Overview Synopsis A. Synopsis of Christ’s Life Analysis B. Analysis of Christ’s Life Synthesis C. Synthesis of Christ’s Life

Synopsis of Christ’s Life A. Preparation  Genealogy  Birth  Forerunner  Baptism  Anointing  Temptation

Synopsis of Christ’s Life 1. Preparation 2. Popularity PUBLIC MIN.  Preaching, teaching, healing, casting out demons  Ministering to the masses

Synopsis of Christ’s Life 1. Preparation 2. Popularity 3. Persecution PRIVATE MIN.  Individual instruction  Conflict develops  Prepares the disciples

Synopsis of Christ’s Life 1. Preparation 2. Popularity 3. Persecution 4. Passion  Crisis  Jesus dies  Jesus rises

Synopsis of Christ’s LifePreparation Popularity Passion Persecution

Analysis of Christ’s Life The New Testament gives us a four-fold picture of Christ. The four faces of Christ are found in the four gospel accounts. A. Matthew B. Mark C. Luke D. John

Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.

The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. Revelation 4:7

Matthew Author Date Readers Portrait Purpose Matthew Levi AD 60s Jews Messiah King Convert Jews Matthew Levi AD 60s Jews Messiah King Convert Jews FACTS

Matthew Key Verse The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1

Matthew Revelation 1. Revelation of the King Rebellion 2. Rebellion against the King Retirement 3. Retirement of the King Rejection 4. Rejection of the King Resurrection 5. Resurrection of the King FORM

Matthew teaching  The teaching of Jesus fulfillment  The fulfillment of prophecy Son  The Son of David kingdom  The kingdom of heaven church  The church of Christ teaching  The teaching of Jesus fulfillment  The fulfillment of prophecy Son  The Son of David kingdom  The kingdom of heaven church  The church of Christ FEATURES

 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey’” (Mt 21:4-6).

Matthew teaching  The teaching of Jesus fulfillment  The fulfillment of prophecy church  The church of Christ teaching  The teaching of Jesus fulfillment  The fulfillment of prophecy church  The church of Christ FEATURES

Matthew 16:18  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Mark Author Date Readers Portrait Purpose John Mark (via Peter) AD 60s Romans John Mark (via Peter) AD 60s Romans FACTS

Mark 7:1-4  The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

Mark 7:34  He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).

Mark Author Date Readers Portrait Purpose John Mark (via Peter) AD 60s Romans Suffering Servant Encourage persecuted Roman Christians John Mark (via Peter) AD 60s Romans Suffering Servant Encourage persecuted Roman Christians FACTS

Mark Key Verse For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Mark Presentation 1. Presentation of the Servant Opposition 2. Opposition to the Servant Instruction 3. Instruction by the Servant Rejection 4. Rejection of the Servant Resurrection 5. Resurrection of the Servant FORM

Mark servant  The servant of the Lord works  The works of Jesus cost  The cost of discipleship FEATURES

Mt 19:28-30  Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Mk 10:29-31  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields— and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Luke Author Date Readers Portrait Purpose Luke the doctor AD 60s Greeks Saviour of the World Accurate account of Jesus’ life and work Luke the doctor AD 60s Greeks Saviour of the World Accurate account of Jesus’ life and work FACTS

Luke 1:1-4  Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke Key Verse For the Son of man came to seek and save what was lost. Luke 19:10

Luke Preparation 1. Preparation of the Saviour Presentation 2. Presentation to the Saviour Ministry 3. Ministry of the Saviour Mission 4. Mission of the Saviour Passion 5. Passion of the Saviour Resurrection 6. Resurrection of the Saviour FORM

Luke History  History Salvation  Salvation HolySpirit  Holy Spirit Gentiles  Gentiles SocialJustice  Social Justice FEATURES

Luke 3:1-2  In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

Holy Spirit  Mt 7:11. If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  Lk 11:13. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Social Justice Matt 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Luke 6:20  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Social Justice Matt 5:6  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Luke 6:21  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.

John Author Date Readers Portrait Purpose John the apostle AD 90 Everyone Son of God Lead people to faith in Christ John the apostle AD 90 Everyone Son of God Lead people to faith in Christ FACTS

John Key Verse But these signs are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31

John consideration 1. Period of consideration controversy 2. Period of controversy conflict 3. Period of conflict crisis 4. Period of crisis conference 5. Period of conference consummation 6. Period of consummation FORM

John Son  The Son of God signs  The signs of deity conflict  The conflict of faith feasts  The feasts in Jerusalem FEATURES

Synthesis of Christ’s Life God Savior Servant King Human Greek Roman Jewish Eagle Man Ox Lion

Discussion 1. What does it mean to your faith in Jesus and in the Bible to have four gospels, four accounts of his life?

Discussion 2. How would you respond to a critic who said: (a) “we don’t need 4 gospels because they are all the same” or (b) “we can’t trust the gospels because they are different”?

Discussion 3. If you were to write a gospel about Jesus Christ as you have known him, what picture would best summarize how you would view him?