four gospels, one jesus · pdf filefour gospels, one jesus a church shaped by matthew, mark,...

Four Gospels, One Jesus

A church shaped by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Four Gospels, One Jesus

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Mt Lk

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Getting into the Gospels

• Orientation: Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec

• Mark: Jan 16

• Matthew: Feb 20

• Luke: Mar 20

• John: Apr 17

• Jesus, Gospel, Kingdom, 21st century: May 15

• What is a Gospel?

• When and how were the Gospels composed?

• Why four Gospels?


• Where do the Gospels fit in the story of Scripture?

• What is the unifying centerpiece of the Bible?

• What does Jesus mean when he speaks ad nauseam about “the kingdom of God”?


Mark’s Gospel

• Primary Eyewitness: Peter

• Place: The Church in Rome

• Date

• c. AD 65

• Emperor Nero persecutes Christians following fire (AD 64)

• Soon after deaths of Paul and Peter

Mark’s Gospel• Audience, ancient and modern

• Cynic-in-a-hurry: Who is Jesus?

• Suffering Christians: What does it mean to follow the crucified Messiah?

• Tempted in wilderness with wild beasts (1:13) - Roman arena

• Explicit predictions of persecution

• Betrayed and falsely charged

• Raised up and vindicated

Mark’s Gospel

• Purpose: To inspire a primarily Gentile audience to take up their cross and follow Jesus by...

• Believing the Good News that the time of God’s rule - “the kingdom of God” - has secretly, mysteriously come with King Jesus

• Participating in the new exodus Isaiah promised, which entails the weakness, suffering, and death of the Son of God

Mark’s Gospel• Distinctives

• Earliest and shortest

• More concrete action than abstract discourse

• Darkest, strangest, most disturbing and uncomfortable

• Read secretly by torchlight, breathlessly whispered to co-conspiring revolutionaries

Mark’s Gospel“Mark introduces his gospel with the declaration that it is ‘good news’. The good news which he unfolds, however, is strangely disturbing. It brings salvation, but it also

brings the threat of destruction... The climax of the story is the gruesome death of its hero who has

summoned men and women to abandon everything they value (10:17-31) and follow him to the scaffold (8:34-38). The ‘good news’ must be good indeed to justify

Mark’s title!”- Morna Hooker, The Gospel According to Saint Mark

Mark’s literary techniques

• “And immediately”: Short, crisp, sharp, terse, speedy, zippy, punchy, rapid-fire, urgent, important, listen carefully

• Historic present: narrating past story in present tense intensifies pace, vividness, liveliness (i.e. Julius Caesar is crossing the Rubicon)

• Sandwich (1-2-1): juxtaposing stories/teachings to illuminate both by comparison, contrast, or commentary

• Unbelief of family, Jesus empowered by Satan (3:20-35)

• Curse of barren fig tree, clearing out Temple (11:12-20)

• Plot to kill Jesus, anointing Jesus (14:1-11)

• 5:21-43; 6:6-30; 14:54-72


• Repetition (1-2-3): use of threes for intensity or development

• Boat scenes with disciples (4:35-41; 6:45-52; 8:14-21)

• Passion predictions (8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34)

• “Keep awake and watch” (13:33-37)

• Signs of the End (13:14-28)

• Disciples sleep (14:37-41)


• Repetition (1-2-3): use of threes for intensity or development

• Betrayal, denial, abandonment (14:43-72)

• Peter denies (14:66-72)

• Pilate asks crowd (15:9-14)

• 3rd, 6th, 9th hours on cross (15:25-34)

• Jesus responds (14:62; 15:2; 15:34)


• Reactions: stresses significance of events by references to amazement, fear, or awe of witnesses

• Paradox: lose life to save it; first will be last


• Irony: i.e. truth about Jesus proclaimed by those who pass sentence of death

• High priest: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (14:61)

• Pilate: “Are you the king of the Jews?” (15:2)

• Centurion: “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (15:39)


• Three artistic frameworks

• Play

• Symphony

• Novel

Mark’s Gospel

• Play in two acts (turning point)

• Act 1: Who is this? (1-8)

• Act 2: Messiah’s kingdom established and grows through suffering and dying (9-16)

Mark’s Gospel

• Symphony in three movements (pace)

• 1. Allegro: Who is this? (1-8)

• 2. Adagio: Identity, destiny, discipleship, the way of the cross (8-10)

• 3. Allegro: Holy Week (11-16)

Mark’s Gospel

• Novel with prologue, five chapters, and epilogue (themes, nuances)

• Prologue: the Son of God (1:1-13)

• 1. Kingdom goes public: disciples, crowds, opposition (1:14-3:6)

