Nobody has had more of an impact on humanity than Jesus Christ of Nazareth. So who was this Jesus Christ? What about him made such a profound impact on humanity? Was it what he taught? Was it what he claimed? Or was there something more about Jesus Christ that made him so special? Here, we’ll discuss the work of Jesus Christ and what his work really was.
The four gospel accounts speak to different audiences
The most detailed records we have about Jesus are the four gospel accounts found in the Bible. Three of these gospels are similar and they recount most of the same miracles, events and places Jesus traveled. However, they are all designed and written to speak to different audiences.
Matthew was written for the Jewish people who follow the Old Testament. As a result, the focus in his writing is showing that Jesus fulfills the prophecies and promises from God about him sending us the seed of the woman.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
Mark is written more for the Roman authority, but also for everyone to see the power of Jesus. His gospel account is packed with the most actions and miracles of Jesus showing his authority over creation and his power as God in the flesh.
Luke was Greek and he addresses his account specifically to another Gentile. Since he was a physician he had the skills to make a very careful investigation and account of the life and events of Jesus and his teachings. This has allowed historians and archaeologists to confirm many of the people and places Luke mentions, showing how accurate his account is.
John’s gospel is a little different, written later but from someone who was very close to Jesus. John wrote his account for everyone, because everyone should know God. Since Jesus was God in the flesh, his account has the clearest statements about Jesus’ deity and his claims to be God.
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The four gospel accounts tell the same story of Jesus
Even though the four gospel accounts speak to different audiences, it’s clear they all tell of the same story of Jesus. They tell that Jesus Christ did not come to be a great teacher or a political leader, but that he came as the Messiah, God in the flesh. They each tell their accounts of how Jesus showed this truth in many ways.
The four gospels tell of how Jesus taught the Old Testament law in a whole new way of parables, explaining and expanding on them. They tell that Jesus taught that love is greater than the law and that serving others is the correct way to lead people.
The four gospels tell of how Jesus showed his control over creation by the countless miracles he performed throughout his ministry. They tell of how Jesus showed his power over life by healing the sick and raising the dead. They tell of how Jesus showed his love for us by dying for us.
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The four gospel accounts show the work of Jesus was to die for us
Throughout the four gospels it’s clear the writers believed that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, God in the flesh. They were convinced that his authority and power over creation showed this truth and they wrote their accounts of Jesus to portray this message to others.
John 2:19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “it has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoke.
Matthew shows us in chapter 26 that Jesus knew he was to die for sins of the world.
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
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After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the disciples understood that Jesus had the ability to stop his own death, but didn’t. The gospel writers show us that Jesus knew his work culminated with his own death for us. For those who believe in him, he has paid the ultimate debt of our sin through his sacrifice. This gift belongs to anyone who believes that he was God in the flesh and that he has forgiven us. If we believe that he alone is the only way, we can be made righteous. Then we will have eternal life with God.
