Lessons
Fellow Laborers
Saturday Bible Study Class 11-8-2025
The Gospels – The Life and Teachings of Yeshua the Messiah
Lesson 12 | Bible 101 Series
After centuries of silence, the Word of God spoke again — not through prophets, but through flesh and blood. The promised Messiah had arrived, and His story would be told by four faithful witnesses whose accounts would transform the world forever.
From Silence to Sound
The 400 years of silence between Malachi and Matthew were not empty years. They were years of preparation, of longing, of anticipation. Empires rose and fell across the ancient world — Persia gave way to Greece, Greece to Rome. Through it all, the faithful remnant of Israel waited, clinging to the promises whispered by the prophets of old.
Hearts hungered for truth. Souls yearned for redemption. The world groaned under the weight of sin and oppression, unknowingly awaiting the moment when heaven would break through.
"When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law."
— Galatians 4:4-5
Now the Voice returns: the Word made flesh. The silence is shattered by the cry of a baby in Bethlehem, and nothing would ever be the same.
The Good News Defined
Greek Origins
The word "Gospel" comes from the Greek euangelion, meaning "good news" or "glad tidings." In the ancient world, it was the announcement of a great victory or the arrival of a king.
Divine Proclamation
The Gospels announce the greatest victory of all time: salvation through Yeshua the Messiah. This is not merely information — it is transformation, the power of God unto salvation.
Fulfillment of Promise
Every Gospel account reveals how God's ancient promises to Israel and the nations find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Yeshua, the long-awaited Redeemer.
Four Witnesses, One Truth
The beauty of Scripture's design is revealed in the four Gospel accounts. Rather than one uniform biography, the Spirit of God inspired four distinct writers to each capture a unique facet of the Messiah's identity and mission. Like four skilled artisans examining a flawless diamond, each Gospel writer turns the light to reveal another stunning dimension of glory.
Complementary Perspectives
Each writer brings his own background, audience, and emphasis, yet they harmonize perfectly in their testimony of who Yeshua is and what He accomplished.
Complete Portrait
Together, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John form the complete portrait of Yeshua — King, Servant, Man, and God. No single Gospel could contain His fullness.
Prophecy to Fulfillment
The Gospels serve as the grand bridge between the promises of the Old Testament and their glorious fulfillment in the New, showing how every thread finds its conclusion in Christ.
Four Faces of the Messiah
Ancient rabbis saw a profound pattern in Ezekiel's vision of the four living creatures — the lion, ox, man, and eagle — each representing a different aspect of God's nature and purpose. The early church fathers recognized this same pattern beautifully reflected in the four Gospel accounts, each revealing a distinct facet of the Messiah's identity.
Yeshua the King
Matthew's Revelation
Matthew, the former tax collector turned disciple, wrote with laser focus to his fellow Jews. His Gospel opens with a genealogy tracing Yeshua's royal lineage through Abraham and David, establishing beyond doubt that this is the promised King of Israel.
The phrase "that it might be fulfilled" echoes throughout Matthew's account like a royal proclamation. Every miracle, every teaching, every event is shown to be the fulfillment of prophecy spoken centuries before. From His virgin birth in Bethlehem to His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Matthew presents Yeshua as the rightful heir to David's eternal throne.
This is the King who was promised, the Anointed One who would establish a kingdom that would never end. The Lion of the tribe of Judah had arrived to claim His inheritance.
Yeshua the Servant
Mark's Focus
Rapid Pace
Mark's Gospel moves with breathtaking speed, using the word "immediately" over forty times. There's urgency in every verse, action in every scene.
Servant's Heart
No genealogy opens this Gospel — a servant's lineage is irrelevant. What matters is not who He descended from, but what He came to do: serve and sacrifice.
Deeds Not Words
Mark emphasizes Yeshua's miracles and mighty works. This is a Gospel of action, written for pragmatic Romans who valued results over rhetoric.
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
— Mark 10:45
In Mark's Gospel, we see the Messiah who rolled up His sleeves and got to work, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who came not with pomp and ceremony, but with compassion and sacrifice. The ox bearing the burden, faithful unto death.
Yeshua the Perfect Man
Luke's Account
Luke, the beloved physician and faithful companion of Paul, brought a doctor's precision and a historian's diligence to his Gospel account. Writing primarily for a Greek audience that prized human excellence and philosophical wisdom, Luke presents Yeshua as the perfect man — the ideal human being in whom divinity and humanity unite flawlessly.
