Introduction
The Gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John are four of the most commonly recognized texts in the Bible. In Matthew 17:1-8 and 17:24-27, Jesus is transfigured on a mountain and subsequently paid a temple tax with a coin found in a fish’s mouth. The Sermon on the Mount, one of Jesus’ most famous teachings, is delivered in Luke 6:12-48. Mark 11:12-25 narrates the narrative of Jesus cursing a fruitless fig tree. John 3:1-11 is a conversation involving Nicodemus, a Pharisee who pays Jesus a nighttime visit.
Excerpt from Luke 6:12-48
The focus on the necessity of love, kindness, and forgiveness in someone’s connection with God and others is one implication of the text. The author shared the accounts to pass on Jesus’ teachings to upcoming followers and to strengthen the early Christian community’s ideals and beliefs. While questioning conventional ideas and societal standards, Jesus is depicted as a caring and intelligent teacher. His disciples are shown as devoted followers who are selected to pass on Jesus’ teachings. Rivals of Jesus, such as the scribes and Pharisees, are depicted as obstinate and hypocritical in their denial of Jesus and his teachings (Asikainen, 2018). God is represented as a caring and compassionate father who blesses those who adhere to his teachings while punishing those who fail to.
Excerpt from Matthew17:1-8 and 24-25
By the appearances of Moses and Elijah, the transfiguration tale contributed to reinforcing Jesus’ divine identity and power to his disciples, and to relate Jesus to the prophet heritage of Judaism. Jesus’ payment of the temple tax with a miracle coin is used to demonstrate Jesus’ strength and control over worldly powers (Sinclair, 2020). The focus on Jesus’ divinity and power as he appears in a glorious form with the prophets Elijah and Moses is one lesson to be learned. In the account of the temple tax, he performs a miracle that lets him easily pay the tax, indicating his dominion over worldly systems. The disciples are passive viewers, except during the transfiguration, they express a wish to build dwellings for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, while God is depicted as the Son’s Father.
Excerpt from Mark 11:12-25
One possible interpretation of the text is that Jesus used the fig tree as a sign of the religious officials who failed to bear fruit in their acts and teachings. By evicting the businessmen from the temple, Jesus demonstrated his displeasure with corruption and exploitation. His teachings on faith and forgiveness imply that genuine worship and devotion necessitate a genuine heart rather than exterior rituals. The disciples are depicted as eyewitnesses to Jesus’ deeds and teachings, although they play no essential role in the plot. Although God’s character is not directly depicted in this chapter, some scholars understand Jesus’ actions as representing God’s judgment and cleansing of the temple.
Excerpt from John 3:1-11
The exchange involving Jesus and Nicodemus is included to emphasize the themes of renewal and believing in the Son of God. It contrasts Nicodemus, a recognized Pharisee who is first dubious of Jesus’ teachings, with Jesus, who communicates with command and portrays himself as the sole route to eternal life. Nicodemus is presented as someone who is first intrigued by Jesus’ teachings but remains skeptical of his claims as he goes to meet Jesus at night, possibly to avoid being spotted by Pharisees (Willmington, 2018). Jesus is represented as a gentle and compassionate teacher with a strong understanding of spiritual topics who explains his teachings to Nicodemus. The notion of spiritual rebirth is depicted in the story, which is a significant theme in Christian teachings.
Conclusion
The four Gospels weave together a complex tapestry of tales, teachings, and moral teachings that have had a significant impact on the world. We learn about Jesus’ life and teachings, as well as early Christian beliefs and customs. As religiously neutral academics, we may get a deeper knowledge of the social and historical circumstances in which these books were produced, and the timeless lessons they offer for individuals of various faiths and backgrounds, by evaluating the meaning and implications of these works.
References
Asikainen, S. (2018). Jesus and his opponents. In Jesus and Other Men (pp. 46-74). Brill. Web.
Sinclair, S. G. (2020). Jesus the Servant King: A Lecture Series on My Version of the Historical Jesus [Lecture Notes]. Web.
Willmington, H. (2018). A Biographical study of Nicodemus. Web.