All four gospel narratives in the New Testament collectively tell the story of Jesus, co-presenting the identity of the earthly Jesus with the divine and exalted Jesus. The following is a summary of the identity of Jesus presented in each of the gospels.
Matthew
Addressed to a predominantly Jewish audience, in Matthew, Jesus’ ministry of salvation to God’s chosen people is emphasised as Jesus the Jewish Messiah from the line of Abraham, fulfilling the promise to King David by the title “Son of David” (Matt 1:1; 2 Sam 7:13,16), the declaration of his birth as the “king of the Jews” (Matt 2:2) and his ministry focus to the “lost sheep of Israel” (Matt 10:5-6; 15:24). From events that occur (Matt 1:22; 2:15, 23; 4:14; 26:56), to his teaching (Matt 5:17), healings (Matt 8:16-17), death and resurrection, Matthew affirms that Jesus is the complete fulfilment of both the Law and the Prophets. Jesus’ identity and teaching overtly challenges the Jews, while Jesus is scathing of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees for their hypocrisy (Matt 22:15-36). Not exclusively for the Jews, Jesus the son of Abraham, is the one through whom blessing comes to all nations (Matt 2:1; 8:11; 28:18-20). In Matthew, Jesus is uniquely revealed as Immanuel, God’s continuous presence with his people (Matt 1:23; 28:20), with his disciples distinctively declaring that Jesus is the Son of God (Matt 14:33; 16:16). Jesus repeatedly speaks with authority of the “kingdom of heaven” including the ability to be part of this kingdom through moral and righteous means requiring repentance and faith (Matt 4:17; 5:3, 10, 20). Unique to Matthew, Jesus references the continuation of the kingdom by the church and believers (Matt 16:18; 28:18-20). In Matthew 1:21, Jesus’ purpose is clearly articulated, “he will save his people from their sins”, which is a clear theme in Jesus’ teaching and actions. In Matthew, Jesus self-identifies and is recognised as Wisdom incarnate, speaking the words of God (Matt 11:19; 12:42; 13:54). Matthew appropriately focuses on what is important to the Jews, such as lineage, prophetic works, scripture fulfilment, kingdom, and wisdom, in presenting Jesus as their promised Messiah, while ensuring Jesus’ Messianic ministry to all nations is clear.
Mark
Mark’s purpose is to show how Jesus demonstrated, and people came to believe, “the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the son of God” (Mark 1:1). From the opening chapter, Jesus’ deeds attest to this identity, with powerful displays of his divine authority, including to exorcise demons (Mark 1:25, 34), miraculously heal (Mark 1:31, 34), forgive sins (Mark 2:5, 10), raise the dead (Mark 5:41-42), and walk on water (Mark 6:48). These actions invoke amazement and the realisation of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God (Mark 3:11; 8:29; 15:39). Once Jesus is acknowledged as the Messiah by Peter (Mark 8:29), Jesus’ mission “to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45) focuses on Jesus’ servanthood, suffering and the centrality of the cross. Appealing to those who would follow him, Jesus provides practical teaching on what it means to be his disciple. Mark reflects more fully Jesus’ humanity including his physical needs (Mark 6:31; 11:12), and emotions of compassion (Mark 1:41; 6:34), anger (Mark 3:5), deep distress (Mark 3:5), amazement (Mark 6:6), indignation (Mark 10:14) and love (Mark 10:21). Jesus’ self-identification as “Son of Man” is both a reflection of his humanity and his messianic authority and destiny. Mark presents the contrasts of Jesus being powerful yet powerless; awed yet rejected; healer yet suffering; king yet servant; to highlight his redemptive mission and submission to the Father’s will. Mark presents a clear picture that Jesus, all powerful, divine God, humbles himself, putting his majesty aside, giving himself in death, to be the ransom for the sins of humanity.
