Perspective Digest

Volume 8 Number 3 Article 23

7-1-2003

The Four Faces of Jesus

Robert K. McIver
Avondale College

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Recommended Citation
McIver, Robert K. (2003) "The Four Faces of Jesus," Perspective Digest: Vol. 8 : No. 3 , Article 23.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/pd/vol8/iss3/23

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 McIver: The Four Faces of Jesus

BY R O B E R T K. M C I V E R

What can we learn from the differing accounts

of Jesus5mission given in the Gospels?

hy four Gospels in the New
Testament? Surely one
would be enough. Such, at
least, was the opinion of
the second-century church
father Tatian, who produced the
Diatessaron, a translation of the
Gospels into Syriac. Rather than
translate all four Gospels, he pro-
duced a “harmony”— taking one
version of each of the im portant
stories, and linking them into a har-
mony of the Gospels. John Calvin
wrote a commentary on each of the
Bible books except the Gospels, for
which he worked out a harmony
and then wrote a commentary on
it.
Yet, Tatian and Calvin are excep-
tions. Four Gospels have been in
the New Testament from the very
first time anyone thought to ask
which writings should be included.
We don’t know the reasons why the
earliest Christians chose to keep all
four Gospels in the New Testament.
But because they did, we now have
four slightly different witnesses to
Jesus. Liken it to several witnesses
testifying in a court case, each of
whom contributes to clarifying the
truth of what happened. In the *
* Robert K. Mclver is a Senior Lec-
turer in Biblical Studies at Avondale
College, Cooranbong, Australia. His
publications include The Four Faces
of Jesus (Boise, Idaho: Pacific Press
Publ. Assn., 2000), which forms the
basis of this article.

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 Perspective Digest, Vol. 8 [2003], No. 3, Art. 23

Gospels, we see, as it were, the four body, an event that provided impe-
faces of Jesus. We’ll examine each to tus for the mission of the early (and
see what is distinctive about it— later) Christians. The above events
keeping in mind, however, their are highlighted by all four Gospels.
basic harmony. For example, they Yet each offers a distinctive view of
agree on many of the details of his Jesus.
ministry. Matthew and Luke record
that he was born in Bethlehem, and The Gospel of Matthew
all four agree that he grew up in John expresses frustration that
Nazareth. All agree on his mission all four evangelists m ust have
field—the small towns around the shared: “Jesus did many other
northern end of the Sea of Galilee. things as well. If every one of them
More significantly, all share the were written down, I suppose that
conviction that the most important even the whole world would not
events in his ministry were his cruci- have room for the books that would
fixion, death, and resurrection. They be written” (NIV). Think what we
agree, further, that the significance might have had if each disciple had
of the cross is to be found in his a computer and the skill to use it!
identity as the Messiah, and that Surely they knew a lot more about
what happened there was the result Jesus than they were able to include
of God’s will in their Gospels.
rather than blind So they needed to
fate. All the Gos- be selective. Con-
pels note the link sequently, it is
between the cross interesting to look
and the Passover. at what each
In their account of writer includes
Jesus’ death, all that is not in the
report that he was other Gospels.
crucified as king of M atthew and
the Jews, an ironic Luke in particular
detail, because the reveal their special
cross did in fact interests and em-
inaugurate the phases. For exam-
kingdom of God. ple, Matthew pro-
Further, they high- vides several
light his being unique sayings of
raised from the Jesus that deal
dead with a real with the commu-

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 McIver: The Four Faces of Jesus
nity of believers. how Christians
One example should react to
unique to M at- news of Jesus’ soon
thew: By the para- return. In Matthew
ble of the unfor- 24 and 25, he
giving servant, attaches four par-
Jesus emphasizes ables that empha-
forgiveness as the size how Christians
solution to a dis- should behave
pute between two between the now
members of the and the then—the
community (Matt. Second Coming:
18:21-35). Other the parable of the
verses unique to faithful and un-
Matthew highlight faithful servant
how conduct in (24:45-51), the
the Christian com- parable of the 10
munity should dif- maidens (25:1-13),
fer from that of the parable of the
the Pharisees (see Matthew 23:1-3,5, talents (25:14-30), and the parable of
8-10, 15, 16-21,27, 28, 32, 33). the judgment of the nations (25:31-
Matthew also has a great interest 46). Three of these are unique to
in matters that relate to the rela- Matthew. This apostle also empha-
tionship between Jews and Gentiles, sizes that Christians should act right-
presumably because this issue was eously, keeping the law even better
of concern to his community at the than the Pharisees (5:20). Christians
time he was composing his Gospel. will not get angry, commit adultery,
It is Matthew who traces Jesus’ gen- and not even lust (5:27-30). Instead,
ealogy back to Abraham (1:1). (See they will love their enemies and be
Luke 3:23-38, which traces his gen- perfect, just as God is perfect (5:43-
ealogy to Adam.) It is Matthew who 48). Along with this emphasis on liv-
gathers the teachings of Jesus about ing righteous lives, Matthew empha-
the law into what we know as the sizes that Christians are saved by faith
Sermon on the Mount (5:17-48). apart from deeds. This teaching is
Likewise, it is Matthew who reveals clearest in the parable of the workers
that Jesus’ mission was first directed in the vineyard (20:1-16). In the
only to the Jews (10:5, 6) and later, kingdom of God as in the parable,
to all the world (28:19, 20). the reward given at the end of the day
Matthew is also very interested in is not related to the amount of work

