December 13, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Tuesday, December 13.
The subject of the "synoptic gospels" makes for a fascinating study. Why and how are Matthew, Mark, and Luke connected? Well, here's some facts -
*97% of Mark is also in Matthew
*88% of Mark is in Luke
Since Mark is half the length of the other two synoptic gospels, some theologians theorize that Mark was written last and was a kind of condensed version of the previous books. But many other scholars think that Mark was in fact written first and served as a source for the other two gospels. There is a great deal of information available online about the synoptic books - it would make a fascinating self -study!
We may never know the truth until we reach heaven, but there's one thing for sure, Mark was definitely not the source for one very important part of Matthew and Luke - the Christmas story. Mark chose to begin his gospel not in Bethlehem, but in the Jordan River as Jesus was baptized. But we can trace the nativity story to another source, another Bible book - Isaiah.
Matthew 1:22-23. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call him Immanuel - which means God with us."
Isaiah 7:14. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Luke 1:33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom, there shall be no end.
Isaiah 9:7. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom . . . from henceforth even forever.
And so, the Old Testament prophets, who were looking forward to Jesus, and the New Testament writers, who were looking back at Jesus, combine to tell the story of the Father's unspeakable gift. Mark may not have started his book with the nativity story, but his first words are certainly connected to our study of Christmas, and they ring with power this morning . . .
This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah. Mark 1:1
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
