“Four Gospels Cross”      (Selected verses from Jesus’ Crucifixion accounts)

2^nd Sunday in Lent           March 8^th 2009             Vicar Hanneman

When you survey the cross before you, what comes to mind? Well, for starters, it’s a cross and it seems to have some sort of decorations on it. Do you know what those decorations stand for and what message this cross is trying to display for you?

     If your answer is “no,” then don’t feel bad because you probably are not the first and you most certainly will not be the last. But, today, let us take a closer look at this cross and see what it is trying to tell us.

Over the years many people have come up with many different types of crosses that represent many different aspects of Jesus’ life, Christianity in general, Christian truths, etc. The cross before us is called the “Four Gospels” cross. You see that it has four distinct arms, with each arm containing its own element or symbol. Each symbol stands for one of the four Gospel accounts that are found in the Bible.

Do you notice how the symbols hover very close to the center of the cross? This represents that at the center of the Gospel’s teaching is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the most important person in the Bible. Jesus is so important that He is at the very center of it all. In fact, each book of the Bible either points ahead, back, or right at Jesus’ work of salvation. Jesus is the main focus, and so, the Holy Spirit has given to us four accounts of His life.

Why four? Someone could ask, “Wouldn’t one be sufficient for us to see our Savior? Why do we need to hear about the same events over and over again?”

It is true, these four accounts do talk about the same subject: ‘The life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ’. But each Gospel is so very different in many respects, because each one shows Jesus from a different perspective. Each writer wrote at different times, to different audiences, and with a slightly different purpose.

Sometimes, when we read God’s word, we may say, “The Bible just doesn’t fit together. The Old Testament isn’t as important as the New.” Matthew’s Gospel is our answer.

Matthew wrote to Jews and his main objective was to prove, by quoting Old Testament passages, that Jesus is the fulfillment of the OT predictions of the Messiah. The Bible does fit together and every book is important because they focus on our Savior.

Well, sometimes we can forget that Jesus came to save all people of all times. We may even feel, at times, that Jesus couldn’t have really died for me.

When you read the Gospels of Mark and Luke you will find that this is just not true. You will see how Jesus came to save everyone, including you and me.

It is believed by some that Mark wrote the Gospel that bears his name and that his main audience was the Romans. It certainly seems that he wrote to a Gentile, non-Jewish, audience because he explains many of the customs of the Jewish people for better understanding of what was going on during Jesus’ ministry.   Mark, by writing for a Gentile audience, teaches us the Jesus really is for the Gentiles, too. With Mark’s Gospel you can be assured that you’re “in.”

Luke is similar to Mark, but with more of a focus on God’s love for the individual. For example, in the “seven words” from the cross, today’s second reading, we have the words spoken to the thief on the cross, which is found only in Luke’s Gospel.  Luke’s writing shows that there is a place -for All people- in God’s kingdom. God’s message is personally for you and it is for me as well. 

And then, we read John’s Gospel. John states his main purpose in chapter 20 verse 31 where he writes; “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John shows that Jesus really does love you and me. He shows that God’s word is one big “love letter” to you. He really wants you to know Him as your Savior and that He really does care for you. Why? Because God loves you!

When you take each Gospel by itself, you only get a piece of the picture of our Savior. As beautiful as each Gospel is by itself, each one alone just doesn’t shine as brightly as when they are placed together. Think of a diamond. When you look at each facet, the shine is beautiful and splendid. But, when you look at the whole diamond the radiance just takes your breath away.

In the same way, when we see Jesus from every angle, we see our Savior all the more clearly. We see His mission, His love, His humanity, His Godliness, His power, and His suffering and death even more fully than when we read just one Gospel.

In the second reading today, we looked at the “seven words” of Jesus from the cross. Looking at the references we notice that these words are pulled from the Gospels. We also notice that not one Gospel has all seven words.  In fact Matthew and Mark are the only Gospels that have repetition. They both display the words: “My God, My God, Why have You Forsaken Me.” All the other words or phrases are unique, occurring only once, in one Gospel.

As these words are read together we are given an amazing picture of our Savior as He suffered and died for you and for me.

We can see how much our Savior suffered, with details ranging from His being thirsty to being abandoned by His Father. Jesus’ purpose, to save all people, comes to life when we hear Jesus begging His Father to forgive the very men who were driving those nails into Him, and, “when He looked a repentant criminal in the eyes” and said, “Today, you, yes, you will be with me in paradise.” We can also see how Jesus left this world, on His terms, when He announced that His work was finished and He called out - in a loud voice - that He was giving up His Spirit.

Wow! Through the four Gospels our Savior’s passion is given to us, oh so clearly. The Gospels simply work together. They allow the glory of our Savior to shine oh so brightly! We can grow even more intimate with our Savior as we view Him from every angle.

God has given you these Gospel accounts so that you can know your Savior. You have been given these four accounts so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ and that by believing you may have life in His name.

Now, survey this cross called the “Four Gospels” once again. See how it portrays Christ at the center of the Gospel’s teaching.  With each Gospel you only see one arm of the cross. When you place them together you now see the big picture of what Jesus came to do for you! He came to die on that cross in order to forgive all of your sins. God’s word fits together with Christ at the center – the center of our lives. Amen.