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 Perspective Digest, Vol. 8 [2003], No. 3, Art. 23
performed, but to the graciousness of ciples did—a call to ministry.
the Lord.
The Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Mark Luke’s early stories reveal many of
Only 30 of the 609 verses in the the differences between his Gospel
Gospel of Mark are unique to that and that of Matthew. When Matthew
Gospel and it is the shortest of the speaks of the infancy of Jesus, he
four. So, in contrast to the other reveals the involvement of kings and
three, Mark’s character is not on dis- wise men from the East. In contrast,
play. Rather, we must make a more the characters we meet in Luke are the
subjective judgment based on com- outcasts of society—a poor country
parisons. We are aided by Mark’s priest and his wife, shepherds, an
ability to communicate vividly, and elderly prophet in the temple, and, of
his eye for details lacking elsewhere. course, women, whose status in any
Transported to this century, Mark first-century society, including Ju-
would probably be editor of the daism, would not be envied by today’s
Adventist Review or perhaps, given Eves. Yet, unlike just about all other
his missionary zeal, the Signs of the ancient literature, Luke’s Gospel re-
Times. His eye for action captures cords not only the sayings and deeds
attention, one reason his Gospel is of women (1:39-56)—for example,
often called the those of Mary and
“best” for a quick Elizabeth—but al-
read. Among other so their contacts
things, Mark em- with Jesus (7:36-50;
phasizes the really 10:38-42; 13:10-19).
hum an Jesus to - Luke also has an
gether with his eye for some of the
being the unique best parables. With-
Son of God. He out him we would
presents Jesus as not have met the
the pre-eminent Good Samaritan
teacher, who can- (10:25-37) or the
not be understood prodigal son (15:11-
apart from his suf- 32). He also in-
fering, death, res- cludes three para-
urrection, and bles about prayer
soon return. Each not found in the
reader experiences other Gospels
what the first dis- (11:5-13; 18:1-8;

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 McIver: The Four Faces of Jesus
18:9-14). Luke alone among the apos- ciples, Nicodemus, the woman at the
tles lets the reader know what hap- well, and the crowds. These dis-
pened after the Resurrection. The courses reveal a fuller understanding
Book of Acts is the companion vol- of Jesus than is found elsewhere.
ume to his Gospel. Without Luke, we In probing the depths of Jesus’
would not have known about the prog- teachings, John uses simple language
ress of Christianity outside the boun- and imagery. One of his simple but
daries of Judaism. We also have to profound images is that of “above
thank Luke for letting us know of the versus below.” For example, Jesus is
conversion of Paul, and the details of associated with the realm of heaven
his missionary activities. Without and God the Father, but he has come
Luke, we would know little of the ear- down from heaven (above), the
liest days of the Christian Church. place of life, light, truth, and spirit,
into the Earth (below), which is
The Gospel of John characterized by death, darkness,
When we move to the Gospel of lying, and the flesh. The key reason
John, we move into a conceptual that those bound to Earth cannot
world quite different from that of understand Jesus: They are thinking
the other three Gospels. Though only in terms of the flesh (e.g., 3:11,
John joins them in emphasizing the 12; 6:50-58). Simple concepts, but
events surround- used in a profound
ing the betrayal, way.
death, and resur- Another strik-
rection of Jesus, ing imagery: The
the rest of his tendency of the
book differs mate- future to come into
rially. Beginning the present. The
with chapters 2 last judgment and
through 12, he eternal life properly
writes of several belong to the fu-
im portant m ira- ture, but the judg-
cles of Jesus ment has already
(which he calls come in Jesus. Our
“signs”), and dis- attitude toward
courses between Jesus is our judg-
Jesus and various ment. If we believe
listeners. Among in him, we have
partners in these passed through the
dialogues: the dis- judgment into life;

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 Perspective Digest, Vol. 8 [2003], No. 3, Art. 23

Several themes emerge from John 13-17, the next major

section in this Gospel. In contrast to the style of leadership adopted
by the Gentiles, the Christian leader is a servant. If you would
be leader, then you will be the one who serves m ost. . . . Love will
be the hallmark of Jesus' disciples.

if we do not believe, we are con- The Gospel of Jesus

demned already (3:16-18). Indeed, if
we believe in Jesus, we have eternal
life already.
Several themes emerge from John
13-17, the next major section in this
Gospel. In contrast to the style of
leadership adopted by the Gentiles,
the Christian leader is a servant. If
you would be leader, then you will
be the one who serves most. Several
sayings of Jesus in this section stress
that he is the only way to the Father.
This section records the promise of
the Spirit and shows Jesus preparing
his disciples for his and their coming
suffering. Love will be the hallmark
of Jesus’ disciples.
Johns portrayal of the suffering,
death, and resurrection of Jesus has
several unique aspects. In particular,
in John, the cross is the time of Jesus’
glorification. It is the moment when
the Son of Man is lifted up. It is
Jesus’ enthronement as king.
The four Gospels preserve four
differing perspectives of Jesus. They
bring us face to face with a Jesus
who does not fit comfortably in the
textbooks of Christian theologians
or in the sermons preached each
week. This is a Jesus who assumed
full humanity, but who was fully
divine. A Jesus who, by his life,
death, and resurrection, changed
humanity by offering salvation to
all who believe in him. A Jesus who
is soon to return to destroy evil, and
restore the world to God. A Jesus
who comes to us, often at an incon-
venient time, and says, ‘“Come, fol-
low me.’” A Jesus who calls us to a
life of discipleship and service. In
short, a Jesus who challenges us
with the deepest and most im por-
tant question we will have to answer
on this Earth: “‘What about you----
Who do you say I am?”’ (Mark 8:29,
NIV). □

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