Who is Jesus? Comparing How the 4 Gospels Introduce Him

Who is Jesus in the eyes of the 4 Gospel books of the Bible?

In this article, let’s compare how similarly and differently they introduce Him.

But first, let’s discover who Jesus is in general and how He lived on earth.

Let’s begin!

Who is Jesus Generally?

Being God

1) He is the Word.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1, NIV).

Word as in the element of speech or writing that expresses an idea?

Well, kind of. But applying that concept in the context of the verse above, the “Word” is a “designation for Christ,” Who “came to reveal the character, mind, and will of the Father”¹.

Sounds technical? Let’s simplify it.

Jesus, as the Word, came to “declare” the Father. He is the expression of His will that all men should be saved.

Does it make sense now?

Moving on, as John 1:1 (NIV) says, the Word was “with God.”

It denotes a “close association and fellowship” between God and the Word¹.

Does it mean that Jesus is simply in the Father’s presence?

Well, more than that, it means that we have an advocate with the Father, knowing that Jesus is “closely associated” with Him in the work of salvation.

Got it?

Now, what about the part that says, “The Word was God” (John 1:1, NIV)?

Notice that it doesn’t say the Word was “a God,” “one among many,” or “the God.”

So, it doesn’t necessarily mean that God was the Word, which would “limit Deity exclusively to the Word”¹.

What the author means is that “the Word partook of the essence of Deity, that He was divine in the ultimate and absolute sense.”

Makes sense? Now you get it.

2) He is the Creator of the universe and everything in it.

One of the most familiar verses, Genesis 1:1 (NIV), says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

He is “before all else,” and He is the “one and only Cause of all else.” In the formation of this world, He “was not indebted to pre-existing matter”².

Now, you may be wondering Who specifically in the Godhead is the Creator.

Well, “Our Creator is Jesus Christ. He is the Author of our being. He has created the human structure. He is the Author of physical laws as He is the Author of the moral law”³.

3) He is the second Person in the Trinity.

What is Trinity?

While the term Trinity is not found in the Bible, its concept is illustrated many times in this sacred book.

For instance, Genesis 1:26 (NIV) refers to God in plural: “Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So, does that mean there is more than one God?

Before answering that question, let’s go to Matthew 3:13-17 (KJV).

Here, we find three Persons during Jesus’ baptism.

Aside from Jesus Himself, another Person was God the Father, speaking from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased” (verse 17, KJV). The last One was the Holy Spirit, descending like a dove and touching down on Jesus (verse 16).

Lastly, in verse 19 of chapter 28, Jesus mentioned the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together while commissioning His disciples to spread the gospel into all the world.

This unity of three co-eternal Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—is what we call Trinity or Godhead.

And to answer the question earlier, there is just one God. It’s just that three co-eternal Beings comprise it⁴.

To practically illustrate it, imagine that the Godhead is an egg. Its three Members are represented by the shell, membrane, and yolk.

Got it?

Now, what is Jesus’ role in this unity of three co-eternal Beings?

As previously discussed, during Jesus’ baptism, the Father acknowledged Him as His “beloved Son,” Whom He loved (Matthew 3:17, KJV).

Needless to say, based on this, Jesus is indeed the Son of God⁵.

Second, as we learned earlier too, He is our Creator (Genesis 1; Hebrews 1:1-2).

In addition, He is our Savior, Advocate, and the One Who came to earth in human form to live with us and redeem us from sin⁴.

4) He is the incarnate Flesh.

Now that we know Jesus came to earth in human form to live with us, let’s connect this idea with our point in the first item, particularly about Him being the Word.

It implies that He is the “Word” that “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14, ESV).

Does it mean Jesus took away His divine nature?

Well, Christ was “divine in the absolute and unqualified sense.” But He was also “human in the same sense,” except that He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)⁶.

Therefore, He didn’t take away His divine nature as God. He just took on the human form.

5) He is our Messiah and Savior.

As the incarnate Flesh, Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, destined to be the Messiah and Savior of the world (Luke 2:1-11).

Messiah? What is it?

