Once in a while, a situation or experience makes us wonder why we do the same things repeatedly. Why do we repeat the same mistakes, reread the same books, or eat the same meals? Are we creatures of habit? Do we learn anything new from our rituals or create change for a new experience? Reading the bible is no different. If the truth be told, we have read portions of the bible numerous times, and when we reread a passage, we tend to view it differently from the time before.
Have you ever thought about why we read the gospels, especially if we have the mindset that each one says the same thing? Is there a preference for one gospel over the other? Why? When people read the gospels, they usually read to understand the Messiah and His purpose for salvation and daily living. There is always the question of why it takes four gospels to tell the same stories over and over?
Four Portraits, One Jesus, by Mark Strauss, explains that the gospels were written because each writer had a story to tell and wished to paint a particular portrait of Jesus, emphasizing certain themes. Like many other pieces of literature, the authors wrote purposefully for an intended audience. When we read the bible, we read through different, diverse lenses without giving it much thought. For example, we read from the perspective of what’s currently happening in our lives, our gender, our race, our mental and emotional state, etc.
As complex as this sounds, we all understand that the purpose of each gospel leaves us with an understanding of Jesus as the following: the suffering Son of God; Jesus as Messiah; Jesus as the Savior for all people; and Jesus as the eternal Son who reveals the Father. While there are many similarities and differences in the organization of each gospel, they give us a deeper and more profound understanding of Jesus’s person and work.
Starting with the purpose of the gospel of Mark (and possibly the other gospels) was to write, record, and preserve a true historical record of Jesus’ teachings and to preserve Peter’s record of Jesus’s ministry. As in most gospels, Mark’s purpose was to have the Gentile audience draw from the lessons of Jesus’ life and make them applicable to their lives. His purpose did not seem like an issue at first because of the assumption that the handful of Jewish followers were a part of Judaism and did not pose a threat. After Augustus took control of Rome, the Roman Republic became the Roman Empire, and he began to persecute Christians. When Emperor Nero felt that his authority was being usurped because so many were turning to the gospel teachings, he continued to persecute Christians because the Jewish Christians continued to turn their hope towards a presence greater than Nero, and they rebelled. Because of their actions, many Christians were persecuted by being nailed to crosses and burned to death.
The gospel of Mark begins with the announcement and good news that the Messiah was coming. “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who John the Baptist who came to baptize people with water and to preach will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” (Mark, 1:2-3 NSRV). Entered repentance. He proclaimed that the Messiah, a descendant of David, would come and baptize followers with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus did appear, the gospel of Mark focuses on his ministry in Galilee: the call of the disciples, teaching to various groups of people, performing miracles, speaking through parables, and confessing that He is the Christ. This narrative follows the themes of opposition to Jesus’ teaching by leaders, betrayal by Judas Iscariot, preparation for crucifixion, desertion and denial from the disciples before his death, and the resurrection. One of the messages that is presented with clarity is the disciples’ failure, and Jesus’ willingness to forgive. Mark presents the most human and down-to-earth portrait of Jesus. Jesus expresses various human emotions, including compassion, indignation, amazement, anger, and love (Strauss). It also shows the need for readers and followers to see Jesus as the suffering servant of God and the necessity of his suffering for the salvation of His people. This theme is carried into the gospel of Matthew with an emphasis on Jesus the Messiah.
What can you learn from the gospels?
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