Four Views of Christ (book report)

Introduction:

The accounts and explanations of the four gospels are great in depth and not to be covered in any one volume nor explained away by critics as accomplishing the same purpose. But, that each is essential and was ordained uniquely by God to accomplish its specific purpose. While having their similarities and their diversities all of these parallels, same accounts, and differences serve together. The gospels like the entire canon of scripture should be viewed from a point of faith in God and knowing that He takes delight in preserving His word and each was written purposefully with divine perfection. Truly the gospels are where all of the types and shadows of the Old Testament are fulfilled, completed, revealed and brought into the perfection of their eternal implications pointing to Christ the Saviour. It is not just four volumes dedicated to the Lord who Redeems, but the entire canon. Even the angels in whom God reveals His glory spoke of the one to come. The purpose of the books of the prophets were to lay pictures and inspired words to the ears and eyes of the hearers that they would look forward to a coming Redeemer as we look back upon Christs finished work on the cross. The gospels are beautifully harmonious while maintaining uniqueness. Much of the introducing remarks are further expanded in this summary, in order to begin to touch on much of those most illuminuous words I begin.

Matthew's View:

Matthew's gospel emphasizes Christ as Son of David and this genealogy uniquely goes back to Abraham while other writers to Adam. Christ is shown as the one who would fulfill the kingdoms promise, that covenant promised to David. Matthew also uniquely focuses on “the kingdom”. And, it's rich opening details of Christ being tempted by Satan fully proving His Deity! Positionally Christ was at this point proved before all Earth and Heavens to be the King and Prophet spoken of and looked for by Gods people for ages past. Now, following the principle and theme of “kingdom” Christ gives his “sermon on the mount”. This sermon shows the principles and laws while also describing the people of heavens kingdom. The Lord strongly emphasizes righteousness by Matthews hand also unique to this gospel. The disciple goes into great detail about this kingdom and how the children of it reject Christ the King as was prophesied of old. The beatitudes deeply show the true characteristics and how far off religious teachings had strayed and how opposite (pride: humility, sin: holiness) His own were actually living and teaching. Great emphasis is given to how barren and desolate Israel has become and how far from the coming Saviour the kingdom has grown. The parables from the barren fig tree to the unyielding ground depict their backward ways, hardheartedness, shutting of the kingdom in peoples faces. Then the picture of Israel as a fig tree bearing no fruit being cursed and withering. Yet the other tree from the smallest garden vegetable seed (mustard) is shown as growing tall, strong, abiding, and fruitful. Yet to fulfill what was spoken His own received him not. Yet some, a few comparatively accepted him and were enlightened as they accepted Christ: His disciples, pious women, men and children heard and did believe on Christ. The word being cast (seed) the sower (Christ) and the types of soil (people who hear) all explicitly taught and the leaven viewed in it's two lights. Then the ways Christ discusses his Church to come and the untold age of Grace that would soon come. The great work of Salvation. Christs view of his Church, the Pearl of Great Price, the field, the harvest, the kingdom.. all so divinely packed into these parables as the Messiah reveals these great mysteries of old. Amazing and notable is that Christ sees us as not just goodly pearls but The pearl of great price. He values his people so wonderfully and precious as to die for such an one (sinners). Yet those who reject His complete redemption are finally summoned to “depart into everlasting fire”. Those workers of iniquity chose everlasting fire rather than everlasting rest in the presence of the Lord who so deeply humbled himself to redeem sinful man. Also, a grand distinction is Christ introduction as quoted from the prophet Isaiah naming Him “Emmanuel” the son of the virgin given conception by the Holy Spirit of God. Christ was again.. given to us as the greatest gift everlasting in such a humble fashion and in such an unsuspected location to such an unsuspected young woman to a humble and unsuspected existence. Yet He humbly grows into the street preacher and traveling evangelist (greatest of all times) telling men to be converted. Rebuking the “wise” and “important” teachers and teaching the fulfillment of the law. The Jews expected the Christ to rule and reign yet Christ spoke of the kingdom of heaven, they thought him much too humble a man and expected an earthly deliverance. This kingdom spoken of and preached by Jesus transcends all earthly understanding and expectation. They looked for the familiar rather than (as did Abraham) an heavenly city. [my own interjection]. Yet Christ was divinely brought by the promise given to Abraham through the seed and so the generations are written of the children of promise. His precursors and types and shadows like Isaac are so numerous. The signs of old that point to this Christ born of the seed of the free woman are so many and so amazingly fulfilling of prophesy it is only possible that God brought Him forth. Yet by death through Christ and in his followers righteousness and the fulfilling of the law is made. To love God is to deny oneself and do Gods will. In losing ones own life we richly find it in Christ as did Christ by death later rise to redeem and fulfill all righteousness of the law. Thus baptism is symbolically identifying of
ourselves as believers in Christ and by his own power we alike are raised in the newness of life to no longer fulfill the lusts of the flesh but to forsake the old man and walk in the newness of life that Christ has empowered us to walk in. The law had no power to raise but was simply like a tutor or a schoolmaster, the one who brings us to Christ. We only understand our guilt by the law and realize our need by Gods law, however Christ is the one who shall “teach us all things” and of course convert our souls by his saving grace. Another notable difference about Matthews gospel is how he notes those things which were fulfilled by the prophets. It is repeatedly noted and yet still the religious leaders and so many educated still rejected Christ. The had their misconceptions and preconceived notions of how Christ would do things when he came and rejected the true Messiah based upon the foolishness of their own hearts and the error of their teachings. The kingdom of heaven was not the concern of this generation [isn't this true largely for all generations] but they much desired to see the earthly rule of their Messiah, so much that when he came, obedient, meek and humble; his own received him not.