Derived from the Hebrew name Mashîach, Messiah means “anointed” or “anointed One”⁷.

This implies that Jesus was the One in Whom the Messianic promises and prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled.

Now, what about the term Savior?

According to the dictionary, a savior is a person who saves someone or something from danger or difficulty.

Putting it in the context of Jesus being our Savior, it means Someone Who gave Himself to redeem us from “wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own” (Titus 2:14, NIV).

To wrap it up, Jesus was the promised One Who would save and redeem humanity from sin.

Got it?

A brief history of His life on earth

Humble birth

Jesus was born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:4-5).

But this was not like a typical birth that takes place in a hospital, clinic, inn, at home, or anywhere comfortable.

Believe it or not, He was born in a manger (verse 7).

Seriously?

Yes, because there was no guestroom available for Mary to give birth during that time. So, she had no choice but to settle for an open box where food for farm animals was placed.

What an unusual birth!

Early life

The Bible doesn’t say much about Jesus’ childhood. But there is one notable event that provides insight into His early life.

During the festival of the Passover, Jesus, aged 12 at that time, went with His parents to Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-42).

On their way home, Joseph and Mary realized Jesus was missing (verse 43). 

They began looking for Him among their relatives and friends but they didn’t find Him. So, they returned to Jerusalem, hoping He was still there (verses 44-45).

Guess what! It took them 3 days to find out He was just in the temple, engaging in conversation with the teachers and astonishing them with His wisdom at such a young age (verses 46-47).

Imagine that!

When Mary asked, with loving concern, why He made them worry that much, Jesus said He must be doing His Father’s business (verses 48-49).

Father’s business? Meaning, Joseph’s carpentry work?

No!

Notice that the “Father” mentioned there is a proper noun, referring to God the Father. So, it was His divine mission for the world that Jesus was talking about (John 3:16-17).

Unfortunately, His parents couldn’t understand it⁸.

If you were in Jesus’ shoes, how would you have responded to Mary?

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Public ministry

Jesus began His public ministry around the age of 30 (Luke 3:23).

He proclaimed the kingdom of God, performed miracles, cured the sick and disabled, and taught people about repentance, love, and the new covenant (Luke 4–9).

There are many of these acts. In fact, we can write a new, long article just to enumerate them. But we’ll just mention a few significant ones.

An example of His teachings

One of Jesus’ major teachings was the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Included here are the Beatitudes, Golden Rule, and some teachings about love, forgiveness, and prayer.

Here are some examples of the Beatitudes and teachings about love:

1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3, NIV)
2. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (verse 44, NIV)

What about the Golden Rule?

Well, we don’t have any examples because, as we all know, it’s plainly stated as follows: “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (verse 12 of chapter 7, NIV).

An example of His parables

One of Jesus’ well-known parables is that of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35).

Are you familiar with this?

It’s about a man who was attacked by robbers while traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho (verse 30).

Both a priest and a Levite, who were religious figures, passed by without helping him (verses 31-32).

How sad!

But a Samaritan, despite being considered an enemy by the Jews, stopped when he saw the wounded man. He tended to his wounds, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. He even promised to cover any additional expenses upon his return (verses 33-35).

Such a kind-hearted man!

An example of His miracles

Who hasn’t heard of the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21)?

One day, Jesus went to a solitary place but a crowd followed Him. As accommodating and compassionate as He had always been, He healed the sick among them (verses 13-14).

As evening approached, the disciples suggested sending the crowd away to find food. But Jesus instructed them to give the crowd something to eat instead (verses 15-16).

With just 5 loaves and 2 fish, Jesus fed about 5,000 men, besides women and children. There were even 12 baskets of leftovers (verses 17-21).

Can you imagine that?

An example of His healing acts

The healing of the blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) is one of Jesus’ significant healing acts.

Do you know this story?

One day, Jesus and His disciples, along with a large crowd, were leaving Jericho. They encountered a blind man named Bartimaeus begging by the roadside (verse 46).

When the blind man learned it was Jesus passing by, he began shouting and pleading for His healing (verses 47).

