The Pure Messiah Of Luke


We’re in the middle of a series on how Old Testament messianic themes are presented in the Gospels. If you’re just joining us you can read part one – The Royal Messiah Of Matthew here and part two – The Suffering Messiah Of Mark here.

Today we’re going to look at the messianic theme of a perfect human Messiah and how that theme is presented in Luke. Tomorrow we’ll wrap up by exploring the theme of a divine Messiah, which is presented in John.

In the Old Testament we find that the Messiah is not punished for His transgressions and iniquities but ours in Isaiah 53:2. He is innocent, not committing any violence nor speaking any deceit in Isaiah 53:9.

He is referred to as “The Holy One of Israel” in Isaiah 48:17 and called “The Lord Our Righteousness” in Jeremiah 23:5-6. He is equal with God, and sits at His right hand in Psalm 110:1

This is the Pure Messiah presented in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke presents Jesus as Perfect Man — although he’s careful to also present Him as Perfect God (Luke 1:32). He traces Jesus’ genealogy back to Adam, tells us the most about His mother, infancy, childhood and highlights Jesus’ love of individuals and social outcasts.

Twenty four times Luke refers to Jesus as the Son of man — a title which speaks of His relationship with mankind. Because He is the Son of Man He is able to be mankind’s kinsmen redeemer.

A kinsmen redeemer was a close relative who would purchase back something a relative had sold because of debt. Man, in a sense, sold his salvation to pay the sin debt he owed.

By becoming a Man, and living a perfect life, Christ was qualified to become our kinsmen redeemer and purchase us back from sin.

“The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Tomorrow: The Divine Messiah of John.

Read Part 1 of this series: The Royal Messiah of Matthew
Read Part 2 of this series: The Suffering Messiah of Mark

More: Read Past Studies

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