ctures of Jesus in action-His true identity revealed by what He does, not necessarily by what He says. It is Jesus on the move. Omitting the birth of Jesus, Mark begins with John the Baptist’s preaching. Then, moves quickly Jesus’ baptism, temptation in the desert, and call of the disciples. Mark takes us directly into Jesus’ public ministry. Events moved rapidly toward a climax. The Last Supper, the betrayal, the crucifixion, and the resurrection are dramatically portrayed, along with more examples of Jesus’ teachings. Through Mark’s unique style of writing, we view Jesus-moving, serving, sacrificing, and saving. Every birth is a miracle, and every child is a gift from God. But nearly twenty centuries ago, there was the miracle of miracles. A baby was born, but He was the Son of God. The Gospels tell of this birth, but Dr. Luke, as though he were the attending physician, provides most of the details surrounding this occasion. With divine Father and human mother, Jesus entered history-God in the flesh. It is generally held that Luke was a native of Antioch. Luke was not a Jew. Paul separates him from those of the circumcision (Col. iv, 14), and his style proves that he was a Greek. Hence he cannot be identified with Lucius the prophet of Acts, xiii, 1, nor with Lucius of Rom., xvi, 21, who was cognatus of St. Paul. As a doctor, Luke was a man of science, and as a Greek and Gentile Christian (the only known Gentile author in the New Testament), he was a man of detail. St. Paul calls him “the most dear physician” (Col., iv, 14). This avocation implied a liberal education, and his medical training is evidenced by his choice of medical language. It is not surprising then, that he begins by outlining his extensive research and explaining that he is reporting the facts (Luke 1:1-4). Luke also was a close friend and traveling companion of Paul, so he could interview the other disciples, had access to o...
