The
Portraits of Christ in the Gospels
The
gospels each have a very specific purpose and have very specific
themes that are used by the authors to convey a message intentionally
to a particular audience. The Gospels make up as a whole a
universally true testimony about who Christ is. The four different
gospels are carrying a portrait that is necessary in painting the
whole picture of Christ as the messiah. It is the collective work
that is so valuable to the church in giving us an understanding of
who Christ the messiah is. Mark gives us the picture of Jesus as the
suffering servant. Matthew gives us the portrait as Jesus as the
universal Messiah. Luke gives us the portrait of Christ as the
universal savior. John gives us the portrait of Christ as the divine
man. The portraits can be seen by the recurring themes and ideas in
the pericopes, pointing toward something that is an overriding
principle or aspect that the author is working to convey. The Beauty
of the literary workmanship in the gospels tends to be overlooked in
society, it needs to be a resurrected understanding in understanding
who our savior really is.
Mark is
often considered to be the first gospel to be written. It was
written, according to Dr. Watson's lecture, around 64-67 A.D. This
is significant in regards to what is happening in the time that is
relevant to the audience. The book is written in Rome, being sent to
another place in Rome. Rome was an epicenter for persecution in the
early Christian community. The Roman church was being decimated by
the emperor of the time. Mark's portrait of Christ is that of the
suffering
servant. Christ is shown as almost being rushed throughout the book
to get to his ultimate end. Mark shows this by using the word
“Immediately” all throughout the book, such as in Mark 6:45.
Another reasons that the theme of suffering seems to be prevailing is
because we see a reference to this often in the book such as in Mark
8:34-38, 38-40; 13:1-13. Christ was also generally telling those
around him to remain quiet, including the demons, because it is for
him to reveal himself as the suffering servant, and the victor in the
end. This can be seen in Mark 1:32-34, and 3:11-12.
Matthew
has a unique flavor to it in the sense that it is intrinsically
Jewish. Matthew was a man who was well educated and a tax collector.
He is the perfect individual to be able to write the gospel to the
Jews and to paint the portrait as the Universal Messiah. He is
intentional about making mention of old prophesies and the Old
Testament in order to give credibility as to who Jesus is. One of the
things that shows this is simply Matthew 1, the geneology of Christ
that starts at Abraham. Another example of the Old Testament prophecy
would be Matthew 2:17-18. This is quoting Jeremiah, confirming one of
many prophesies concerning the messiah's arrival. The other
significant part of Matthew conveying this to the Jews is the fact it
includes Christ's messiah-ship to the Gentiles. He does so through
for instance in the verses in chapter 27 referencing the temple
opening up as well as 28:16 showing himself to be Messiah of all
people.
Luke's
gospel is giving the portrait of Christ being the universal savior of
man. He is writing potentially to a member of Rome who has authority,
Theophilus. Luke is showing that Christ is savior of all man, and is
giving it potentially to someone who is sitting in the center of the
known world and has influence. Luke gives recognition to all nations
being under this new relationship in Luke 24:47. He shows Christ
going to a plethora of different people groups all of
which
would be considered the “sinners” of Jewish society. Through his
kindness, and His love for all people Christ gives a way for the
spiritually low to be redeemed and to be brought back into a place of
honor. In Luke 1:51-52, 3:12-14, Christ is with the lowly in spirit.
In Luke it even shows that the first person to enter heaven with
Christ is a gentile in Luke 23:43. He has now opened the gate wide
open to a people other than the Jews.
The
Gospel of John is unique to the other three. John gives the portrait
of the divine man. The man who is fully spirit as well. The very
beginning of the book shows Christ's divinity John 1:1-5. John shows
again his divinity and the connection to God through 1:18 as well.
The book of John is very unique in that it calls the miraculous
things signs that the other books call miracles. It could even be
said that the first half of the book or section is the book of Signs,
1:19-12:50. All attesting to Christs divinity and his control of all
the things humans struggle with. The last thing that Christ says is
“It is finished' in 19:30 showing that He is the one in control of
His death, no one else.
The
Gospels are incredibly useful to know the portrait of in today's
society. Mark's application is that in times of desperation and
struggle Christ has gone through every struggle and does go through
it with us. Matthew shows us that He has accomplished all the
promises of God through the prophesies and that God is faithful. Luke
shows us that there is no mortal sin too great that can keep us away
from our creator any longer. Even the broken gentile is welcome into
the kingdom of heaven if only he is willing to believe. John shows us
that Christ really did come and walk as man. He accomplished the
impossible so that man doesn't have to. He also gives us the strength
to go on and continue the kingdom in His name. The Gospel portraits
have significance to their audience and to the church as a whole.
