Pastor Rick Jackson
The Word of
God is wonderful and the four gospels are indeed fantastic. Not all of Christ’s
works are revealed to us, for if they were, John’s gospel reminds us, “the
world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” So, God lets
us look through a telescope and see Christ in the other 62 books of the Bible
and then in the Gospels we look through a microscope at certain aspects of our
blessed Lord.
I. THE
GOSPELS ARE FANTASTIC IN THEIR CONCEPTS
1. Matthew Presents
Christ in His Majesty as the King of the Jews [Mt. 2:1-2] NOW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east
to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have
seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
2. Mark
Presents Christ in His Motivation as the Servant of God [Mk. 1:11-12] And there came a voice from heaven, saying,
Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And immediately the Spirit
driveth him into the wilderness.
3. Luke
presents Christ in His Manliness as the Son of Man [“Son of Man” over 25 times]
4. John
presents Christ in His Messianic Methodology as God Incarnate [John 20:31]
But these
are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing ye might have life through his name.
II. THE GOSPELS
ARE FANTASTIC IN THEIR CONTENTS
1. Here a
Little, There a Little [Is. 28:10]
For precept
must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line;
here a little, and there a little:
Example-
Matthew does speak of Christ’s resurrection but not His ascension and leaves off
with Him on earth, Mark gives His resurrection and ascension. Luke gives His
resurrection, ascension, and the promise of a Comforter while John goes a step
further and says Jesus is coming back.
2. Comparing
Spiritual Things [1 Corinthians 2:13]
Which things
also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Example- The
four Gospels are independent of each other; none was copied from the other as
some suppose. Each is the complement of the rest, and we get four vies of
Christ, like the four sides of a house. Matthew writes for the Jews, Mark for
the Romans, Luke for the gentiles and John for the world.
Example- Matthew
sets Him forth as the Jews’ King, Mark as the active Servant, Luke as the
perfect man while John presents Him as the personal Saviour of the individual
but the powerful Saviour of the world.
III. THE GOSPELS
ARE FANTASTIC IN THEIR CONTRASTS
1. The
writers have different backgrounds but one Spirit [2 Peter 1:21]
For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Example-
Matthew was a despised tax-collector, Mark was a failed missionary, Luke was a
doctor, possibly a gentile while John was a fisherman.
2. They Begin
with Different Individuals
Example- Matthew
begins with Abraham, Mark with John the Baptist, Luke with Adam but John begins
with God.
3. They
Continue with Different Emphases-
Example- Matthew,
Mark and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels because they see so many things
alike while John presents much new material not covered by the others. All of
the eight months Christ spent in Judea are there.
Example-
Matthew, Mark and Luke all talk about repentance but John doesn’t mention it
once. BUT… Matthew says “believe” 7 times, Mark 11 times, and Luke 5 times.
John says “believe” 85 times!
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