Luke 1:1-7: a reflection

1Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed. 5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

Luke opens his Gospel by explaining his purpose and method. Many had written accounts of the events; and Luke, having carefully traced the course of everything from the beginning, drawing on the testimony of eyewitnesses, writes an orderly account for Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. His aim is certainty: that his reader might have solid, well-founded assurance about what he believes, grounded in carefully investigated, eyewitness testimony.

Notice Luke's aim: certainty, grounded in careful investigation. He did not write vague or unfounded tales; he traced the events carefully from the beginning, drew on eyewitness testimony, and wrote an orderly account, so that his reader might know the certainty of what he had been taught. The faith Luke commends is not built on wishful thinking, but on real events, carefully investigated and reliably reported. He wrote that we might have assurance, grounded in fact.

That is worth remembering about the faith we hold: it rests on real, investigated events, not on wishful thinking. We can imagine that faith is a leap in the dark, unconnected to fact; but Luke wrote his careful account precisely so that we might have certainty, well-founded assurance grounded in eyewitness testimony to real events. Your faith is not built on fables, but on things that happened, carefully attested and recorded, that you might know their certainty. When your faith is shaken by doubt, remember that it rests on real events, carefully investigated and reliably reported, as Luke took pains to show. The gospel is not wishful thinking, but the record of what happened, written that you might have certainty; rest your faith on that solid ground, the well-attested truth of what God has done, rather than doubting as though it were mere fable.

Lord, Luke opens his Gospel by explaining that, having carefully traced everything from the beginning and drawn on eyewitness testimony, he wrote an orderly account that his reader might know the certainty of what he had been taught. Help me remember that about the faith I hold: it rests on real, investigated events, not on wishful thinking. I can imagine that faith is a leap in the dark, unconnected to fact; but Luke wrote his careful account precisely so that I might have certainty, well-founded assurance grounded in eyewitness testimony to real events. My faith is not built on fables, but on things that happened, carefully attested and recorded, that I might know their certainty. When my faith is shaken by doubt, help me remember that it rests on real events, carefully investigated and reliably reported, as Luke took pains to show. The gospel is not wishful thinking, but the record of what happened, written that I might have certainty; help me rest my faith on that solid ground, the well-attested truth of what you have done, rather than doubting as though it were mere fable. Ground my faith in the certainty of what you have done, Lord.