Signs And Symbols.
“SIGNIFIED” means “SYMBOLS,”..…unless you really believe that Jesus is literally a young lamb with seven horns and seven eyes.
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I don't think so! That's ridiculous, of course. He doesn’t really look like that in heaven. The symbols do, however, tell us a lot about Jesus. When you can consistently interpret what the symbols mean, you can decode much of the Book, and I’m not just referring to Revelation.
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1) Horn speaks of authority.
2) Seven horns means “full authority.”
3) Eyes typify discernment.
4) Seven eyes means “full discernment.”
Jesus has FULL authority, FULL discernment and is FULL of the Holy Spirit.
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What does all this have to do with why we have four gospels?” you ask. My question is, “Why are there only four gospels? Why do we need four? Why not one…..why not more? After all, there were more than four apostles, right? And how does the above scripture from Revelation fit in with this topic? I’m glad you asked!
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Transformed By Beholding.
Paul told the Christians of Corinth in II Corinthians 3:18, “…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
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Since we are transformed by beholding Jesus, it stands to reason that the better, clearer picture we have of Him, the more like Him we become. The better for us! Well, the four gospels are Holy Spirit’s very creative way of giving us that crystal clear picture. God saw fit to have documented four stories of His life in the flesh.
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The Number Four.
Numbers in the Bible have meanings. They reveal truths that you won’t find in the surface story. You have to dig deeper to find their significance and what truths they uncover.
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Each of the four gospels tell different stories of different aspects of Jesus' life. Each unveils a different side of His glory, His beauty, His work and His love for us. There's that number four again!
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Four is a recurring theme through scripture. Around the tabernacle of Moses, for instance, the tribes of Israel camped on it's four sides. Pictured on the banners immediately surrounding it were four faces: That of a lion, an ox, a man's face and a flying eagle. These same four pictures are also on the veil of the Tabernacle. The veil that hung between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies rested on four pillars.
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The Four Living Creatures.
These four living creatures are mentioned here in other places in scripture. Did you ever run across them and wonder what they meant? Let's let the Bible to interpret itself.
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Everywhere they are found in scripture, they are always listed in the exact same order: The LION, the CALF or ox, the face of a MAN and a FLYING EAGLE.
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John said he saw these creatures in the “midst of the throne.” What are they? THE FOUR FACES OF JESUS. That is why there were four pictures on the veil of the tabernacle. They represent the four gospels. In other words, they are all Jesus!
The LION.
The first living creature was “like a “LION." The lion is called the king of the beasts, a typology of Jesus as The King of Kings; King of the Jews. The Lion also depicts “boldness.”
Matthew is all about Jesus as King of the Jews, therefore the Lion represents the Gospel of Matthew.
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Jesus is portrayed most often here in His role as “King of the Jews,” though his Kingliness appears throughout all four gospels.
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There are two genealogies of Jesus documented in the Bible which we will discuss in another portion of this series. The lineage documented in Matthew begins with David; the other in Luke goes all the way back to Adam. Both demonstrate that Jesus has a DOUBLE CLAIM to the throne of His father, David.
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(For more on that topic and some interesting , though little-known history, follow this link:
Matthew's gospel is Jewish in nature. He wrote specifically TO them. That is why you see the phrase “Kingdom of heaven” everywhere because the Jewish people don’t like to say “God” or “Yahweh,” for fear of blaspheming His Name. Instead they say “Kingdom of Heaven,” or refer to Him as “haShem: the Name;” or they’ll write “G-d.” Matthew wrote his gospel this way out of respect for their reverence of the Name of God.
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But there is another reason. You see, they were waiting for the literal, physical Kingdom to be established with a conquering King ruling from Jerusalem. Had they recognized and accepted Jesus as their Messiah back then, that kingdom would have been set up then. But because they rejected Him, it will have to wait until after the seven years of tribulation are ended by Jesus' 2nd coming.
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That’s a rather simplistic explanation. Since there is too much to cover here, please follow the link below for more on this topic:
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In other gospels, a similar passage would use God’s name because Christians are not afraid to say "God, Yahweh, or Jesus." We are not under any religious bondage or slavish fear about His Name. You and I are Sons, not servants. Because of that, we also get to call God, “Daddy!” That’s His favorite name, the one Jesus came to reveal.
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Not The Gospel Jesus Preached.
The gospel we preach today is not the one Jesus preached. He went about proclaiming, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” That’s because He would have set up His millenial kingdom and ruled the whole world from Jerusalem, seated on the throne of a His father, David, if the Jews had recognized and accepted their Messiah at His first coming. But that didn’t happen. (Refer to the link above.)
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Parable Of The Ten Virgins.
Once you understand that Matthew wrote TO the Jewish people, it clears up all the confusion regarding the parable of the ten virgins. The story is about Israel, NOT THE CHURCH.
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You see Church, we are not the only group the Bible calls “Virgin.” Israel is also called the “Virgin daughter of God” in several Old Testament references. Those of natural Israel who are not ready, i.e. born again (lamps full of oil/the Holy Spirit) when the Bridegroom comes to call for His Bride, at the time of the rapture, will be left-behind. When it takes place only about half the nation of Israel will be born again believers.
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This passage of scripture is so often misunderstood and misapplied to the Church. Those who think it does must be consistent and say that only half of those who are honest-to-goodness, born again believers are going up in the rapture. The other half will be left behind. That is not only cruel and doesn’t make ANY sense at all, IT ISN’T TRUE.
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(For more in depth information on this topic follow this link:
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(The Raptrue: We will suddenly disappear in the blink of an eye.)
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The Rapture.
Most people, being a bit more on the negative side, will certainly fear they are going to be in the “left-behind group.” The ones who self-righteously hold this erroneous view believe, undoubtedly, that they are in the “going up group” if you asked them.
