An Autumn Full of Good News
You can pick up a paper version of our new Bible reading schedule this Sunday or download a PDF here. We’re also sharing each day’s reading at @ccojbible and on the Christ’s Church of Joplin Facebook page.
For several years now, Christ’s Church has been reading the Bible together. Last year, we used a reading plan that took us through the entire Bible in one year. This year, we wanted to try something different.
Rather than publishing one plan for the year, we’re putting together several short-term reading plans and releasing them throughout the year. Our goal is to provide multiple on-ramps for reading the Bible throughout the year, and your first opportunity to read along with us begins September 1.
This autumn, September through November, we’re reading the four gospels – four announcements of the good news about Jesus. Each gospel tells the same wonderful story of how Jesus Christ was the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again. But each one announces this good news in a unique way.
Two gospels were written by apostles who were eye-witnesses to Jesus’ life and ministry (Matthew and John), one was written by a close friend of Peter (Mark), and one was written by a careful investigator who was a contemporary of Jesus and his friends (Luke).
You’ll notice that some stories are recorded in multiple gospels and a few appear only in one. John tells us that if everything Jesus did were written down, “even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) Each gospel writer, inspired by the Holy Spirit, made choices about what to include and how to arrange the material. These choices reflect the overarching purpose or theme of each gospel, and together they form a multi-faceted and complete revelation of the person and work of Jesus.
Matthew structures his account mostly around key sermons that Jesus taught. He points to Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and the fulfillment of God’s promises to his people throughout the Old Testament. The kingdom of heaven is also a major theme, and Matthew heralds Jesus as its inaugurator and ruler.
Mark’s gospel is fast-paced and oriented more toward the actions of Jesus than his teaching. Mark includes many miracles. And things tend to happen “immediately” in his book. All of this activity culminates in the final week of Jesus’ life, to which Mark dedicates one-fourth of his gospel.
Luke tells us in his opening sentence that he set out to compile an orderly narrative of Jesus’ life so that others “may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:4) He emphasizes the sovereignty of God’s plan, the presence of God’s kingdom, and the community that forms around Jesus. Luke includes more parables and more meals than any other gospel writer.
John’s was probably the last gospel to be written, which might explain why he leaves out some of the stories that the other writers include. John’s book is packed with signs and statements and with miracles that are also metaphors. He includes several of Jesus’ conversations, which is perhaps fitting since John eloquently opens his book by describing Jesus as the eternal Word of God made flesh.
As we read through the gospels together, let’s plan to engage with these stories and talk about them with God and his people. Let’s expect to meet the same Jesus we encounter there and to be helped by the same Holy Spirit who ensured these accounts were written down. And as we read, let’s consider why these stories are such resoundingly good news.
