In Journey Through Luke 1–10, we read of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry from his birth in Bethlehem to the sending out of 72 disciples “ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go” (Luke 10:1). The focus of the first nine chapters of the Gospel is Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Then in Luke 9:51, Jesus becomes aware that the time has come for Him to “resolutely set out for Jerusalem”. He is on the road to suffering, death, and resurrection.

Luke 11–24 continues the great theme of Luke’s Gospel, which is salvation. This reaches its climax when Jesus meets and calls the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus. Jesus then announces that He has come to seek and save the lost (19:10). Appropriately, the gospel ends with Jesus commissioning His disciples to take this good news of forgiveness to the entire world.

As He walks along the road, Jesus teaches His followers about the way of discipleship. We are to follow in His footsteps as we live lives of love, mercy, and generosity. Jesus warns us that discipleship is costly and we, like Jesus, must be willing to carry the cross of suffering and rejection (14:27). Yet, glory awaits at the end of our journey, just as it did for Him. For us, it is the certain hope of paradise (23:43).

The Structure of Luke 11–24