Luke 22:7-23 – Although Luke only wrote two of the New Testament’s books (Luke and Acts), his pair occupies as much space as Paul’s thirteen letters. A good reason motivates the volume of Luke’s writing – he wrote to affirm Theophilus’ conviction about the Good News concerning Jesus (Luke 1:1-4). That purpose means Luke’s writings offer insight into the meaning and application of the gospel (“gospel” and “good news” translate the same Greek word euangelion).
We have been moving through the major sections of Luke’s writings, considering what insights they offer into the Good News. So far, we have explored:
- Luke 1-2: Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth reveals that the Good News is about Jesus’ kingdom and rule.
- Luke 3-9a: Jesus’ public ministry, recorded in Luke 3-9a, focuses on the people with whom Jesus interacted. Those accounts narrate that the Good News about Jesus is for everyone
- Luke 9b-19: This section of Luke’s gospel traces Jesus’ journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, where he would be betrayed and killed. This long section focuses on Jesus’ teachings as he traveled and emphasizes the people’s rejection of the Good News of Jesus’ kingdom and rule.
Today, we will consider Luke 19:41-23:56, the section of Luke’s gospel that begins with Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem at the start of Passover week and concludes with his betrayal and violent death. This lesson considers another insight Luke offers into the Good News – the Good News of Jesus’ kingdom and rule focuses on his death.