The message and focus of the four Gospels:

Notes from: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum

　

Matthew - Written to Jewish believers. Yeshua is the Messiah, King of the Jews. Acts 8 describes the dispersion of the Hebrew community. If Yeshua is the Messiah where is the kingdom? Why do we have wars and strife? A warning of impending judgment and destruction.

Mark - Written to Roman believers. Jesus as Messiah, servant of Jehovah. There is an urgency to accomplish the mission. Words like straight away, immediately are used to describe the obedience of the servant. Isaiah 53 pictures the ideal servant. The actions of Jesus are emphasized.


Luke - Written for the Greeks. Jesus Messiah, son of man. Greeks admire the ideal man who is disciplined and can carry out great missions. Luke is written in chronological order and is an investigative piece. Luke was not an eye witness to Jesus’ life--he investigates the truth. Luke became a believer and accompanied Paul on some of his journeys. Luke alone is in chronological order of events using eye witness accounts. He interviewed many people and shows a high regard and concern for women, Gentiles, and Jerusalem.


John - Written for the church at large. Messiah, son of God. Yeshua as God. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were already written. John was far more interested in what Yeshua said and taught. Sub-themes were:

The conflict between light and darkness.

The relationship of man to God as their Father. He is the father to humanity and to know the Son is to know the Father. Seven is a number that is emphasized in John. Seven “I AM’s”, signs, and discourses.

John 1.1-8 speaks of the pre-existence of Messiah--Logos. John was not a Greek philosopher.

Logos in Greek = Reason--idea of God and Speech--expression of God.

In Hebrew Logos is Davar: Ps 147.15, Isaiah 9.8; 55.10-11; 45.23; Ezek 1.3


Six things about the Davar, Logos, Word taught by Rabbis:

1. Distinct from God yet same as God. John 1.1. He does not try to explain away at this point.

2. Agent of creation. Gen 1--God speaks the Word.

3. Agent of salvation--Exodus or spiritual.

4. The means by which God takes on visible form: Shechinah Glory--the visible manifestation of the invisible God in the form of light or cloud or combination of both. The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. Skeinei is the Greek word for tabernacle. Jesus’ body veiled the Shechinah light--except at the mount of transfiguration.

5. The means by which God signs His Covenants. (8 Covenants in O.T., 3 with humanity in general and 5 with Jewish people.) All signed and sealed by the Word. Moses law signed Ex 24.1-11. New Covenant signed with His blood on the cross. Heb 1.1-3

6. The agent of revelation--“the word of the Lord came…” In the last days God is revealing Himself through His Son. Heb 1.1-3. The Son is the agent of Revelation.

Summary of what John said:

1. The word came in visible form.

2. The world in general did not recognize Him.

3. His own people did not recognize Him (Jews).

4. Those individual Jews and Gentiles who did recognize Him became the children (family) of God and received their

Salvation from the one who is the agent of salvation--Jesus Christ.

　

Notes from: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum