Synoptic Gospels

 

Andrew H: An inmate at Collins Correctional Facility- Sharing on his biblical studies as part of his pursuit of ministry credentials studies program. 

What Are The Synoptic Gospels (of the Bible)?
Part 1

Matthew, Mark, and Luke wrote what are called the "Synoptic Gospels". This is a big theological word that simply means that they see the events of the Good News in a similar manner. As we enter the Passion week, our Savior's final week leading to the cross, let us see how these three men reveal what happened.

Passion Week begins with what has come to be known as the "Triumphant Entry". Christ had arrived in Bethany, hometown of Lazarus near Jerusalem, the night before and on this Sunday, He entered into Jerusalem. As He left Bethany, His disciples obtained the donkey on which He would ride. His disciples removed their cloaks before the procession and the people shouted Hosanna and waved palm branches. According to Mark 11:1-11, on this first day, Jesus entered Jerusalem, visited the temple briefly, then returned to Bethany for the night. This would indicate just how long the procession took.

On Monday, Jesus again entered Jerusalem. On this day, He did two things that proved His authority as the Son of God. Wanting something to eat, and seeing a fig tree with leaves on it, He went to to get some fruit. However, when He arrived there was no fruit on the tree, so He cursed it never to produce fruit again. Many people have thought that this was unreasonably harsh. However, it is important to know, that if a fig tree in Israel had leaves it should already have fruit available. After this encounter, which was recorded in Matthew and Mark, all three Gospels record that Jesus entered into the temple again. On this occasion, Jesus cleared the temple of the money changers who were taking advantage of the pilgrims by charging high rates to convert Roman drachmas to temple gold, which was the only currency the temple would accept for people to purchase their Passover offerings. After clearing the temple, Jesus remained in the courtyard healing the blind and lame brought to Him and amazing the crowds with His teaching. Meanwhile, these activities drew the ire of the religious leaders who wanted to find a way to kill Him. He again withdrew to Bethany for the night.

On Tuesday, as Jesus and His disciples were entering Jerusalem, Peter, pointed out the fig tree that Jesus had cursed the day before had withered from the roots up. He again sat in the temple, where He observed the widow's offering sharing the parable of the tenants condemning the religious leaders. Later that afternoon, Jesus and His disciples withdrew to the Mount of Olives where Christ delivered what is known as the "Olivet Discourse". This extended teaching was largely focused on the events of the future. Christ was teaching the disciples many things regarding His Second Coming. The overall importance of this teaching can be see by looking at the amount of space that all three synoptic authors used. (Matthew 24:1 - 25:46, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 21:5-36)

On Wednesday, there are no clear events that definitely happened. However, Matthew and Mark do indicate that during this week Jesus ate with Simon the Leper. This was the meal where, John reveal to be Mary, broke an expensive ointment and anointed Jesus' feet. This event also creates tension with Judas who likely made his first contact with the religious leaders to betray Jesus.

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Part 2

On Thursday, Jesus and His disciples would eat their Passover meal. During this meal, Luke records dissension between the disciples about which one of them is considered the greatest. This meal is one of the most often discussed events of Jesus' last week because it is where we get one of the two ordinances, or requirements, of the church. This is the foundation of Communion. It was also at this meal that Judas left and gathered the mob that would soon come to arrest Jesus. Interestingly, John's Gospel does not cover the meal itself but is the only Gospel to tell of Jesus washing the feet of all His disciples.

After the meal, Jesus and the remaining eleven disciples withdrew to the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus would pray, be betrayed , and arrested by the priests and soldiers. After Jesus arrived, He took peter, James, and John further into the garden and asked them to watch and pray. Then Jesus went further Himself and prayed, coming back three times to find the three asleep. The third time He returned, the chief priests and their mob had arrived to arrest Jesus. Judas came up to Jesus, a man he had spent several years living with and being taught by, and betrayed Him with a kiss. When the soldiers moved in, impulsive Peter struck at the high priest's servant with a sword and sliced his ear off. Jesus, ever full of love and compassion, healed the ear and went with the soldiers.

Jesus then underwent a seres of illegal trials, during which the chief priests produced false witnesses to try to condemn Jesus as a blasphemer. When they had "decided" that He was guilty, the religious leaders took Jesus before Pilate to try to get permission to kill Him. When Pilate declared that he didn't care about their "blasphemy" charge, the religious leaders instead accused Jesus of treason, saying that He was trying to establish another kingdom that did not have Caesar as it's ruler. Despite all of their attempts, Pilate knew that these charges were caused by jealousy and tried to free Jesus. However, the priests had stirred the crowd up to a frenzy that demanded a convicted murderer and known rebel, Barabbas, be released to them and that Jesus of Nazareth be crucified. Pilate caved. Jesus was scourged and sent to Golgotha to be crucified. All of these trials, conviction, and sentencing to death took place over the course of only 9 hours.

At about 9 in the morning on what has become known as Good Friday, Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross and left to die. During the first three hours that Jesus hung on the cross, the soldiers divided up His clothing and the people mocked Him. Then, around noon, "darkness came over the whole land from the

hour to the ninth hour." From noon until three in the afternoon it was dark. During these six hours that Jesus hung on the cross, the Gospel authors record seven utterances of Jesus.

When Jesus had said His final words, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,(Luke 23:46) He died. When He died, there were at least three phenomena that occurred. The curtain that separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom, the earth shook and the rocks were split, and the tombs of some who believed in Christ were opened. After Jesus resurrection, these resurrected believers were seen walking through Jerusalem. Two men, who where religious leaders who also were secret disciples, Joseph of Arametha and Nicodemus, asked Pilate for the body of Christ, and Joseph buried Him in his own tomb.

We as believers celebrate the EVENT that then took place in the early hours of the next Sunday. Jesus Christ, Son of God, was resurrected. Death was defeated. The penalty of sin was paid. We now are able to receive salvation and come to God. Hallelujah!!!

I encourage you, as we go through this week, to think about what Jesus did and endured for our sakes during this week of his Passion. God bless.

If you were encouraged and wished to write to Andrew:
Andrew Hotchkiss
Inmate ID 15A4718
Collins Correctional Facility
Collins, New York 14034-0340

Or on Jpay App via his inmate ID