Smoodock's Blog

A great deal of effort has been placed in harmonizing the four Gospel narratives by folks who love the word of God. That effort has yielded stunning answers to both controversial issues and in understanding apparent contradictions that are often used by enemies of the Gospel to attack the legitimacy of what we understand to be the word of God Almighty. Yet, each narrator of Jesus’ public ministry had a specific story to tell in his own right, and didn’t feel the necessity to harmonize his record with the actual chronology of the events that are recorded in other three Gospel narratives.

Matthew, for example, grouped like subject together, whether or not the events they described occurred about the same time. His intent was not a chronological record. Instead, he sought to prove Jesus was the Messiah, and have that testimony in ready to use, understandable language that could be more easily memorized in a society that embraced an oral tradition. In other words, books in the first century AD weren’t readily available like they are today. Everything had to be written out, not on paper, but on relatively expensive papyrus, or animal skins. So, teaching in an oral society meant the student committed to memory (memorized) what was read or taught.

Mark tells us that Jesus walked on the water from Bethsaida to the Apostles’ boat and went to Gennesaret (Mark 6:53), but John’s narrative takes them to Capernaum (John 6:17, 24-25). Each writer has a story or theme he wishes to convey to the reader. Mark’s story was in the context of the disciples being sent out to preach the Gospel in the synagogues of Galilee (Mark 6:6b-7), but John’s story or theme had to do with Jesus’ rejection by everyone, including John’s disciples (John 6:66). So, John left out the events that Mark records. Mark emphasizes the success of Jesus’ ministry, but John magnifies Jesus’ rejection as the Messiah. How we marry these two seeming contradictions and make them one story depends on how successful we are at harmonizing the Gospel narratives.

Think about what had just occurred in the feeding of the 5000. The multitude wanted to take Jesus by force and make him King (John 6:15). Yet, when they finally came to Capernaum and asked Jesus what they must do to do the work of God, Jesus replied that they needed to believe on him (John 6:28-29). Yet, they asked for a sign (John 6:30)! Imagine! They were ready to make him King immediately following the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish (John 6:15). Yet, they needed a sign to place their trust in him and accept him as their Messiah (John 6:30). Jesus said from the beginning that no such sign would be given to this unbelieving generation (Matthew 12:39; 16:4). Therefore, when Jesus spoke of spiritual matters (John 6:63), they hadn’t the faith to understand, and they walked with him no more (John 6:66).

On the other hand, Mark’s theme of the success of the Gospel (Mark 6:6b-7, 30) takes Jesus and his disciples to Gennesaret. At their first meeting with Jesus, those folks rejected him out of fear of what he had done to heal the demoniac (Mark 5:1, 16-17). Nevertheless, Jesus left the healed man behind to preach the Gospel (Mark 5:18-20). It was this man’s preaching, therefore, that turned the hearts of the people to Jesus. So, when Jesus returned (Mark 6:54), they were ready and received him (Mark 6:55-56).

Mark’s point in all of this is that the Gospel of Christ is powerful. Yet, no one is forced to embrace Jesus as their King and Messiah. All are left to consider their hearts, and whether they repent and receive him (Mark 6:55-56) or reject him entirely (John 6:66), the decision to do so is theirs, given them by the grace of God. Nevertheless, the spread of the word of God (i.e., the Gospel), will never be by the permission of human authorities but in spite of them. The winds of fate may slow the progress of those who are sent in Jesus’ name (Mark 6:48), but those authorities who oppose the Gospel are powerless to prevent Jesus’ servants from the success they are promised (Mark 6:51, 54-56).