A list of 56 instances in Luke’s Gospel that either point to or directly attest the divinity, lordship, sonship, Messiahship, and/or Godhood of Jesus of Nazareth. This is my own list, so if I’ve missed something, let me know! I’ve divided them up into five categories:
A. When other humans, angels, or demons bear witness about Jesus (1-13)
B. When Jesus’ actions prove his divine power: miracles, healings, forgiveness (14-23)
C. When Jesus’ unique Father-Son relationship with God is established (24-29)
D. When Jesus gives the total call to holiness in imitation of Him (30-38)
D. When Jesus attests to his own Messiahship and Godhood (39-56)
A. When others call Jesus the Son of the Most High, Messiah, Lord
- [The angel said to Mary:]
“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” (1:32-35) - [Elizabeth at the Visitation:]
“And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (1:43) - [Zechariah’s prophecy about John the Baptist:]
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.” (1:76) - [The angel said to the shepherds:]
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (2:11) - [Simeon’s blessing:]
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.” (2:25-32) - [Anna’s praise:]
And coming up at that very hour [of the presentation of Jesus] she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (2:38) - [John the Baptist prepares way of the Lord:]
And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” - [John the Baptist affirms coming of the Lord:]
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (3:15-17) - [Demon:]
And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” (4:33-34) - [Demons:]
Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah. (4:40-41) - [Demon:]
When [a man who had demons] saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” (8:28) - [Peter:]
Then [Jesus] said to [the disciples], “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” (9:20) - [Samaritan worships Jesus:]
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (17:15-19)
B. Jesus proves divine power and authority through miracles, healings, and forgiveness of sins
- [Jesus commands nature:]
A windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (8:23-25) - [Jesus raises the dead:]
He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” (7:14-16) - [Jesus’ healing power:]
And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. (6:19) - [Jesus’ finger:]
“If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (11:20) - [Kingdom of God comes near through Jesus’ emissaries]
“Heal the sick [in the town] and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.'” (10:9) - [Power of Jesus’ name:]
John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” (9:49) - [Jesus has God’s authority:]
When he saw their faith, [Jesus] said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” (5:20-24) - [Jesus has God’s authority:]
And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” (7:48-50) - [Jesus has God’s authority:]
“Say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. (7:6-10) - [Jesus is the Kingdom of God:]
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, [Jesus] answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.” (17:2-25)
C. The Father-Son relationship between God and Jesus is established
- [Father calls Jesus his Son:]
When Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (3:21-22) - [Father commands humanity to listen to Jesus:]
A cloud came and overshadowed the, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. (9:34-36) - [Father hands everything over to Jesus:]
In that same hour he rejoiced fin the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (10:21-22) - [Jesus’ authority not told to the lukewarm:]
“Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And [the scribes and Pharisees] discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (20:8) - [Jesus gives up his spirit to the Father:]
Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (23:46) - [Resurrected Jesus will send Spirit:]
“I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.” (24:49)
D. The severity of Jesus’ demands on his followers
- [Total placelessness:]
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (9:57-58) - [Total commitment:]
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (9:59-60) - [Total persistence:]
Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (9:61-62) - [Total discipleship:]
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”(14:25-27) - [Total renunciation:]
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (14:33) - [Total poverty:]
“One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” - [Total acknowledgment:]
“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” (12:8-9) - [Total responsibility:]
“‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’” (19:26-27) - [Total reward:]
Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”(18:26-30)
E. Jesus manifests his own Messiahship and/or Godhood
- [Jesus fulfills prophecy:]
As was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (4:16-21) - [Jesus’ word is Lord’s word:]
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (6:46-49) - [Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath:]
Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (6:3-5) - [Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath:]
Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, fall his adversaries were put to shame, and gall the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. (13:15-17) - [Jesus’ claims ownership of temple:]
And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” (19:45-46) - [Jesus refers to self as Lord:]
“Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” (19:30-31 - [Blessed to see Awaited One:]
Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (10:23-24) - [Jesus speaks for YHWH:]
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (13:34) - [Scriptures concern Jesus:]
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (24:25-27) - [Scriptures concern Jesus:]
“Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. (24:44-45) - [Jesus is the Son of Man:]
And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” (18:31-33) - [Jesus’ prophecy about himself fulfilled:]
“He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (24-:6-7) - [Jesus shepherd of Heaven:]
“And when he has found [the lost sheep], he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (15:5-7) - [Jesus’s kingdom:]
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (22:28-30) - [Jesus’ words eternal:]
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (21:33) - [Jesus is physically resurrected:]
“And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (24:38-39) - [Resurrected Jesus ascends physically into heaven:]
While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. (24:51 - [Ascended Jesus worshiped:]
And they [the disciples] worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. (24:52-53)