Luke
Luke emphatically presents Jesus as the Messiah, sovereign Lord and redeeming Saviour (Luke 2:11). From the foretelling of his birth, where he is to be called “Jesus” (Luke 1:31), to the announcement of his birth as “Saviour” (Luke 2:11), to Jesus’ words, actions and parables that “today salvation has come” (Luke 19:9), and “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), God’s redemption becomes a present reality in Jesus. Jesus is identified as a prophet through whom “God has come to help his people” (Luke 7:16), a title Jesus uses about himself (Luke 13:33) and his fulfilment of Isaiah 61:1-2 (Luke 4:18-21). In addition to being announced as the Messiah at his birth (Luke 2:11), by Simeon as the fulfilment of prophecy (Luke 2:29-32), by Peter (Luke 9:20) and by Jesus himself (Luke 24:46), the reference to Isaiah 61 coupled with Jesus’ ministry of preaching and miracles, provide a clear profile of Jesus the Messiah. Jesus’ post-resurrection explanation in Luke 24 shows that he fulfilled the role of suffering servant (Isa 53), bringing salvation as the Messiah. Jesus’ identity as Son of God is undeniable with the angel telling Mary that Jesus is the Son “of the Most High” (Luke 1:32), the “Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Jesus’ humanity and compassion is a particular highlight in Luke’s gospel, with Jesus ignoring the societal, political, and religious practices by giving love, mercy, and acceptance to the marginalised and outcasts including to Samaritans, Gentiles, tax collectors, sinners, women, and the poor. Luke depicts that the sovereignty of God and God’s relationship with humanity is continuous through Jesus. Luke ensures Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and Messiah is both undeniable and applicable to all people, demonstrating convincingly that all people are lost and in need of the compassionate, loving, merciful Saviour, Jesus.
John
John opens with the bold statement that Jesus is God (John 1:1, 18), God incarnate (John 1:14). Being God, Jesus existed prior to his earthly human form, from the beginning (John 1:1-2), including as creator (John 1:3). Jesus makes seven profound “I am” statements that describe his exalted nature and imply his deity as they draw on the self-revelation of God to Israel in the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus speaks about his omniscience – seeing and knowing all things (John 1:48; 2:24-25). Jesus is the ‘logos’ (the ‘Word’) (John 1:1, 14), the revelation and communication of God from the beginning. Jesus has an intimate, personal, and unique relationship within the existence of God as the Son to the Father (John 1:14, 18). Being intrinsically linked as one (John 10:30; 14:10), and having the same nature (John 5:19, 30), Jesus reveals the Father (John 14:9), seeks the glory of the Father (John 5:44; 7:18; 8:49), does his Father’s will (John 5:30), and teaches what the Father gives him (John 7:16; 8:28). Jesus’ words and actions attest to his authority over humanity, according to the Father’s will, to give and sustain life (John 5:26; 6:35), raise the dead (John 5:21), judge (John 5:22, 27), give eternal life to those who believe (John 3:15-16, 36; 5:24), and commission his followers (John 20:21). Unique to John, Jesus is described as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), identifying Jesus as the atoning sacrifice. Faith in Jesus is the only way for humans to have access to the Father (John 14:6). In John, Jesus is bold about his identity including that he is the Messiah (John 4:26) who fulfils Hebrew scripture (John 13:18; 15:25; 18:9; 19:28). John’s representation of Jesus’ teaching successfully appeals to both Jews, who have prior knowledge of Yahweh, and Gentiles who don’t know God, to reveal the Father and Jesus, His Son, who is God, Messiah, and sacrificial lamb all in one, so that all may believe in Jesus and have eternal life.
The Collective Narrative
Within the fourfold gospel the multi-faceted and intertwined person and work of Jesus, Immanuel, is presented, as evidenced by Jesus’ multiple and often common titles. Together, the gospels demonstrate how Jesus has a unique universal relational identity that transcends his time on earth, as Creator (John 1:3), eternal King of Israel (Luke 1:33), who draws all people to himself (John 12:32) and has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt 28:18). The ministry of Jesus is focused on connection with, and physical and spiritual restoration and salvation of, all people. Described as the “kingdom of God” in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke and “eternal life” in John’s Gospel, God’s salvation and redemption, that has been interwoven into the story of God’s dealings with mankind since Genesis, culminates in Jesus, the promised Messiah, God in flesh, who is crucified and rises again to save and redeem all people (Matt 1:21; Mark 10:45; Luke 19:10; John 20:31).
Together the gospels accounts of Jesus present a united and powerful message that Jesus came to seek and to save humanity, with the emphases of the four gospels showing that this transformative act of God is for all people regardless of nationality, class, or gender, requiring a response of faith to take effect. Like every person who interacted with Jesus, every person since need to come to their own personal understanding of who Jesus is and their response to him. Jesus repeatedly stated that believing in him, receiving salvation and eternal life, requires faith (Matt 9:2; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; John 12:42-46).
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