Christmas according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Matthew 1:1-2 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,[a] the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
Mark 1:1-2 The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophets, “Behold,[a] I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you:Malachi 3:1
Luke 1:1-3 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.
why these 4?
Well, I’m sure you’ve heard that each of the gospels was designed to reach a different audience; Matthew was written to show Jesus is the King of the Jews, Mark was written to the Greeks or Gentiles, Luke to the Romans, and John to the world. And there is some truth to that understanding.
But I believe, the reason for the 4 gospels has more to do with who they were written about, rather than who they were written to. Each gospel is a portrait of Christ, each tells us something different, and essential, to our understanding of Him.
So, in today’s message we are going to look at Luke and John. And with each we will answer the same two questions; “How is this gospel different from the others?” and “What does that tell us about the Christmas story?”
As we start with Luke, I wanted to share with you something interesting that I discovered in my research. It seems that historically, each of the gospels have been associated with an animal. A Lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle. This idea dates back to the earliest of the church fathers. Now where did they get these four animals?
Ezekiel 1:9-11 World English Bible 9 Their wings were joined to one another. They didn’t turn when they went. Each one went straight forward.
10 As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man. The four of them had the face of a lion on the right side. The four of them had the face of an ox on the left side. The four of them also had the face of an eagle.
So I am going to us this symbolism today to talk about the four portraits of Christ in the gospels. Now these pictures are traditionally applied to the gospels. This is not Scripture. But I think they help us to understand and categorize the gospels.
Here they are;
In Matthew, Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Promised King of the Jews.
In Mark, Jesus is the Suffering and Sacrificed Servant, like the ox.
In Luke, Jesus is called the Son of Adam. His human life is narrated as grounded in human history.
In John, Jesus nature is described as having descended from heaven like the eagle.
Oh, and before we begin with Matthew, if you should happen to look this tradition up, the tradition of pairing an animal with each gospel writer, you’ll find that I rearranged three of them. I switched the man, the lion, and the ox. I can do that, why? Because this is tradition, not scripture. Well why did you switch them? Because I think they got it wrong, “the preacher said arrogantly.”
I. Matthew
You see, Matthew was originally paired with the man, or angel. But I couldn’t help but wonder, why didn’t they pair Matthew with the Lion? The whole gospel portrays Jesus as the Promised Coming King. In the 3rd verse of the 1st chapter, His lineage is traced to the tribe of Judah. Jesus is called, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” Why did they pair a man, instead of a lion with Matthew? Well, in my humble opinion, I think it may have happened because the original pairings took place by just reading the introductions to the gospels. And Matthew begins with a genealogy, so the original commentator took that to be a very human thing. John begins by telling us that Jesus is God, and so naturally the eagle is the animal that soars above the earth. Then they were left with an ox, and a lion, and they paired the lion with Mark, and the ox with Luke.
Why was Mark a lion, and Luke an ox?
Quote from aleteia.org
In some ways, it felt almost random to me, “the preacher said arrogantly about the early church father’s sermons.”
So, today we are going to pick up with Luke and John.
This is a summary of Luke that I read from gty.org.
LUKE – addressed a broader Gentile audience. As an educated Greek, Luke wrote using the most sophisticated literary Greek of any NT writer. He was a careful researcher (Luke 1:1–4) and an accurate historian. Luke portrays Jesus as the Son of Man (a title appearing 26 times), the answer to the needs and hopes of the human race, who came to seek and save lost sinners (Luke 9:56; 19:10).
I. Luke
What portrait is Luke painting. Jesus is a man.
A. How is Luke different than the other gospels?
Matthew portrayed Jesus as the promised King of the Jews, Mark as the suffering Servant.
Jesus title in the gospel of Luke could be “the Compassionate Son of Man.”
“Luke wrote using the most sophisticated literary Greek of any NT writer. He was a careful researcher.”
Luke portrays Jesus as a man, in two ways.
Luke placed Jesus in history. He was a real man. His life is not mythology.
The second way, He is also called the Son of Man.
First, Luke is meticulous about details. Luke is different, he is a researcher.
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
This tells us that Jesus was a real human being, not some myth.
1. Accurate historian
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah.
2 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
4 historic pinpoints that help us date the birth of Christ.
Herod, Caesar Augustus, and Quirinius
Herod -when did Herod rule?
Herod overthrew the Hasmonean Antigonus in a three-year-long war between 37 and 34 BCE, ruled under Roman overlordship until his death ca. 4 BCE, and officially passed on the throne to his sons, thus establishing his own, so-called Herodian dynasty.
Caesar Augustus started his reign in 27 B.C. passes a law mandating a census for every 14 years.
27 b.C to 14 AD
Quirinius: Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was “governor” (generic leader) He oversaw a well-known census in A.D. 6, even quelling the rebellion afterward. But this can’t be the census Luke is referring to. Luke says that it was “the first census.” Got to go back 14 years to 8 B.C.
A fragment of stone discovered at Tivoli, which is near Rome, in A.D. 1764, a fragment of stone discovered, it contains an inscription in honor of a Roman official who it states was twice governor of Syria and Phoenicia during the reign of Augustus. Now we're starting to make sense. Somebody was governor twice. The name of the official is not given on that fragment, but among his accomplishments are listed details that as far as is known can fit no one other than Quirinius, and we do have some historical records about him.
Isn't that wonderful? We had to wait until 1764 to have the Bible verified.
That has some problems though because when you put all the chronology of the birth of Christ together, you can't have it any earlier than 6 B.C. and probably even 4 B.C. is better. How do you solve that problem? Pretty simple really. Augustus probably made the decree in 8 B.C. but Judea didn't comply with it until two to four years later and that's what I put in the note. It was actually carried out in Palestine two to four years later, most likely because of political difficulties between Rome and Herod and conflicts.
Luke grounded Jesus in history. Zacharius was of the priestly division of Abijah. There were 24 divisions of the priesthood. The priests would serve in the temple on a week by week rotation basis. So, when did the division of Abijah serve? Because if we can determine when Zacharius served at the temple, then you can reasonably determine the date of John the Baptist birth. And since Jesus was conceived 6 months after John, we could determine His time of birth.
Well, if Abijah was the first division, then Zacharias would have served at the temple in late May. If Elizabeth conceived very shortly after that, that would have been early June. And Jesus conception would have been 6 months later, in December, which means Jesus would have been born in September.
Now there are lots of “ifs” there. But the point is that Luke grounded Jesus in history.
2. Jesus is the Son of man
27 times
Luke 5:24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, take up your cot, and go to your house.”
saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”
Luke 9:56 For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
What does this mean? 2 things
His humanity
Luke 3:38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God
Prophecy
Daniel 7:13-14
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that which will not be destroyed
What does this tell us about the Christmas story?
3. Jesus came to seek and save sinners.
He identifies with us. -Man of sorrows, well-acquainted with grief, all points tempted as we are-- It is no coincidence that Luke’s Christmas account captures the emotions of the people who participated in it’s drama. Matthew’s account is matter of fact; this happened, then this, then that. But luke
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
14 “Glory
to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.”
15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
Jesus was born as one of us, to save us.
JOHN – the last gospel written, emphasizes the deity of Jesus Christ (e.g., 5:18; 8:58; 10:30–33; 14:9). John wrote to strengthen the faith of believers and to appeal to unbelievers to come to faith in Christ.
II. John
B. How is John different than the other gospels?
Jesus title in the gospel of John could be “The Son of God, God the Son.”
1. Jesus is the Son of God—the eagle
He is given this title 15 times in John. Matthew 9 times, Luke 11 times, Mark 4 times
The apostle John
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
John the Baptist
John 1:34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
Nathanael
John 1:49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”
Jesus
John 3:18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
Peter
John 6:69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John again
John 20:31 31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
But what does it mean that Jesus is the Son of God? Doesn’t that indicate that Jesus didn’t exist at one time and that the Father brought Him into existence? No, because John himself said that Jesus is the Word of God, who is God, who created all things, and that without Him nothing was created that has been created.
So, in what way is Jesus God’s son? One could say that in His humanness He is a son, or offspring of Mary and God. His human body was created by God, even as ours are created by God. But at our conception, both our body and soul are created, having never existed before. But at Jesus conception, only His prebirth body was created, He, God the Son, who had eternally existed with the Father and the Spirit, indwelt that body.
But His being called the Son of God meant more than just being born as a baby. To be called someone’s son, was to declare that person as having equal authority as the Father, and to be the one who would inherit all things from the Father. It was a title of authority. Even the Jews understood what He meant when He said He was the Son of God.
“My Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17).
“This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18).
Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God” (John 19:6–7).
“What was the particular law the Jews were referring to? This is where things get interesting. We have the Mosaic Law and there was no capital law against calling yourself the Son of God. However, it was a capital crime for Jesus to make Himself equal with God. The Mosaic Law says, “Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death” (Lev. 24:16).
Look at their charge again. They say, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” Obviously, the Jews understood Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God to be equal to the claim to be God. And that was blasphemy.” (from https://www.str.org/w/what-does-it-mean-for-jesus-to-be-the-son-of-god-)
It cannot be that all Jesus meant by calling Himself the Son of God, was that He was God’s creation. The Jews weren’t wanting Him put to death for claiming to be God’s creation. They themselves would have claimed that. It was that by calling Himself the Son of God, He was putting Himself on equal footing with God, making Himself God.
2. Jesus is God the Son
1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.
14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
5:17-18 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” 18 For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
8:57-59 57 The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.Exodus 3:14”
59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.
10:30-33 29 My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Therefore the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
33 The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
14:9 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’
C. What does that tell us about the Christmas Story?
It really summarizes the Christmas story for us. You see, God sent us a King as described by Matthew. He sent us a Servant, as described by Mark. He sent us a Man as described by Luke. All of those pictures of Jesus are essential to our understanding what happened at Christmas.
That baby would become the Kingly Lion of the tribe of Judah. He would labor tirelessly for us like the ox, and finally be sacrificed for our sin. The baby became a man like we are men.
But Kings, lions, Servants, oxen, and men are bound to the earth. The picture of the Christ child is not complete until we look at the eagle.
King of High things
Job 39:27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?
Mysterious
Proverbs 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
A heavenly power that can swoop in and save. A power with great speed and no boundaries, outside the reach of men. The eagle was often used to describe God.
Exodus 19:4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself.
Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers
Isaiah 40:31 but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.
Revelation 12:14 Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
So how does this relate to the Christmas story. You see, God when God determined to save us, He could have sent an ordinary king, to command us to cease sinning, He could have sent us servants, to remind us of the right way, to work for us to ensure that our burden wasn’t to heavy. He could have sent men, or an army of men, preachers, teachers, and counselors. He could have sent all of those people to us to remind us of what God requires, to encourage us, to give us strategies for how to live right, to come along side of us to help us in any way we needed it. And He did. The Bible is full of the accounts of people God sent to call people away from sin, to following God. But it didn’t work.
We needed a solution with a heavenly origin. We needed a Savior from heaven. We needed God Himself. He is the King of Kings, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, the Servant of humanity, the Son of Man, and the Son of God who comes down and carries us away on eagles wings.