• 2. Mystery of kingdom: faith, misunderstanding, hard hearts (3:7-8:21)

• 3. Who am I?: turning point; seeing, not seeing (8:22-33)

Mark’s Gospel

• Novel with prologue, five chapters, and epilogue (themes, nuances)

• 4. Kingship: cross and discipleship (8:34-10:45)

• 5. The King comes: suffering and dying (10:46-15:47)

• Epilogue: He has risen?!? (16:1-8)

Mark’s Gospel

• Prologue of classical Greek play

• Chorus introduces the story to the audience

• Learn about main character, themes, and significance of the scenes about to be narrated

Prologue: The Son of God (1:1-13)

• “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah.” (Mark 1:1) - anointed one

• “You are the Messiah.” (8:29)


• “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (1:11) - upon tearing of heaven

• “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (15:39) - upon tearing of Temple veil


• “Prepare the way for the Lord.” (Isaiah 40:3)

• First exodus: deliverance, journey through desert, arrival where Yahweh dwells

• New exodus: return from Babylonian exile (Isaiah 35; 40-55)

• Final exodus: Messiah, Son of God


• “Prepare the way for the Lord.” (Isaiah 40:3)

• Exodus: baptized in waters (1:9-11)

• Wilderness: tested in desert (1:12-13)

• Conquest: triumph over enemies (detractors, disease, demons, death)


• “One more powerful than I.” (1:7)

• Power (dunamis) demonstrated in preaching, teaching, healing, exorcism, and conflict

• “Tempted by Satan.” (1:13)

• Cosmic conflict with Satan begins


• “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit... the Spirit descending on him... the Spirit sent him out.” (1:8, 10, 12)

• Prophets foretold “the day of the Lord” with Spirit poured out

• Baptism in water bespeaks baptism in death (10:38-39)


1. Kingdom goes public (1:14-3:6)

• JC is wonder-worker with unrelenting pace and power (Mark 1: preaching, teaching, healing, exorcism)

• More miracles than other Gospels

• John and Luke describe as “signs” or “wonders”; Mark uses “mighty acts” (dunamis)

2. Mystery of kingdom (3:7-8:21)

• Power leads to conflict of authority (Mark 2-3: forgives, sinners, fasting, Sabbath)

• Conflict bigger than family and religion (3:20-35) city (6:1-6), politics (6:14-29)


• Cosmic conflict with Satan

• “He was tempted by Satan.” (1:13)

• “The evil spirit cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!’” (1:24)


• Cosmic conflict with Satan

• Calms chaotic sea (4:35-41)

• Drowns legion of demons (5:1-20)

• Raises dead girl, heals sick woman (5:21-43)

• Sends Twelve into conflict (6:7-13)

• Exorcises demon (7:24-30)

• Heals deaf mute (7:31-37)

• The secret of Messiah

• Alarmed demons silenced (1:25, 34; 3:11-12)

• Amazed crowds silenced (1:44; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26)

• Slow disciples silenced (8:22-33)

• Silence messianic fervor lest it thwart divine plan - King’s throne will be a cross


• Jesus increasingly frustrated with slowness of disciples

• “Do you not understand?” (4:13)

• Laments lack of faith and understanding in boat scenes (4:40-41; 6:50-52; 8:14-21)

• “Are you so dull?” (7:18)

• “Get behind me, Satan!” (8:33)

• “How long shall I put up with you?” (9:19)


3. Who am I? (8:22-33)

• “What is this?” (1:27)

• “Who is this?” (4:41)

• “Where did this man get these things?” (6:3)

• “Who do you say I am?” (8:29)

3. Who am I? (8:22-33)

• Turning point

• Healing blindness (8:22-26)

• 1st touch: “People look like trees”

• 2nd touch: “He saw everything clearly”

• Revealing identity (8:27-33)

• 1st touch: “You are Messiah”

• 2nd touch: “Son of Man must suffer”

4. Kingship (8:34-10:45)

• Powerful Son of God winning all his battles versus enigmatic Son of Man (Daniel 7) en route to suffering and death

• Passion: powerful must become powerless (8:31-32; 9:30-32; 10:33-34)

• Discipleship: following Jesus on the way of the cross (8:34-38; 9:33-50; 10:23-31, 35-45)

4. Kingship (8:34-10:45)

• “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (10:45)

• Serve: greatness is seen in obedience of Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53)

• Give his life: purpose of servant’s coming is death

• Ransom: redemptive death pays down our release from Satan, evil, and death

4. Kingship (8:34-10:45)• “Whoever wants to be my disciple must

disown themselves and take up their cross and follow me... Whoever loses their life for me and the gospel will save it.” (8:34-35)

• Disown: self-interest no longer central

• Cross: not all expense paid vacation to Jerusalem; pain, shame, disgrace

• Follow: way of powerlessness

• Lose life: no “me” in discipleship

4. Kingship (8:34-10:45)

• “They had argued about who was the greatest... ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’” (9:34-35)

• Passionate conflict: rank, superiority, status, prestige, titles, rights (i.e. pride)

• True greatness: being a slave (diakonos)

• Leader: What is needed? How can I help? How can I be least and last?