Many people tried to silence him. But he persisted and cried even louder.

He addressed Him as the “Son of David” (verse 48, NIV), hoping that by recognizing Him in His Messianic title, Jesus would have mercy on him⁹.

True enough, Jesus called him and asked what he wanted. Bartimaeus told Him he desperately wanted to see (verses 49-51).

Eventually, Jesus healed him and instructed him to go, saying “your faith has healed you” (verse 52, NIV).

If you were this healed man, how excited would you have been to explore the beauty of your surroundings, the handsome and pretty faces of your family and friends, or whatnot?

Crucifixion and death

From what we’ve discussed so far, you can see how meaningful Jesus’ life was. He dedicated Himself to serving people and leading them to know God and His teachings.

But who would have thought it would end up in a tragic incident—His crucifixion that led to His death?

Yes, Jesus was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world (Luke 23:26-49). He took the penalty of sin that was supposed to be paid by the human race.

How comforting it is for us sinners!

Resurrection and ascension to heaven

Three days after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the grave (Luke 24).

Rose from the grave? How was that possible?

Well, remember that while He was fully human, He also possessed a divine nature being the Son of God⁶. 

As the Son of God, He is the Resurrection and the Giver of life. In Him is “life, original, unborrowed, underived”¹⁰.

Among the first people who heard of Jesus’ resurrection and saw Him in person were His disciples and close friends like Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:1-10).

Moving on, the disciples went to a mountain in Galilee (verse 16).

There, Jesus declared that all divine authority had been given to Him. Afterwards, He commissioned them to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (verse 19, NIV).

Who is Jesus According to Each of the 4 Gospels?

According to the Gospel of Matthew

Jesus is the Messiah and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

One instance Matthew describes Jesus as the Messiah is in verses 1-17 of the first chapter of his Gospel.

With this, the author identifies Him as the Promised One Who would “save His people from their sins” (1:18–2:23, NIV).

This was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy that the virgin Mary “shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14, KJV)¹¹.

And being conceived by her, Jesus was “born of the seed of Abraham and of David’s line” (Matthew 1:1)¹².

Got the point?

Jesus is also the Son of God and the Son of Man.

As we saw in Jesus’ story earlier, during His baptism, God the Father acknowledged Him as His “beloved Son” in Whom He was “well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, KJV).

Similarly, in the wilderness, Satan addressed Him as the “Son of God” in tempting Him to turn the stones into bread (verse 3 of chapter 4, NIV).

Aside from being the Son of God, Jesus is also the Son of Man.

This is mentioned in verse 28 of chapter 20 (NIV): “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Same goes with verse 64 of chapter 26 (NIV): “From now on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

But why “Son of Man”?

Well, this title was understood at least by some Jews as a “name for the Messianic ruler of the new kingdom to be established”¹³.

It also designates Jesus as the “incarnate Christ,” pointing to the miracle whereby the Creator and the creature were “united in one divine-human person.”

Jesus is the great Teacher.

Aside from what we’ve discussed so far, Matthew also features Jesus as the great Teacher.

He taught people lessons about judging others, true and false prophets and disciples, the wise and foolish builders, and many others (Matthew 7).

He also shared parables such as that of the sower, the weeds, the mustard seed and the yeast, the hidden treasure and the pearl, and the net (chapter 13).

And the listeners would always be amazed at His teachings (7:28, 13:54, and 22:33).

Jesus is the great Healer.

Matthew also features Jesus as the great Healer.

One example is found in verses 2-3 of chapter 8. Here, he shows how Jesus was able to heal a leper with just a touch of His healing hand.

Amazing, isn’t it?

Another miraculous healing takes place in verses 20-22 of chapter 9. Specifically, a woman, who had been bleeding for 12 years, touched Jesus’ garment. And she was healed, more so because of her faith.

Can you believe it?

Lastly, in verse 30 of chapter 15, great crowds came to Jesus, bringing the lame, blind, mute, and many others. By just laying them at His feet, they were all healed.

How would you react if you witnessed this miracle in person?

