout in NUMBERS chapter 2 that had to be done in accordance to the SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS of YHVH their God and we read in verses 25-31: “Those camping on the NORTH are to be under the banner (or flag) of the camp of DAN; they are to camp according to companies (or houses); by TRIBE and LEADER they are as follows: Dan, Asher and Naftali totaling to 157,600 people. This group is to set out last with their camp banners.”

The tribe of DAN had to pitch their tents on the NORTH SIDE of the Tabernacle and their flag was a GOLDEN EAGLE on a BLUE FIELD.

In Genesis 49:16-18 Jacob gave the following blessing to Dan: “Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a viper (or adder) on the road, a horned snake in the path that bites the horse’s heels so its rider falls off backward. I wait for your deliverance YHVH.”

In Genesis 30:1-6 we read that Rachel was not bearing children and she envied her sister Leah, so Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob as wife to bear children on her behalf. Bilhah then had a son and Rachel said: “God has JUDGED in my favor; indeed, He has heard me and given me a son.” Therefore, she called him Dan which he JUDGED.

In the Book of Judges we see that the tribes of Israel did not drive out the inhabitants of the land as God commanded and in time these idol worshipping nations became the downfall of YHVH’s people. We read in chapters 17:1-18:31 and Amos 8:14 that the tribe of Dan was the first to fall into idolatry and they introduced idols to the rest of the tribes. In Revelation 7:4-8 the tribe of Dan is not mentioned as one of the 12 tribes of Israel. It has been suggested by some Biblical scholars that this could be because of their pagan practices, therefore some propose that the Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan. We however see YHVH our God’s saving grace again in Revelation 21:12-13 where we read the following in terms of the NEW JERUSALEM It had a great high wall with TWELVE GATES, and with TWELVE ANGELS at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the TWELVE TRIBES of ISRAEL. There were THREE GATES on THE EAST (corresponding to the three tribes under leadership of Judah), THREE ON THE NORTH (corresponding to the three tribes under leadership of Dan), three on the South (corresponding to the three tribes under leadership of Reuben) and three on the WEST (corresponding to the three tribes under leadership of Ephraim).

The Nelson’s Foundational Bible Dictionary explains that In the Book of JUDGES a disobedient and idolatrous people are defeated time and time again because of their rebellion against YHVH their God. In seven distinct cycles of SIN to SALVATION the Book of Judges shows how Israel had set aside YHVH’s Law and in its place did what was right in their own eyes (read chapter 21:25). The recurring result of abandonment of God’s Law is CORRUPTION form WITHIN and OPRESSION from WITHOUT. During the nearly four centuries spanned by this Book, God raised up MILITARY CHAMPIONS to throw of the yoke of bondage and to RESTORE the NATION to PURE WORSHIP. But all too soon the “sin cycle” began again as the nation’s spiritual temperature grew steadily colder. The Hebrew Word for JUDGES is SHOF’TIM, meaning JUDGES, RULERS, DELIVERERS or SAVIORS. It therefore does not only carry the idea of maintaining justice and settling disputes, but it is also used for liberating and delivering. First the JUDGES DELIVER the people; then they RULE and ADMINISTER JUSTICE.

The Nelson’s Foundational Bible Dictionary further explains that EACH JUDGE is a SAVIOR and a RULER, a SPIRITUAL and POLITICAL DELIVERER. Thus, the JUDGES portray the ROLE OF YESHUA THE MESSIAH. As the SAVIOR-KING of His people. The Book of Judges also illustrates the need for a RIGHTEOUS KING.

The question however remains WHY DO the TRIBES camping on the NORTH SIDE around the TABERNACLE under the LEADERSHIP of DAN had the symbol of an EAGLE on their BANNER/ FLAG?

The PARABLE OF THE TWO EAGLES in Ezekiel 17 gives us some insight into it. The two eagles represent the king of Babylon and pharaoh of Egypt, and the parable portrays the POLITICAL DEALINGS of the last two kings of Judah with these two powerful empires and GOD using the king of Babylon and pharaoh of Egypt as instruments of JUDGEMENT against the sinful people of ISRAEL.

This may be why the emblem of Israel’s enemies always seems to be that of an eagle for example: Herod, the Romans, the Germans, the Czars etc. And in line with this we see in the Daniel 7:4 the first beast coming out of the sea was like a lion with eagles’ wings.

We also see in the BOOK of REVELATION chapter 8:13 a connection BETWEEN the flying EAGLE calling out in a loud voice the JUDGEMENT coming on the inhabitants of the earth during the last three trumpet blasts.

And we know that God is the ULTIMATE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE – read for instance in Romans 2:1-16 and also Revelation 20.

There are also scriptures comparing YHVH our God with an EAGLE – emphasizing His care and protection for instance Exodus 19:4 carrying the Israelites on eagles wings out of Egypt to Himself, Deuteronomy 32:10-11, shielding and protecting them in the wilderness hovering over them and spreading His wings to catch them and carry them aloft, and Revelation 12:14 giving the woman two wings of a great eagle so that she may fly to a place prepared for her in the wilderness where she would be taken care of for 3,5 years.

In Moses’ blessing of the tribe of Dan in Deuteronomy 33:22 we read: “Dan is a lion cub leaping forth from Bashan.”

So symbols associated with Dan includes: the lion, snake, eagle, dragon and a griffin (which is wings and body of an eagle and the head of a lion).

• In Ezekiel 1:10 and in The THRONE ROOM in Revelation chapter 4:7 there are also references to FOUR SYMBOLS – the lion, the ox, the man and the eagle. There are four living beings around the throne and one of them was like a flying eagle. The eagle is the highest form of the birds on earth and as we also now know from our study represents YHVH’s RIGHTEOUSS JUDGEMENT.
• Now putting the Numbers 2 camp layout together a magnificent picture emerges forming a CROSS – the COVENANT SIGN of YHVH with His people. The tribes camping on the South side of the Tabernacle under the leadership of Judah numbering 186 400 forming the longest part of the cross. The tribes camping under leadership of Ephraim on the WEST side of the Tabernacle numbering 108,100 forming the short top part of the cross and the tribes under leadership of Reuben on the SOUTH side of the Tabernacle numbering 151,450 and the tribes under leadership of Dan in the North numbering 157,600 being of more or less equal numbers on each side, forming the cross bar. We indeed serve an awesome God. HalleluYah!