The Jesus Story blends all four Gospel accounts into a single harmonious narrative while capturing the essence of each writer.
"I love the example how Matt/Mark/Luke are combined together seamlessly. Would you be able to provide an example of how the Gospel of John fits into the book? John takes a whole different route compared to the other gospels but has powerful moments like Jesus prayer before the Crucifixion and being called the Logos etc. Thanks!"
"I am so thrilled with what God has done. Right now I am praying that those who read this book will know Jesus more intimately than they ever imagined. I ask too that their new found love will touch everyone they meet and beyond."
The Gospels were placed one after another in the part of the Bible called The New Testament. The first three are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels because they describe events from a similar point of view, as con-trasted with that of John. Each Gospel was written to a particular audience to portray a unique aspect of Jesus' life and teaching.
When these four reports are combined into a complete flowing narrative, we have the chronological order of every known fact of Jesus' life. By omitting duplication, the four books fit together perfectly. The result is not a literary curiosity but a more convincing and readable story than any of the four Gospels alone.
This masterpiece, which took 23 years to complete, is true to the original Greek and yet easy to read. As for organization, the story is divided into seven chapters—Jesus's preparation, each of the four years of his ministry, his final week, and his death, resurrection, and ascension.
3Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, (A) and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely (B) to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. (C) 3 Jesus said to man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."
4Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.
5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."
He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians (D) how they might kill Jesus.(E)
A. Mark 3:1, Matt. 4:23, Mark 1:21, B. Mark 3:2, Matt. 12:10, C. Mark 3:2. Luke 14:1 D. Mark 3:6, Matt. 22:16, Mark 12:13 E. Mark 3:6, Matt. 12:14
Now look at the same story of Jesus with a blending of all the gospels. (Combining Matthew 12:9a, Mark 3:1-7a, and Luke 6:6 - 11). Presented as a classical story without any distractions for the reader. The text from Matthew and Luke that are blended with Mark are underlined for illustration purposes. Underlines will not be present in The Jesus Story.
On another Sabbath, after he left that place, he returned to the synagogue to teach. A man with a crippled right hand was there, and the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were watching Jesus. They wanted to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath, so they could accuse him.
They asked Jesus, "Is it legal to heal on the Sabbath?"
He knew what they were thinking. He said to the man with the crippled hand, "Get up and stand in front of them." So the man stood up.
Then Jesus said to the others, "I also have a question for you. Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy?"
But they kept silent. So he said, "Who among you would not rescue one of this sheep that happened to fall into a pit on the Sabbath? And yet a man is worth far more than sheep! Therefore it is certainly legal to do good on the Sabbath." In anger he looked around at them all. He was grieved by the hardness of their hearts.
Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."
The man extended it and it became just as strong as the other hand.
This infuriated the others there, and they began discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus. The Pharisees went out and immediately held a council with the Herodians to plan how they might destroy him.
Jesus knew this and left there, traveling with his disciples to the sea.