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Fundamentals of Dispensational Truth.
(Second Series).
#36.
An approach to the Four Gospels.
pp. 70 - 74
Four inspired accounts of the earthly ministry of the Son of God have been given to
the people of God and it is the Divine intention that these four accounts should be
understood as providing four distinct aspects of the truth represented by the earthly life
and ministry of Christ. Four texts of Old Testament scripture can be used to set out these
four distinctive aspects of truth, namely:
MATTHEW
"Behold
thy KING"
(Zech. 9: 9).
MARK
"Behold
My SERVANT"
(Isa. 42: 1).
LUKE
"Behold
the MAN"
(Zech. 6: 12).
JOHN
"Behold
your GOD"
(Isa. 40: 9).
These four references can be supplemented by observing the use in the O.T. of one
peculiar title of the Messiah, namely "The Branch". The figurative use of a great tree to
set forth in symbol a great man, leads to the use of a "branch" to indicate some notable
offspring or descendant both in the Hebrew of the O.T. and in modern usage.
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out
of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him" (Isa. 11: 1, 2).
Here we have the figurative use of rod and stem; branch and root, disposed in
alternating pairs. This title is endorsed and expanded in Rev. 22: 16:
"I am the root and offspring of David."
In the prophet Jeremiah we have the promise:
"Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch,
and a KING shall reign and prosper" (Jer. 23: 5).
The gospel according to Matthew sets forth the Lord as KING, and traces His
genealogy back through David.
The prophet Zechariah addresses Joshua the high Priest saying:
"Behold, I will bring forth My Servant, the Branch" (Zech. 3: 8).
It is in this capacity and office of a SERVANT, that Mark presents the Saviour; hence
there is no genealogy in the opening chapter, but immediate service, and this feature
persists even unto the resurrection, the Gospel closing with the words "The Lord
working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following" (Mark 16: 20).
Luke sets forth the Lord as the MAN and traces His genealogy back to Adam, it is of