TITLE: WHY STUDY THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST?
SERIES: THE INCOMPARABLE MINISTRY OF JESUS THE MESSIAH
TEXT: JOHN 21:24-25
THEME: INTRODUCTION TO THE FOUR GOSPELS
John 21:24-25
24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
INTRODUCTION: FACTS ABOUT THE GOSPELS
Quote: The Bible is a universe of revelation facts which have no meaning for us until we are born from above; when we are born again we see in it what we never saw before. We are lifted into the realm where Jesus lives and we begin to see what he sees. (Oswald Chambers (1874-1917). Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry 709.)
1. The word “gospel” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “godspell,” meaning “a story about God,” or “a good story.”
2. The Gr. work translated “gospel” is euangellion, meaning “good news,” and is the origin of our English word “evangelism.”
3. Jesus’ public ministry lasted over 3 years, but most of the gospel accounts focus upon the last week of His life.
4. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels – “to see together” or “to share a common point of view.”
a. The Synoptic Gospels contain numerous parables; John records none.
b. John records only 2 common events with the Synoptic Gospels prior to the Passion Week.
1) Jesus walking on water.
2) Feeding 5,000.
Mt, Mk, and Lk - Jesus is the God-MAN
John - Jesus is the GOD-man
Mt, Mk, and Lk - Generally a historical perspective
John - Generally a theological perspective
Mt, Mk, and Lk - Focuses on Jesus’ ministry in Galilee
John - Focuses on Jesus’ ministry in Judea
Mt, Mk, and Lk - Emphasizes public teaching of Jesus
John - Emphasizes private teaching of Jesus
Mt, Mk, and Lk - Matthew is 42% unique (42% of its contents not found in other gospels), Mark is 7% unique, and Luke is 59% unique
John - John is 92% unique
5. The Synoptic Problem
Illustration: The Infallible Bible-Barometer
In September, 1938, a man who lived on Long Island was able one day to satisfy a lifelong ambition by purchasing for himself a very fine barometer. When the instrument arrived at his home, he was extremely disappointed to find that the indicating needle appeared to be stuck, pointing to the sector marked "Hurricane."
After shaking the barometer very vigorously several times, its new owner sat down and wrote a scorching letter to the store from which he had purchased the instrument, and on the following morning, on his way to his office in New York, he mailed the letter. That evening he returned to Long Island, to find not only the barometer missing, but his house also. The barometer’s needle had been right. There was a hurricane!
What the Bible points out is always true. People may think there is something wrong with what the Bible says, and they may write scorching letters to the faithful preachers of God’s Word. Still, the indications and predictions of the Bible will come to pass. Many of those who are angered by the truth will one day discover their grievous error. The storm of God’s final Judgment will strike, and all that they have will be swept into eternal destruction! --Duane V. Maxey
The Synoptic Problem - An examination of Matthew, Mark, and Luke reveals both striking similarities and significant differences as each records the events of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The question of how to explain those similarities and differences is known as the “Synoptic Problem.”
a. The modern solution has been to assume that some form of literary dependence exists between the synoptic gospels. The most commonly accepted theory to explain such an alleged literary dependence is known as the “Two-Source” theory, resulting in the “Q” Hypothesis.
1) The “Q” Hypothesis – Because the Synoptic Gospels are so similar in content, some scholars hypothesize the “Q” document as their source.
2) “Q” comes from the German word quelle meaning “source.”
3) Some see Mark as the first gospel written, and the source of Matthew and Luke.
4) They imagine the non-existent “Q” document as the source of the material in Matthew and Luke that does not appear in Mark.
b. The weight of evidence, however, does not support the proposed “Two-Source” theory.
1) The nearly unanimous testimony of the church until the nineteenth century is that Matthew was the first gospel written.
2) Why would Matthew depend upon Mark (who was not an eyewitness) for the account of his own conversion?
3) The significant differences in the three accounts argue against any kind of literary dependence between the gospel writers.
4) Since they each recorded actual historical events, it would be more surprising if they did not follow the same general historical sequence.
5) There is no historical or manuscript evidence that the “Q” document ever existed.
c. The simplest solution to the Synoptic Problem is that no such problem exists.
1) Because critics cannot prove literary dependence between the gospel writers, there is no need to explain it.
2) The traditional view that the gospel writers were inspired by God and wrote independently of each other – except that all three were moved by the same Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) – remains the only plausible view.
3) The various viewpoints in the gospels harmonize and lead to a complete picture of the whole message.
4) Their accounts are not contradictory, but complementary, revealing a fuller understanding when brought together.
6. Each gospel writer wrote from a unique perspective, for a different audience.
a. As a result, each gospel contains distinctive elements.
b. Taken together, the 4 gospels form a complete testimony about Jesus Christ.
7. Matthew wrote primarily to a Jewish audience, presenting Jesus of Nazareth as Israel’s long-awaited Messiah and rightful King.
a. His genealogy, unlike Luke’s focuses on Jesus’ royal descent from Israel’s greatest king, David.
b. Interspersed throughout Matthew are Old Testament quotes presenting various aspects of Jesus’ life and ministry as the fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophecy.
c. Matthew alone uses the phrase “kingdom of heaven,” avoiding the parallel phrase “kingdom of God” because of the unbiblical connotations it had in first-century Jewish thought.
d. Matthew wrote his gospel, then, to strengthen the faith of Jewish Christians, and it provides a useful apologetic tool for Jewish evangelism.
8. Mark targeted a Gentile audience, especially a Roman one (see Introduction to Mark: Background and Setting).
a. Mark is the gospel of action; the frequent use of “immediately” and “then” keeps his narrative moving rapidly along.
b. Jesus appears in Mark as the Servant (cf. Mark 10:45) who came to suffer for the sins of many.
c. Mark’s fast-paced approach would especially appeal to the practical, action-oriented Romans.
9. Luke addressed a broader Gentile audience.
a. As an educated Greek (see Introduction to Luke: Author and Date), Luke wrote using the most sophisticated literary Greek of any New Testament writer.
b. He was a careful researcher (Luke 1:1-4) and an accurate historian.
c. Luke portrays Jesus as the Son of Man (a title appearing 26 times), the answer to the needs and hopes of the human race, who came to seek and save lost sinners (Luke 9:56; 19:10).
10. John, the last gospel written, emphasizes the deity of Jesus Christ (e.g., 5:18; 8:58; 10:30-33; 14:9).
a. John wrote to strengthen the faith of believers and to appeal to unbelievers to come to faith in Christ.
b. The apostle clearly stated his purpose for writing in 20:31: “…these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
11. Taken together, the 4 gospels weave a complete portrait of the God-Man, Jesus of Nazareth.
a. In Him were blended perfect humanity and deity, making Him the only sacrifice for the sins of the world, and the worthy Lord of those who believe.
b. Though written from different perspectives and to different audiences, each of the gospel writers presents Jesus Christ as the only hope for the salvation of mankind.
12. Each of the four Gospels reveals a key aspect of the person of Jesus Christ.
a. Matthew – Jesus the King
Matthew 21:4-5
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 "Tell the daughter of Zion,
’Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’"
b. Mark – Jesus the Servant
Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
c. Luke – Jesus the Son of Man
Luke 19:10
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
d. John – Jesus the Son of God
John 20:30-31
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Conclusion
Of the four portraits of Christ in the gospels, that of John, depicting Jesus as the Son of God, is the most important for the unbeliever. To be saved, you must believe that Jesus is the sinless Son of God, and believe that He came to die for your sins.
