Chapter 4: Jesus
After all the messy confusion of the OT (Old Testament), we’ve finally arrived at the relatively simple tale of Jesus’ life. Simple, that is, until you try to really understand what He said and what He means.
The four gospels are the story of Jesus life. Have you ever spoken with several different witnesses of the same event? Their accounts are invariably different in some way because of perspective on the event and on life itself. If you take each of their accounts of a story and put them together, you’ll get the most complete picture possible. So let’s look at all four gospels together.
Matthew / Mark / Luke / JohnRole of author / Apostle / Disciple of Peter / Traveled with Paul / Apostle
Occupation / Tax collector / Missionary / Physician / Fisherman
Date of writing / AD 50s or 60s / Before AD 64 / Before AD 64 but after Mark / Late first century
Representative text / 21:5 / 10:45 / 19:10 / 20:31
Prominent role of Christ / Preacher / Miracle worker / Teller of parables / Teacher
Audience / Jews / Romans / Greeks / Everyone
Prominent nature of book / Fulfillment of prophecy / Fast-paced action / Detailed history / Identity of Jesus
(7 “I am’s”)
From Gerry Mathisen, Cover to Cover, Getting the Bible’s Big Picture (InterVarsity Press), p. 30.
1. Jesus’ birth & beginning of His ministry; John the Baptist
1a. Read Matt 1-2. Underline or write down all the names of people in Jesus’ lineage whom you recognize.
1b. Read Mark 1:1-13. Read Luke 1-2. Note Mary’s response to all these events.
1c. Read Matt 3 and Luke 3.
1d. Read Matt 4:1-11. What do you notice about the use of the OT during Satan’s temptation of Jesus?
1e. Read John 1:1-34. What stands out about John’s account in contrast to the others’?
2. Jesus’ miracles
2a. Read John 20:31, John’s purpose statement for his whole book. What does it say about Jesus’ miracles?
2b. Read John 1:35-51. When did the disciples (some of them at least) start hanging out with Jesus?
2c. Read John 2:1-11(water into wine) and John 4:46-54(healing the official’s son) – the first miracles.
2d. Mark 1:21-45 – casting out a demon & many other healings. What was the effect of the healings on His ministry?
2e. Luke 5:17-26 – paralytic. Why did Jesus heal him?
2f. Matt 9:27-34, Mark 8:22-26, Mark 10:46-52, John 9. How did Jesus heal the blind men? What does that say about Him?
2g. Read John 6:1-13 (feeding 5,000), Matt 15:32-38 (feeding 4,000).
2h. Read Luke 7:11-17 (widow’s son), Luke 8:40-56 (Jairus’ daughter), John 11 (Lazarus).
3. Jesus’ parables
3a. Read Luke 8:4-21 (the Sower, also Matt 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-25). What is the point?
3b. Read Matt 13:24-52, Matt 20:1-16, Matt 25:1-30 (Kingdom of God, also Mark 4:30-34). What stands out about the Kingdom of God? (Optional: note one point for each parable)
3c. Luke 15:1-10, Matt 18:10-14(lost sheep & lost coin). What is the point?
3d. Luke 16:1-13 (dishonest manager). What is the point?
3e. Read Matt 22: 1-14 (wedding feast, alsoLuke 14:7-11). What is the point?
3f. Matt 21:33-44 (tenants, also Luke 20:9-18)What is the point?
4. Jesus’ teaching
4a. Matt 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount, also Luke 6:20-49). What stands out?
4b. Matt 22:37-40 (greatest command, also Mark 12:28-34)
4c. Mark 9:38-50 (warnings). What stands out?
4d. John 14-17 (Upper Room Discourse & High Priestly Prayer). What stands out?
5. Jesus’ trial & death. Read the attached “Harmony of Passion”, from the beginning of it up to the section called “Jesus’ death” (p.1-10). Read the verses that are left-justified. The indented ones are repetitious.
6. Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Read the attached “Harmony of Passion”, from p.10 “Burial of Jesus” to the end.
Question of the week: Imagine yourself living during Jesus’ life, seeing what He did and hearing these words for the first time. What strikes you about Him and how would you describe Him to a friend visiting from far away?