The truth is, Church, EVERYONE WHO IS BORN AGAIN, regardless of their level of faithfulness, IS IN THE GOING-UP GROUP, whether they believe in the rapture or not. The "unbelieving" believers just may be a “bit” surprised. The only qualification found in scripture is that you be alive and remain. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)
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The Ox.
The next living creature was “like a calf or ox.” This represents the Gospel of Mark.
A calf is an untiring servant; a laboring worker. You don’t see a genealogy written here because one doesn’t inquire about the pedigree of a servant.
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Divine Servant.
Jesus is portrayed throughout Mark’s gospel as our Divine Servant. He went about “doing good;” ministering, healing, providing, saving, restoring, everywhere He went, always on the lookout for anyone who had needs for Him to meet. He has eyes full of compassion! He is our Servant King.
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Mark opens with the word “Immediately,” a word or words to that effect which is used repeatedly throughout this gospel. Why? Because a servant does his master’s bidding “immediately.” Jesus Himself said He did not come to “be served” but “to serve,” a rather difficult concept for us to grasp.
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In the book of Revelation John saw Jesus with a “golden girdle.” This is the garb of a servant. In Biblical times, servants wore flowing robes which had to be tied up with what they called “a girdle” around their waist so their garments didn’t get in the way while they worked. John saw Jesus in heaven with a golden girdle around His “breast,” not His waist because breast speaks of love; His love for us!
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Mary And Martha.
I know, we all prefer to think in terms of us serving Jesus but the truth is, we are bankrupt. We have nothing to give Him. THE HUMBLEST THING WE CAN DO IS ALLOW HIM TO SERVE US. That’s why he defended Mary when Martha complained about her. Mary was allowing Jesus to serve her. He gained strength as a result of her act because she allowed Him to be God to her.
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Martha, who was worried about serving Jesus was in essence, “pouring out of an empty vessel.” The essence of true ministry is pouring out of ourselves what Jesus has first poured in. Then, and only then, can it flow out effortlessly.
Attempting to serve without first being filled caused Martha to be angry and bitter, blaming both Jesus and Mary in one shot. She was more worried about the “many things” instead of “THE ONE THING;” or should I say, the One Person, humbling herself to let Jesus to serve her.
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Because Mary allowed herself to be served, who was it that appeared at the foot of the cross, ready to minister to Jesus when He was most greatly in need? It was Mary. Martha was nowhere to be found.
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FULLY Human. The next living creature was like a MAN. This is the Gospel of Luke where we see Jesus as the Son of Man. Man speaks of intelligence; of human sympathies and emotions.
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Why portray him as a man? Because we can get so caught up in the deity, Lordship and majesty of Jesus that we completely forget He is also 100% man. He has feelings and emotions just like us. He’s been through the same things. He doesn’t merely understand what we go through; HE FEELS WHAT WE FEEL, and is full of compassion for us.
There is an honest to goodness, real, live, beating human heart in heaven today, a perfect Man, seated at the right hand of our Father, interceding for us. That’s the kind of Great High Priest we have!
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The Eagle.
The last living creature is like a FLYING EAGLE. There is no genealogy is listed in this gospel either. Since God has “no beginning and no end, hence NO GENEALOGY.
John begins by saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God……..and the Word became flesh and dwelled among us…”
Jesus is portrayed most often throughout the gospel of John as the “Son of God” Who came directly from heaven.
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When you think of an eagle what comes to mind? Sharp vision, flying far above in the heavens. Eagles can see far and wide, descriptive of discernment and prophetic insight.
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Dual Nature.
Jesus was born of a human, yes, but He came to us straight from God. He has a dual nature: Both God and Man. Like His Father, He is eternal. Like the eagle who soars effortlessly in the heavens, Jesus is from heaven.
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It is in John’s gospel where He says amazing things like,
“Before Abraham was, I AM.”
“I AM the Good Shepherd;”
“I AM the resurrection.”
“I AM the life.”
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Incomplete Name.
In the Old Testament, Moses asked God His Name as He stood before the burning bush. He answered, “I AM.” This is an incomplete name. Jesus, however, revealed His Full name as you read above.
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When Walking on the stormy sea toward His disciples who were foundering in the boat He cried out to them, “Don’t be afraid; I AM.” The word, “He” in your Bible is not in the original text. It was added by translators. THAT’S MY GOD! Even the wind and the waves obey Him!
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In the garden, big, strong, strapping soldiers came along with Judas to arrest Jesus. He stepped forward and said to them, ” I AM.”‘ THEY ALL FELL, PINNED TO THE GROUND BEFORE HIM! He stood there patiently as He waited for them to recover, pick themselves back up from the ground, dust themselves off so that He could ALLOW them to arrest Him. He held out His hands and allowed them to bind Him. He is Divinity, glory and majesty through and through!
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Complete Picture.
Again, the word, “He,” is not in the original text. These four accounts give us the most complete picture of Jesus:
Our King: Matthew
Our suffering Servant: Mark
The Son of man: Luke
The Son of God: John
He IS the Lion, He IS the Calf {ox}, He IS the Man, He IS the Flying Eagle!
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The more we study Jesus in all His fullness in the gospels THE MORE LIKE HIM WE BECOME. We become leaders, as bold as a lion. We become as strong and as healthy as an ox, regardless of our chronological age. In order to serve tirelessly, you need to be in good health. Though it is not impossible, it is hard to serve if you are flat on your back all the time. We also take on the human feelings, intelligence and sympathies of the Perfect Man, as well as the discernment, prophetic insight and keen vision of the flying eagle.
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We truly become like Jesus as we behold Him in all His beauty and fullness. And that, Church, is why we have FOUR GOSPELS.
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Please follow the link below to Part 3 where we'll discuss the Genealogies of Jesus:
