We are beginning our journey through the Bible this week we have decided to do it chronologically the chart we are using can be found here. We are starting on their day 75. (Thanks to Black Hawk church) If you would like to add anything to the conversation please do.

	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
Author	Jewish Christian formally a tax collector	Jewish Christian; Cousin of Barnabas	Gentile Christian Doctor	Jewish Christian and Jesus’ Youngest Disciple
Audience	Jews	Romans	Gentiles	Greeks
Portrait of Jesus	Jewish Messiah and King	Faithful Servant	Perfect Man	God
Genealogy	Traced to Abraham and David, showing Jesus as the fulfillment of OT Prophecy	No Genealogy, sine Jesus’ accomplishments and not his family are what is important	Traced to Adam to show that Jesus was fully human	Jesus as the eternal word of God.
Notable Features	Roughly 60% is Jesus’ words from his teaching as a rabbi; about 50 OT quotes	Briefest Gospel; few OT quotes; explains Jewish words and customs for non-Jews; 150 present tense verbs emphasizing Jesus’ actions; 35 miracles, 40% is Jesus’ words	Roughly 50% of the book is Jesus’ word; Thirteen women are mentioned that are omitted from the other gospels; Jewish Customs explained; Focus on Jesus early years and emotional life	Roughly 90% is unique to John; no parables or exorcism; seven “I AM” statements to prove Jesus was God.

I wanted to start with a comparison of the Gospels because I believe it is useful in understanding why they wrote the way they did, particularly in seeing who they were writing to, notice that Mark and Luke took the time to explain the Jewish traditions to their Gentile audiences.

Luke 1

Perhaps just a foolish question but I never thought about the fact that John the Baptists father was a priest, do you think he was ever embarrassed by his son who ignored his heritage and not only didn’t be come a priest but a “lunatic” raving out in the desert. I am sure, if he became a believer, he would have realized that John had a greater calling, which Malachi spoke of, but I think it may have caused some friction in the house.

V8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

• While Zechariah was inside at the altar of incense, a crowd gathered to pray. The incense for which Zechariah was responsible symbolized the prayers of the entire nation. At that particular moment Zechariah was thus the focal point of the entire Jewish nation—Bible Knowledge Commentary

¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous–to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

• I have heard this verse preached from Mal 4:5-6 about a youth group but God already fulfilled this prophesy in John. This looks like another example of not applying the Bible in the way God intended it to be applied but using it to our own advantage.

It is very interesting to look at the contrasts between Gabriel’s announcements to Zachariah and Mary, the aged priest doubted but the young girl had faith enough to say “”I am the Lord’s servant may it be to me as you have said.” Even though she had to realize the trouble it may have caused Joseph and her family she realized that God’s will was more important than her own desires.

V59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, ⁶⁰ but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

• Zach must have written the vision down to Elizabeth because she knew his name was to be John before Zach was able to speak.

Zachariah seemed to make the connection to Mal 3 based on his song.