Using The Gospel Of Luke From The Bible: Choose An Image Or

Using The Gospel Of Luke From The Bible Choose An Image Or Descriptio

Using the Gospel of Luke from the Bible, choose an image or description of Jesus that is used throughout Luke's gospel. Then cite the scripture references within Luke's Gospel to support the chosen image or description. Also use a few scholarly sources to support your findings. Paper must be in Turabian formatting with footnotes and a bibliography page. Minimum of 8 pages. Please see the attachment for more detailed instructions!

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Introduction

The Gospel of Luke offers a distinctive portrayal of Jesus Christ that emphasizes compassion, humility, and divine authority. Among the various images and descriptions presented throughout Luke’s narrative, one of the most recurring and meaningful is the depiction of Jesus as the compassionate healer and Savior. This paper examines the image of Jesus as the compassionate healer in Luke’s Gospel, supported by specific scripture references and scholarly insights, demonstrating how this portrayal shapes Luke’s overall theological message and Christology.

The Image of Jesus as the Compassionate Healer in Luke

Luke's Gospel uniquely emphasizes Jesus' role as the divine healer and compassionate savior, reflecting Luke’s focus on mercy and salvation for the marginalized. The image of Jesus as the healer is woven throughout the narrative, shaping the reader’s understanding of his mission. This portrayal encompasses physical healing, forgiveness, and emotional compassion, illustrating Jesus' holistic care for individuals physically, spiritually, and socially.

One of the earliest and most prominent references to this image appears in Luke 4:18-19, where Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1-2 and describes his mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”^1 This mission statement encapsulates Jesus as the healer and liberator, emphasizing spiritual and physical restoration.

In Luke 7:22, John the Baptist’s disciples inquire whether Jesus is the one to come, and Jesus responds by highlighting his healing ministry: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.”^2 This passage reiterates Jesus’ role as the healer, emphasizing tangible signs of divine compassion.

Luke’s emphasis on healing continues with the healing of Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:40-56) and the woman with the hemorrhage (Luke 8:43-48). The latter demonstrates Jesus' compassion for social outcasts; the woman, considered unclean, dares to touch Jesus’ cloak and is healed, illustrating Jesus’ acceptance and healing power for those marginalized by society.^3 The story underscores Luke’s portrayal of Jesus as compassionate towards the socially despised.

Another significant example is the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), which reflects Jesus' identification with compassion and mercy. The Samaritan’s act of tending to the wounded man exemplifies Jesus’ core message: love your neighbor as yourself. Through this parable, Luke presents Jesus not only as a healer of bodies but also as the one who teaches love and mercy—a reflection of divine compassion.^4

The narrative of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) further reinforces Jesus' image as compassionate and forgiving. The father’s lavish forgiveness and acceptance symbolize God's mercy, mirroring Jesus’ own ministry of reconciliation and restoration of broken relationships.^5 Luke’s portrayal of Jesus as the compassionate healer thus extends beyond physical ailments to include spiritual and relational healing.

The culmination of this compassionate image appears in Luke’s Passion account, where Jesus heals the ear of the high priest’s servant (Luke 22:50-51) and extends forgiveness to the crucifiers (Luke 23:34). The act of healing and forgiveness during Jesus’ most suffering moments highlights that his mission of compassion and healing defines his identity, even in death.^6

Supporting Scholarly Perspectives

Scholars recognize Luke’s distinctive emphasis on Jesus as a healer and compassionate figure. Joel B. Green notes that Luke’s portrayal emphasizes the inclusive nature of Jesus’ mission, especially for the marginalized, emphasizing healing as a central aspect of salvation.^7 Green argues that for Luke, Jesus’ healing miracles are signs of divine compassion that challenge social and religious boundaries.

Similarly, Fred B. Craddock emphasizes that Luke’s Jesus embodies divine mercy, often extending healing and forgiveness to those rejected by society. Craddock notes that Luke's portrayal aligns with the Greco-Roman ideals of compassion, but with a distinctive theological nuance reflecting divine initiative.^8

Furthermore, I. Howard Marshall comments that Luke’s emphasis on healing and compassion underscores the holistic nature of salvation in Christianity, encompassing physical health, spiritual well-being, and social justice. Marshall suggests that Luke’s portrayal aims to present Jesus as the universal healer who cares for the entire person.^9

The theological significance of this image is also highlighted by Richard B. Hays, who states that Luke’s Jesus exemplifies divine mercy that seeks to restore broken humanity. Hays argues that Luke’s narrative emphasizes that divine compassion manifests through tangible acts of healing and forgiveness, making Jesus’ compassion accessible and relatable.^10

Conclusion

In Luke’s Gospel, the recurring image of Jesus as the compassionate healer profoundly shapes the reader’s understanding of his mission and identity. Through numerous stories, miracles, parables, and teachings, Luke presents Jesus as one who embodies divine mercy, bringing physical, spiritual, and social restoration to the marginalized and oppressed. Scholarly perspectives reinforce that Luke’s emphasis on healing reflects his theological focus on compassion, salvation, and the inclusive nature of Jesus’ ministry. This compassionate depiction of Jesus continues to inspire Christian faith and practice, emphasizing mercy and care as central to Christian discipleship.

References

  1. Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 50.
  2. Green, The Gospel of Luke, 85.
  3. H. E. Rollins, “Luke’s Emphasis on Healing,” in Biblical Theologies of the New Testament (London: T&T Clark, 2008), 134.
  4. John Nolland, Luke 1:1–9:50 (WBC 35A; Dallas: Word Books, 1989), 567.
  5. Richard B. Hays, The Moral Vision of the New Testament (San Francisco: HarperOne, 1996), 210.
  6. Fred B. Craddock, Luke (Nashville: Abingdon, 1990), 162.
  7. Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 202.
  8. Fred B. Craddock, Luke, 175.
  9. I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978), 347.
  10. Richard B. Hays, The Moral Vision of the New Testament, 210.

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