Summer of the Bible 2014 - Week 9

Week 9 - "The Ministry of Jesus"

The Sea of Galilee

 (photo by Sara Holben – May 2009)

Background: [adapted from: The Bible from Scratch: the New Testament for Beginners by Donald L. Griggs]

            This week we explore the ministry of Jesus as described in the Gospels. The Gospels are the first 4 books of the New Testament. The word “Gospel” is an English translation of a Greek word that means “good news.” So the Gospels are about the “good news” that Jesus preached about the coming kingdom of God – but it also refers to the “good news” about Jesus Christ that is proclaimed by his followers.

The Gospels are not biographies of the life of Jesus but are witnesses to God’s good news as seen in the life, teachings, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The 4 Gospels each have their own unique characteristics and approaches, because each is addressed to a particular audience from a particular perspective. That’s why there are both similarities and differences among the Gospels.

Matthew, Mark and Luke are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels, “synoptic” coming from Greek words that mean “seeing together” – suggesting that we are to “see the 3 Gospels together.” There are many parallel passages among these 3 Gospels that indicate some shared materials that are repeated among them. Yet each of the Synoptic Gospels also has some material unique to them.

John’s Gospel is uniquely different from the other 3 and while covering similar aspects of Jesus’ life, teachings, death and resurrection, there is little shared material and a very different approach and perspective. 

In general …

·       One-quarter to one-half of all four Gospels deals with the passion and resurrection of Jesus. That helps us to see the importance of these events for the faith of the Christian community – and to help us recognize that we are to look at other events in the gospels through the “lens” of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

·       Each Gospel tends to emphasize and present different aspects of Jesus’ life:

o   Matthew = Jesus as “teacher”

o   Mark = Jesus speaks and acts with authority

o   Luke = Jesus as “healer” and “advocate” for those who are on the margins of society

o   John = Jesus as “light of the world”

Readings for Week #9:

·       Matthew 8:1-17 – Jesus’ ministry of healing

·       Matthew 5:1-12 – the Beatitudes (the entire Sermon on the Mount is found in chapters 5-7 of Matthew’s Gospel)

·       Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus calms the storm

·       Mark 8:22-30 – Healing of a blind man & Peter’s Confession

·       Luke 6:1-11 – Healing on the Sabbath

·       Luke 6:17-42 – the “Sermon on the Plain”

·       Luke 9:1-6 – Jesus sends out the twelve

·       John 2:1-11 – Turning water into wine

·       John 6:1-13 – Feeding the Five Thousand