Post on 03-Jan-2016
Know Your BibleWelcome to Week 7
The Gospels(Teaching and miracles)
• Why four gospels?• The four most authentic eye-witness records of
the life of Jesus.• Different insights into Jesus’ life from different
perspectives.
• What type of writing?• Biographies, but not in the modern sense
Include only the events that have historical and moral/spiritual significance.
The Gospels
The Gospels
Matthew• Also known as Levi, hated tax-collector, seen as
collaborator with the Romans.
• Jewish audience – most links with the Old
Testament of all the four gospels
• Contains the famous Sermon on the Mount
Mark• Possibly John Mark, who later travelled with
Paul, then Barnabas.
• Shortest gospel, proceeds at a fast pace
• No elaboration.
The Gospels
Luke
• Historian, physician, later companion of Paul.
• Aimed to write an ‘orderly account’.
• Precise historical details that have stood up to considerable scrutiny.
The Gospels
John• One of the inner three closest disciples. • Last gospel to be written, end of first century
A.D.
• Deliberately avoids repetition of Synoptic gospels
• Discloses facts and sayings of Jesus from John’s unique and intimate perspective
The Gospels
Teaching
• The Kingdom of Heaven - “May Your Kingdom come.”
• Radical way of teaching ‘Amen. I swear in advance to the truth of what I am about to say’ – Jesus claims higher authority than teachers of his day.
1. Seven ‘I am’ statements in John – 6:35,8:12,8:58,10:11,11:25,14:6,15:1
2. Sermon on The Mount – Matthew 5,6,7
3. The Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13
4. The Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25 onwards.
5. Three lost things – Luke 15
Teaching
Miracles
Jesus’ interpretation of miracles:
‘If I by the finger of God cast out demons you will know that the kingdom of God has come upon you’
(Luke 11:20)
1. Feeding of the 5,000 – Luke 9:11-17
2. Jesus walks on water – Matthew 14:22-36
3. Exorcism of demoniac – Mark 5:1-20
4. Healing of blind man – John 9
5. Raising of Lazarus from the dead – John 11
Miracles
The Gospels
(Crucifixion and Resurrection)
Next week: