Day 09 - Mark 12:41-Luke 1:25

By now it should be apparent that Matthew and Mark have similar accounts of many of the same events. The same is true of Luke. The first three gospel accounts are known as "synoptic" gospels because they are so similar in content. The German scholar J.J. Griesbach was the first to use the term synopsis, which literally means "seeing together." He chose to use this term because of the high degree of similarity between the three records in both content and tone. Although the three gospels have a different message in their presentation, they all seem to follow the pattern of Jesus in Galilee, Jesus in the north, Jesus in Judea enroute to Jerusalem and finally Jesus in Jerusalem.

The primary controversy regarding the gospel accounts, particularly among liberal theologians, is whether the synoptic gospels were written by the ascribed authors or whether the authors took their material primarily from other sources. The term "synoptic" itself derives from the Greek terms syn and opsesthai, which literally mean "together" and "seeing," respectively. Thus, "synoptic" is used to mean "those which see together" or "those which see alike." Unfortunately, it is the synoptic aspect of the gospels which validate them as much as it provides fodder for those who would discredit the accounts. Although the first three gospels view the life of Christ in a similar fashion, there are distinctives between them in focus and message.

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Day 08 - Mark 8:14-12:40

Mark likely wrote his gospel around AD 67 or 68. Mark does not appear anywhere in the gospel accounts; however, it has been believed from the earliest days of the church that Mark's gospel is a summary of the teaching of the Apostle Peter. Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea near the end of the 3rd Century, quoted Papias (c. AD 60-135) as writing:

The elder [the Apostle John] said this also: Mark, who became Peter's interpreter, wrote accurately, though not in order, all that he remembered of the things said or done by the Lord. For he had neither heard the Lord nor had been one of his followers, but afterwards, as I said, had followed Peter, who used to compose his discourses with a view to the needs of his hearers, but not as though he were drawing up a connected account of the Lord's sayings. So Mark made no mistake in thus recording some things just as he remembered them. For he was careful of this one thing, to omit none of the things he had heard and to make no untrue statements therein.

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Day 07 - Mark 3:31-8:13

Mark (also John Mark and sometimes simply John) first appears on the scene in Acts 12:25 when he travels with Barnabas and Saul (later Paul) from Jerusalem to Antioch. He joined Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:4-5), but for unknown reasons he left the expedition at Perga (Acts 13:13). As a result, he apparently lost Paul's respect (Acts 15:38) but before the end of Paul's life, he and Mark were reconciled and Paul asked that Timothy "get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11).

Reconciliation with Paul likely was due to the continued work Mark did in evangelizing the Greek world. It is clear from Acts 15:38-39 that Mark's cousin Barnabas (Colossians 4:10) gave Mark a second chance when Paul had already removed him from his missionary team.

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Day 06 - Matthew 26:69-Mark 3:30

Today we conclude the gospel account as recorded by Matthew. In these final chapters, we see Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate, the release of Barabbas, the crucifixion of Christ, his burial and resurrection and finally the directive that is known as The Great Commission.

We close out today's reading with the opening of Mark's gospel. Mark is the shortest of the four gospels. Whereas Matthew presented Christ as King, Mark plainly shows Jesus as a servant; a concept that was altogether radical for the Roman mind. The Romans were men of action as opposed to the intellectual philosophical men of Greece, and needed a direct witness to the power of servanthood. As you read, notice the theme of servanthood throughout the text, both that of Christ and in his instruction to the disciples with phrases such as "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35). In today's reading we see the confession of a father whose son is possessed and comes to Jesus for help. In their exchange, he is told, "All things are possible for one who believes." The confession of this man is one that we can all identify with, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23-24).

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Day 05 - Matthew 23:1-26:68

Our reading from yesterday included the beginning of Jesus' Passion Week. Today's reading continues the account of Christ's final week up through his arrest. This is the section of the book where we find seven woes pronounced on the Pharisees (Matthew 23:13-36) as well as one of the most important oracles of Jesus ever recorded in what is known as the Olivet Discourse in chapters 24 and 25. Although the Olivet Discourse may be found in Mark and Luke, Matthew includes the most extensive record of this sermon.

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Day 04 - Matthew 18:10-22:46

Today's reading concludes Jesus' traveling ministry and begins the story of his "Passion Week." According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, the word passion in this context means "to suffer" or "the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces." Truly, this is an important description of the final week of our Savior's life. Matthew, as well as the other gospel writers, provide a daily account of this week before the crucifixion which includes Jesus' verbal sparring with the Pharisees through a number of parables, questions and other confrontations; the treachery of Judas; the Last Supper; the arrest, trial and crucifixion of the Lord; and finally his resurrection from the dead.

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Day 03 - Matthew 13:1-18:9

The Gospel According to Matthew was probably written sometime between AD 50 and AD 56. It seems apparent that the general theme of the book is Christ the King and in it, Jesus spends a lot of time describing what Matthew terms the kingdom of heaven. This phrase, "kingdom of heaven" seems to be typical of Matthew, whereas we will see that the other gospels prefer the phrase "kingdom of God." Although some interpreters would suggest a distinction to be made between the "kingdom of heaven" and the "kingdom of God," I see this as completely arbitrary and unnecessary, particularly in comparing passages such as Matthew 5:3 to Luke 6:20, Matthew 11:11 to Luke 7:28, Matthew 13:11 to Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10 and Matthew 13:31 to Mark 4:30-31.

It is in this section of Matthew where we find Peter's famous confession:

"You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matthew 16:16)

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Day 02 - Matthew 7:28-12:50

This first of the four gospels was written by the apostle Matthew. We know from the text that Matthew was a tax collector (Matthew 10:1-3), a profession that was one of the most reviled of the day. Often, the scriptures quote the Pharisees as including tax collectors along with "sinners" in a tone that implies that they are the most scorned people among the Jews (cf. Matthew 18:17, Mark 2:16, Luke 18:10-13); however, Jesus embraced the lowliest of the earth. Matthew was a disciple of Jesus and spent three years traveling and learning from his Savior and, therefore, was an eyewitness of all that is recorded in this book.

In today's reading, we see Jesus performing a number of miracles; healing the sick, reaching out to the destitute, casting out demons and (here the Pharisees gasp) enjoying a meal with "tax collectors and sinners" (Matthew 9:10-11).

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Day 01 - Matthew 1:1-7:27

The first division of the New Testament contains four books: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are named for their authors and tell the gospel of Jesus of Nazareth. The term "gospel" literally means "good news." Although many believe that a gospel is simply a biography of Jesus' life and the many deeds He did, or a chronicle of His various teaching, you will find that a gospel is much more. Although the elements of chronology, acts and teaching are found within the pages of the gospel accounts, they are a specific form of literature found in the Scriptures. A gospel is, in fact, a theological proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ which is focused on His life, death and resurrection. These books are not intended to be complete biographies of Jesus, but provide a demonstration of who he is and the validation of his authority as God. The New Testament is the final revelation of God to mankind, and it starts with the person and work of Jesus, the Christ. The author of the book of Hebrews said it best when he wrote:

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Today's reading is from the first seven chapters of the gospel according to Matthew and includes that portion of Jesus' teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount.

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