Luke 1:1-4
1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Luke's account of the birth of Christ is perhaps the most familiar. My classmates and I memorized the Luke 2 record of Jesus' birth for my fourth-grade Christmas pageant in my private Christian school. The things that stick out about the way that Luke wrote are the details. Luke, a physician, had a particular mind and eye for analysis and fact-finding, and God was pleased to inspire Luke to write his gospel through Luke's own way of viewing the world. We see here Luke's purpose - "that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." Luke is writing for a group of believers who did not know or see the living Jesus, and who may have begun to question the details - Was Jesus really born in a stable? Did he have human parents? Was he truly crucified? Did he really raise up to life again? Luke presents his careful investigation, and arranges his orderly account, for one reason - that they, and 2000 years later we, may know the truth. God has preserved his Scriptures for one purpose - to reveal to us the true and living Word, Jesus Christ. So check the facts for yourself. Analyze. Question. We are taught to love the Lord with all our mind. I have done so for myself, and found the story of Christianity to be the best and most reasonable answer to the questions of human existence. I pray that you will find the same certainty in the story of Jesus Christ.