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four gospels
AIMS
To consider the four gospels, their similarities and differences.
INTRODUCTION
In the New Testament we have four written down version of Jesus’ life we call the Four
Gospels. We usually identify these by the name of the writer to which they are attributed.
Each gospel has its own character and content, and whilst there is obviously some overlap of
the key aspects of the story like Jesus’ death and resurrection, some parts of the story are
specific to one gospel only. In this starter we get an opportunity to explore what we think
about these similarities and differences.
Background information
Each of the four Gospel writers is traditionally represented by the following symbols, which
originate from the four "living creatures" of the Book of Ezekiel (Chapter 1) and the Book of
Revelation (4.6-9 and following). These appear in ancient manuscripts, such as in the Book
of Kells. The figures are always winged. Matthew is symbolised by a human (not an angel
as sometimes thought); Mark by a lion; Luke by an ox bull or calf; John by an eagle. A DVD
of the Book of Kells is available from http://www.bookofkells.com/. You may want to use
some picutres as a background to this activity.
An activity like this might go well for Bible Sunday which this year falls on October 25th.
Getting started
We suggest that participants work in small groups so that they can work together
collaboratively and confidently. How many small groups will depend on how many
participants al together. Try to have about 6 people in a group.
STRUCTURE
1. Give each group a large sheet of paper (from a flip chart for example) and ask them to fold
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it into four quarters. On each quarter write one of the names associated with the gospels:
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Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
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2. Invite participants to put what they remember about each gospel in each quarter.
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Encourage them to do this without looking at written bibles, at least at first. It is not a test but
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a chance to share knowledge. Encourage the group members to share their ideas and to
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listen to each other. Try to remind people not to dominate the group but to be respectful of
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each person’s contributions. Spend about 10 minutes on this remembering.
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3. Give out some written Bibles. Try to have different versions that have words of introduction
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to each book of the Bible at the beginning of each one. Invite the groups to consider what
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these say about the gospels and to add or amend their lists about Matthew, Mark, Luke and
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John in the light of this information. They may also want to check up any of the things from
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their rememberings and add to or amend those. Spend about 15 minutes on this part of the
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activity.
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4. Bring the groups back together. Invite participants to say which gospel they prefer and
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why. Each group might want to vote for their favourite gospel. Encourage them to refer to the
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things they have on their sheets to inform their choice. Spend about 5 minutes on this.
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four gospels
CLOSING WORSHIP
Close the session with some worship and prayer. You may want to choose a hymn that
reflects something of the diversity of the gospels or a poem about them. At the end of this
document a series of poems about the gospels has been provided. You may want to use
these or write your own.
EVALUATION
Please try to answer these questions for yourself and for others who will use this material:
1. What was the most helpful thing?
2. What was the least helpful thing?
3. What would you like to try now?
THE NEXT STEP
If you want more Starters please return to the Menu. As this Bible Year is the lectionary year
for Marks gospel there will be a series of Bible studies on the gospel of Mark on the website.
Why not try one of those next? Alternatively if you would like to try an all-age creative activity
which could focus on the gospels, why not try Bible Scrapbooking on the dessert menu.
POEMS ON THE FOUR GOSPELS
Mark
Mark, the first of the gospel writers,
Starts his good news as he means to go on,
States his intent at the beginning,
To show Jesus Christ as God’s own son.
The winged lion makes straight for the desert,
John the Baptist is preaching there,
Baptises Jesus who goes to be tempted,
Then attended by angels’ care.
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Mark always brief, clear of purpose.
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Friend of Peter, who told him facts,
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Makes his point with many stories
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Of Jesus’ words and healing acts.
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Mark alone adds vivid detail -
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Other ships are on the lake
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When the great storm alarms the disciples
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So that they call for Jesus to wake.
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Only in Mark do the five thousand
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Sit themselves on grass that is green,
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Not poor shrivelled drought-ridden stuff
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But a living symbol that seems to mean
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The tired and weary famished crowd
Are about to be amazed and fed
By five little loaves and two tiny fish,
Blessed for them by the living Bread.
So St. Mark in writing his gospel
Reveals to the reader holy things
As his lion prowls upon the earth
And rises to heaven upheld by strong wings.
Matthew
Matthew the man
With wings,
But not an angel,
Reformed tax coflector,
Used to lists,
Organizing material,
Teaching cause and effect,
Paiticularly the effect,
The inevitable hard consequences
Of stepping into sin,
Weeping and wailing,
Gnashing of teeth,
Fires of damnation
For foolish virgins and goats.
Starts his gospel with the man
Joseph, not Mary,
Josephs genealogy.
Joseph’s decision,
The visit of the Magi,
The slaughter of the innocents,
The flight into Egypt,
Tough stuff.
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Matthew gives us warning
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He is not an easy read.
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The good news of Jesus
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Has its hard edges.
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Luke
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Luke, the sacrificial, winged bull,
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Starts in the Temple with incense rising.
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Luke the Greek, the beloved physician,
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Careful historian, checking his facts
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Concerned for the poor, the sick, the outcast
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Like his master; recording his acts.
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Healing the leper, the woman bent double,
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The centurion’s servant, the paralysed man,
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Raising from death Jairus’s daughter.
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four gospels
Restoring to life the widow’s one son.
He shows Jesus teaching and preaching and telling
Compassionate tales of the strayed and the lost
The coin and the sheep and the father’s young son,
The joy that abounded when they were found;
The lonely traveller set on by thieves
Befriended and tended with love and with care
Of the stranger who could not let him lie there
Wounded and bleeding ignored by the priest.
Luke tells of betrayal, the cross and the tomb,
The road to Emmaus where two sunk in gloom
Are joined by their Lord raised up from the dead
At last to be known in the breaking of bread.
Luke ends in the Temple with praising the Lord,
The bull opens his wings and flies heavenward.
John
John, the eagle
On the mountain top,
Looking at the sun
Unblinded by God’s glory,
Holy evangelist.
Yet John is a man,
Looking at Jesus;
Seeing another man
Making friends
Enjoying a wedding feast,
Turning traders out of the Temple,
Sought out by night,
For secret talks;
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Seeking the despised,
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Healing the sick, feeding the hungry,
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Raising the three-day dead
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(A difficult one that)
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A man of compassion.
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The eagle swoops for food,
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Feeds its young;
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John lights on Jesus’ words
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To feed the believer.
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Jesus is:
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The bread of life,
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The light of the world,
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The good shepherd,
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The true vine,
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The way, the truth, the life.
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four gospels
Words from the Word
That John saw made flesh
And living among us.
Acknowledgements
The four poems in this starter are copyright to Olive Shepherd of High Wycombe URC and
can be used with local churches with permission. Other enquiries please contact the
Vision4life website.
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