The Synoptic Gospel, Jesus Baptism Matthew - Essay Example

The Synoptic Gospel Unit 2: Lesson 2 Jesus’ Baptism Matthew 3:13-17 (cf. Mark 9-11; Luke 3:21-23) Jesus’ baptism was the occasion that His messiah ship became apparently public. Matthew recorded this event to convince his readers more about Jesus’ qualification as the messiah. John’s baptism of Jesus had two purposes: To prepare Israel for her messiah (3:1-12) and to prepare the messiah for Israel (3:13-17).It is important to note that Matthew did not describe Jesus’ baptism as the synoptic gospel of Luke but rather emphasized two revelatory events that followed it (2:1-23).The person who saw the “Spirit of God descending” evidently was Jesus. Jesus also heard the Fathers voice. Luke records that Jesus saw the Holy spirit in the form of a dove, not in a dove-like fashion descending on Him (Luke 3:22).An audible revelation followed the visual one (v.17).Matthew recorded God’s word as a general announcement (cf.17:5).While the other evangelists recorded that God sais, “You are my beloved Son” (Mark1:11; Luke3:22).Evidently the accounts of Mark and Luke contain actual words of God in this event. What is the Synoptic problem and what is the significance of the “Q” gospel? The study of all the gospels the synoptic problem is inherent, essentially involving all the difficulties that arise out of the similarities and differences between the gospel accounts. The bible books of Matthew, Mark and Luke are termed as synoptic gospels because they present the life and ministry of Jesus Christ with similarities common in their narrative accounts. Part of the synoptic problem is in determining from what source the Holy Spirit led the evangelists in writing their gospels. This is because there is evidence within the individual gospels themselves that the writers used source materials as they wrote. The best example is the Old Testament passages to which each one of the writers referred to directly of indirectly. Amongst the disciples of Jesus were Matthew and John, who presented many eye-witness accounts of what happened. Likewise, their was a close connection between Mark and Peter, and Luke as well as being an historian was also closely connected with Paul(Luke 1:1-4).Information that the writers obtained verbally could have been a source and perhaps special revelations from God. In the each for the source of the synoptic gospels, there were scholars who posited that the source was one. But other scholars thought the source of synoptic gospel to be from two sources. Some favored the view that the primary source must have been from Mark since over 90 percent of the material in Mark also appears in Matthew and or Luke. Others posited another primary source which is known as “Q” abbreviated from the Germany word for source, quelle. It was supposed to have contained the Material in Matthew and Luke which is not seen appearing in Mark. Gradually, source criticism gave way to “form criticism which concentrated on the process of transmission of what Jesus said and did to the primary sources. They assumed that the process of transmission involved patterns of oral communication typical in primitive societies. The characteristics of oral transmission shortened narratives, retained names, balanced teachings and elaborated on stories about miracles, thus affected the stories. Therefore they concluded that the gospels in their present forms are not an accurate representation of what Jesus said and done. The next wind of critic opinion led to “redaction criticism” which accepted the tenets of the source of and criticism. However, they also believed that the gospel evangelists altered the traditions that they received in order to make their own theological emphases. They viewed the current gospels to contain both traditional and edited material. Therefore, they recognized individual gospel evangelist’s purpose for writing, which also permitted historical error in the interpretation of the gospels. The Gospel according to Mark was written around the Date: 60-75, most likely between 68 and 73. It was written by Mark to teach a lesson. Readers can learn much about Jesus from the traditions of his parables and mighty deeds, of His victory through suffering, death and resurrection. It was written to a community that had undergone persecution and failure. This was when Rome under Nero who persecuted Christians. It may also have been written to the remnants of believers in Syria, the north Transjordan, the Decapolis and Galilee (Brown:127). “Messianic secret” is a term used by scholars of the gospel to refer to instances where Jesus seems to hide His identity as the Son of God until it is made apparent after his death on the cross(Mark 1:34) (Brown:129). There are two endings in the book of Mark. The ending of the Gospel of Mark is abrupt and confusing. For this reason several additional endings were later added on to it. The first part of the confusion pertains to Jesus’ supposed burial. In Mark 8:31,Jesus clearly states that the “Son of Man” will be killed and after “three days” rise again, but in this ending Jesus dies on Friday afternoon, is buried on Friday evening, remains buried on Saturday-the Sabbath, the raised on Sunday. This only provides a burial of one day by Jewish standards of time which measured a day by sunrise and sunset. This might simply have been an oversight by the author, or he intentionally did not fulfill prophecy from 8:31,or the ending might have been altered, or its symbolism altogether might have been lost to later readers. On the other hand, unlike other endings of the Gospel, Marks ending is not triumphant or inspirational. There is no mention of ascension, no meeting with disciples, no issuance of a decree to spread the Gospel. There is only fear and terror and failure on behalf of the followers. Mary Magdalene was the first to see the risen Christ according to Mark’s Gospel. Lesson 2.2 The synoptic Gospel that I prefer is the Gospel account according to Matthew. The reason is that since Matthew was a disciple of Jesus and one of the twelve Apostles, his work carried great influence and prestige. Moreover, the fact that the early church accepted it as the book written by him strongly defends the likelihood that he indeed wrote it. Besides as a tax collector for Rome, he would have to be capable in writing and his profession forced him to keep accurate and detailed records, thus skilled enough to write the gospel. 