Characters also in Mark & Luke: Most of the named and anonymous disciples of Jesus in the two earlier Gospels are also in Luke.
In contrast to Mark, but like Matthew, Luke improves the portrayal of Jesus’ core disciples: they are smarter and more faithful than in Mark, and thus function as positive role models for us.
First Disciples: The fishers are called only after hearing Jesus teach and witnessing a miracle (5:11).
The Twelve: Luke names the disciples whom Jesus chose and called apostles, but with some variations in their names and brief descriptions (6:13-16). Their main actions are similar to Matthew’s portrayal.
Mary of Nazareth: The mother of Jesus is barely mentioned in Mark, and has no roll in Matthew beyond giving birth to Jesus and being protected by Joseph. But in Luke, she is the main character in the extensive Infancy narrative (1:1–2:52), and presented as a model of faith in God, as Elizabeth says: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (1:45).
New Characters in Luke: Luke introduces several new disciples of Jesus, not seen in Mark or Matthew.
Many of these are women, who have very prominent and more active roles than in the other Gospels:
Sinful but forgiven woman: anoints Jesus in Galilee; example of “great love” (Luke 7:36-50)
Galilean women: much earlier and more active than in Matt/Mark (Luke 8:1-3)
Seventy disciples: anonymous, but also sent out by Jesus on a mission (10:1-12)
Martha & Mary of Bethany: shows that women can be disciples, not just servants (10:38-42)
Woman crippled 18 years: not explicitly called a “disciple,” but praises God (13:10-17)
Zacchaeus, a tax collector in Jericho: salvation is possible for everyone who repents (19:1-10)
II) JESUS’ TEACHINGS ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP:
Direct Teachings: Luke retains but condenses many of the teachings of Jesus found in the other Gospels, but also emphasizes the “radical” or uncompromising demands of discipleship:
Sermon on the Plain (6:17-49) – briefer but more “direct” than Matthew 5–7, esp. love of enemies
Would-be disciples (9:57-62) – expanded with more calls to “radical discipleship”
Divisions within families (12:49-53) – longer and more urgent than in Mark and Matthew
Costs of discipleship (14:25-33) – one must “hate” one’s family & renounce all one’s possessions
New Parables in Luke: Luke has many more parables than the other Gospels, since he keeps most of Mark’s parables, along with twelve parables also found in Matthew, but adds almost twenty new parables. Some of these deal with approaching God in prayer (persistent, humble, repentant) and some with being prepared for the final judgment; many others address issues of inter-personal relationships and social justice:
"Physician, Cure Yourself" (4:23)
Two Debtors (7:41-43)
Good Samaritan (10:25-37)
Friend Asking for Help at Night (11:5-8)
Rich Fool (12:16-21)
Faithful Servants (12:35-38)
Barren Fig-Tree (13:6-9)
Closed Door (13:24-30)
Choice of Places at Table (14:7-11)
Tower-Builder (14:28-30)
King Planning for Battle (14:31-33)
Lost Coin (15:8-10)
Prodigal Son (15:11-32)
Unjust Steward (16:1-8)
Rich Man & Lazarus (16:19-31)
Servant's Reward (17:7-10)
Unjust Judge (18:1-8)
Pharisee & Publican (18:9-14)
III) RESURRECTION AND HOLY SPIRIT:
The risen Lord teaches his disciples that his death and resurrection were foretold in the Hebrew scriptures, and that they must be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to be sent out on mission.
He departs (ascends) to heaven, and we must await his promised return. The Acts of the Apostles (Luke’s 2nd vol.) continues all of these themes, showing the apostles as positive role models for the community of believers.