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According to the Gospel of Mark

Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.

In Mark 8:29 (NIV), Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

In verse 39 of chapter 15 (NIV), seeing how Jesus died on the cross, the Centurion confessed, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

These verses separately mention Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God.

But in verses 1-8 of chapter 1, Mark uses both of these titles to introduce Jesus as the One for Whom John the Baptist was preparing the way.

Jesus is an authoritative teacher as well.

Like Matthew, Mark also positions Jesus as a teacher with great authority.

For instance, in Mark 1:21, Jesus went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and began teaching.

To their amazement, the listeners considered Him as “one Who had authority, not as the teachers of the law” (verse 22, NIV).

Later, a man possessed by an impure spirit came in crying, “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Who You are—the Holy One of God!” (verse 24, NIV).

Would you believe it? With Jesus’ stern command, “Be quiet! Come out of him,” the impure spirit came out of the man (verse 25, NIV).

As expected, the people were all amazed that they exclaimed, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey Him” (verse 27, NIV).

Jesus is the miraculous Healer.

Like Matthew, Mark highlights Jesus as the miraculous Healer, demonstrating His divine power and compassion for those in need.

For instance, in Mark 1:34, Jesus is shown healing many sick and demon-possessed people.

In another instance, He was able to make a deaf and speech-impaired man hear and talk with just a touch on his ears and tongue (verse 32 of chapter 7).

How was that possible?

Well, Jesus is God. Nothing is impossible with Him (verse 27 of chapter 10). And the examples we mentioned prove just that.

Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight’” (Mark 1:1-3, NKJV).

This is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy foretold in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1.

That is, John the Baptist would prepare the people for the coming of Jesus¹⁴.

The same is true with what Mark 15:24 (NIV) says about the crucifixion of Jesus: “And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.”

This is the fulfillment of the prophecy foretold in Psalm 22:18 (NIV): “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”

According to the Gospel of Luke

Jesus is the Son of God.

Luke portrays Jesus as the divine Son of God, emphasizing His unique relationship with the Father.

Take, for example, what Luke 1:35 (ESV) says: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the Child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”

Then, in verse 22 of chapter 3 (ESV), God the Father Himself acknowledged Jesus as His Son during His baptism, as in the Gospel of Matthew. He said, “You are My beloved Son; with You, I am well pleased.”

Jesus is our Savior and Messiah.

Luke presents Jesus as the long-awaited Savior and the promised Messiah of Israel.

For instance, Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-47 (NIV) goes, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”

The same designation is used in verse 11 of chapter 2 (KJV). It says, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Which is Christ the Lord.”

In the New International Version, however, the same verse uses Messiah instead of Savior: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Does it mean that the designations Messiah and Savior are the same?

Well, we learned earlier that “Messiah” means “anointed One”⁷. And “Savior” means Someone Who would save the world from sin (Titus 2:13-14).

As you can see, these two divine titles have distinct meanings. But they are closely related in the sense that Jesus is the anointed or promised One to redeem the world from sin.

Jesus is an incredible healer.

One day, a crowd came to Jesus, bringing some individuals suffering from various illnesses. Believe it or not, just by laying His hands on each of them, they were healed (Luke 4:40).

A relatively similar situation can be found in verses 17-19 of chapter 6. Here, a large crowd followed Him, wanting to hear His teachings and obtain healing. By just touching Him, His power cured all their illnesses.

Can you believe that?

Jesus is an amazing teacher.

Luke describes Jesus as a teacher with authority, practicality, wisdom, and willingness to challenge conventional thinking.

In teaching the people one Sabbath at Capernaum, Jesus amazed them because “His words had authority” (Luke 4:31-32, NIV).

In verses 4-15 of chapter 8, Jesus shared the parable of a farmer sowing seed. Some seed fell on the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil.

By using parables and illustrations, Jesus was able to convey spiritual truths in a way that His listeners could easily understand and relate to.

In another instance, some religious leaders sent spies to trick Him with the question, “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (verses 20-22 of chapter 20, NIV).

