I have just begun to really read and understand the differences of the Gospels, their authors - and their audience/intent. I never really considered this - and it is very interesting to me. Now I am finding the distinctions of the authors and their orientation might influence how we would go about successfully sharing Gospel with people.

I decided to pick up the Bible and read Luke this morning, and was struck by the differences from the recently-studied Matthew. Let's take a look.

MATTHEW: Jesus was the Jewish Messiah is how Jesus is described: Matthew's audience perhaps was originally primarily Jewish audiences. The gentile audience would be much less interested in the lineage and all that be-gotting! Matthew could be a tough place to begin the gospels because there is so much to share and explain about the Jewish history. Jesus is the Messiah, and no other. So he set out to prove it: "AS IT WAS WRITTEN".

MARK: Jesus was the Divine Son of God, based on the actions of Jesus, the miracles. Not a lot of background - this is the shortest Gospel. This direct Proofing appealed more the gentiles - less geologies and understanding the Old Testament Prophecies. Interesting, right? Presents Jesus through His miracles and His works as the Divine Son of God.

JOHN: Jesus was God and Man - fully human and fully divine at the same time, is how Jesus was presented. John's Gospel is an ongoing story of miracles and teachings - and then reactions from people about those stories and miracles.

So - LUKE: I will make an orderly account. The Son of God lived among Men in a historical setting.

(I just found out that Luke didn't personally know Jesus.) Blew my mind, how did I not know this? And that ACTS - one of my favorite books in the Bible - was authored by Luke. Like a sequel to his gospel! By association with Apostle Paul, Luke came to know these events he shared in Gospel. A gentile convert, establishing churches with Paul. Wow, so nearly 25% of the New Testament is written by a gentile that did not walk with Christ. Luke also ministered to Paul while he was incarcerated and accompanied Paul to Rome and the famous shipwreck. Luke was the only one to minister to Paul in Rome. So how closely he walked and learned from Paul as he writes his letters to his different churches. Luke saw Paul being executed: everything prepared him to write such a Gospel account without his own eyewitness stories.

Luke presents a well organized, step by step storyline of Jesus' life -

and events leading up to His life -

offering a chronological understanding of Jesus' life, His ministry, His death, and His resurrection.

Let's go deep, reading the Gospels and revisit as I study. Luke lays it out so clear and concise, it is such a good Gospel to begin with. Below is from The Bible Project: THEY are fantastic!

Luke: 1-9

Luke: 10-34