The Four Faces of JesusThe Four Faces of Jesus

Why More Than One Gospel Account?

Why four gospels? Many Bible students want to why we have

four gospels in the NT

There were “many” narratives concerning Jesus (Lk. 1:1), why these four?

In short, God wanted to tell same story from four different viewpoints in order to give mankind a full portrait of his son Jesus

Matthew: Jesus the King of the Jews Matthew, a Jewish tax-collector (Mt. 10:3),

wrote to Jews, about Jesus the “King of the Jews (Mt. 2:2; 21:5; 27:11, 29, 37, 42) who rules in the “kingdom of heaven” (3:2; 4:17; etc.)

Matthew wrote to demonstrate how that Jesus was the fulfillment of OT prophecy: “fulfilled” is found 13 times (Mt. 1:1, 22; 2:15; etc.)

There are over 40 OT passages quoted by Matthew (more than any other gospel) in association with the life and death of Jesus

Mark: Jesus the Servant of Man Mark, the shortest gospel, wrote to Romans

about Jesus the servant of mankind (Mk. 10:45)

Mark explains Jewish customs to Romans who would not be familiar with them (Mk. 7:3-4; 10:42; 12:42; 13:3; 14:12; 15:34, 42)

Mark, with brevity and rapid movement, emphasizes the fast-paced serving ministry of Jesus; like Romans, Jesus did things decisively and “immediately” (Mk. 1:10, 12, 20, 21, 23, 29, 30, 42, 43; etc.)

Luke: Jesus the Savior of All Luke, a Gentile, wrote to Gentiles (Lk. 1:3; 15:8)

about Jesus the savior of all mankind

Luke wrote in chronological order (Lk. 1:1-4; 3:1-2); he uses the phrase: “And/Now it came to pass” (Lk. 1:8, 23, 41, 59; 2:1, 6, 15, 46; etc.)

Luke presents Jesus as a savior of all mankind; the gospel is for all: Jew and Gentile, men and women, rich and poor, healthy and sick, popular and outcast (Lk. 2:11; 3:6; 14:22; 15:2; 19:10)

John: Jesus the Son of God John wrote to all mankind about Jesus the divine

“Son of God” – who Jesus was (the theological meaning) in addition to what he did (Jn. 1:1-18; 1:34, 49; 3:18; etc.)

John explains some things that Jews would have known (1:38, 41; 5:1-2; etc.), but he also includes some things that Jews would have known (4:5; 11:1; 12:1; etc.).

John presents the evidence to “believe” that Jesus is the divine (deity) Son of God who give eternal “life” (3:18; 8:24; 9:35; 20:26-31)

Why did God give us four gospels? To reward diligent seekers

To offer verifiable testimony

To give us a complete picture of his son

To know Jesus, not just know about Jesus

What have we learned? Matthew: Is Jesus your king (Mt. 25:31-34)?

Mark: Is Jesus your servant pattern (Mk. 9:35; 10:43-44)?

Luke: Is Jesus your savior (Lk. 19:9-10)?

John: Is Jesus your God (Jn. 5:25; 20:28)?