Matthew wrote to the Jews about Jesus, Messiah—the fulfillment of the prophecies and the one who established the kingdom.
Mark gave an action-packed account of how the people were amazed at all Jesus did.
Luke chose a more Gentile audience who was not familiar with the Jewish traditions and longed to hear other details of his time on earth highlighted.
John focused more on who Jesus is and all he represents as the great I AM, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us.
Each of the four gospels provides unique insight into Jesus and his time on this earth. At different times in my life, one or another of those perspectives have spoken to me more than another.
A small group Bible study member recently compared the gospels to four different puzzles. They each display a different picture and if you try to fit the pieces of one puzzle into the frame of another, it doesn’t work.
John presents a more thematic than chronological approach, for example. And since Luke is speaking to the Gentiles and Matthew to the Jews, their views on different events are seen from distinct directions.
What a blessing that we have these four accounts of our Savior’s time on earth! The story of Christ would be incomplete if we didn’t have these four perspectives.
I have committed to reading all four gospels this month in honor of this month’s theme. Which of the four gospels will you read with us this month?