Mark's View:

This gospel focuses on Christ as servant. The picture of this Christ and his church in this book is one of co-labor and co-service. Christ omits here (differing from other gospels) the points of power and authority but puts on an emphasis toward service. Even his parables and instructions omit certain parts such as commanding the word to be preached and the details of tares are also omitted because it would emphasize his power rather than his servitude. Even Christs childhood details and those things about him growing in stature and favor are not found in this gospel yet his servitude towards God and men. Interestingly the ox is a servant animal, one who carries burdens, so also Christ himself carried and furthermore carries our burdens. Even his commission to preach here omits “commanding” yet he portrays the great commission in a co-equal light, himself with his disciples. Even his attributes as Judge and Chief of Angels are not seen in this gospel yet what is so strongly seen is his humble submission to God the Father. Until after the resurrection his disciples (among others) do not call him Lord in this book. The author wisely points that omissions as such are wisdom to be sought as God perfectly preserves his word and makes no mistake to take such emphasis and bless those who will be so profound as to take notice.


Touching now on things unique and distinctive to this gospel one of the most common used words is in the Greek: eutheos; which translates as : straightway, immediately and forthwith. These words are used over and over making this especially notable. It is notable to see how Christ served so faithfully and diligently. Uniquely also seen of Christ the Servant and his interaction with those he served, he took children into his arms, gave a hand up to the blind, afflicted and possessed. He literally reached to help those in need with his own hands. Christs looks are also notable and peculiar to this gospel, the way he looked upon those who he called his mother and brethren is not found elsewhere. What a blessing for the Lord to look at us. Notabley Christ also made himself available even to the point of losing time to eat and sleep in order to serve. Even when they went by ship to a desert place and a crowd ran and intruded Christ allowed them and did teach them. Christ was moved with compassion here toward the leper and the hungry multitude. His heart is revealed here as nowhere else. Teaching that “without love the most costly service will be .. barren” (p.67. Again on the way to the cross it is distinct here that Christ was in need of help to get to Golgatha. [But, also he shows us that service was unto death and even then continued on.]



Luke's View:

Here Christ is portrayed and focused upon as Son of Man and he is linked to both Adam as well as all men and also linked to heaven. Two of his offices (priest and prophet) are both strongly emphasized by Doctor Luke. Both priest and prophet are ministries of God given to men and for men. The Levitical priesthood was to atone the gap between God and man because of mans sin nature however Christ only could perfectly atone that gap and wash away all sin. The ministry of prophet was one of God sending his word unto men by men, now Christ is The Word sent by God to men. In putting on humanity (as marked by the writer of Hebrews) Christ is touched and understands to the fullest the infirmities of man. Distinctively Luke shows us that Christ gives us the example of perfect subjection to God in human form. Even his forerunner speaks of Christ coming as a light unto men. Yet uniquely Luke mentions Christs parents being summoned to pay their tax, showing that he was born of low human degree and not to a position of human rule or power but of ordinary parents subject to the law and decrees of earthly kings. The author notes the coming Saviour rather than a king. And this Saviour here preaches repentance for the remission of sins. Most is noted here about his childhood and the age at which he entered his earthly ministry. His identifying with man in baptism signifying death, burial and resurrection. One very interesting point is as Christ talks about old and new wine here (wine skins in other gospels) he notes the habits of man to view the old as better and to reject new. Warning that The New and Living Way (Christ the Risen Saviour) would be opposed by those who relied on temple ministry and the teachings of the religious leaders of that day. The old wine would impair their judgment and they would not want new wine. Such an interesting distinction and prophesy to mens hearts. Luke offers over and over a strong emphasis on how often Jesus prayed and how his acts and miracles were so often accompanied by prayer again pointing to his submission as Son of Man. His compassion towards men as a man is also greatly shown. As he sees the widow whose Son has died and those with illness as he heals. His heart of compassion as understanding the sinner is enlarged in our understanding. His parables and accounts are notably began with “A certain man” and “A certain rich man”, “Two men went up...”. Interestingly Christ used the one who was educated about caring for men [Luke] to show His own care of men. Christ speaks uniquely of the gentiles here and the church age and explains also the dispersion and captivity of Jews, the place of the crucifixion is called by Calvary as the gentiles called it, and the penitent thief is seen as saved uniquely here. The author notes the divine implications of Christ praying so often (p87) and seems to charge the reader to be not prayerless but to pray in all things as Christ the Man exemplified in himself.



