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Knowing the Gospels

Read purpose, testimony, discipleship and resurrection across the four Gospels.

1. 1. Read and discover - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   John 20:30-31

   ³⁰ Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;

   ³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

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   Understanding the passage

   John explains that he selects signs to testify to Jesus; a Gospel has a narrative purpose rather than being an exhaustive list.

   Reflect

   • What purpose does the author state?

   Put it into practice

   Read an episode asking how it contributes to that purpose.

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2. 2. Reading an orderly account - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Luke 1:1-4

   ¹ Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

   ² even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

   ³ it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

   ⁴ that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Luke describes working with traditions and witnesses to offer an orderly account; the introduction invites attention to sources.

   Reflect

   • What purpose does Luke give for writing?

   Put it into practice

   Compare Luke’s and John’s introductions before comparing episodes.

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3. 3. Confessing and following - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Mark 8:27-35

   ²⁷ Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”

   ²⁸ They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others, one of the prophets.”

   ²⁹ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

   ³⁰ He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.

   ³¹ He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

   ³² He spoke to them openly. Peter took him and began to rebuke him.

   ³³ But he, turning around and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”

   ³⁴ He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

   ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.

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   Understanding the passage

   Peter recognizes the Messiah but rejects the announced path; Jesus connects discipleship with relinquishing self-preservation at any cost.

   Reflect

   • Why does Peter still need to learn after recognizing Jesus as the Messiah?

   Put it into practice

   Examine a comfort blocking a just action, without seeking personal harm.

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4. 4. The empty tomb - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Matthew 28:1-10

   ¹ Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

   ² Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it.

   ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

   ⁴ For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.

   ⁵ The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.

   ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.

   ⁷ Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”

   ⁸ They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.

   ⁹ As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

   ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Matthew recounts the angel’s announcement and the women’s encounter with Jesus; fear gives way to a commission to tell others.

   Reflect

   • What do the women receive and communicate?

   Put it into practice

   Listen carefully to a testimony before responding.

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5. 5. The Emmaus road - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Luke 24:13-35

   ¹³ Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem.

   ¹⁴ They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened.

   ¹⁵ While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them.

   ¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

   ¹⁷ He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?”

   ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?”

   ¹⁹ He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;

   ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

   ²¹ But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

   ²² Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb;

   ²³ and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

   ²⁴ Some of us went to the tomb and found it just like the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”

   ²⁵ He said to them, “Foolish people, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

   ²⁶ Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?”

   ²⁷ Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

   ²⁸ They came near to the village where they were going, and he acted like he would go further.

   ²⁹ They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” He went in to stay with them.

   ³⁰ When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave it to them.

   ³¹ Their eyes were opened and they recognized him; then he vanished out of their sight.

   ³² They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”

   ³³ They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them,

   ³⁴ saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

   ³⁵ They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Jesus listens to two travelers’ disappointment and reads Scripture with them; recognition leads them back to the community.

   Reflect

   • How does the Emmaus travelers’ understanding of Jesus change?

   Put it into practice

   Listen to someone’s disappointment without rushing to answer.