How the Four Gospels Work Together to Tell the Story of Jesus

If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know that I’m no theologian or biblical scholar. You’ll also know that I’m on a ongoing lifelong journey of learning more about the Bible. We all have to start somewhere, right?

I’ve talked about the gospel and what it is. In short, it’s “good news.” Go tell it on the mountain!

When it comes to studying the gospel, we have four of them. So…four good news-es. They’re all the same, but they’re different.

Confused? No worries! I sure was. We’re going to take a closer look at what makes each of the gospels unique and how they come together to tell us the story of Jesus.

There are four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They’re each books in the Bible. For example, when you hear “The Gospel according to Luke”, that means the gospel reading is, well, from Luke.

I came across the portrait analogy, which I find helpful to explain this. They’re basically all portraits of Jesus (same), yet each painted by a different hand, using different colors and different brushstrokes (different).

Each book has a personality of its own, yet they all point us back to Jesus. Together, they give us a picture of His life, His ministry, His words, and His heart.

So now let’s take a closer look at each of the gospels and how they speak to us in different ways.

Matthew begins with a genealogy. At first glance, it might be easy to skim over this part. But I now realize how powerful it is that Matthew starts with roots.

He ties Jesus directly to the promises made to Abraham and David. In other words, Jesus is the King that God had planned all along, the fulfillment of centuries of hope.

Matthew also contains the Sermon on the Mount. It’s words from Jesus Himself, practical wisdom for how to live, how to forgive, how to pray. Matthew organizes the teachings in a way that’s systematic, like a how-to guide bringing Jesus into our daily life.

Matthew reminds me that my faith is rooted in something bigger than my temporary circumstances. When life is unpredictable (as it always is), this gospel shows us that that God’s plan has always been unfolding.

The Gospel of Matthew points to Jesus as King, the one who reigns with authority and compassion.

Mark begins with the actions of Jesus’ ministry, there’s no birth story or genealogy. There’s an urgency of this gospel.

It’s almost like Mark is saying, “Let’s get right to it.” Page after page, you see Jesus healing, teaching, casting out demons, and moving from one town to another.

The Gospel of Mark gives heed to what Jesus did. The miracles are Jesus’ authority and compassion in motion. He steps right into people’s pain, touches their lives, and restores them.

It’s sometimes easy for me to get caught up thinking about faith. Mark encourages me to step forward and do something with it.

This gospel reminds me that following Jesus is active, not passive. That might be through my own prayer, serving someone in need, or being a listening ear and prayer partner for others.

Luke is like the gospel of compassion. The writing leans heavily into stories that highlight Jesus’ heart for people who might otherwise be overlooked. The lost.

From shepherds at the nativity to parables about prodigal sons and good Samaritans, Luke makes it clear that the love of Jesus extends far and wide.

The Gospel of Luke includes women, children, the poor, and outsiders. The gospel isn’t for a select few, it’s for everyone. I find myself constantly examining how I treat people in my own life.

Am I making room for the marginalized? Am I listening to voices that are overlooked?

The starting passage Luke 19 is Luke’s account of Zacchaeus, the wealthy tax collector. FYI, tax collectors weren’t held in very high regard …

Zaccheus couldn’t see Jesus over the crowd. So Jesus sought him out, called him by name, and chose to spend time in his home. Jesus knows me personally, even when I think I can’t be seen or when I’m lost in the crowd. This shapes how I understand inclusivity, as a fundamental truth of the gospel.

I’ve heard it said that if you know of someone who wants to start reading the Bible to learn more about Jesus, that they should start with the book of John.

John’s gospel takes us all the way back…to the beginning… of everything.

While Matthew, Mark, and Luke give us detailed events, John pulls us into the holy mystery of who Jesus is. Jesus is the Messiah. He is God Himself, the Word made flesh.

The Gospel of John includes the seven “I Am” statements. “I am the bread of life,” “I am the light of the world,” “I am the good shepherd.” These capture Jesus’ identity and what that means for our lives. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus is the way to our Father in heaven.

I find that there are many comforting passages in this gospel. He gives us a new commandment to love one another as He has loved us. Am I the only one that fails to do this? It sounds so simple, but…(*me sighing*)

His prayer for His disciples helps me see Him as someone I can talk to directly. When I read John, it’s an invitation to walk closer with the Son of God, as a friend.

Reading the gospels side by side is like looking at four portraits of the same person painted by four different artists. Each one captures something true, but together they give us a more complete picture.

Matthew >> prophecy fulfilled

Mark >> action

Luke >> compassion

John >> divinity

They complement each other. One gospel emphasizes Jesus’ humanity, another His authority, another His inclusivity, and another His eternal nature. They give us a fuller, richer understanding of Jesus’ life and mission.

A parable in one gospel adds depth to a miracle in another. A detail in John clarifies something in Luke. God gave us not one, but four accounts, so we can see Jesus from multiple angles.

I hope this post gave you more perspective into the beauty and importance of the gospels. These ancient texts are living words that continue to speak into our lives today.

My prayer is that as you spend time with them, you’ll meet Jesus in new ways and discover just how much these four gospels offer us.