The Life of Christ: Combined and Abridged From the Four Gospels

THE LIFE OF CHRIST

THE LIFE OF CHRIST

Combined and Abridged

From the Four Gospels

Dr. Dennis Cravens

© 2019 Dr. Dennis Cravens

The Life of Christ

Combined and Abridged

From the Four Gospels

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019936939

ISBN 978-1-400325580 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-400325597 (eBook)

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INTRODUCTION

This is meant only for a bible sourced narrative of the gospel account of Christ’s life that combines the four gospels into one story.

First: This is not meant to be a chronological listing of events.

For almost two centuries scholars have grappled with the settings and the chronology of the gospels. This is known as the Synoptic problem. Some use Mark as a guide, some Matthew, and a few Luke. Some events are relatively easy to align in time, but others are not. But the fact is that we are just not sure of the exact chronology of all the events. Matthew seems to group things more by topics and perhaps not by time. He puts most of the parables together and so on. When only one writer records an event, there is no way of knowing how it lines up in time with events in other books. For example, Matthew places the healing of the centurion’s servant before the controversial plucking of grain on the Sabbath and Jesus’ healing of the man’s withered hand. Luke, however, places the healing of the centurion’s servant after these same events. The bottom line is that the gospels were not meant to be a detailed sequential timeline that is common in today’s bibliographies.

The sequence here is related most closely to the Mark account but is presented for easy reading of all the events in the life of Christ. Please do not try to infer the sequence here is a timeline. So, although I have tried to make reasonable guesses as to the chronology, there is no way of knowing the exact schedule. I have attempted to align things so they would be easy to find and follow with the goal of making a usable reference book. The process used for the sequence here can be best seen from the Reverse Index at the end of the book. The goal was to make the section numbers increase from each verse to verse within each book as many times as possible. That is the sequence of the sections follows the course of the verses within a book as much as possible.

Each Gospel writer has a different perspective and a different purpose in their writing. Matthew was a tax collector, and you will find that he writes from a Jewish legal perspective. Matthew spends more on the kingship of Christ, and Luke more on the priesthood. When we read about traditional Jewish views of Jesus needing to pay the temple taxes, it is Matthew, the tax collector, who reports the miracle of the coin in the fish’s mouth. When the gospels speak of Mary’s virgin birth and her relation to Elizabeth, the wife of the priest, it is Luke, the physician that gives us the fullest story.

Another example, you will find that though Mark covers fewer events in the life of Christ, he usually includes more detail. He covers more of the humanity of Christ, more pathos. For example, in the healing of Jairus’ twelve-year-old daughter, Mathew simply states she died. But with Mark we hear Jairus pleading with Christ that his beloved young daughter is dying, then Jesus is delayed to heal another, and then Jairus is told she had died and why should he bother Jesus. We feel the pain of Jairus.

Many harmonies of the gospels only cover the Synoptic Gospels- Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This is because although the first three gospels relate similar events, John was likely written later and thus seldom covers the same events at the others. One more example, when they arrested Jesus in the garden, Matthew and Mark only saw someone cut off an ear. But with Luke, being a physician specifies the right ear. And John adds that it was Peter that wielded the sword (was Peter left handed?) and that the servant’s name was Malchus. Without all four we would not have the entire story.

Second: This is not intended as a translation but instead as an abridged version of the life of Christ taken solely from the gospel records without commentary. I have combined all four of the gospel accounts into one narrative. It does abridge and leaves out some of the wording. For example, many times in the gospels most translations have something similar to he said unto them but unto them is not needed to understand the story. The intent is to give an easy reading for those that wish to review the events in Christ’s life and also give a verse reference for those who want to refer directly to the biblical account in their own bibles. This review of Christ’s life is not designed for church dogma but as a readable version of His life.

Third: For those that wish to have studied the original text of the gospels for detail study, I would advise using the verse references below each section title and then reading those verses in a translation such as Young’s Literal Translation or an interlinear bible.