Seeing through their deceitful and pretentious sincerity, Jesus replied, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (verses 23-25, NIV).

Amazed by His wisdom, they ended up speechless (verse 26).

Finally, let’s go to verses 27-28 of chapter 6 (NIV), where Jesus said, “But to you who are listening I say: ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, [and] pray for those who mistreat you.'”

At first glance, it may sound like a typical advice from Jesus. But it shows His willingness to challenge conventional thinking and societal norms.

Jesus called for radical love, forgiveness, and kindness, going against the norms of His time and inspiring His followers to achieve a higher standard of character.

Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy.

In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus was reading a passage from the book of Isaiah about the anointed One Who would bring good news, freedom, and healing.

With this, He declared that this was fulfilled in Him, knowing that He was the One sent to proclaim God’s favor and deliverance to the oppressed.

Similarly, in verses 36-44 of chapter 24, the resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples. To prove that He was not a ghost, He showed them His hands and feet.

And as He ate with them, He confirmed His resurrection and fulfillment of the Scriptures. He opened their minds to understand the prophecies of His suffering, resurrection, and the preaching of repentance and forgiveness to all nations.

With these examples, there’s no doubt that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy.

According to the Gospel of John

Jesus is the Word made flesh.

Did you notice something in the first few sections of this article, particularly about Jesus being the Word made flesh? Most of the Bible verses we used there came from John.

That’s right! Compared to other Gospels, John stresses this identity of Jesus more by actually mentioning “Word” and “flesh” instead of just hinting at it.

In fact, it is this Gospel that places this identity of Jesus “on center stage.” And it is the one that “presents the most exalted Christology in the New Testament” as it touches on His self-revelation as the Word of God¹⁵.

For instance, as we have read in the first section of this blog, John 1:1 (NIV) emphasizes, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

As summarized in that section, Jesus, being the divine Word, “came to reveal the character, mind, and will of the Father”¹.

But it doesn’t end there. This “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14, ESV).

While Jesus was “divine in the absolute and unqualified sense,” He was also “human in the same sense” though He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)⁶.

Clear?

Jesus is the Son of God.

If there’s one passage in the Gospel of John that clearly describes Jesus as the Son of God, it would perhaps be John 3:16.

Who hasn’t even heard of this well-known verse?

In the New International Version, it goes, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Aside from this, did you also know that the Gospel of John has 7 “I Am” statements referring to Jesus? Here are those:

1. “I am the Bread of life” (John 6:35, ESV)
2. “I am the Light of the world” (8:12, ESV)
3. “I am the Door of the sheep” (10:7, ESV)
4. “I am the good Shepherd” (10:11, ESV)
5. “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25, ESV)
6. “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (14:6, ESV)
7. “I am the true Vine” (15:1, ESV)

Jesus is our Savior and Messiah.

In John 1:35-42 (NIV), Andrew, one of John the Baptist’s followers, called his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah.” And he brought him to Jesus.

In verses 39-42 of chapter 4, many Samaritans began believing in Jesus because of the testimony of the Samaritan woman at the well, whom He previously encountered.

They confessed, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world” (verse 42, NIV).

Then, in verse 17 of chapter 3 (NIV), though the title Savior is not mentioned, its meaning is implied. Here’s what it says: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn [it], but to save [it] through Him.”

Indeed, Jesus is our Savior and Messiah.

Jesus is a God of miracles.

Have you ever met someone who turned water into wine? That’s what Jesus did in a wedding at Cana in Galilee, as written in John 2:1-11.

What about a man walking on water without any equipment? Impossible, right? But Jesus did just that one stormy night when He appeared to His disciples who were on a boat (verses 16-21 of chapter 6).

Lastly, have you seen a dead man resurrected? That was what happened to Lazarus. Jesus brought him back to life after he had been dead and buried for 4 days (verses 1-44 of chapter 11).

These are just 3 of Jesus’ 8 miracles recorded in the Gospel of John, proving how powerful He is.

Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

In John 12:14-15 (ESV), Jesus found a donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

This was the fulfillment of what was foretold in Zechariah 9:9 (ESV): “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The same is true with what is said in John 19:36-37 (ESV). Specifically, during His crucifixion, “not one of [Jesus’] bones will be broken.” And the people “will look on Him Whom they have pierced.”

The first statement fulfills what is said in Exodus 12:46 (NIV) concerning Passover restrictions. That is, the Passover meal “must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.”

Identifying the Similarities and Differences in Their Approaches

Their similarities

1) They all identify Jesus as the Messiah.

As you may have noticed, all 4 Gospels affirm that Jesus is the promised Messiah.

They highlight His genealogy, miraculous birth, divine teachings, powerful deeds, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection.

They also feature His royal lineage from King David. With this, Jesus is portrayed as the fulfillment of Messianic expectations, and is thus the promised Savior and Redeemer.

Lastly, they emphasize His authority, compassion, and the establishment of God’s kingdom.

So, though each Gospel offers unique perspectives and details, their collective message resoundingly identifies Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah Who brings salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life to all who believe in Him.

2) They all identify Him as the Son of God.

The 4 Gospels uniformly identify Jesus as the Son of God.

Through their featured narratives, teachings, and interactions, they depict Him as a divine entity, emphasizing His unique relationship with God the Father.

They also highlight His power over nature, demons, sickness, and sin—all pointing to that divine identity.

Looking at it from a macro scale, the consistent portrayal across these Gospels emphasizes the central belief in Jesus’ divine Sonship and His significant role in bringing salvation and reconciliation between God and humanity.

3) They all introduce Him as a powerful healer.

All 4 Gospels agree that Jesus is a powerful healer.

They all record numerous instances of Him healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, casting out demons, and raising the dead.

These accounts emphasize His divine authority and compassion, presenting Him as the Source of physical and spiritual healing.

Therefore, His constant depiction as a healer across these Gospels underscores His role as the divine Physician Who offers hope and restoration to those in need.

4) They all claim that He is a great teacher.

All 4 Gospels agree in portraying Jesus as the great Teacher.

They all present Him engaging in profound teachings, parables, and insightful dialogues that impart spiritual wisdom and profound truths. These teachings emphasize love, forgiveness, faith, and the coming of God’s Kingdom.

With this, the constant focus on His role as a teacher in these Gospels highlights the significance of His divine wisdom and the transformative power of His teachings in the lives of His followers.

Their differences

1) They differ in their emphases on Jesus’ origin.

While Matthew and Luke provide detailed genealogies tracing Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham and David, Mark and John omit such genealogical records.

Matthew specifically highlights Jesus’ Jewish heritage and presents Him as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Luke’s genealogy focuses on His connection to all of humanity.

On the other hand, Mark and John emphasize His divine identity and role as the Son of God, placing less emphasis on His Jewish ancestry.

You can see these differences by examining the following Gospel chapters: Matthew 1–2, 4–9, 12, 21–23, 26–28; Mark 1, 3, 5, 8–9, 12, 14–15; Luke 2–4, 7, 10, 15, 19; John 1, 5, 10, 14, 17.

2) Each of them has a unique perspective on Jesus’ identity.

As you may have observed, Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. With this, he presents Him as the long-awaited Messiah and King of the Jews.

Meanwhile, Mark portrays Him as a powerful and compassionate servant, emphasizing His actions over His teachings.

Moving on to Luke, you can see that he highlights His compassion and care for the marginalized, emphasizing His role as the Savior of all people.

Last but not least, John emphasizes His divinity and close relationship with the Father, highlighting His identity as the Son of God.

As you’ve seen, each Gospel offers a distinct perspective, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of Jesus’ identity.

3) Matthew, Mark, and Luke feature different parables of Jesus while John doesn’t include any.

By focusing on the kingdom of heaven, Matthew presents a collection of parables that emphasize spiritual truths.

Mark emphasizes Jesus’ authority and power through vivid and concise narratives.

Luke emphasizes His compassion for the marginalized and includes unique parables that highlight God’s mercy.

