‘Prophet, healer, martyr, Lord: Who is Jesus for Luke?’
Luke’s Jesus is a multi-faceted character, with a diverse range of interests, focuses and roles, reflecting the
evangelist’s own aims of writing. He is both humble (Luke 14:11, 22:24-30) and powerful (as demonstrated
in his miracles, such as Luke 4:31-37, 9:10-17), divisive (Luke 12:49-52) and peaceful (Luke 4:18-19). Such is
Jesus’ multifaceted character in Luke, that He cannot be said to be simply one thing, or as having one aim
during His time on Earth. As such, by discussing the evangelist’s use of allusion, Old Testament references
and typology, as well examining passages of his gospel, it will become clear that Luke’s Jesus is a diverse
character, whose multiple roles intersect to form the evangelist’s Christ as we know Him.
To understand the evangelist’s Jesus, and how he created Him, it is first useful to examine Luke’s use of
typology. Throughout the Gospel, the evangelist uses the technique of pattern and parallel, in which he
places characters (and events like the annunciation) into groups linked by type. These typologies, which are
also common in the Old Testament, alert readers to a specific theme, or foreshadow an outcome. The best
example of this is the typology of childless/barren women, such as Sarah and Hannah in the Hebrew Bible.
These women, unable to have children, often by age or misfortune, were later blessed by God in bearing a
child despite their circumstances. For example, in Genesis 17:16, Sarah is blessed and promised a child,
Isaac, who she later gives birth to in Genesis 21. Their fertility then often allows them to be accepted again
by their community, as their barrenness caused them to be cast out or reviled by their community. In Luke’s
Gospel, Elizabeth is placed in this typology, having been disgraced due to her infertility (Luke 1:25), and
being blessed to carry a child during her old age (Luke 1:13.) Readers familiar with the Old Testament,
would pick up on this grouping, and anticipate Elizabeth’s change of fortune via the blessing of a child.
The evangelist uses the same technique with Jesus, placing him in the typology of prophet (and also of
Lord, which shall be discussed later), alongside Old Testament figures such as Moses and Elijah. When
these figures are alluded to or referenced, the typology of prophethood is evoked, foreshadowing certain
events and furthering Luke’s theology surrounding Christ. For example, the language in Luke 9:35 (“listen to
Him”) is similar to Deuteronomy 18:15 (“You must listen to him,”) evoking the image of prophethood and
linking it to Jesus, suggesting that Jesus is the prophet, like Moses, to whom the people should listen. 1
Jesus’ rejection by the people in Luke 4:16-30 is then foreshadowed through this image, as referencing
Moses would recall his treatment by the people (Acts 7:20-39). Overall, the evangelist uses typologies, and
Old Testament references, to evoke specific themes or images, developing and defining his version of
Christ.
Luke’s use of this technique, placing Jesus in the typology of prophet, clearly demonstrates that the
evangelist does consider Him a prophet in the same or similar ways Old Testament prophets were. Indeed,
Luke is particularly fond of evoking stories involving the prophets Elijah and Elisha, 2 who serve as a type and
shadow of Christ, with the similarities between Jesus and Elijah being the easiest to draw out. For example,
both Elijah and Jesus miraculously multiply food,3 with Elijah replenishing food for the widow at Zarephath
1
Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. Yale University Press, New Haven,
Connecticut. 2021.
2
Ibid.
3
Bible Central. ‘Elijah: Symbol of Jesus Christ.’ Accessed at
https://biblecentral.info/library/chapter/elijah-symbol-of-jesus-christ/
Luke’s Jesus is a multi-faceted character, with a diverse range of interests, focuses and roles, reflecting the
evangelist’s own aims of writing. He is both humble (Luke 14:11, 22:24-30) and powerful (as demonstrated
in his miracles, such as Luke 4:31-37, 9:10-17), divisive (Luke 12:49-52) and peaceful (Luke 4:18-19). Such is
Jesus’ multifaceted character in Luke, that He cannot be said to be simply one thing, or as having one aim
during His time on Earth. As such, by discussing the evangelist’s use of allusion, Old Testament references
and typology, as well examining passages of his gospel, it will become clear that Luke’s Jesus is a diverse
character, whose multiple roles intersect to form the evangelist’s Christ as we know Him.
To understand the evangelist’s Jesus, and how he created Him, it is first useful to examine Luke’s use of
typology. Throughout the Gospel, the evangelist uses the technique of pattern and parallel, in which he
places characters (and events like the annunciation) into groups linked by type. These typologies, which are
also common in the Old Testament, alert readers to a specific theme, or foreshadow an outcome. The best
example of this is the typology of childless/barren women, such as Sarah and Hannah in the Hebrew Bible.
These women, unable to have children, often by age or misfortune, were later blessed by God in bearing a
child despite their circumstances. For example, in Genesis 17:16, Sarah is blessed and promised a child,
Isaac, who she later gives birth to in Genesis 21. Their fertility then often allows them to be accepted again
by their community, as their barrenness caused them to be cast out or reviled by their community. In Luke’s
Gospel, Elizabeth is placed in this typology, having been disgraced due to her infertility (Luke 1:25), and
being blessed to carry a child during her old age (Luke 1:13.) Readers familiar with the Old Testament,
would pick up on this grouping, and anticipate Elizabeth’s change of fortune via the blessing of a child.
The evangelist uses the same technique with Jesus, placing him in the typology of prophet (and also of
Lord, which shall be discussed later), alongside Old Testament figures such as Moses and Elijah. When
these figures are alluded to or referenced, the typology of prophethood is evoked, foreshadowing certain
events and furthering Luke’s theology surrounding Christ. For example, the language in Luke 9:35 (“listen to
Him”) is similar to Deuteronomy 18:15 (“You must listen to him,”) evoking the image of prophethood and
linking it to Jesus, suggesting that Jesus is the prophet, like Moses, to whom the people should listen. 1
Jesus’ rejection by the people in Luke 4:16-30 is then foreshadowed through this image, as referencing
Moses would recall his treatment by the people (Acts 7:20-39). Overall, the evangelist uses typologies, and
Old Testament references, to evoke specific themes or images, developing and defining his version of
Christ.
Luke’s use of this technique, placing Jesus in the typology of prophet, clearly demonstrates that the
evangelist does consider Him a prophet in the same or similar ways Old Testament prophets were. Indeed,
Luke is particularly fond of evoking stories involving the prophets Elijah and Elisha, 2 who serve as a type and
shadow of Christ, with the similarities between Jesus and Elijah being the easiest to draw out. For example,
both Elijah and Jesus miraculously multiply food,3 with Elijah replenishing food for the widow at Zarephath
1
Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. Yale University Press, New Haven,
Connecticut. 2021.
2
Ibid.
3
Bible Central. ‘Elijah: Symbol of Jesus Christ.’ Accessed at
https://biblecentral.info/library/chapter/elijah-symbol-of-jesus-christ/
