In August, I enjoyed watching the Olympics with the world. As God would orchestrate it, I was scheduled to give a message on Luke 1:1-4 to the women of our church. I was in awe at God’s timing. When I studied the passage, I quickly learned about rowing. I asked myself, “Are you an under rower for Christ?”
Below is an adapted version of the teaching. For the full teaching, follow the link at the end of the post.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life–the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us–that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
Are You an Under-Rower for Christ?”
What in the world am I asking? Under Rower? Are you thinking about the Olympics in Paris? Did you watch the rowing competition? I didn’t either, I’m a lover of gymnastics.
But the US Women’s rowing team came in 5th. Because of this lesson—after doing a word study on the verses—I watched the video of the US women rowing. Amazing strength and unity!
The team in this picture isn’t the US team but it shows a team in a rowing competition. Look at them strain to row in unison—one person, the coxswain, the one with her back to us, … she has control of all 16 arms and 8 oars. Hear her: “Ready, row! … Power 10 (10 hard strokes) … As one (as in the movie Boys in the Boat)” … As one.”
Have you rowed a boat? It takes precision. Your arms must be strong. Your core must be tight, and hopefully your shoulders don’t bunch up around your neck.
Imagine yourself in a rowing competition, your adrenaline is exploding, your boat bursts forward, you focus on the coxswain and her commands. She directs the women’s moves, their speed, their direction. The rowers move in unison—united as one—one team following the directions of the coxswain.
We’ll row on a little bit later.
Under Rower Luke
Luke was an under rower for Christ. He painstakingly gathered information from eyewitnesses who had been with Jesus. They had eaten with Him, touched Him, listened to His teachings, marveled at His miracles, heard His prayers, and more.
Luke wrote this gospel and the book of Acts for one man, Theophilus, a Gentile whose name means “lover of God,” or some interpret his name to be “friend of God.” Imagine interviewing many people, examining their stories against other stories and putting them in an order that told a comprehensive history … all this work for one person … the books of Luke and Acts comprise 52 chapters. Close to a fourth of the New Testament.
Rowing at the direction of the Holy Spirit, Luke valued the accounts of eyewitnesses. He focused on God’s work through Jesus. Luke painstakingly examined the stories and prepared their order—at the direction of the Holy Spirit. Great effort to write the history for one person. Yet, here we are centuries later, studying his narrative of the beginning of new life in Jesus.
The book of Luke is the most comprehensive account we have of the life and ministry of Jesus. Lesson 1 of your guide lists some of the unique aspects of the Gospel of Luke.
According to John MacArthur, the gospel of Luke includes 20 of the 35 miracles in the gospels. Of those 20 miracles, 7 are unique to Luke. There are 35 parables in the 4 gospels, and 19 are unique to Luke. Seven prayers of Jesus are included, and the phrase “preaching the gospel” is repeated 10 times.
Luke was a highly trained physician who was precise in all that he did. Many physicians were slaves who cared for their masters and their families. Luke could have been the freed slave of Theophilus. Others think that Theophilus could have been a patron of Luke, taking care of his expenses as he wrote the two-volume account of the beginning of new life in Jesus in Luke and the beginning of the life of the church in Acts. These two books make up what some have called “salvation history.”
“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”
The first four verses follow the customary pattern of literary classical Greek-speaking historians. Luke’s introduction in the first four verses makes up one highly academic sentence in Greek, but he switches to laymen’s terms beginning with verse 5. The Holy Spirit knows the audience—Theophilus, a man of learning and authority, and future readers—Luke wrote for one Gentile … not knowing that millions like you and me would someday cherish this account of Jesus.
Do you wonder what you can learn from one introductory sentence? I wondered that, too.
Do you hear it? It’s the sound of the coxswain instructing His Christian under rower. Pray, … pray, … pray — prepare … prepare … prepare … — listen … listen … listen — share … share … share … as one … as one … as one. The Holy Spirit teaching Jesus’ under rowers … Jesus’ followers.
The Holy Spirit telling us to pray, prepare, listen, and share God’s Word as one.
Friends, this introductory sentence is packed with the love of God to His under-rower servants as they prepare to share the Good News of God’s love.
Under Rowers Value Fellow Under Rowers
- Luke 1:1: “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,
Luke’s sources were many. The gospels of Matthew and Mark had already been written. But Luke also used primary sources, like Mary, Jesus’ mother, the disciples, and other eyewitnesses.
Luke valued his sources, for they were all united in one cause: sharing the things which had been accomplished.
And the second part of verse 1: “to set in order.” Luke is not referring to a chronological order, although some of it is, but he is ordering his historical account so that each story, parable, miracle, or experience builds upon each other to give a clearer revelation of the mission of Jesus, to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).
Just as God progressively revealed Himself throughout the Old Testament, Luke revealed Jesus, His life, and His ministry in a progressively deeper way.
Isn’t that how the Holy Spirit works in us today? Do you have a deeper relationship with the Lord than you did when you first accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
The word Luke used for “narrative” was used by historians to describe a historical account that is detailed and precise.
Can you give a detailed explanation of the life of Jesus?
- Last half of verse 1: “those things which have been fulfilled among us,”
Luke gives us the story of the work of God through Jesus. The “things fulfilled among us” … in other words, the work accomplished among believers.
