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: