Prodigal Disciples

By Christopher Carter

Your personal tour guide to the adventure of a lifetime!

Ever been to a foreign city, looked around and could sense the history, the architecture, the majesty it has to offer. But being unfamiliar with the territory, you find yourself somewhat lost…aware of the grandeur all around you but unable to tap into it. What you need is a personal tour guide. With their insight, their knowledge and experience, suddenly the glory of that city comes to life.

Reading the Bible can be like that. You know it's truth, it's good for you…but somehow you have the sense that there is more to learn, more "ah-ha's" and meaningful moments that you could be capturing. Prodigal Disciples is designed to be your personal tour guide through the Gospel of Luke. These pages are brimming with color, clarity, insight and understanding to help you embrace and enjoy more of God's wisdom and blessing to your life.

Luke is the most detailed of the four Gospels and by understanding more fully the meaning and context of it's passages, you will find yourself more confident in your relationship with God and the security of your standing as a favored son or daughter of the King.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zion Press
• Release date: Oct 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393914419

Book preview

Introduction

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Jesus became a human to seek and save prodigals. As his earthly ministry neared its end, Christ instructed his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matt. 28:19–20). From this sweeping command, known as The Great Commission, Jesus scattered his followers to seek out the distant prodigals. According to God’s will, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in Life Together , The Christian church is a scattered people, scattered like ‘seed to all the kingdoms of the earth’ (Deut. 28:25). That is the curse and its promise. God’s people must live in distant lands among the unbelievers, but they will be the seed of the kingdom of God in all the world. ¹ From our God-ordained exile among the nations, a new age of freedom and forgiveness is taking root. As Christ’s church in diaspora spreads the good news, people from all walks of life are finding their way home to the Father’s embrace. For the Gospel writer, Luke, one curiously unknown prodigal came under his care: Theophilus.

Who is Theophilus?

This man, whose name means friend of God, has long been the subject of research and discussion. Who is he? For many scholars, the title Luke ascribes to Theophilus, most excellent, kratiste in Greek, provides a precious clue. Capitalizing on this lone morsel, scholars coalesce around several theories. According to John Wesley, Theophilus was most likely a high-ranking citizen of Alexandria..² Other theologians posit that the addressee of Luke’s Gospel is a Roman official. Many individuals holding imperial power were addressed as kratiste. For example, when Paul addressed the Roman Governors Felix (Acts 24:3 TR1894³) and Festus (Acts 26:25 TR1894⁴), he used the honorific kratiste. In contrast with this view, eighteenth century English clergyman William Paley postulated that Theophilus was none other than the high priest Theophilus ben Ananus (AD 37–41).⁵ While speculation on his historical identity is inconclusive, one facet of his identity is certain: Theophilus was a learner of the word, a follower of Christ’s teachings, and a result of Luke’s obedience to the Great Commission.

Learning

Luke wrote to this man so he could understand with certainty the faith he had been taught (Luke 1:4). The evangelist may have even personally taught the Christian faith to Theophilus, and baptized him.⁶ From this we can extrapolate that Theophilus was a man learning the Christian faith, a catechumen (literally, learner).

Following

When the prodigal became a catechumen, the church members worked tirelessly to impart the faith to the new learner. After a period of instruction, the student received baptism. While a learner can fairly be called a disciple, the baptism confirmed this calling to a watching world. When the minister submerged the believer, the minister asked three questions: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty? Do you believe in Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who was born by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and was dead and buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven, and sat at the right hand of the Father, and will come to judge the living and the dead? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, in the holy church, and in the resurrection of the flesh?

For each question, the candidate would respond, Credo, I believe.⁷ When the newly baptized believer sank beneath the waters, the credo rang out with the power of the resurrection. This action, backed by the belief the candidate learned, confirmed that person as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Learning to Follow

As a learner and a follower, Theophilus would have undergone this baptism, his credo resounding to the far country. Even after his baptism, however, this eminent individual continued to learn and follow. Each new day Theophilus would reaffirm his credo. To help him in this, Luke wrote an account of Jesus’s life. Though meant for Theophilus, the evangelist’s account of the prodigal-rescuing God was handed down for generations of disciples learning to follow.

The Goal of This Devotional

Like Theophilus, we are also learning to follow. God has rescued us from the empty promises of the distant country. All of the Bible is God’s loving embrace to help bring us home. We, therefore, must set ourselves under his instruction. Daily we must learn his word and follow his footsteps. This devotional is meant to help us become faithful hearers and doers of the word (James 1:22 ESV).

Learning and Following

Becoming an eager learner of the word is essential for the Christian life, but putting this discipline into practice can seem daunting when pitted against the busyness of everyday life. Over the years, Christ’s followers have pioneered different approaches to resolve this struggle. Some strive to read the Bible in an entire year, while others prefer a devotional organized around different topics (prayer, joy, generosity, and so on). Some even eschew devotional aids altogether in favor of reading the Bible by itself.