Why? To convince Theophilus of the truth that Jesus, the Son of Man, the Perfect Man, the Son of God came to seek and save the lost, to bring salvation, eternal life, to all who would put their trust in Jesus.
Luke shared his knowledge, his faith, his love of his Lord and Savior. How are you sharing your faith in your Lord and Savior?
Under Rowers Focus on Jesus
- 2 “just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,”
Luke carefully detailed Jesus’ earthly story and later the beginning of the church in Acts.
Luke talked with eyewitnesses. Autoptēs [ow-top’-tace] is the word he used. We get our word “autopsy” from this word. Physician Luke interviewed many, investigating the evidence like he would have examined every detail while performing an autopsy. This is the only place this word appears in the Bible. Luke scrutinized every detail and meticulously set it in order.
The eyewitnesses were ministers of the Word. The word describing ministers of the Word is huperetes [hoop-ay-ret’-ace] the word for “under rower.” You know, the men in the bottom of the warship who followed the commands of the coxswain who commanded the men to row in unison.
This is a Roman Trireme (try-reem), a Roman warship.
Notice that there are multiple levels of the warship with oars on several levels. The under rowers were in the bottom of the ship. The person who directed the boat and the under rowers was the coxswain.
In unity at the command of the coxswain, they pushed their oars forward, leaned back pulling the oars with them, and pushing forward again. Strong arms pushing forward, backs leaning back with a tight core, leaning forward, and back in unison. All at the direction of the coxswain.
According to Ron Matsen with Koinonia House, there were five parts to the work of the under rower that Luke, Paul, and others identified with when they referred to themselves as “servants” or “hoop-ay-ret’-ace,” under rowers of Christ:
Under Rower Work
- The galley slave rowed “to the captain’s beat”.
- Slaves rowed in unison.
- They trusted the captain.
- Theywere committed for life.
- They received no honor. Only the captain of the vessel was visible to the outer world. (Ron Matsen, Koinonia House)
Friend, Jesus is our coxswain. Have you focused on Him and walked in His timing toward the destination He has set before us?
Are you an under rower for Christ … ministering the Word of God to others?
Under Rowers Examine and Prepare
- Luke 1:3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,
Under rowers on a trireme had to be physically fit. The rowers in the Olympics prepared for years before their competition – preparation for a race that was here today and forgotten a year or two later. To prepare to be physically fit, future Olympians and their coaches examine their abilities and make plans to improve their fitness.
Under rowers for Christ, ministers of the Word of God, people like Luke, set in order salvation history. They take time to thoroughly and comprehensively investigate the stories about Jesus. Under rowers prayerfully examine their spiritual fitness and let the Holy Spirit lead them in their growth. Ministers of the Word set in order what they know and prepare for the work that God has planned for them.
It’s hard work!
Maybe that work may seem insignificant. Luke wrote for one person, but God multiplied Luke’s work to reach millions of people centuries later. We don’t know how God will multiply the rowing we do for Him.
Have you examined your knowledge of the Word of God?
Are you working out to become spiritually fit?
Under Rowers Share Their Faith
- Luke 1:4 “that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”
Luke wanted Theophilus to know, to understand, to have no question that the Good News about Jesus was true—that he could trust what he had learned about Jesus.
The book of Luke focuses on how God brought salvation to the world through the life and work of Jesus and the Good News, and the book of Acts focuses on revealing the continuing work of God as the Holy Spirit ignites the life of the church.
Luke’s mission was to record “salvation history.” … For Theophilus. … Unknown to Luke for you and me.
Then He [Jesus] said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Dear friend, Moses, the prophets, the Psalms, the entire Bible points to Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Scriptures.
This is the gospel, the Good News … that it was prophesied and necessary for the Messiah to suffer on the cross for you and me – to take our sins upon Himself — and to rise from the dead the third day, and that the forgiveness of sins would be given to all who repent. We are to preach this beautiful message in Jesus’ name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. Proclaimed by the under rowers of Christ.
And Luke continues the story of salvation in the book of Acts, as he details God’s work through the Holy Spirit in the birth and growth of the church.
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with [them], He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” [He said], “you have heard from Me; … But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:1-8
Friends, God has entrusted us with His most precious Word—salvation history. As the under rowers of Christ, our mission is to share our faith … preach the gospel. Why? Because we love one another. That’s our mission, isn’t it? Preach the Gospel and love one another!
Where? Beginning at our church home. The Holy Spirit is multiplying the work of your church when you are an under rower for Christ, and the Holy Spirit is multiplying that work beyond your church home.
We’re rowing, under rowers of the Lord Most High. This is the big day—the day you’ll row for the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, The Son of Man, Jesus, the Christ.
Your adrenaline is exploding, your team bursts forward, you focus on Jesus. He’s directing your rowing.
Hear Jesus?
Pray, … pray, … pray — prepare … prepare … prepare … — listen … listen … listen — share … share … share. Good News … Good News … Good News …
as one … as one … as one.
Are you an Under Rower for Christ?
Will you perform an autopsy of the book of Luke and be an under-rower for Christ, a minister of the Word of God—minister of salvation history?
Questions to Ponder
- Do you know the details of salvation history?
- How are you working in unison with other believers?
- Are you examining your spiritual fitness?
- How is your spiritual fitness being strengthened?
- Are you an Under Rower for Christ?
Please share in the comments how you are serving as an under rower for Christ.
The featured photo is a Roman Trireme, a Roman warship.
Please Share Your Ideas