GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 22 ~ ~ John 1:1-2 ~ ~ “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”
Continuing in the book, “How to Read the Bible (like your life depends on it……..because it does) by Dr. Michael Youssef.
Chapter entitled:
THE GOSPELS: FOUR STORYTELLERS, ONE STORY
Section: The Kingdom of God Has Come Near
The four gospels –Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – are four accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. Evangelical scholars believe they were written between AD 50 and AD90. The gospel of Mark is considered the earliest. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the three “synoptic Gospels” (from the Greek word, “synoptikos” which means “seen together”). They largely parallel each other in the way they tell the gospel story, though with interesting differences.
The Gospel of Matthew appears to be intended for Hellenized (Greek-speaking) Jewish Christians. Mark’s gospel, with its explanations of certain Jewish customs, seems to be aimed at a Gentile Christian audience. Luke’s gospel is addressed to “Theophilus,” which means, “Lover of God,” so it may be addressed to a person by that name or to all Christians who truly love God. Matthew was written by the disciple and former tax collector Matthew, also called Levi. Mark was written by John Mark, the Apostle Peter’s close friend, whom he called “my son Mark” in 1 Peter 5:13. Luke’s gospel was written by a Gentile named Luke, a missionary companion of the Apostle Paul and (according to Colossians 4:14) a doctor. Luke also wrote a sequel, the book of Acts. He was not an eyewitness of the life of Jesus, but he “carefully investigated everything from the beginning: in order to “write an orderly account” (Luke 1:3).
The Gospel of John was written by the Apostle John (who identifies himself in the text several times as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”). John’s beautifully poetic tone contrasts markedly with the almost journalistic style of the three synoptic gospels. His purpose is not to summarize the life and ministry of Jesus, but to make the case for His identity as the Messiah.
Unlike the synoptic gospels, John does not mention Jesus’s ancestry, birth, baptism, temptation, or transfiguration. He arranges some incidents in a different order than the synoptics, and makes it clear that the length of Jesus’s earthly ministry was three years.
The word “gospel” is an English translation of the Greek word “euangelion” (“good news”). In Old English, the term for “good news” was “godspel” (“god” meaning “good”, and “spel” meaning “news”). The word “godspel” eventually became “gospel.”
The differences between the gospels do not mean there is a disagreement between them. Though the authors of the four gospels wrote from four points of view, they present one unified message; The prophecies are fulfilled. The long-awaited Messiah has come.
They tell us that Jesus the Messiah did mighty works, preached the Good News of the Kingdom, was crucified, and rose again. This Jesus now lives and has been exalted to the highest heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God. On a day known only to God the Father, He will return to judge the living and the dead, and bring history to a close.
Jesus introduced His ministry with these words: “the time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). In Him, the unity of all Scripture is plainly presented. Through Him the two Testaments are inextricably linked. All Biblical theology revolves around Him.
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John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.
Acts 17:28
for in Him we live and move and have our being….
John 1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Acts 13:38
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
1 John 4:19
We love Him because He first loved us.
John 3:35
The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
John 16:15
All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
Acts 4:12 (Amp)
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.