t portion of the Roman world; therefore he naturally wrote a gospel
characterized by (3) universal interest. Here no narrow prejudice divides
race from race; a despised Samaritan stands as the supreme example of a
neighbor, the angels sing of peace among men, and the aged Simeon declares
that Jesus is to be a "light for revelation to the Gentiles" as well as
the glory of Israel. Luke alone gives the data which link the sacred story
to the secular history of the world. His outlook is unlimited. He regards
the good news concerning Christ as a message which is vital to the welfare
and redemption of the entire human race.

These aspects of his Gospel blend with the picture of his Lord which Luke
portrays. The character of Jesus is so subtle and complex as to defy exact
analysis, and yet it is evident that certain of its features, common to
all, are emphasized successively by each one of the Gospel writers.
Matthew depicts its majesty, Mark its strength, and John its sublimity;
but Luke reveals its beauty, and paints a picture of the ideal Man, the
Saviour of the world.

As to all the prime elements of perfect manhood, possibly no two persons
may agree; yet none would deny that such was the manhood of Jesus, and
none would question that there are two or three moral qualities which he
exhibited in a superlative degree, qualities upon which Luke lays special
stress.

First of all Jesus manifested matchless courage. To some interpreters this
fearlessness has formed the very essence of the "manliness of Christ." He
was not a weak and nerveless preacher of righteousness, but a man of
strength, of dauntless resolve, and of courageous action. The mob was
eager to destroy him as he began his work in Nazareth, but his enemies
quailed before his majestic presence, as "he passing through the midst of
them went his way." He was advised to flee from the realm of Herod but he
flung defiance to the king, beginning his message with the words, "Go and
say to that fox." The section of ten chapters in this Gospel which
describes the last journeys of our Lord opens with a deeply significant
phrase, "He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." Only five
chapters devoted to his ministry precede, only five follow. During all the
long period described in the chapters between, Jesus plainly foresaw his
coming rejection and suffering and death, but fearlessly and with
unfaltering step he moved onward to the cross. All the heroisms of history
a