The Son Reveals the Father through his Heart for the People - Luke Intro

A Study of the Book of Luke

The Son Reveals the Father through his Heart for the People

If we take time to look into the book of Luke, the reason it was written and the main theme, many point to verse 19:10, ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’ In Jesus’ own words we are given this reason for Christ’s coming: to seek and to save the lost. If you have read this far, perhaps you know that the descriptor fits – you and I are also lost. One of the follow-up questions may then be, ‘Are you sure He came to seek and save me?’

This question and the thoughts of ourselves have less to do with the answer to that question than we may think. The answer to this question is not about me at all. It is all about God. It is all about who He is and how he sees me, he created me, he seeks me. He seeks a relationship with you. The Bible has often been called a ‘love letter’ from God. We can be sure that He came to seek and to save you because He loves you.

Throughout the Bible, from creation to Revelation, God pursues his creation. He walked everyday with Adam in the Garden of Eden. He had deep relationships with Abraham, Moses, David, and others throughout the Bible. He shows us how He love us through the whole Bible.

Psalm 103:7-14 tells us of the love of God:

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

We may be fooled into thinking that such verses and such love and compassion are reserved for others, for the Israelites. But already in verse 19, we read, ‘The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.’ God rules over all. He loves us all so much that he sent his Son to reveal the extent of that love to us all (John 3:16). Paul tells us as well in Romans 9:8 that all people are included in God’s compassion and love; ‘it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.’ This is affirmed in the allegorical book of Hosea, in verse 2:23, ‘I [God] will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” Throughout the Bible we find this principle that God loves us and calls us to have a personal relationship with him, to experience him.

It is in Luke’s gospel that we see the breadth of Jesus’ ministry to reach all people, to bring all into his arms and show them his heart for them personally. Since Christ and the Father are one (John 10:30), Luke provides the opportunity to see for ourselves how God interacts with his beloved, how he showers his beloved with goodness and mercy all of our days (Ps 23:6). And the good news is that you are his beloved! He delights in you (Zeph 3:17)!

Since Christ came to seek and to save the lost, join me in seeing how Jesus revealed the Father through his heart for the people in the book of Luke. Join our 12-week study session starting today through the end of the year. Each session opens with warm-up introductory questions, goes on to a reading from Luke and questions related to the passage. Then the study goes to the comparative or referenced Old Testament passages found in the assigned reading with accompanying questions. Each study session ends with considerations for personal application. The study is appropriate for individual or small group application.

To open the study, how would you like to experience Christ, have him reveal himself to you, during this study? You might want him to reveal himself to you in a particular way, help you in difficulties, or strengthen some fruit of the Spirit or biblical principle. Jot down here what you would like from and with Christ.

Consider for a moment why you may have thought the question above, ‘Are you sure He came to seek and save me?’. Write out any reason you may have thought this to be the case.

Small groups may share how they would like to experience Christ during this study. Pray for these desires, for as Jeremiah 29:13 says, ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’