Fullness of God’s RevelationJesus fulfills the Old Testament Promises

The GospelsSpreading the “Good News”

Center of Scripture

•Record Jesus’ life, teachings, and redeeming work.

•4 accounts that proclaim the “Good news”

•Have no error in their truth and are harmonious, but are not identical

•They invite us to accept Jesus in faith and apply his teachings to our

lives•They are NOT historical biographies,

although they contain historical events

Three Stages in Gospel Formation

•Life and teaching of Jesus, Himself

• Oral tradition, eyewitnesses to the Christ

event

• Written gospels, early texts

Life & Teaching

Oral Traditio

n

Written Gospels

Why 4 Gospels?

•Each community had different and diverse experiences, concerns and challenges.

•Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John▫Guided by the Holy Spirit, each focuses on

a different aspect of Jesus’ life and teachings

▫Matthew, Mark and Luke are “synoptic” Similar in style and content Present different images of Jesus, meaningful

to the audience

Synoptic Gospels

Mark Q

LukeMatthewBoth Matthew and Luke used Mark’s Gospel as a guide. They also used a

source named “Q”. This is why they have a “similar view”

m l

Four Images of Jesus

•Matthew▫Teacher and prophet

•Mark▫Suffering servant of God

•Luke▫Compassionate Healer

•John▫Incarnate Word of God

Gospel of Matthew

•Written by “Matthew”, a Jewish Christian

•Written about 70-80 AD•Written for Jewish

Christians & Gentiles probably residing in Palestine.

•His theme is that Jesus is the Promised Messiah

• Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises

Jesus as the New MosesMatthew presents Jesus as the New Moses

His sermons reveal Jesus as a great Teacher

Matthew strives to show that Jesus Christ fulfills all of God’s promises to the Chosen People and through them to all people. He connects the Old Testament with the New.

Gospel of Mark

• Written by John Mark, a friend of Peter

• Written about 65-70 AD• Written for gentile Christians

probably residing in Rome, during the persecution of Nero.

• His image of Jesus is the Suffering Messiah

• The theme of this gospel is “Salvation comes through the cross”

• Messianic secret or mystery• “Do not tell”

Titles for Jesus in Mark’s GospelChrist—Messiah

“anointed one”Son of Man (Ezekiel)

Suffering Servant (Isaiah)

Jesus was reluctant to reveal his identity

because his concept of the “anointed one” was radically different from that of his people and

disciples.

Even suffering Christians can celebrate the Good

News because Jesus brings eternal life.

God Became Man“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ

(the Son of God)” (Mk 1:1)

Mark stresses Jesus’ humanity throughout his Gospel.

Mark teaches that Jesus is the Son of God who assumed human nature.

Gospel of Luke

• Written by Luke, a Greek convert, friend of Paul

• Written about 70-85AD• Admits to using “other writings”

• Written for Greek Christians, probably in Greece

• His image of Jesus is the Compassionate Savior

• Believing in Jesus goes beyond all barriers

• Inclusion of the “outcasts”• Poor, women, sinners, sick, etc.

Jesus’ Message in Luke

Jesus Offers a Message of Joy

Jesus Is for Everyone

• Heart of Luke includes parables that highlight God’s forgiveness

• “I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents”

• Jesus’ compassion is a divine sign of healing love

• Jesus sought out people who were considered “outcasts”

• Jesus is everyone’s compassionate Savior

• We should allow Jesus to live in us so we can love everyone in imitation of our Lord

Infancy Narratives•Annunciation: Jesus’ coming is

announced•Jesus was conceived by the Holy

Spirit, Mary is a Virgin•Joseph agrees to take care of Mary

and Jesus•Incarnation: God becomes flesh•Jesus is born in Bethlehem•Jesus is acknowledged by visitors•Jesus lives in Nazareth

Passion Narratives

•Last Supper▫Institution of the Eucharist

•Passion and death▫Sacrifice for our sin, Redemption

•Resurrection▫Victory over death

•Ascension▫Kingdom of God is present

Matthew Mark Luke

Infancy Narratives NoPassion narratives

Baptism

Temptation

Feeding the crowd

Beatitudes

Parables

Miracles/ signs

Parables• Short stories, about everyday life that communicate a

mystery about the ▫ Kingdom of God ( Kingdom of Heaven)▫ God’s justice and His forgiveness and mercy

• Comes from a Greek word meaning “comparison”▫ Compares two different things to illustrate a point

• Characteristics▫ Teach spiritual and ethical truths▫ Based on everyday life▫ Usually a response to a question▫ Faith plays a part in being able to understand the

message• Filled with surprises• Offer a challenge

Miracles

•Marvelous and unexpected events that manifest the presence and power of God

•Provide credibility to Jesus’ words & teachings by showing His power over sin & evil

•Reveal the Kingdom of God as a place where ALL are welcome

Miracles• Healing: Physical healings

▫ Jesus cures a leper▫ Jesus heals a paralytic

• Exorcisms: Casting out demons▫ Jesus heals a boy with a demon▫ Jesus heals a possessed man

• Nature: Control over the powers of nature▫ Jesus calms the storm▫ Jesus walks on water

• Restoration of life: Raising the dead▫ Jesus raises the daughter of Jairus▫ Jesus raises the widow’s son

John’s Gospel

•Written by the John

•Written about 90-100 AD)

•Written for all Christians,

was written in Ephesus

•The image of Jesus is God

Incarnate, the Life Giving

Savior

•Strengthens the faith of

the followers

Content• Prologue: Jesus is the Word

• Dialogues and personal testimony of Jesus are

“mystical” (shows Jesus contact with God the

Father)- Kingdom is present in Jesus

• 7 miracles/ signs that show Jesus’ divinity

• “Bread of Life” discourse

• “I am” statements

• Last Supper discourse

• Passion narrative

Matthew Mark Luke John

Infancy Narratives No NoPassion narratives

Baptism

Temptation NoFeeding the crowd

Beatitudes NoParables NoMiracles/ signs