Fourth: At the end of the narrative there are two appendices: one is designed as a reverse index so you can find the sections in this book from a given verse from one of the four gospels. The other is a list of subjects directing you to page numbers.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Part 1: Preexistence, Birth, and Early Life

Part 2: John’s and Christ’s Early Ministry

Part 3: Galilean Ministry

Part 4: Training of the Twelve

Part 5: Judian Ministry

Part 6: Perean Ministry

Part 7: Jerusalem Ministry

Part 8: Last Week

Part 9: Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, and Burial

Part 10: Resurrection, Appearances, and Ascension

Index

Reverse Index

Outline of the books

Miracles of Jesus

THE LIFE OF CHRIST

AS SHOWN WITHIN

THE GOSPELS

PART 1

PREEXISTENCE, BIRTH, AND EARLY LIFE

Sections 1-17

1 Pre-existence of Christ

John 1:1-18

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God and was with God from the beginning. All things were made by him. In him are life and the light of men. And the light shone in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. John was sent to bear witness to that true Light.

He was in the world, and the world knew him not, and his own received him not. But as many as received him and believed on his name, to them, he gave the power to become the sons of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness saying, this was he who was before me and brought grace and truth. No man has seen God only his begotten Son.

2

Genealogy of Jesus through Joseph

Matthew 1:1-17

Jesus who is called Christ is a son/descendant of David and Abraham and many notable Hebrews.

3 Genealogy of Jesus through Mary

Luke 3:23-38

And Jesus began his ministry at about thirty years of age and could trace his decadency through many well-known Hebrews back to Adam through Abraham.

4 Angel announces John’s birth

Luke 1:1-25

Many have taken in hand to set forth a declaration of those things believed among us even some who are eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed reasonable to me to write you, Theophilus, that you might know with certainty the things you have been taught.

There was a certain priest named Zacharias, and his wife was Elisabeth. They were both righteous and obeyed the ordinances of the Lord. But Elisabeth was barren and well advanced in years. And while Zacharias executed the priest’s office his lot was to burn incense in the temple. A multitude of the people was praying outside. There appeared an angel to Zacharias, and he was afraid. But the angel said Fear not, Zacharias: your prayer is heard, and Elisabeth shall bear you a son and you shall call his name John. And many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great, he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost. And he shall turn many to the Lord. And he shall go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this? My wife and I are well advanced in years. And the angel said, I am Gabriel, and am sent from God to speak these glad tidings. You shall be without speech, until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe me. And the people wondered why he was so long in the temple. When he came out, they perceived that he had seen a vision. And Elisabeth conceived and hid five months.

5 Angel visits Mary

Luke 1:26-38

And in the sixth month, Gabriel was sent to Nazareth, to a virgin whose name was Mary. And said, Hail, blessed are you among women. And she was troubled at his salutation. And the angel said Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. You shall bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He shall be called the Son of the Highest: and there shall be no end to his kingdom.

Then Mary said, How shall this be since I have not known a man? And the angel answered The Holy Ghost shall come upon you. He who shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. Your cousin, Elisabeth, has also conceived a son. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Let it be as you said.

6 Mary visits Elizabeth

Luke 1:39-56

Mary went into Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias.

When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; And she spoke Blessed are you among women. Why is this that the mother of my Lord should come to me? And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. And his mercy is on them that fear him. He has exalted them of low degree and the rich he has sent away empty. And Mary stayed with her about three months.

7 Birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:57-80

Now Elisabeth’s full time came, and she brought forth a son. Her neighbors rejoiced with her. On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they called him Zacharias. His mother said, Not so; but he shall be called John. They made signs to his father, how he would have him called. He asked for a writing table, and wrote, His name is John. And his mouth was opened, and he spoke and praised God. And these sayings were reported abroad throughout Judaea. What manner of child shall this be!

Zacharias prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord;