THE RELEVANCE OF THE GOSPELS

I love reading the gospels. Although in all honesty I find that I tend to read Luke above the others because, on reflection, I think I find it more relevant to my situation. And that’s the wonderful thing about the gospels - each of them was written as a response to people in different situations. Matthew wrote to convince the Jerusalem Jews that Jesus was the promised Messiah, Luke wrote to convince skeptical gentiles (particularly the Greeks) that the rumours that Jesus was the Son of God were true, John wrote to convince Christians of flagging faith to strengthen their belief and not fall prey to the influence of false teaching, while Mark wrote to reassure and strengthen converts in Rome who were suffering dreadful persecution at the hands of the Emperor Nero.

I decided to have a look at Mark’s account of the last supper. It’s a shorter account than Luke and John and almost identical to Matthew, targeting specifically Jesus’ knowledge of his betrayal by Judas and the significance of the sacrifice of his body and the shedding of his blood as the communion elements of the New Covenant;
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."

This was written as an encouragement to heavily persecuted Christians. No matter what was happening to them Christ sacrificed his body for them and shed his blood to wash away their sins. More than that he will drink and eat with them again in the Kingdom of God, and when is that? On his resurrection from the dead!

What a wonderful encouragement! Throughout Mark’s account of Jesus’ life he highlights the reward for suffering, providing evidence to support his position that the suffering of believers will not be in vain, that Christ’s promises to us will be fulfilled. In fact he prefaces his account of the passover with the rerassurance: “it was just as he had told them”. His promises are real!!

Just as the persecuted Christians in Rome could look forward to a glory beyond their suffering; so can we. So let’s cling to the hope to which we have been called and call upon the power that has been gifted to us.

Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. AMEN.