Stories from Luke’s Gospel – Robert Craig

Although this book is just a brief summary of selected accounts in Luke’s Gospel, there are gems on each page; it is well worth reading, and definitely holds the attention. The book is pithy in its structure with lots of well-mined gems for us to contemplate and some helpful references from the Amplified version. Of the eleven accounts selected, seven are exclusive to Luke, whilst the remaining four, although shared with other gospel writers, have comments which are exclusive to Luke.

Describing Luke as somewhat obscure, by comparison with other evangelists, the writer quickly sets Luke’s characteristics before us: meekness, love, endurance and loyalty. For our encouragement, he also points out that God can, and will, use personal talents and skills, developed through hard work in whatever secular occupation we may follow, for His honour and glory. The Gospel of Luke treats the plight of the poor, the downtrodden and the despised with sympathy and understanding; the stories which the writer has selected reflect that very well. The book is written around eleven stories beginning with the nativity. The reader is then taken through the Gospel to the Emmaus Road and on to the Mount of Olives to witness the ascension. He does point out that the stories listed are just ‘the tip of the iceberg’, and the aim is that believers will simply catch a fresh glimpse of the Lord Jesus. It is by no means critical to say that there is nothing new in the book, but, rather, these are lessons and gems to be found in ‘those things which are most surely believed amongst us’.

Having arrived at Calvary, the writer deals with the detail in a devotional manner and summarizes the events by saying, ‘it is impossible for the human mind to comprehend such love and compassion’. From Calvary, he progresses to the Emmaus Road, where the Lord could say to His loved ones, ‘ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory!’

In summary, the book is a brief account of Luke’s Gospel and is recommended.

Thanks to Bill Brady, Killamarsh, England for this review