The Gospels
{THE FOUR GOSPELS}
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{MARK}
- In the Beginning - {PDF Copy} - (In the ministry of Jesus, the kingdom of God arrived, commencing with his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist – Mark 1:1-3)
- The Forerunner - {PDF Copy} - (John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah, the herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:4-8)
- Rend the Heavens - {PDF Copy} - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus – the Son, Messiah, and the Servant of Yahweh)
- In Spirit and Fire - (At his baptism, the Spirit of God descends on Jesus, equipping him for his messianic mission – He is the one who baptizes in the Spirit) - {PDF Copy}
- The Kingdom Herald - {PDF Copy} - (After his baptism, the Spirit drove Jesus to the Wilderness to be tested by the Devil. But he overcame and succeeded where Israel failed)
- Servant or Caesar? - {PDF Copy} - (Satan offered Jesus unlimited political power to achieve his messianic mission if only he acknowledged the Devil as his overlord)
- Arrest and Fulfillment - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus commenced proclaiming the Kingdom following the arrest of John as opposition appeared even at the start of his mission – Mark 1:14-15)
- Authority Over Ritual Purity - {PDF Copy} - (The touch of the Son of Man cleanses a leper; the forbidden contact does not render Jesus “unclean”)
- The Son of Man has Authority - {PDF Copy} - (He is the Son of Man foreseen by Daniel, the one with absolute authority from Yahweh over the earth)
- Authority Over the Sabbath - {PDF Copy} - (In response to the Jewish leaders that opposed him, Jesus demonstrated that he is Lord even of the Sabbath Day - Mark 2:23-3:6)
- Revealed on the Cross - {PDF Copy} - (The Son of Man is revealed and comprehended only in his sufferings and death for others on a Roman Cross)
- Seed and Sower - {PDF Copy} - (The Son of Man sows the seed of the Gospel in the world where it is growing into the Kingdom of God until the consummation of the age – Mark 4:1-20)
- Kingdom Parables - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus taught several parables concerning the Kingdom of God, its paradoxical growth, and its status in the world - Mark 4:21-34)
- Who is this Man? - (No one recognized who Jesus was except the demons cast out by him. Only in his sacrificial death is his identity be understood) - {PDF Copy}
- Cost of Discipleship - {PDF Copy} - (To be the disciple of Jesus means taking up the cross and following in his footsteps, even if it results in impoverishment or death - Mark 6:7-30)
- Two Women Restored - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus healed two women, restoring both to a state of ritual purity – Mark 5:21-43)
- On the Way - (On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus explains to his disciples just what it means to be the Messiah of Israel) - {PDF Copy}
- Son of Man - Imminent Death - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus explains that he is “on the way” to Jerusalem where he will be arrested, tried, and executed per the plan of God)
- His Triumphal Arrival - {PDF Copy} - (At the end of his journey, his destination was the Temple in the center of the city – Mark 11:1-11)
- Jesus and Tradition - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus undermined the religious rationale for dietary restrictions. With the Messiah’s arrival, the old rituals lost their relevance)
- Embracing the Cross - {PDF Copy} - (To be the Messiah of Israel meant suffering and death for others, and Jesus summoned his disciples to follow that same path – Mark 8:31)
{MATTHEW}
- His Name is Jesus! - {PDF Copy} - (The name ‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the Nazarene, the salvation promised to Israel has arrived in all its glory)
- Law and Prophets - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus came to fulfill all the things that were promised and foreshadowed in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Law and the Prophets)
- His Absolute Authority - {PDF Copy} - (At the conclusion of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus claimed absolute authority for his words. Disciples ignore them at their peril – Matthew 7:21-28)
- In the Temple - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus gave his last discourse on Olivet following his final and symbolic departure from the Temple – Mark 12:41-13:4)
- Rumors of War - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus warned of coming deceivers who will mislead many and disseminate false information about the future and his return)
- Lord of All - {PDF Copy} - (The New Testament applies messianic promises in the Psalms to the PRESENT reign of Jesus who has all authority in Heaven and on Earth)
{JOHN}
- The Living Word - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the Word made flesh in whom the glory of God is revealed, the same word by which God created all things)
- The Light of the World - (Jesus is the only true light in the world, a light that shines all the brighter in the darkness, and this light means life for men and women) - {PDF Copy}
- The Logos - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the Logos, the Word become flesh, the true tabernacle where the glory of God is revealed and resides – John 1:14)
- True and Greater Temple - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the Greater and Final Temple foreshadowed by the ancient Tabernacle and the later Temple building in Jerusalem)
- Interpreting the Father - {PDF Copy} - (The fullness, grace, and truth of God are found only in the Word made Flesh, Jesus, who alone has seen the unseen God – John 1:14-18)
- Grace and Truth - {PDF Copy} - (The fullness, grace, and truth of God are found only in the Word made Flesh, namely, Jesus of Nazareth)
- The True Tabernacle - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the True and Greater Tabernacle in whom the presence and glory of God reside and manifest for all men to behold – John 1:14)
- His Glory Manifested - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the Word made flesh, the True Tabernacle where the glory of God is manifested, and He now resides – John 1:14)
- The House of God - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the true and only way of access to the Father, the Greater Bethel, and the House of God – John 1:47-50)
- The Final Temple - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the True and Final Sanctuary in which the glory of Yahweh dwells, the substance foreshadowed by the ancient Temple – John 2:13-22)
- Living Waters - True Worship - {PDF Copy} - (In Samaria, Jesus revealed that the presence of God no longer is limited to specific locations or man-made structures – John 4:20-24)
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