Last week we began to look at the four Gospels, and the story each tells us to introduce us to the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. (if you missed it, be sure to look for last week’s paper!)
We pick up today with Luke’s message.
The Gospel of Luke was written by Dr. Luke, a physician and a companion of the Apostle Paul. As a doctor, he was very detail oriented in his writing! The book was likely written between 60 and 80 AD, and it is considered by many to be a two-volume work with the Acts of the Apostles.
His Message? Jesus is the Savior for All Peoples (Luke 1–2). Jesus is the perfect man!
Luke gives the most detailed historical and personal account: Angelic announcements to Zechariah and Mary (Luke 1), Mary’s genealogy to prove again who Jesus descended from, and Mary’s beautiful song (Luke 1:46–55) – called The Magnificat.
Luke captures Mary’s initial fear, her thoughtful questions, and ultimately her beautiful surrender: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:38, NLT).
He also details John the Baptist’s birth, the census under Quirinius (Luke 2:1–2) and the shepherds in the field (Luke 2:8–20). Luke introduces two very old people Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25–38) elderly saints who had waited their entire lives, finally see God’s salvation with their own eyes.
Luke’s audience was a Greek audience. Greeks valued human excellence and philosophical inquiry, (they invented the Olympics and gave birth to western philosophy – Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle). Luke presents Jesus as the perfect human being – the ideal man who represents all humanity before God.
Luke’s nativity account is rich with human emotion and divine wonder. He begins with the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary: “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31, NLT).
Then, Luke expanded his text to include ordinary folks, responding to God’s extraordinary grace. Elizabeth, (the mother of John the Baptist) was filled with the Holy Spirit, and recognized Jesus even while He’s still in Mary’s womb. The shepherds, society’s outcasts, became the first evangelists.
So, Luke tells us, “She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them” (Luke 2:7, NLT).
The Creator of the universe entered His creation not in a palace, but in a stable. He was not announced by trumpets, but by angels appearing to the shepherds.
Why do we need Luke’s perspective? Because it shows us that God’s plan included becoming one of us completely. Jesus knows what it’s like to be a Jesus knows what it’s like to be a baby, a child, a teenager, and an adult.
He experienced human growth, human relationships, and human emotions. When we face struggles, we can know that our Savior truly understands because He walked the same path of human experience.
Luke’s Christmas message is that Jesus is the Savior for all kinds of people, from shepherds to kings.
John’s Message
The Book of John (the Gospel) was written by John the Apostle, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, and the youngest one. He was probably just a young teen when he walked with Jesus. John wrote five of the New Testament books, about 20% in total. He was also a son of Zebedee who refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” but never by name. John’s gospel was the last written, around 90 AD.
The Gospel of John message is this – Jesus is the Eternal Word of God – Made Flesh (John 1:1–18).
If Matthew shows us Jesus as King, Mark as Servant, and Luke as perfect Man, John reveals Jesus as the eternal God. And like Mark, John includes no traditional Christmas story. Instead, he takes us back before time began. John has a totally different approach. John gives no shepherds, no manger, no genealogy— but he opens the heavens: “In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him” (John 1:1-3, NLT). John doesn’t start with Jesus’ human birth – he starts with His eternal existence. Before Bethlehem, before Mary, before time itself, Jesus was.
But then comes the most stunning verse in all of Scripture: “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” (John 1:14, NLT).
Why do we need John’s perspective? Because it reminds us that Christmas isn’t just about a baby being born – it’s about God becoming flesh. The infinite became finite, the eternal entered time, the invisible became visible. This is the mystery of the incarnation that no human mind can fully comprehend, yet by faith we embrace it as the cornerstone of our salvation.
John’s Christmas Message is that Jesus is the incarnation—fully God, fully man, dwelling among us to bring grace and truth.
God’s Perfect Plan Was Revealed in Christmas.
The four gospels together paint a complete picture of our Savior and Lord. It’s like assembling a jigsaw puzzle – each piece is essential, and only when all pieces are in place do we see the full image.
Matthew shows us that Jesus is the promised King – the fulfillment of every Old Testament prophecy
Mark presents Jesus as the perfect Servant – the One who came not to be served but to serve.
Luke reveals Jesus as the ideal human being – the Second Adam who succeeded where the first Adam failed.
John unveils Jesus as eternal God – the Word who became flesh.
Together, these four perspectives give us a complete understanding of Jesus.
• Jesus is Prophet (revealing God’s truth),
• Priest (mediating between God and humanity),
• and King (ruling over God’s kingdom).
• He is fully God and fully man, the bridge between heaven and earth, the answer to humanity’s deepest need.
But here’s the beautiful thing about God’s plan – it’s not just about who Jesus is, but what He came to do. Each gospel writer shows us different aspects of Jesus’ mission.
• Matthew emphasizes His role as Messiah bringing God’s kingdom.
• Mark focuses on His works of power and service.
• Luke highlights His compassion for the marginalized and lost.
• John reveals His Divinity and His purpose to give eternal life to all who believe.
God’s plan, unfolding through these four distinct yet harmonious accounts, shows us that salvation is available to all people – Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, powerful and powerless, young and old. The wise men and the shepherds, Mary and Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna – all represent different segments of humanity finding hope in the Christ child.
Every Gospel draws us to worship Christ, and Christmas reveals the Savior we all need. Let’s all remember this year that Christmas is about the Christ child, who came to save us from our sins.
If you don’t know Jesus as your savior, and would like to speak with someone, feel free to call us or come to worship with us on Sunday morning. We would love to tell you more about Jesus!
Merry Christmas!
Craig Valley Baptist Church, at 171 Salem Ave in New Castle, welcomes you to visit and share in the love of God we have experienced. We meet Sundays at 11AM, with an upbeat service of music, sharing and preaching. You don’t need to dress up, and you won’t be asked to speak, so just come and hang out and meet new and old friends! Questions? Call 540-864-5667 or email pastor@cv-bc.com.
– Pastor Scott Gabrielson