4. Kingship (8:34-10:45)

• “If a member of your body causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life in the kingdom of God maimed than to be whole when you are thrown into hell.” (9:43-47)

• Sin: stumbling (skandalidzo) is a matter of life or death with eternal consequences

• Ultimate: bodily well-being relative to absolute of spiritual wholeness and virtue

4. Kingship (8:34-10:45)• “If a member of your body causes you to

stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life in the kingdom of God maimed than to be whole when you are thrown into hell.” (9:43-47)

• Take action: apply painful discipline and costly sacrifice while you have the chance

• Caution: risk irreversible spiritual ruin

• Leader: What tempts me to be untrue to God? How will I decisively discard it?

4. Kingship (8:34-10:45)

• “Leave home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, and fields for me and the gospel.” (10:29)

• Detached: relationships, vocation, possessions

• Values & priorities: do whatever it takes to get the pearl of great price

• Leader: What does Jesus want with my time, talent, and treasure?

4. Kingship (8:34-10:45)• “Whoever wants to become great among you

must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (10:43-44)

• Selfish question: see leadership in terms of thrones, glory, power, authority

• Reversal: God’s kingdom turns hierarchy of Roman empire upside down: greatest becomes least, first becomes last

• Leader: How will I follow Jesus by serving (diakonos) and slaving (doulos)?

5. The King comes (10:46-15:47)

• Blind Bartimaeus (10:46-52)

• BB: “Son of David, mercy me!”

• JC: “What do you want me to do for you?”

• BB: “I want to see.”

• JC: “Your faith has healed you.”

• “He received his sight and followed”: Whoever has eyes to see mercy of cross will be healed

5. The King comes (10:46-15:47)

• Holy Week

• Temple (11-13)

• Curses fruitlessness of fig tree and temple; conflict over authority; love God with “all”

• Passion (14-15)

• Anointing, supper, Gethsemane, trial, crucifixion, death, burial

5. The King comes (10:46-15:47)

• Passion (14-15)

• Themes: power and conflict, discipleship and misunderstanding, identity and authority, kingship and suffering

• Irony: kingly entry, anointing as king, “King of Jews”

• “Why have you forsaken me?” (15:34)

• Powerful Son of God is suffering Son of Man

5. The King comes (10:46-15:47)

• Crucifixion

• Reserved for slaves, aliens, and criminals

• “Anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.” (Deut. 21:23)

• “The cruelest and most hideous manner of execution.” (Cicero)

• “The most wretched of all ways of dying.” (Josephus)

5. The King comes (10:46-15:47)

• Crucifixion

• Power in cosmic conflict demonstrated by suffering, degradation, abandonment, and death

• No darkness you will experience that Jesus has not already experienced

5. The King comes (10:46-15:47)

• Jesus embodies his own teaching in his death

• By losing his life he saves it (8:35)

• By being last he is first (9:35)

• By serving and giving his life as a ransom for many he is acknowledged to be great (10:42-45)

5. The King comes (10:46-15:47)

• Baptism redux (15:33-39)

• “Torn”: not heaven but temple veil

• Heaven and holy of holies are open

• JC is Temple, nexus of heaven and earth

• “Surely this is the Son of God!”: not Father, disciple, Jew but Roman centurion

• Messianic secret manifest to Gentiles (Isaiah 56; Mark 11:17)

5. The King comes (10:46-15:47)

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God... We preach Christ crucified... the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1)

• Nice, happy ending?

• Resurrection provokes enigma, fear, awe, questions, speechlessness

• Gospel full of secrecy and hiddenness concludes with empty tomb and absent Jesus

• Ends as abruptly as it began: Who is this? Where has he gone?

Epilogue: He is risen?!? (16:1-8)

• How will it all turn out? Will the disciples...

• Stare blindly into an empty tomb or go meet the risen Messiah in Galilee for further instructions on God’s mission?

• Join the powerful Son of God in his cosmic conflict with Satan?

• Take up crosses and follow the suffering Son of Man?

• The answers to these questions are up to us!


“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver, “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

- C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1959)


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