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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll discover how Luke presents Jesus as the perfect Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost, showing us both His humanity and His dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Key Verse

Luke 19:10: For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.

Introduction

The third Gospel stands as one of the most beautiful and complete accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry ever written. Its author, Luke, was uniquely qualified to tell this remarkable story. We know about Luke from the book of Acts, which he also wrote, and from Paul’s letters. Luke may have been a Gentile Christian—certainly he wrote with a universal perspective that reaches beyond the Jewish world. Paul calls him “our dear friend Luke, the doctor” in his letter to the Colossians, and Luke served faithfully as Paul’s missionary companion during some of the apostle’s most challenging journeys.

Luke wrote both his Gospel and the book of Acts for a man named Theophilus, whose name means “lover of God.” We don’t know exactly who Theophilus was, but Luke’s purpose was clear—he wanted this new believer to have complete confidence in everything he had been taught about Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:3-4: With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke’s Gospel stands out from the other Gospels in several distinctive ways. Luke has a second part to it—Acts is the sequel to Luke’s Gospel, continuing the story of how the Holy Spirit worked through the early church. Luke gives us the most complete account of Jesus’ birth and childhood. Luke contains a number of parables not found in the other Gospels, such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Luke tells us about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection, a story found nowhere else in Scripture.

In this lesson, we’ll look at two ways that Luke presents Christ to us:

• Jesus was the Son of Man
• Jesus was a Spirit-filled man

Jesus Was the Son of Man

Matthew shows us that Jesus is our King. Mark shows us that Jesus is our servant. Luke shows us that Jesus is the Son of Man. Luke focuses on the humanity of Christ throughout his Gospel, helping us understand that when God became flesh, He truly entered into every aspect of our human experience.

How do we see this emphasis on Jesus’ humanity? The lengthy account of Jesus’ birth is meant to emphasize His humanity. Luke takes us into the intimate details of the incarnation itself. We see Mary’s initial fear and wonder when the angel Gabriel appears to her. We witness the practical challenges of traveling to Bethlehem for the census. We read about the very human reality of there being no room in the inn.

Luke 2:7: And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

This is not the story of a distant deity who remained untouched by human struggles. This is the account of God entering fully into our world, experiencing birth in the most humble circumstances possible. The Son of God was born where animals were fed, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of a stable.

The genealogy of Jesus also shows that He was born into a human family just like us. Unlike Matthew, Luke traces the genealogy of Jesus all the way back to Adam. This genealogical approach emphasizes that He is the Savior of all mankind—every person who has ever descended from our first parents.

As the Son of Man, Jesus was tempted as we are. Luke shows us Jesus experiencing genuine physical needs and limitations. The temptations He faced in the wilderness were not a charade—they were real tests that appealed to authentic human desires and weaknesses.

Luke 4:1-2: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

Notice that Luke tells us Jesus was hungry after forty days of fasting. This detail emphasizes that Jesus experienced genuine physical needs and limitations just as we do.

More than the other Gospels, Luke emphasizes the role of women. Women are prominent in the birth story and the resurrection story. Luke shows us how Jesus valued and included those whom society often overlooked. Women feature prominently in the birth narrative—Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna the prophetess all play crucial roles. Women were among Jesus’ closest followers throughout His ministry, and they were the first witnesses to His resurrection.

Luke 24:10-11: It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

Luke also focuses on the outcasts of society. This shows that Jesus came for all people, not just a few. Simeon had prophesied that Jesus would be a light to all people, including Gentiles, and Luke shows us this prophecy being fulfilled as Jesus consistently reached out to those whom religious leaders ignored or rejected.

Luke 2:32: A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.

Many of Jesus’ parables speak of those who are lost and downcast. The Lost Sheep shows a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine safe sheep to search for the one that has wandered away. The Prodigal Son reveals a father who never stops watching for his wayward child to come home. The Good Samaritan shows how true compassion transcends racial and religious boundaries. Each of these stories illustrates the heart of the Son of Man.