While each program has benefits as well as drawbacks, they’ve all taught me valuable lessons about engaging God’s word. Prodigal Disciples, therefore, draws from the benefits of each approach while working through the drawbacks. Gleaning from the Bible-in-one-year method, this devotional offers a mapped-out set of chapters and verses to read each day. It lays out these passages in bite-sized chunks, allowing you, the reader, to enjoy this book over your morning coffee or on your commute to work.

Additionally, Prodigal Disciples, in the tradition of topical devotionals, includes short reflections on the day’s passage. While a subject-based approach to daily devotions can shift with the reader’s interests or season of life, Scripture-based tools bring in a variety of topics that speak to many different seasons and interests, making it easier for you stay engaged over the long run.

Finally, Prodigal Disciples concludes each devotional with a set of reflection questions and a prayer. These sections give you the opportunity to think and pray through what you read. These questions can be processed solo or with other people. Either way, these tools will help you pick out relevant points and applications you may have missed reading the Scripture by itself. With this devotional in hand, diving deep into the word and learning how to follow Jesus in daily life will slip seamlessly into your regular rhythm.

As you approach the book of Luke, remember that you are walking through this book in the presence of a great cloud of witnesses. The author penned this book to stir a love for God in Theophilus. The intent of this text remains the same for you and me. Whether you are a prodigal opening the Gospel of Luke for the first time or you are a lifelong learner, God eagerly longs to teach you to follow. Read, understand, pray, and believe. You are learning to follow.

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1 . Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (Fortress Press: Minneapolis, 2015), 30.

2 . John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on Luke, Christianity, July 2, 2019, https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=wes&b=42&c=1.

3 . Koine Greek Bible (KGB).

4 . KGB.

5 . James Tate, The Horae Paulinae of William Paley (London: Paternoster (Tate 1840) (Henry 1985)Row, 1840), https://books.google.com/books?id=pmAsAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR3#v=onepage&q&f=false, 165.

6 . Matthew Henry. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, vol. 5, Matthew to John (McLean: MacDonald Publishing Company, 1985), 574.

7 . Stuart G. Hall, Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1991, 2005), 20.

Luke 1

1:1–4: The Author of Our Faith

Faith, Hebrews’ writer reminds us, is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Heb. 11:2). Hope, the expectation that the world will one day be set aright, thrives and thrums in the Christian faith. It is a firm grasp on the promise of a better story. This narrative removes us from the confinement of the myths we author about life, the false-spun tale that we are our own kings. As this better story removes our folklore, it looks ahead to the end, and it testifies that good will prevail over the night. For our Christianity to be fully formed, we must allow the Spirit to thread our lives into this narrative God is writing. This story takes hold of our lives when we build it on the twin pillars of faith and hope.

Faith

Faith is deep trust in the Author and the story he’s telling. For this virtue to grow in a person, one must learn the information communicated in the narrative. The Bible’s story frames a world in which man was created to love God, but broke his trust by departing to chase after dead gods. The book of Luke, however, recounts the Lord’s great initiative to bring home his distant prodigals. As we listen to the Storyteller, we can choose to accept his tale as true, or we can dismiss it as nonsense. Merely assenting to the story’s validity isn’t enough. But if we accept its veracity, trust will find fertile soil in which to grow. This is faith, and it is the catalyst for coming home.

Hope

As faith roots in our lives, it bears the fruit of hope. This virtue is the expectation that God’s story will turn out as promised. When we experience trials, we can recall the resurrection and its guarantee of life. If sin leads us off course, the parable of the prodigal son will bring to mind the Father who meets us while we’re far off. We may stumble and wander, but God and his story can reorient us.

The Shepherd’s Staff

As Luke tells his account of Jesus’s life, God is working to cultivate faith and hope. Through these virtues, he nurtures and sustains us. He is our Shepherd, and the story is his staff to keep us gathered in his wake. Listen with open ears to Luke’s tale, for it is nothing less than the thread of a God at work in us.

Reflection Questions

What stories do you tell to help understand your life?

How would you tell God’s story?

How does his story impact your life?

Prayer

Dear God, you are the author and perfecter of our faith. Your pen scribes the greatest tale ever, the story of a loving Father rescuing his scattered children. While I was still far off, you had already taken to my prodigal road. My far-off country became the site of your tabernacle that you might save me. Open my eyes to this reality and bring me home for eternity. By Christ I pray, amen.

1:5–25: Seen

Missing Out

Before I understood God’s love, his judgment was a terrifying prospect; thus, panic entered my soul when I considered the idea that all Christians would suddenly be caught up into heaven, leaving behind on earth the unrepentant sinner to suffer under seven years of the Lord’s judgment. Despite my fear of divine judgment, I still read the Left Behind series, immensely popular among evangelical Christians during the late ’90s. The summer after I finished the series, my family and I retreated to Myrtle Beach for a much-needed vacation. Days of lounging among the lapping waves were followed by nights of delicious food and great conversation.

