The Colfax chronicle., 1900-06-23
Chronicle Bible Glass.

Matthew, Mark. Luke and John

Synopsis of Lesson 81.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Only four gospels have come down
to us, though Luke informs us that
many had been written. Luke J.: ]. 2.
These four authors each give brief
biography of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John assures us that they did not
write all they knew, John a: 25; aud
itappears from Luke I: I and 2, that
they only wrote what the spirit i'm
pressed upon their minds as import
ant, John 20: 81, with this one OBJ
ject in view, viz: THAT ye might be-
lieve that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of God"-that is, to convince unbe-
levers, and confirm those who had
made q profession of faith. II you
study the Gospels closely, you will, of
course, notice that this is the one very
important article of the Christians
faith. As bishops, or pastors, each
OF them evidently wrote primarily for
his own flock, and the unbelievers
with whom they lived. Matthew prob
ably wrote especially for the Jewish
people, for he was very careful to
show the fulfillment OF prophecy, and
that the genealOgy of Jesus could be
traced back to David, thus leaving
them without excuse for rejecting him
as the promised Messiah. Mark re-
ports the words and miracles of the
Lord Jesus as abstract indisputable
facts, not needing systematic nara
ton. Luke addressed his gospel to
Theophilus, (friend of God), who was
probably a Roman or Greek convert
to Christianity, and it was doubtless
intended for the heather world, as
well as the Jews. Hegives many par
ticulars concerning the birth life,
preaching and death of John the Bap-
tist, as well as of the Lord Jesus. He
reports several parallels, and other
facts not mentioned by the other
evangelists, of which the parallels of
The Prodigal Son, and The Rich Man,
and Lazarus, are most noteworthy.
He gives q part of the Lords Sermon
on the Mount, as recorded by st.
Matthew, ch. 81. The gospel, (good
news), az given by the first three
evangelist at least is beautifully SIM
pie, if read and studied in an honest,
anxious manner, with the object and
in the spirit in which it was given.
The author of the 4th Gospel, John,
the beloved disciple, wrote three gen
eral epistles, and Revelations also.
His was probably written some thirty
years later than the others, and no
student of the Gospel will fail to no
tice a marked difference between it |
and the rest. Without mentioning
the birth and genealogy of the child
Jesus, he boldly introduces his gospel
by declaring the divinity of Christ
"The Mighty God, the Everlasting
Father" as foreseen by Isaiah, 8: s. |
The child Jesus-''the only begotten
Son." 1: 18, is at once recognized as
Emmunuel-"God with u.s." In the |
I'd chapter we see the water turned |
to wine, in the Sd Nicodemus is in |
structed about the spirituality of
Christs kingdom-that the natural |
birth brought him into this world,
but, that he must be born again into |
the spiritual kingdom. After this |
John speakso of the words and miracles |
Of Jesus, very much like the other |
evangelists. But each of them devot- |
es considerable space to the crucifix-
ion and resurrection of the Lord |
Jesus; for this is the important part |
of redemption. He came. He saw, He |
conquered. The resurrection of the
Lord Jesus, has ever been considered |
a demonstration of the truth of |
Christianity, but it's enemies deny the
fact But these four fisherman have |
made out q clear case, that will stand |
any test made by lawyer, Judge, or
jury. Their plain words, their simple |
narrative, their boldness in proclaim
ing the resurrection. with no hope of |
reward, save in it's truth, have estab-
lished The fact that Jesus is the Way, |
the Truth, and the Life; and al who |
do His will shall know of the doctrine,
whether true or false, John Z: II. !
Believe on His Son Jesus is God'swill |
all who believe have everlasting life, |
John 6: Al.
Next lesson, Acts.