Which Gospel Writer Claimed to Be God? And Why Four Gospels Matter
None of the four Gospel authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) indicate that they are God the Creator. However, one of them declares in the very first verse that Jesus is God and identifies Him as the eternal Creator: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1— ESV). This verse mirrors Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The echo is intentional. John is not merely starting a biography; he is making a cosmic theological declaration. He presents Jesus (the “Word,” or Logos) as a figure who emerges from innermost sanctum of God, the very heart of existence. Before the Logos nothing existed, for He was before all things (Colossians 1:17).
The opening verses of each of the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are profound in their intent, structure, and theological weight. Yet among them, one stands apart in its cosmic scope and bold proclamation regarding the nature of Christ.
John’s
Gospel: Declaring Jesus as Creator
While the other Gospels begin with
historical, genealogical, or prophetic frameworks, John begins with ontology—the
being and essence of Christ.
“All
things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was
made.” (John 1:3—ESV)
John boldly asserts that Jesus is
not just a messenger or a messiah; He is the One through whom all creation
came into being. This aligns with Paul’s affirmation in Colossians 1:16–17
that “by him all things were created... and in him all things hold
together.” (ESV)
The theological weight of John’s prologue cannot be overstated. It answers the question of who Jesus truly is: not just a prophet, healer, or teacher—but the pre-existent, divine Creator.
The
Value of the Other Gospels: Complementary Portraits of Jesus
If John’s Gospel offers a direct
revelation of Jesus’ deity, what value do the other three Gospel writers
provide? The answer lies in the divinely orchestrated diversity of their
perspectives. Each author writes with a different audience, emphasis, and
theological lens, but all agree on the same truth: that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.
Matthew:
Jesus the King and Messiah
“The book
of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1—ESV)
Matthew writes primarily to a Jewish
audience, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The
genealogy is not incidental—it establishes Jesus as the legitimate heir to the
throne of David and the promised seed of Abraham. Matthew repeatedly cites the
Hebrew Scriptures to prove that Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets.
- Key Themes: Fulfillment, Kingdom of Heaven, teaching authority
- Christological Focus: Jesus as Messianic King
- Audience: Jewish believers and seekers
“The beginning of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
(Mark 1:1—ESV)
Mark’s Gospel is fast-paced,
action-driven, and concise. Written for a Roman audience, it portrays Jesus as
a man of authority and action—but also as a suffering servant. Unlike
Matthew or Luke, there is no birth narrative or genealogy. Mark plunges into
the ministry of Jesus with immediacy, highlighting His miracles, exorcisms, and
ultimately, His sacrifice.
- Key Themes: Action, authority, suffering
- Christological Focus: Jesus as Servant and Sacrifice
- Audience: Roman Gentiles
Luke:
Jesus the Son of Man and Compassionate Savior
Luke opens with a personal
dedication:
“It seemed good to me also… to write
an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus.” (Luke 1:3—ESV)
Luke, a physician and historian,
offers the most detailed and structured account. Writing to a Greek and broader
Gentile audience, he emphasizes Jesus’ humanity, compassion, and concern for
outcasts—women, the poor, tax collectors, and sinners. He alone includes the
parables of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. His genealogy traces Jesus
back not to Abraham, but to Adam, showing Jesus as Savior of all humanity.
- Key Themes: Inclusion, compassion, prayer
- Christological Focus: Jesus as Perfect Man and Universal Savior
- Audience: Gentile thinkers and seekers
Why
Four Gospels? A Unified Testimony
The early Church did not view the
four Gospels as contradictory or redundant, but as complementary and
harmonious—four angles on the same Savior.
The traditional comparison is often
as follows:
|
Gospel |
Portrait
of Christ |
Emphasis |
Audience |
|
Matthew |
The King |
Fulfillment |
Jews |
|
Mark |
The Servant |
Action & Sacrifice |
Romans |
|
Luke |
The Son of Man |
Humanity & Compassion |
Greeks |
|
John |
The Son of God |
Deity & Eternity |
Universal |
Together, they provide a
multi-dimensional view of Jesus:
- Matthew
reveals the promised Messiah, fulfilling ancient prophecy.
- Mark
reveals the obedient Servant, willing to suffer for the mission.
- Luke
reveals the perfect Man, who understands and heals broken humanity.
- John
reveals the divine Word, through whom the cosmos was made.
In
conclusion
To read only one Gospel is to
glimpse a facet of a diamond. But to read all four is to behold the brilliance
of the full jewel.
While John opens with the boldest
theological claim—that Jesus is God and Creator—the other Gospels are
equally essential. They ground the divine in the historical, the miraculous in
the moral, and the transcendent in the tangible.
Ultimately, the goal of all four is
summed up in John 20:31:
“But these are written so that you
may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you
may have life in his name.” (ESV)
The Gospel writers didn’t write to
claim divinity for themselves. They wrote to testify that the One who walked
among us was none other than God in the flesh—Jesus, the Christ,
our Creator, Redeemer, and King.
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’
and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3, ESV)
No comments:
Post a Comment