Lastly, while John doesn’t include any of Jesus’ parables, he focuses on deeper theological teachings and discourses that reveal His divine nature.

Indeed, by offering different perspectives on Jesus’ teachings, the Gospels provide a holistic understanding of His message.

Why 4 Instead of 1 Gospel to Tell the Story of Jesus?

1) To provide different perspectives and emphases

What if the 4 Gospel writers all had the same points of view about Jesus’ identity (Matthew 1; Mark 1; Luke 2; John 1, 8, 10, 11)?

Well, should their thoughts had “a set uniformity, as if cast in an iron mold,” their interpretation would be “monotonous.” And “in such uniformity, there would be a loss of grace and distinctive beauty”¹⁶.

Do you agree?

Now, given the differences in their perspectives, would there be a possibility of contradiction between and among their ideas?

Well, “the Creator of all ideas may impress different minds with the same thought, but each may express it in a different way, yet without contradiction”¹⁷.

The fact that this difference exists “should not perplex or confuse us. It is seldom that two persons will view and express truth in the very same way.”

Makes sense, right?

“Each dwells on particular points which his constitution and education have fitted him to appreciate. The sunlight falling upon the different objects gives those objects a different hue”¹⁷.

Convincing enough?

So, having different perspectives and emphases on Jesus’ identity enriches our understanding of Him and provides a more complete picture of His life.

2) To target specific audiences and purposes

As you may have observed, the Gospel of Matthew is written for a Jewish audience as it presents Jesus as the Messiah and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

Mark’s Gospel is intended for the Gentiles as it emphasizes His powerful acts and servant nature.

Luke’s Gospel targets a broader audience as it highlights Jesus’ inclusive ministry and portrays Him as the Savior of all people.

Finally, John’s Gospel is written for a general audience, theologically emphasizing His divinity and appeal for all people to believe in Him to obtain eternal life.

Therefore, with specific audiences and different purposes, the Gospels effectively communicate Jesus’ message to different groups of people.

3) To provide historical accuracy and testimony

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John had firsthand accounts of Jesus’ life, teachings, and miracles. But definitely, one’s interpretation would be different from the rest.

This diversity of interpretation brought about by multiple eyewitness testimonies enhances the historical reliability of the Gospel accounts, don’t you think?

Each Gospel writer “has an experience of his own, and this diversity broadens and deepens the knowledge that is brought out to meet the necessities of varied minds”¹⁶.

4) To have a comprehensive coverage

In line with the previous point, having more than one Gospel to talk about Jesus provides comprehensive coverage of His life, teachings, death, and resurrection.

Each book provides unique details and events that are not found in the others. This creates a more complete narrative of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Do you agree?

Any Thoughts About This Article?

That was a long read, wasn’t it? Congrats on making it here!

Anyway, what have you learned so far? Did we miss any important points regarding this topic?

Don’t hesitate to share your insightful thoughts by commenting below.

To learn more about Jesus, read His story here. You can also find related Bible questions and answers about Him in this Bible study course.

Finally, consider subscribing to Heroes: The Bible Trivia Game. Download the app from Google Play and App Store, and play it to test your knowledge about Him.

1. Francis Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 5, 897-898 [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
2. Francis Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 1, 208 [↩]
3. Ellen White, To Be Like Jesus, 310.6 [↩]
4. Seventh-day Adventist Church, What Adventists Believe About the Trinity [↩] [↩]
5. Francis Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 5, 440 [↩]
6. Francis Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 5, 901 [↩] [↩] [↩]
7. Siegfried Horn, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, 584-94 [↩] [↩]
8. Francis Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 5, 710 [↩]
9. Francis Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 5, 641 [↩]
10. Francis Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 5, 1014 [↩]
11. Mark Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus, 2007, chapter 8 [↩]
12. Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, 44.1 [↩]
13. Francis Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 5, 581 [↩]
14. Francis Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 5, 567 [↩]
15. Mark Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus, 2007, chapter 10 [↩]
16. Ellen White, Selected Messages, book 1, 21.5 [↩] [↩]
17. Ellen White, Selected Messages, book 1, 22.1 [↩] [↩]