One afternoon during our trip, I went back to the beach house to ask my parents something, but they were gone. Immediately, I thought they had been raptured, leaving me behind. My grandma reassured me that they had just been caught up in the grocery store and not the highest heavens. Though I was relieved, that moment held such fear because I felt like God had forgotten me.

A Covenant of Blessing

Elizabeth and Zechariah, though offspring of a sacred and esteemed lineage, were aged and childless. People stuck in this state of affairs were considered cursed and forgotten by God. These benighted figures have striking similarities to Abraham and Sarah. Elderly and without next of kin, their vast wealth was set to be passed down to a servant. The God who never leaves nor forsakes us (Deut. 31:6) held these servants in high regard and purposed to bless them. Though their age approached triple digits, Abraham and Sarah were told that their descendants would number as the stars in the sky. The unexpected birth of their son Isaac signaled the coming of God’s great covenant to bless the nations of earth. Neither they nor the world had been forgotten by God.

A Promise Fulfilled

When Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, God was making the next step in fulfilling his great covenant. This child would prepare the way for Jesus, the one who is the son of Abraham and the Son of God. John walked before Christ announcing humanity’s greatest hope: the one who sees us, forgives our sins, and heals our brokenness had come. John declared to us that our hard service has been completed, and that our sin has been paid for (Isa. 40:2). In the Christ child, the longings of broken humanity are met by the redemption of the Lord. Jesus, God wrapped in humanity, put on our separating sin so that we could be reunited with the Father. Reflecting on Christ in our humanness, Gregory of Nazianzus wrote, What has not been assumed (by Christ) has not been healed; it is what is united to his divinity that is saved.⁸ Because Jesus, the perfect image of God, became a man, we have hope. He reminds us that God sees us and has not forgotten our plight

Reflection Questions

Describe a time you felt forgotten.

How did that feel?

How does Jesus remind us that God sees us?

Prayer

Dear God, you see me. You know me. You love me. No sin or suffering can separate me from your love. The sun may not shine as I hope, but you remain constant and firm. May I hold tightly to you in every circumstance. By Christ I pray, amen.

1:26–56: The Way of Obedience

Ave Maria

Under Rome’s gray December sky, my classmates and I huddled in a throng of devout pilgrims. These observant believers had flocked to the Spanish Steps for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holiday dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Though my friends and I had come to catch a fleeting glimpse of the pope, the sight of hundreds chanting Ave Maria in unison awed us. For hours, this repetition continued. Hail Mary, full of grace, they intoned continually. With hearts turned to heaven, these Catholic Christians pleaded for mercy from the mother of God.

In that moment at the Spanish Steps, this prayer surfacing from a sea of devout Catholics confused me. Hebrews 4 began to march through my mind. As the author wrote, We have a great high priest (Jesus) who has ascended into heaven . . . let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence (Heb. 4:14, 16). The church is adding an extra mediator when Christ is enough, I thought.

In contrast, we Protestants have a time-honored tradition of ignoring Jesus’s mother. Though we offer her a begrudging nod at Christmas, the virtue of her life is little considered by those of us who have left Rome’s fold. If the Catholic tradition has run too far with Mary, while Protestants wince at the mention of her name, how should we view the virgin matriarch when we come back to the biblical center?

Faithful

While the Bible creates no space for Mary as an intercessor, it speaks highly of the virtue she exhibited in her life. When Jesus’s mother was young, probably around fourteen or fifteen, the angel Gabriel announced the miraculous birth of Christ. Mary, the one chosen to bear God’s Son, was still an unmarried virgin. An extramarital pregnancy would guarantee death for her and ostracism for her family. Still, Mary said yes to God.

In addition to her costly obedience, Christ’s mother knew that her son’s life would end in ignominious shame and pain. When Mary presented the baby Jesus at the temple, holy and devout Simeon spoke a beautiful prophecy over the infant. However, he also offered this tragic aside to the child’s mother: A sword will pierce your own soul too (Luke 2:35). Aware that her son was the Messiah and versed in Hebrew Scripture, the words of Isaiah 53:5 may have gripped her heart in that moment. He (Christ) was pierced for our transgression, the prophet Isaiah presciently predicted. He was crushed for our iniquities. Mary may not have foreseen the cross awaiting Jesus, but she knew that his life would be struck down in the prime of youth. She would suffer the loss of her eldest (and in some Christian traditions, only) son. Still, she said yes to God.

When we look at Mary’s life, we witness a brave woman setting her face on God through rejection, pain, and profound loss. Despite all those trials, she still committed her life to the way of obedience. "I am the