The Lord Presented Four Ways In the Old Testament
THE FOUR GOSPELS
John 20:30, 31.
Why did God write four Gospels? Why didn't He make just one Gospel, for there is only ONE Gospel. If more than one Book, then why not twelve, as there were twelve apostles (I'm glad Judas didn't write one, aren't you?). The New Testament is the outgrowth of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the ROOT, and the New Testament is the BRANCHES. Paul (in Timothy) states that he had known the Scriptures from his youth. Paul was speaking about the Old Testament Scriptures that Timothy had been taught, for there was no New Testament then.
The Lord Presented Four Ways In the Old Testament
| 1. King of Israel | Isaiah 32:1; Zechariah 9:9 | Sovereign |
| 2. Servant of Jehovah | Isaiah 52:13 | Servant |
| 3. Son of Man | Isaiah 7:14; 9:6, 7 | Seed |
| 4. Son of God | Isaiah 9:6; 40:3-9 | Son |
The Lord is called the "Branch"-Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; Isaiah 4:2.
The first thing we come to in the New Testament is the four Gospels: King, Servant, Son of Man, and Son of God. The Old Testament fathers saw Him in the cherubims; Ezekiel 1-Lion (King of Judah); Ox (Servant); Man (Man); Eagle (Son of God). Matthew -As King
Mark -As Servant
Luke -As the Son of Man
John -As the Son of God-this shows divine inspiration.
The four Gospels are said to be written to four classes of people. There were three languages written over the Lord upon the Cross: Latin, Hebrew and Greek; all were there. Matthew was written to the Jews (Hebrew); Mark was written to the Romans (Latin); Luke was written to the Greeks (Greek)-the lovers of art. The Gospel of Luke is a work of art itself; John was written to the Church. This last Gospel makes more appeal to the Christian than the other three combined.
Matthew is introduced by genealogy. When the King takes His throne, it is by birth.
Mark-we find the recommendations of the servant-"This is my Son in whom I am well pleased". No genealogy here, as servants need none.
Luke-genealogy shows that Christ was a man, because He came from the first man, Adam; everyone born comes "from", not evoluted "to." John-had no genealogy-Why? Answer: Who was God's father?
MATTHEW-"Kingdom of Heaven" is found only in this Gospel, and it is found 32 times.
| MATTHEW | LUKE |
| He was born King of the Jews. | He was born a Saviour. |
| He was crucified because He said He was king of the Jews. | He was crucified because He was the Son of Man. |
Christ was acquitted three times of the same charge in the Roman courts, but after He was acquitted, He was stripped, beaten, slapped, kicked, knocked-hurt, wounded, and crucified-THAT'S HUMAN JUSTICE?
MARK-Servant of God (Philippians 2). No genealogy; no record of birth (Birth was taken for granted); no boyhood or youth recorded-just a servant going around serving. Look at the word "And"
LUKE-Humanity emphasized. Tells of His praying and His perfect human sympathy. Where else do you find Him sweating drops, as if they were drops of blood, other than in Luke's gospel?
JOHN-He was presented as the great "I AM"-"He that hath seen me bath seen the Father." There is no Bethlehem, no Egypt, no Baptism, but there is the ministry of the Son of God. He claimed equality with God.
THE TWO GENEALOGIES:
| MATTHEW’S: | LUKE’S: |
| Abraham | Adam |
| David | Abraham |
| Solomon | David |
| Coniah (Jeremiah 22:28-30) | |
| Joseph | Nathan
Heli |
In II Samuel and Psalm 89 we have the Davidic Covenant presented, but something has happened. Jeremiah 22:28-30 does not mean he will have no children, but rather that his seed would not sit upon the throne.
Joseph, Mary's husband, known as a carpenter, was in reality a prince of Judah He had a right to the throne of Judah but having a title to it didn t do him any good No doubt the Devil was glad when the Lord made this curse, because if God did not set up David's throne forever then He has broken the covenant and if so His Word is not true ad the Devil will have defeated God.
Nathan was as much David s son as Solomon If you study the Bible carefully you will notice that Nathan was born before Solomon and should have been king-I Chronicles 3:5. However Nathan's mouth was shut. Why? Tell me why the lions shut their mouths before Daniel and I will tell you the reason why Nathan shut his mouth. Why? God did it.
Joseph and Mary were espoused, meaning that they were engaged, and that engagement lasted for one year which was as sacred as marriage When Joseph found out that his espoused Mary was with child, He was afraid; he knew how a young Woman came to be With child. Don't blame Joseph! Would you believe a woman who came with such a story? Deuteronomy 22:23, 24 24:1-4. There were three things Joseph could have done He thought only of two:
1. He could show her shame and have her stoned to death.
2. He could put her away privately and divorce her.
The circumstance was so great that God sent His angel to tell Joseph to do the third thing: consummate the marriage. He should marry her and legally claim the child as his own. It would have to take a visit from an angel to make us believe it, wouldn't it?
In the sight of the law, Jesus was a son of Joseph; Jesus has two fathers! Jesus had legal (through Joseph) rights to the throne of David-legal rights, yes, but an heir through Mary! He did not have rights of blood kin upon which the curse stood, but legal rights through that line and blood right through the other line of Mary, to Nathan, to David. Jesus was the only One that could be of the family of Solomon, legally, and yet not be of the same by blood.
Jesus didn't have any children. Joseph and Mary did have more children after Jesus, but the crown of David only went to the firstborn. Now, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, the throne of David is still empty; there is no one to fill it, and it never will be filled! Then, throw out the Bible and the Davidic Covenant. But Hallelujah; Christ is risen! He is still living! He is the King to sit upon the throne! The genealogy of Solomon had to be kept up in order to protect the line from whence the Lord would come. The Devil is not omniscient. He would not know a lot of things if we didn't tell him. The Devil forgot all about Nathan's line and fought Solomon's line all the time.
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