John's View:

The beginning of this gospel is remarkable and quite unique. Firstly Christ is here portrayed as the Eagle. Correlations and types are noted all over scripture i.e. mount up on wings, carried upon eagles wings. The foreshadows of this gospel are many and truly shown by God all over scripture. Now, the beginning of this gospel goes to the start of creation and show Christ as Creator and then how He himself became man. That he always was and is the light and now this Word becomes flesh and dwelt among us. The Word is eternal yet becomes man and remarkably the Light of the World comes into the world and lights men as if to bear them up on his own as would an eagle. Here we see a special emphasis on the divine and heavenly moreso than the other gospels. A pointing to heaven and the heavenlies. Even the very long account of Christs way to the cross, suffering, death, burial and resurrection/ascension takes up a great portion of this book. The connection of Christ to heaven is
nowhere of the gospels so greatly expounded upon. The detail of the Glorious Lord coming from such transcendence to such lowly estate only to rise again redeeming sinful man of His own love is so beautifully pictured by the apostle John. Here the doctrine of the second birth is shown unto men. That being born of an earthly state will not introduce us to the Heavenly Kingdom. That we must be born of God to inherit eternal life. That to believe on Christ is where this newness of life is found. The simple illustration of looking and living is here also given. As if to say something to the effect that “to look is to see and believe”, this great action of seeing Christ has a great attachment of looking away from ones own sinful desire, realizing ones own uncleanness, seeing Christ's holiness and immediately being born again. A single and simple action that saves the soul eternally by Christ's great love, by his complete work on the cross. This is where the Love of God transcendent is shown so richly toward undeserving man. Life is the strong emphasis here, “he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life”.

The Common Testimony:

The seemingly strongest correlations of the four gospels it the death and resurrection of Christ. The believer is identified as “in Christ” and thus is also boldly partaker in these actions with Christ. As we were born “in Adam” not just by bloodline but also by the fact that we carry and have the sin nature we are made new in Christ. Also, many of the events leading up to and the events of the cross are similarly portrayed or simultaneously portrayed by each gospel writer. All the gospels point back to the temple, to the veil and the ministry preceding Christ. The words spoken by the prophets are here fulfilled. The identification of Christians submitting themselves to Christ as Christ submitted himself to the cross so that others may live is strongly portrayed universally. Those who are buried with him are the like risen with him. We are called to have fellowship with Christ in every aspect he fellowshipped with those he healed, discipled and the ones who touched him and even those who lay on his chest. But even moreso because he is now risen and we now have access to the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus. The death of the old man and carnal nature and the walking in the newness of life. The testimony of the cross he bore as nail scars on his risen body and the foretelling of the church age and commissioning of Apostles that would soon follow in Acts. The likeness of his death, the fellowship of his sufferings, the attuning to the Holy Spirit by the Word and prayer. The continuance of Christ's salvation. Being rejected of his own. And, that all the parallels of these gospels pour over in some fashion to the believer in Christ. That His ministry is continuing an ongoing work carried out by the hands of all who would obey, of all who would lay their lives down. That so many would believe the testimony of Christ the risen Lord and be saved by He Who Lives. So, the author finally notes that the cross is a joy to the believer because it gets the old man out of the way and like Christ was submitted to the Father we by the cross may be submitted to Christ the head of the church. That His earthly ministry began in four gospels and continues in these living letters (Christians).