Answers to "Ask Mike" Questions
Question #3

3. Why are there four books about Jesus at the start of the New Testament? Why not just one with one story?

Each of the gospels was written for specific purposes. Together they present eyewitness testimony that is consistent and demonstrably reliable. Written about A.D. 45, Matthew's gospel presents Jesus as the answer to Old Testament prophecy. Matthew wrote for Jewish readers for whom the Old Testament prophecies had persuasive meaning. Mark, writing for the Apostle Peter, penned his gospel about A.D. 50-55. It presents Jesus as a man of action, a portrait that appealed to the Roman mind. Mark explains Jewish terms for the Gentile reader. Luke, Paul's companion, wrote the gospel bearing his name in the early 60s. After careful research (Luke 1:1-2), Luke wrote a presentation I believe intended for use in Paul's hearing before the Emperor. With Acts and a collection of Paul's available writings, the gospel reveals Paul's message, work, and oversight demonstrating he was no threat to Roman peace. The Gospel of John, written in A.D. 90-95, appeared long after the others. Without a doubt, John knew of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and wrote his gospel for two reasons. First, he supplements their accounts with substantial examples of Jesus teaching. John presents significant discourses which reveal Jesus' heart and mind. Second, he writes to refute an early heresy known as Gnosticism. Gnosticism taught that Jesus was either a human being possessed by a spiritual being known as the Christ or was not truly human and only appeared to be human. John's gospel repudiates both of these ideas. John tells us Jesus was fully flesh and blood, that He died, was buried, and rose again with the same body placed in the borrowed tomb.