Assignment #6 - Luke Analysis

Synoptic Gospels Assignment #6: Analyzing Luke’s Gospel Using the chart and outline from Assignment #5 as a guide, develop your analysis of Luke’s Gospel by answering the following questions:  Are there any episodes that seemed especially important and grabbed your attention? List six different types of episodes (e.g. birth, a healing miracle, a nature miracle, a teaching, death, etc.), and in two to three sentences each, explain why they seem significant. Three episodes in your list must be unique to Luke’s Gospel. 1. Luke's Introduction (Luke 1:1-4): a. Luke explicitly mentions the source of his gospel information. b. Establishes credibility as the author. 2. Zachariah and Mary’s Songs (Luke 1:46-55, 67-79.): a. Unique to Luke's Gospel. b. Songs of praise for Jesus and John the Baptist. c. Highlights the value and prophecies surrounding their births. 3. Jesus' Younger Years (Luke 2: 41-52): a. Luke details Jesus' younger life. b. Emphasizes Jesus' obedience to the Lord. 4. Jesus' Baptism (Luke 3: 21-22): a. Initiates Jesus' ministry. b. Baptized by John the Baptist, fulfilling prophecy. 5. Sending out the 72 (Luke 10:1-3): a. Jesus sends out 72 chosen ones. b. Preparation for His upcoming travels. c. Not present in other gospels. d. Illustrates the extensive impact of Jesus' ministry. 6. Judas' Betrayal (Luke 22:3-6, 47-48): a. Judas' betrayal considered integral to God's plan. b. Despite Judas' sin, necessary for Jesus' sacrificial death.  List and briefly analyze every reference to the Holy Spirit, or to the Holy Spirit’s work in Luke chapters 1-4. In light of your findings, draw four conclusions about what Luke wants us to know early in his Gospel about the Holy Spirit.  Luke 1:15- “and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit”  Luke 1:35- “the Holy Spirit will come upon you”  Luke 1:41- “and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit”  Luke 1:67- “Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit”  Luke 2:25- “and the Holy Spirit was upon him”  Luke 2:26- “and it had been revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit”  Luke 3:16- “baptized you with the Holy Spirit”  Luke 3:22- “and the Holy Spirit descended on him”

1. The Filling of the Holy Spirit Signifies Divine Relationship: When people are filled with the Holy Spirit, it shows that they have a strong connection with God. This happens to characters like Zachariah, Elizabeth, and Jesus in the story. 2. The Holy Spirit Gives Power to People from Different Backgrounds: The Holy Spirit doesn't only work with “important” people like Jesus but also with regular folks like Mary, Elizabeth, and Zachariah. This shows that anyone, no matter who they are, can be empowered by the Spirit. 3. The Holy Spirit is a Big Part of Jesus' Story: In the story of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is really important. The Spirit is involved in Jesus' birth, baptism, and early ministry, showing that the Spirit is always a part of what's happening with Jesus. 4. The Holy Spirit Guides and Helps Jesus: The Holy Spirit doesn't just stay there; it actively guides and helps Jesus in His ministry. This shows that there is a strong connection and partnership between Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Are there repeated events? What are they? Does the repetition seem intentional? Coincidental? Why? List and explain at least four. One repeated event in your list must be unique to Luke’s Gospel.  - Jesus Talking About His Death Multiple Times (Luke 9 and 18): In Luke's Gospel, it's pointed out that Jesus says He will die three times. This repeating is important because every time Jesus says it, His followers react in different ways, showing that they are learning more about what He means. - Multiple Instances of Jesus Casting Out Demons (Luke 4, 8, 9, 11): Throughout Luke's Gospel, Jesus is shown casting out demons on several occasions. This repetition highlights Jesus' authority over death and the schemes of Satan. It reinforces the idea that Jesus has power over spiritual forces. - Jesus Eating with Sinners (Luke 5, 7): In the stories in Luke, Jesus is shown eating with and helping people who are considered sinners, not just with those who are seen as good or religious. This happens more than once to emphasize that Jesus intentionally chooses to be with and care for those who others think are not following the religious rules. - Frequent Use of Parables (Luke 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16): Luke's Gospel provides an in- depth exploration of Jesus' parables. The repetition of parables serves as a method for Jesus to challenge the thinking of His disciples, religious leaders, and the crowds. Through these stories, Jesus brings intellectual depth to His teachings, aiming to bring the Kingdom of God to earth.  What are some of the themes or messages found in Luke’s Gospel? What is Luke trying to teach his reader? Synthesize what you have learned by listing and explaining at least eight themes. To make sure you have amplified each idea adequately, plan on making each item in your list 2-3 sentences in length. - Jesus Confronting Religious Leaders (Luke 4, 6, 12, 13, 14, 17): A repeated theme is Jesus questioning and challenging the leaders who teach about religion. Luke wants us to see that, even when people question Jesus or challenge Him, He has the highest authority that goes beyond what the religious leaders say or believe.

Synoptic Gospels Grade Guide for Assignment #6 Your Name: __________________________________ The Episodes of Luke Grade Factor Total Student lists at least six episodes. 8 Student exhibits balance in dealing with Luke by choosing episodes from many different sections of the book. Student lists episodes that are relevant to the overall point of the book. Student's explanations for the significance of the events are logical and clearly expressed. The Holy Spirit in Luke Grade Factor Total Student lists and briefly analyzes all the references in chapters 1-4. 4 Student’s conclusions are insightful and well-developed, demonstrating an ability to accurately and thoroughly synthesize the information gathered. The Repeated Events of Luke Grade Factor Total Student lists at least four repeated events in Luke. 7 Student demonstrates an awareness of the big picture of Luke by listing repeated events that are important to the overall story of Luke. Student creates at least one list that is appropriately thorough by citing almost every instance of the event. Student displays an appreciation for the influence of key repeated events by providing explanations for their intentionality that are logical and clearly expressed. The Themes and Messages of Luke Grade Factor Total Student's themes are focused on the primary messages of Luke. 7 Student's themes portray the messages of Luke accurately. Student's themes are presented clearly. Student's themes are well-developed, in that they reflect what they discovered about the key episodes, repeated events, and key words/characters of Luke. The Puzzling Words or Events of Luke Factor Total Student lists some puzzling words or events. 2 Student's description of the puzzling material is clearly expressed. Language Grade Factor Total Mechanics, usage, spelling, grammar 2 Points Identification Evaluation 3.64 - 4 Distinguished Meets all criteria in an exemplary way. 3.24 – 3.63 Proficient Meets the important criteria in an acceptable way, although some important, but non-essential, elements may be missing or deficient. 2.84 – 3.23 Emerging Meets most of the critical criteria, but lacks key essential component(s). 2.64 – 2.83 Deficient significant deficiencies 0 – 2.63 Too many deficiencies exist for credit to be given. Total Score: ________/120 points ________