~ 4 Views of 1
Savior ~
November
2011 Tuesday Countdown: 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 –
0
There
are many different ways of comparing the four Gospels. Here is a very brief overview—much more could
be said.
The
Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) stress the humanity of Christ.
The
Fourth Gospel (John) stresses the deity
of Christ.
Consider the
opening of the four Gospels in conjunction with their primary readers:
Matthew ~ Jews (genealogy—Jesus, the Son of Abraham) –
King of Israel
Mark ~ Romans
(action, no genealogy) – Servant of the Word
Luke ~ Greeks
(starts with Adam—Jesus, the Son of Adam) – Son of Man
John ~ Church
(goes back to eternity—Jesus, the Son of God) – Son of God
Matthew ~ Jesus Christ as King (the Messiah) – The
Prophesied King
Sovereignty
(to reign, to rule)
Mark ~
Jesus Christ as Servant (all action) – The Obedient Servant
Humility
(to serve, to suffer)
Luke ~
Jesus Christ as Man (the Son of Man) – The Perfect Man
Humanity
(to share, to sympathize)
John ~
Jesus Christ as God-man (the Son of God) – The Divine Son
Deity
(to redeem)
Matthew ~ David’s “Righteous Branch” (Jeremiah 23:5,
33:15)
Mark ~ Jehovah’s servant, “The Branch” (Zechariah
3:8)
Luke ~ The
man whose name is “The Branch” (Zechariah 6:12)
John ~ “The Branch of Jehovah” (Isaiah 4:2)
Matthew ~ The Royal
Lawgiver (Matthew 28:18-20)
Mark ~ The Mighty
Worker (Mark 16:16-20)
Luke ~ The Friend
of Man (Luke 24:50-53)
John ~ The Son
of God (John 20:28-31)
Matthew ~ The Gospel of the Jewish Messiah (Christ)
Mark ~ The
Gospel of the Wonder Working Servant (God)
Luke ~ The
Gospel of the Savior of all sorts of people (Holy Spirit)
John ~ (The
Son of God)
Matthew ~ What Jesus
Christ THOUGHT (and said) – His Kingdom
Mark ~ What
Jesus Christ DID – His humanity
Luke ~ What
Jesus Christ FELT – His ministry (His human nature)
John ~ Who
Jesus Christ WAS – His Deity (He was fully God)
Matthew ~ The
Way of Righteousness
Mark ~ The
Way of Suffering
Luke ~ The
Way of Wisdom
John ~ The
Way of Love
Consider the
closing of the four Gospels in conjunction with their primary readers:
Matthew ~ Jewish mind: Resurrection (the crowning proof of His Messiahship)
Mark ~
Roman mind: Ascension (exalted
to glory and honor)
Luke ~
Greek mind: Holy Spirit (promises
of a Comforter to man)
John ~ the
Church: Second Coming (our Lord’s own
promise of His return)
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