The teaching of Jesus demonstrates the truth of why He came to earth. His mission statement appears clearly when He declares: “For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” (Notebook Moment: How does it encourage you to know that Jesus actively sought you when you were lost? What does this tell us about His heart toward others who don’t yet know Him?)

Luke 19:10: For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.

Jesus identified with us in our humanity. But He was perfect. He was the perfect example of what humanity could be when perfectly surrendered to God and empowered by His Spirit.

Hebrews 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Jesus Was a Spirit-Filled Man

More than the other Gospels, Luke focuses on the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life and ministry. We see this most clearly in the opening chapters of Luke, and this focus serves an important purpose—it shows us that even though Jesus was fully God, in His humanity He chose to depend completely on the Holy Spirit’s power.

In the birth story, four people are under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The angel Gabriel tells Mary that “the Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit when Mary visits her and prophesies about the child Mary carries. Zacharias is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies about his son John’s ministry. Simeon is led by the Spirit to the temple at precisely the right moment to meet the infant Jesus.

Luke 1:35: The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Luke 1:41: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:67: His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied.

Luke 2:25-27: Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

As Jesus grew as a child, the Holy Spirit was upon His life. Luke tells us that “the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” This development was not automatic—it was the result of the Holy Spirit’s work in Jesus’ human development.

Luke 2:40: And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

John the Baptist prophesied that Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit. This prophecy pointed forward to the day when Jesus would pour out the Spirit on His followers.

Luke 3:16: John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism. He was filled and led by the Holy Spirit throughout His ministry. After His baptism, Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit into the wilderness for His time of testing. After His victory over Satan, He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.

Luke 3:22: And the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Luke 4:1: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

Luke 4:14: Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit was upon His life. This was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. When He preached in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus deliberately chose to read from Isaiah’s prophecy about the Spirit-anointed Messiah. After reading this passage, Jesus made the stunning declaration: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:18-21: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently demonstrates His dependence on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power. He rejoices in the Spirit when His disciples return from their successful mission. He promises that the heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.

Luke 11:13: If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

(Notebook Moment: If Jesus, as the Son of God, needed the Holy Spirit’s power for His ministry, how much more do we need to depend on the Spirit’s power in our daily lives?)

This pattern of dependence on the Holy Spirit establishes the model that all followers of Jesus should follow. If the sinless Son of God chose to live in dependence on the Spirit’s power rather than relying on His own divine attributes, how much more should we seek to be filled with and led by the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives?

Conclusion

Luke’s presentation of Jesus as the Son of Man who depended perfectly on the Holy Spirit gives us one of the most complete and encouraging pictures of our Savior found anywhere in Scripture. In Jesus, we see perfect humanity—someone who understands our struggles because He experienced them Himself. In Jesus, we see perfect dependence on the Holy Spirit—showing us the model for how we should live.

The Gospel of Luke assures us that no matter who we are or what we’ve done, Jesus came seeking us. As the Son of Man, He entered fully into our human experience to reach us where we are. His mission wasn’t to condemn the world but to save it. His heart wasn’t set against sinners but toward them. His purpose wasn’t to exclude people but to include everyone who would respond to His call.

This understanding should transform how we see ourselves and how we see others. Because Jesus sought us when we were lost, we can have complete confidence in His love and acceptance. Because Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit’s power for His ministry, we can have confidence that the same Spirit who empowered Him will empower us.

If Jesus the perfect Man needed the power of the Holy Spirit for His earthly ministry, then what about us? How much more do we need to be filled with and empowered by that same Spirit?

Ephesians 5:18: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

By focusing on the Holy Spirit throughout his Gospel, Luke prepares us for the second book he wrote. Acts is all about the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church. The same Spirit who filled Jesus and empowered His ministry continues to fill and empower the church today as we carry on His mission of seeking and saving the lost.

Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

(Notebook Moment: In what specific ways can you follow Jesus’ example of depending on the Holy Spirit’s power rather than trying to live the Christian life in your own strength?).

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