Today we are embarking on an exciting journey to study the Gospels of our Lord Jesus Christ. These four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are detailed accounts of His life and ministry and are very important. We will find that each one is unique, yet there is overlapping material. Originally, there were more than four (Luke 1:1). Within one generation after Jesus’ death, the story of our Savior had spread over the entire known world and there was much demand for written accounts of His life. In the first three centuries, however, religious persecutions were vast and many of these copies have disappeared, but God has preserved these four Gospels for us in His Word that we might learn of His Son from them.
The first Gospel, Matthew, does not state its author but it is believed to have been written by Jesus’ disciple, Matthew. He was a publican (that means tax-collector for the occupying Romans) (Matt 9:9-10). This Gospel emphasizes that Jesus is the Messiah. It was written primarily to the Jews to show them how Jesus fulfills the prophecies and is, in fact, their Messiah. You will see many Old Testament prophecies quoted in this Gospel, as the story goes along, to show where Jesus is the fulfillment. The term “Kingdom of Heaven” is used so often in this Gospel, that it is sometimes referred to as the “Gospel of the Kingdom”.
The Gospel of Mark was written by a man named John Mark who went with the Apostles Paul and Barnabas on missionary journeys after Jesus’ death. He was also a companion of Peter after the Lord’s death, a convert of Peter (I Pet 5:13) and the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10). We do not know his occupation. This Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ miracles. It’s intended audience seems to have been the Gentile Christians, perhaps even the church in Rome.
The Gospel of Luke was written by a man who was a physician (Col 4:14). Luke never met Jesus but learned much about Him from the Apostle Paul and verified what he learned through his own investigations. This Gospel emphasizes the humanity of Jesus. It was written for a man named Theophilus, a high official in Rome (Luke 1:3). Luke additionally wrote the book of Acts which was also written to Theophilus. It is believed that the book of Acts was intended as a Volume 2 for the Gospel of Luke.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are sometimes referred to as the synoptic Gospels providing us with a synopsis of the Lord’s life. They follow the same course and often cover the same material. We should not imply from this, however, that they are copies of each other or duplicates. They are not.
The Gospel of John was written by a fisherman. He was also one of Jesus’ disciples who remained a companion of Peter after the Lord’s death. He is often called ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’ (John 13:23) as he was the closest personal friend of our Lord during His ministry on earth. This Gospel emphasizes the Deity of Christ as the Son of God and is believed to have been written for the church in Ephesus. John himself tells us his purpose in writing this Gospel (John 20:30-31). Like Matthew’s Gospel, John’s is full of Christ’s teachings. John also wrote three epistles and the book of Revelation.
We will study the four Gospels concurrently and in chronological order.
Responding to God: Worship God Almighty, praising His Holiness and thanking Him for sending His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask for His guidance and wisdom as we study the Gospels. Seek His will and His grace in your life and ask that He lead you in the way you should go.
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