God's Story: The Gospels

Summary

The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—tell the story of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. Each Gospel presents a unique perspective: Matthew shows Jesus as the promised King, Mark focuses on His actions, Luke emphasizes His compassion, and John reveals His divinity. Together, they form the foundation of the Christian faith, highlighting Jesus's miracles and teachings that prove He is both fully God and fully man. The Gospels convey the good news that through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, believers can have eternal life and a restored relationship with God.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Bible consists of two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
• 😀 The first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are called the Gospels and tell the story of Jesus' life.
• 😀 The Gospels are collectively known as the 'Good News' or the 'Gospel' because they share the message of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
• 😀 Matthew’s Gospel highlights Jesus as the long-awaited King and Savior for the Israelites, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.
• 😀 Mark’s Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ actions, showing His power through miracles like healing the sick and teaching through parables.
• 😀 Luke, an educated doctor, wrote his Gospel based on careful research and traveling with the Apostle Paul, focusing on Jesus’ compassion for the poor and marginalized.
• 😀 John’s Gospel stresses that Jesus is both fully man and fully God, with His miracles demonstrating His divinity and authority.
• 😀 All four Gospels share the core truth that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again to offer eternal life to all who believe in Him.
• 😀 While the Gospels sometimes include different stories or order, they all tell the same essential message of Jesus as the Savior.
• 😀 The Good News of Jesus invites everyone to believe in Him and receive the gift of eternal life, a core theme throughout the entire Bible.
• 😀 By reading the Gospels, we come to understand God’s love and the life Jesus offers, encouraging us to care for others as He did.

Q & A

What are the four books of the Bible that tell the story of Jesus's life?

The four books are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are known as the Gospels or the Good News.

What is the main purpose of the Gospels?

The Gospels tell the life story of Jesus, showing who He is, what He did, and how He reveals God's nature to us.

How does the Gospel of Matthew portray Jesus?

Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the long-awaited Rescuer and King, fulfilling promises and prophecies from the Old Testament.

What unique perspective does Mark's Gospel offer?

Mark presents a fast-paced account of Jesus’s actions, focusing on His healings, teachings, and miracles, often through the use of Parables.

How did Luke approach writing his Gospel?

Luke, an educated doctor, conducted thorough research and traveled with the Apostle Paul, aiming to provide an accurate, detailed account of Jesus's life.

What key message does the Gospel of John convey about Jesus?

John emphasizes that Jesus is both fully man and fully God, and that His miracles confirm His divine nature as the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

Why are some stories in the Gospels different or in different order?

Each Gospel writer had a unique perspective and emphasis. This means that while some stories may appear in one Gospel and not in others, or in different orders, it reflects their personal accounts and focus rather than errors.

Which parts of Jesus's story are shared across all four Gospels?

The most important event shared by all four Gospels is Jesus's death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection three days later.

How do the Gospels help believers understand God?

The Gospels reveal that through Jesus, who is full of grace and truth, we can see God as a loving Father, understand His goodness, and experience closeness with Him.

What is the significance of John 3:16 in understanding God's love?

John 3:16 explains that God's love for the world is so great that He gave His only Son, Jesus, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life and not perish.