"And Their Eyes Were Opened, and They Recognised Him"
JESUS: PROPHET, MARTYR, RISEN ONE IN LUKE-ACTS
LENT & EASTER 2022
“If I tell you, you will not believe;
and if I question you, you will not answer.
But from now on the Son of Man will be seated
at the right hand of the power of God.”
(Luke 22:67-69)
Welcome
In this Lent & Easter program, Jessie, Seán, and Kieran each explore how the Gospel of Luke portrays and understands Jesus in key moments of his life. Firstly, Jessie looks at the portrayal of Jesus as a prophet, noting his "manifesto" in Luke 4, and the way in which he worked against domination systems throughout his ministry. Secondly, Seán turns to the Passion Narrative in Luke and notes how the evangelist prepares the reader for what is to come, and for what will follow in the Acts of the Apostles. Finally, Kieran looks at stories of the empty tomb, the road to Emmaus, and the ascension in Luke 24, exploring how each are connected and show how the evangelist understood the Risen Lord.
Jesus the Prophet in Luke-Acts
"He Has Anointed Me to Bring Good News to the Poor"
In this first presentation, Jessie looks at Luke 4:16-30 and how this provides the foundation or 'manifesto' of how to understand Jesus as a prophet empowered by the Holy Spirit sent out to those on the margins.
"God Has Looked Favourably Upon His People"
In this presentation, Jessie looks at the miracles performed by Elijah and Elisha and how they resonate with those that Jesus performs in his ministry, focusing particularly on the miracle at Nain in Luke 7:11-17.
"Blessed are You Who are Poor,
for Yours is the Kingdom of God"
In this final presentation, Jessie looks at how prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures worked against domination systems, and how this is reflected by the Lukan Jesus who is concerned with those on the margins of society. The following texts are engaged with: Luke 6:20-26, 13:10-17, 19:41-44.
The Death of Jesus in Luke-Acts
"He Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem"
In this first presentation, Seán reflects on the Gospel as a whole and how it interprets and understands the death of Jesus by preparing the reader for the Passion narrative. Of particular focus in this presentation is the Last Supper in Luke 22:1-38.
"Father, Into Your Hands"
In his second presentation, Seán looks at the Passion Narrative in Luke starting from the Prayer on the Mount of Olives, to the Crucifixion and Death (Luke 22:39–23:49).
"They Rejoiced that They Were Deemed Worthy
to Suffer Dishonour for the Name"
In this final presentation, Seán looks at Luke's second volume and considers how the death and suffering of Jesus on the cross is understood in the Acts of the Apostles.
The Risen Lord in Luke-Acts
"He Is Not Here"
In this first presentation, Kieran comments on the story of the empty tomb in Luke 24:1-12 and notes the various similarities and differences between Luke's presentation of events and that found in the Gospel of Mark.
"Stay With Us, Lord"
In this second presentation, Kieran looks at the story in which Jesus appears to two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-27. Various aspects of the text are examined through the use of different "lenses" such as how the text was understood in history, and reading the text as part of the overarching narrative of Luke.
"You Are Witnesses"
In this final presentation, Kieran looks at the final appearance and ascension of Jesus in Luke 24:35-53, providing a detailed commentary and noting how the story is connected with those examined in the previous two presentations (the story of the tomb, and the road to Emmaus).