Power Through the Pen

By Austin Johnson

     In the introduction to his letter, Luke tells us why he is writing about the life and ministry of Jesus. There are three significant statements I would like to call our attention to:
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us” (Luke 1:1)
     The first statement shows us the power of Jesus’ message. There were many who put effort in to having a full account of Jesus’ life and ministry from Luke’s pen. The point is, people were so moved by Jesus’ life and ministry they were dedicating themselves to the strenuous undertaking of compiling the message.
     Do we have that same dedication today?
“just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us” (Luke 1:2)
     This second statement clues us in on the popularity of Jesus’ message. If no one cared about what Jesus said and accomplished, then no one would have said anything about him.
     But no matter how much people try to deny it, Jesus challenged and changed the world more than any other human being possibly could. Eyewitnesses and ministers were telling everyone they could about the forgiveness Jesus offered to all mankind. They wanted His message to live on through generations and generations.
How many people are we telling about His message?
“it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past” (Luke 1:3)
     The third statement shows us the personal nature of Jesus’ message. What I find significant is the work Luke put in to writing about Jesus’ life and ministry. Luke was inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), but he still thought it was necessary to follow the life of Christ closely, to observe His message, and listen to other eyewitness accounts.
     How much more work should we put in to knowing the Son, Christ, and our Father, God?

- Austin Johnson serves as youth minister for the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com