1) Exposition 1. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE KING 1.1-4.11 The purpose of the first part is to introduce the reader to Jesus on the one hand, and to the religious leaders on the other. The first two chapters of this section prepare the reader for Jesus’ Mini9stry. A.THE KING’S GENEOLOGY 1:1-17 (cf.LUKE 3:23-38) The Gospel of Matthew begins with Jesus’ genealogy because Christians claimed He was the promised Messiah in the Old Testament. Thus, He was a Jew from the royal line of King David. The Genealogy proves that Jesus descended not only from Abraham, but also from David the founder of Israelite’s dynasty. 1.1 This verse is a title verse for the whole Gospel. It introduces the story of Jesus’ birth. Where the Genealogy ends with David in the Old Testament, Matthew reviewed David’s Genealogy and extended it to Jesus. Thus, the plan of God in creation of man is to be completed by the Man, Christ Jesus. Jesus occurs more than 150 times in Matthew and reserves the use of the name for himself so that his point of view might strongly blend with that of Jesus. 1.2 Matthew introduces Jesus Christ as the descendant of David and Abraham, the two ancestors for special purposes: Abraham and David are important because God gave each of them a covenant. God vowed to unconditionally provide seed, land and blessing to Abraham and his descendants, and also be a source of blessing to the whole world (Gen. 12:1-3,7;15;et al.). God’s covenant with David was that his descendants would rule over the Kingdom of Israel forever (2sam. 7:12-16). 2) Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew probably before A.D. 70. Matthew wrote it some years after the death of Jesus Christ to encourage and strengthen believers that Jesus was indeed the promised King and therefore they should continue in the good works that He taught and did even after his resurrection and ascension to heaven. It was written for the Jews and Christians that were in Palestine, and probably Antioch of Syria, Alexandria, Edessa, Syria, Tyre and Caesarea Maratima. They imitated the Messianic Kingdom which was at hand and which was characterized by death on the cross, rising from the dead, ascension into heaven, ushering of the tribulation, return of Jesus to earth to establish His Kingdom. It goes as far back as Abraham because he was the father of the nation of Israel. They were three Maggis. Mary Magdalene was the first witness of the resurrected Christ Jesus. The dating of the book of Acts is important because it was written after Luke. So evidence points that it was written before Ad 70 possibly no later than AD 62. It was written to provide a detailed and orderly eye-witness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the Gospel immediately after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was written to Theophilus, meaning “the one who loves God”. Nobody is sure of who this Pheophilus was (mentioned in Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1).Most likely he might have been a roman with an intense interest in the newly forming Christian faith, or Luke might have been writing in general to all those who loved God: the gentile as well as other people everywhere. Luke’s genealogy runs from Christ back to Adam. It traces the physical ancestors of Christ through Mary and ends with Adam the “son of God” as the first ancestor. The Gospel of Mark depicts Jesus as innocent of plotting against the Roman Empire, thus portrays Pilate as reluctant to execute Jesus. Acts: (17:6-7, 18:13, 24:12-13), and the accused Christians are repeatedly found innocent by the Roman authorities, often showing how they uphold both the Roman and Jewish law. The following seven dimensions were area where the Holy Spirit powerfully moved in the Ministry of Jesus Christ and in the Early Church. 1) Evangelism: Anointing by the Spirit: The power of the Spirit to witness (Acts 1:8, 2:1-4,2:37-41) ,Evangelism under the direction of the Spirit( Acts 16:6-10),personal witness under the direction of the Spirit (Acts 8:29-31). 2) Good relationships under the guidance of the Spirit: Being one in Heart and Soul (Acts4:32, 33), Unity displayed in the upper room (Acts1:13, 14). 3) Prayer as a tool empowered by the Spirit: The upper room where they prayed until the Pentecost(Acts 1:14;2:1-4;Luke 11:9-13).Renewal and empowerment by the Spirit (Acts 4:31) 4) Holiness and cleansing by the Spirit: Repentance (Acts 2:37-41), Revival and Confession of Sin (Acts 19:18-20; 17:24-31). 5) Anointed by the Spirit in worship and Gifts of the Spirit, Healing and Deliverance (Acts 8:5-8), Miracles (Acts 12:6-10). 6) Works of Compassion as a fruit of the Spirit: Feeding the Hungry (Acts 4:34, 35; 6:1-3), Works of Charity (Acts 9:36). 7) Development of Ministries as led by the Spirit: Spirit sent Missionaries (Acts 13:1-4), New Ministries as directed by the spirit (Acts 6:1-6; 20:28). Works Cited Brown, Raymond E., An Introduction to the New Testament, Doubleday: New York. Read More