A Witness
Luke’s gospel records that Jesus’ parents in accordance with Jewish law brought Jesus to the temple when he was eight days old and what happened. Luke states,
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord” ), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:21-32.
Here we see another confirmation as to who Jesus is as recorded by Luke.
Prior to this Luke tells of the annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Mary of her pregnancy by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:28-38.
We have Elizabeth recorded as saying,
“In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” Luke 1:42. Elizabeth confirming that the child Mary is carrying is the Messiah, Luke 1:39-45
We have Mary’s belief in what has happened expressed in praise to God in Luke 1:46-56.
Luke goes on to tell of the visitation of the Angels to the shepherds announcing to them the birth of Jesus, their subsequent visit to Mary, Joseph and Jesus, and their telling those around them about what had happened.
Now Luke here in Luke 2:21-32 we have an additional confirmation with the witness of
Simeon who according to Luke,
“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2: 28-32.
As to the reliability of Luke the website Sacred Spaces notes several scholars saying Luke is a trustworthy historian. The website states,
“Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trusworthy…[he] should be placed along with the very greatest of historians." (Sir William Ramsay, archaeologist)
“Luke is a consummate historian, to be ranked in his own right with the great writers of the Greeks.” (E.M. Blaiklock, Professor of Classics at Auckland University)
“In all, Luke names thirty-two countries, fifty-four cities and nine islands without a [factual or historical] error.” (Dr. Norman L. Geisler).
That being said it comes down to you the reader.
As I write this Christmas is just a few days away. For Christians around the world this is one of the most momentous days in history. The day God entered the world he created in the form of Jesus.
Luke while by many accounts is an excellent historian he is also an evangelist. His purpose in writing his Gospel and the book of Acts is to present the Salvation message of Jesus Christ to the world.
A message that you the reader must decide is either true or false. The choice is up to you.
Please take some time to read at least the whole gospel of Luke and decide for yourself if you believe him or not.
Please think about it.
Luke’s gospel records that Jesus’ parents in accordance with Jewish law brought Jesus to the temple when he was eight days old and what happened. Luke states,
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord” ), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:21-32.
Here we see another confirmation as to who Jesus is as recorded by Luke.
Prior to this Luke tells of the annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Mary of her pregnancy by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:28-38.
We have Elizabeth recorded as saying,
“In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” Luke 1:42. Elizabeth confirming that the child Mary is carrying is the Messiah, Luke 1:39-45
We have Mary’s belief in what has happened expressed in praise to God in Luke 1:46-56.
Luke goes on to tell of the visitation of the Angels to the shepherds announcing to them the birth of Jesus, their subsequent visit to Mary, Joseph and Jesus, and their telling those around them about what had happened.
Now Luke here in Luke 2:21-32 we have an additional confirmation with the witness of
Simeon who according to Luke,
“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2: 28-32.
As to the reliability of Luke the website Sacred Spaces notes several scholars saying Luke is a trustworthy historian. The website states,
“Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trusworthy…[he] should be placed along with the very greatest of historians." (Sir William Ramsay, archaeologist)
“Luke is a consummate historian, to be ranked in his own right with the great writers of the Greeks.” (E.M. Blaiklock, Professor of Classics at Auckland University)
“In all, Luke names thirty-two countries, fifty-four cities and nine islands without a [factual or historical] error.” (Dr. Norman L. Geisler).
That being said it comes down to you the reader.
As I write this Christmas is just a few days away. For Christians around the world this is one of the most momentous days in history. The day God entered the world he created in the form of Jesus.
Luke while by many accounts is an excellent historian he is also an evangelist. His purpose in writing his Gospel and the book of Acts is to present the Salvation message of Jesus Christ to the world.
A message that you the reader must decide is either true or false. The choice is up to you.
Please take some time to read at least the whole gospel of Luke and decide for yourself if you believe him or not.
Please think about it.
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