The Gospels and Jesus' Ministry (2025 Foundations Lecture 17)

Описание: This is the seventeenth video in the 2025 Renew and Burleigh Church of Christ Lecture Series: Foundations of Christianity. This lecture by Malcolm Lithgow explores the Gospels and the Ministry of Jesus...

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are four ancient biographies that present the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as the heart of Christian faith. The word gospel means “good news,” referring to the announcement that God has acted in history through Jesus to bring salvation to the world. Though written from different perspectives, the Gospels are united in their purpose: to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God whose life, death, and resurrection transform humanity.

Jesus’ story begins with the mystery of the Incarnation - God becoming human. John’s Gospel describes Jesus as the eternal “Word” through whom all things were created, who entered the world as a man. Jesus was born around 6 BC, miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the Virgin Mary. His early life included divine affirmation, prophetic signs, and flight from Herod’s violence, highlighting both his vulnerability and divine mission.

Jesus’ public ministry began with his baptism by John the Baptist. Although sinless, Jesus was baptized to identify with humanity and fulfill God’s righteous purposes. God then declared him his beloved Son and the Holy Spirit descended upon him, marking the start of his mission. Immediately after, Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness, where he resisted Satan, showing his faithfulness and obedience in contrast to Israel’s past failures.

Jesus then gathered disciples - ordinary people such as fishermen, a tax collector, and zealots - to learn from him and continue his mission. From many followers, he chose twelve apostles to represent the renewed people of God. Throughout his ministry, Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God, performed miracles, healed the sick, confronted injustice, and offered forgiveness. These acts revealed both God’s compassion and Jesus’ divine authority.

Each Gospel presents Jesus in a unique way: Mark shows him as a powerful and urgent Messiah; Matthew presents him as the fulfillment of Israel’s Scriptures; Luke emphasizes his compassion for the poor and marginalized; and John reveals his divine identity in profound spiritual language. Together, they form a rich and reliable portrait of Jesus, inviting readers not only to learn about him but to encounter him.