The 'Synoptic's' in a shell

 These past few months I have had the great pleasure of studying the Synoptic Gospels, it has been a great time of deeper understanding and revelation! Some of you may be wondering (like I did) what do we mean by the Synoptic Gospels? The definition stated by scholars is; ‘to see the good news alike’ and the Synoptic Gospels include Matthew, Mark and Luke. These three gospels do a wonderful job in describing the amazing life of Christ; they describe it almost like fraternal triplets. Scholars classify Mark as the ‘priority’ gospel, you may ponder why does he get priority? Not priority in the sense of importance, but priority as it was the first gospel to be written. Matthew and Luke then incorporate parts of Mark and also add further information to their gospels from what is suggested as a Q Source (from the German word Quelle meaning source). As much as we like to harmonize the gospels we should also be incredibly excited to see them as complementary; like a beautiful musical orchestra, each piece playing its parts to create an amazing and lasting symphony.

Another wonderful thing we can learn is that each writer had a specific target audience. Matthew wrote specifically for the Jews, so his writing included more teaching, powerful fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy and he challenged the Jews to see the long awaited Messiah. Whereas Luke and Mark were focused more on the Gentile reader. Mark specifically appeals to the Roman Gentile, hence more doing than saying. It is a Gospel of action. Luke focuses more on the Gentile Greek and does a great job in linking Christ and the beginning of the church. Again we get to see the beauty of scripture and how God’s heart and passion in wanting all to come to know Him.

Scholars estimate that Jesus ministry started around 27-29 AD. He was about 30 years old. We should be encouraged that God always has a specific time and season and His timing is perfect. Prior to His ministry this time frame could be seen as His ‘silent days/years’ He was being prepared for the most amazing mission ahead. His first year started out with him selecting His disciples and He performed His first miracle in Cana. Then we see a great time and ministry classified as His Early period in the Galilean Ministry. He officially calls the twelve disciples and during this time period His profound sermon on the mount is professed. During the Middle Period of His Galilean Ministry we begin to see a gradual attitude shift towards Jesus as doubt and unbelief of some set in. Then the later period of His Galilean Ministry was very powerful. Not only did He amaze people with His teaching and miracles there was an incredible turning point of this season during the visit to Caesarea Philippi. It was here Jesus revealed to the disciples the great depth of who He truly was and the unthinkable task ahead. As lofty as this was for the disciples to comprehend they eventually embraced it. This was the appointed time, a time for Jesus to do what he had set out to do and also a powerful time of preparation for the disciples to step up to what Jesus had ordained and trained them for. We should never underestimate our times of small beginnings or training, God deems it necessary for where He will take us and how He will use us.

If only we could have been present during that amazing time, to be among the growing crowds, to diligently follow Him as he taught and healed. To be privy to His amazing parables and experience the great manifestation of His presence. We may not have been present physically,  yet thanks to the the synoptic writers we are privileged to experience the great depth and insight of the life and time of Jesus the Messiah. Jesus embraced many titles, he was also noted as the master teacher and one of his most popular and effective ways of teaching was through parables, which comes from the Greek meaning ‘to put things side by side.’ Parables were a powerful tool Jesus used not only to teach but provoke thought and explain a multitude of subjects. Mike McClaflin noted they can be classified into 4 topics; The Kingdom of God, Salvation, Discipleship and Future Events. (McClaflin, Mike. 2000. The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels).

I can only imagine that one of the hardest things for the synoptic writers to document was ‘the Passion week’ (Passion coming from the Latin word- ‘Pasio’ which refers to suffering and enduring). This week was a week like no other for Jesus. The inevitable lay before him and he knew what was required. Yet even in the midst of this unimaginable task He continued to heal, teach and amaze the crowds. He also endured rejection from two of his disciples, and those closest to him fell asleep while he shed drops of blood while praying. As that horrific night began, McClaflin notes it was an irregular and unfair trial; it was at night time, there were no defense witnesses and the death sentence should not have been proclaimed till the following day (McClaflin, Mike. 2000. The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels). Not only that he suffered the humiliation, He was mocked, abused, tortured and suffered unimaginable pain, all for the sake of our sins.

We are very grateful to the Synoptic writers for the the amazing portrayal of the incredible life of Christ, and the reflective portrayal of the agonizing, horrific and altruistic sacrifice that was made. I love the way Robert Stein describes it; “The crucifixion was not some tragic mistake or human derailment of what God intended. On the contrary, as Jesus taught at the Last Supper, the betrayal that led to the cross lay completely within the sovereign plan of God. Jesus went to the cross willingly, knowing that it was God’s plan” (Stein, Robert. 1996. Jesus The Messiah- A survey of the life of Christ. p 200). There is no mistake with God, His divine decrees are powerful, purposeful and  immutable! Thank God for the ransom He paid, the precious death of The Savior was the end of His ministry and life but the beginning of our incredible freedom and reconciliation….. so we can be the men and women God has called and to live on purpose for Him!!

By. Lindsay C. Williams