I know there are different schools of thought when it comes to the purpose the four gospels. Since the prophets of old foretold of four different aspects of Jesus Christ ministry in regard to the
BRANCH (Jesus) in the OT. I have to believe that is why God placed them where he did.
Matthew - as
King.
Mark - as
Servant.
Luke – as
Man.
John – as
Son of God.
Below gives the Scripture reference and more details. ….
~KING~
(Matthew)
One quality of the coming
BRANCH prophesied by Jeremiah would be that of a
King descended from David.
In order for Jesus to be the Messiah He would have to be a descendant of David inherit the right to the throne and come as King to Israel.
Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous BRANCH, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Jeremiah 33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the BRANCH of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
Only in the book of
Matthew do you find the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” and it’s used 32 times.
There are 10 parables unique to Matthew which relate to a King. Plus, the royal genealogy chap 1, and the phrase son of David occurs more in Matthew than any other gospel.
~SERVANT~
(Mark)
As the promised BRANCH one of the aspects of Jesus Christ ministry would be the role of a
Servant.
Zechariah 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
The gospel of Mark emphasizes Jesus as a Servant. There is no genealogy as a position gained by descendant. The word “lord” or “sir” Greek (kurios) is used only 3 times of Jesus in Mark….. whereas it is used 73 times in the other three gospels.
There is a great emphasis in Mark on Jesus’s actions and responsibility in serving and helping others.
~MAN~
(Luke)
Another characteristic of the promised
BRANCH is Jesus’s humanity …in other words, the
Branch would be a
man.
Zechariah 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
Luke clearly emphasizes Jesus Christ as a man.
Luk 3:23 -
38 is the genealogy tracing Jesus’ legal ancestry …through Joseph (who adopted him) back to Adam the first man.
There are 11 parables particular to Luke which emphasize the human aspect of his walk. The entire gospel emphasizes His relationship with common man, including publicans and sinners…..It shows Jesus to be a full of human tenderness and compassion as the perfect man.
~SON OF GOD~
(John)
Isaiah 4:2 In that day shall the BRANCH of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
Jesus Christ was the Branch …the offspring of the Lord God. The gospel which clearly depicts and emphasizes Jesus as the son of God is John as seen in the following verses.
Jhn 1:14,
Jhn 1:18,
Jhn 1:34,
Jhn 3:16,
Jhn 20:31
1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
While every gospel encompasses all of these characteristics of Jesus Christ, each gospel specifically emphasizes one of them.