Unlocking The New Testament

Mark

David Pawson says that the gospels are essentially news bulletins, better read aloud. Mark was the first gospel written and he is primarily telling us what Jesus did. The 4 gospels together give us a 4-dimensional portrait of Jesus because they had different readers in mind. Mark and Luke wrote for unbelievers. Though Mark was never a leader in the early church he was an assistant and/or interpreter to no fewer than 4 men at various times. His gospel recorded Peter’s preaching and is a book of action. There are more miracles than parables recorded here. There is nothing of Jesus’ birth or boyhood. It is thought that Matthew and Luke used Mark’s framework and expanded on it from their knowledge for their gospel records. The first 9 chapters deal with the first 2-and-a-half years of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee in northern Israel, then he concentrated on his 12 disciples for 6 months (chapter 10) then the last week of Jesus’ life on earth took chapters 11 to 16. David shows what altered the course of Jesus’ ministry. There is a remarkable emphasis on both the human and the divine aspects of Jesus’ death.

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Luke

David Pawson says that while Luke’s gospel is the best loved because of some of its stories, it is the least well known. He is the only Gentile writer in the Bible and was a doctor. Because of his medical background he provides unique details. David compares Luke’s parables. He wrote for one man, Theophilus, possibly to gain freedom for the Apostle Paul who was at that time released and able to continue his missionary journey. While Luke used material from Mark, he also did a lot of original research. Unique to Luke - #1 The birth stories, all from Mary’s angle. #2 A story of Jesus’ boyhood. #3 Details about Jesus’ baptism in water and Holy Spirit. #4 The ‘Sermon on the Mount’ apparently preached at a different time in a different way. #5 A woe for every blessing given. #6 Various parables. #7 Incidents involving individuals. The groups he had an interest in were Samaritans; Gentiles like himself; outcasts; women; the poor; and ‘sinners’. There’s also a definite supernatural aspect to Luke – angels, the Holy Spirit. Luke is the gospel for everybody presenting Jesus as the Saviour of the world.

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