Universal Genealogy
Unlike Matthew who traces Yeshua's line to Abraham, Luke traces it all the way back to Adam, emphasizing His connection to all humanity. This is not just Israel's Messiah — this is the Savior of mankind.
Compassion and Healing
Luke's medical background shines through in his detailed accounts of healings and his emphasis on Yeshua's tender compassion toward the sick, the outcast, the marginalized, and the broken.
Parables of Grace
Many of the most beloved parables — the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep — are found only in Luke, revealing the heart of God's love for the lost.
Yeshua the Son of God
John's Revelation
In the beginning was the Word...
John's Gospel soars to heights the other writers did not attempt to reach. Like an eagle ascending into the heavens, John takes us beyond the birth in Bethlehem, beyond the genealogies, into eternity itself. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
This is no mere man, no matter how perfect. This is God incarnate, the eternal Son who existed before time began, through whom all things were created, who now takes on flesh to dwell among us. John's purpose is clear: that we might believe that Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, we might have life through His name.
Seven "I AM" Declarations
  • I AM the Bread of Life
  • I AM the Light of the World
  • I AM the Door
  • I AM the Good Shepherd
  • I AM the Resurrection and the Life
  • I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life
  • I AM the True Vine
One Message, Four Voices
Critics through the ages have pointed to differences between the Gospel accounts as supposed contradictions, but the faithful student of Scripture sees something far more beautiful: the divine wisdom of multiple testimonies that together create an unshakable foundation of truth.
The King
Matthew reveals His authority and right to rule
The Servant
Mark shows His sacrificial work and mission
The Man
Luke demonstrates His perfect humanity and grace
The God
John declares His divine nature and eternal existence
Four testimonies, not contradictions. Each adds depth and dimension that the others do not claim to exhaust. Together they reveal the Messiah's full mission: to reign as King, to serve as Redeemer, to identify as Man, and to save as God. This is the harmony of Scripture, the beauty of divine inspiration, the completeness of revelation.
Preparing the Way
Announced by John the Baptist
After four centuries of prophetic silence, a voice suddenly cried out in the wilderness of Judea. John the Baptist, clothed in camel's hair and sustained by locusts and wild honey, appeared as if from another age — a prophet in the mold of Elijah, bold and uncompromising.
"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" His message was simple but earth-shattering. The waiting was over. The promise was about to be fulfilled. The King was coming.
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight."
— Matthew 3:3
John fulfilled the prophecies of both Isaiah 40 and Malachi 4, serving as the bridge between the old and new covenants. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets and the first herald of the New Testament gospel. His baptism of repentance prepared hearts to receive the Messiah, pointing always away from himself and toward the One whose sandals he was not worthy to untie.
Proving the Son
The Anointing and Temptation
1
Baptism in the Jordan
Yeshua, though sinless, submitted to John's baptism to "fulfill all righteousness." As He rose from the water, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father's voice thundered: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
2
Led into Wilderness
Immediately, the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. For forty days He fasted, facing the full onslaught of Satan's temptations. Where Israel wandered forty years and failed, where Adam fell in a garden, Yeshua stood firm.
3
Victory Through Obedience
Three times Satan tempted; three times Yeshua responded with Scripture. "It is written..." His weapon was the Word of God, His strength was perfect obedience to the Father. The Last Adam succeeded where the first Adam failed.
The testing proved what heaven already knew: this was the spotless Lamb, the obedient Son, the worthy Sacrifice. Now His public ministry could begin.
Revealing Mysteries of the Kingdom
Teaching in Parables
Yeshua taught in parables — earthly stories with heavenly meanings. To the casual listener, they were simple tales of farmers, vineyards, and seeds. But to those with spiritual ears to hear, they unlocked profound mysteries of the Kingdom of God.
This method of teaching served a divine purpose: parables concealed truth from the proud and self-righteous while revealing it to the humble and seeking. The disciples asked Him, "Why do you speak in parables?" His answer was sobering: "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom, but to them it is not given."
Seeds scattered on different soils. A mustard seed growing into a great tree. A pearl of great price worth selling everything to obtain. Sheep separated from goats. Each parable illustrated spiritual realities that transcended the natural realm.
"He that has ears to hear, let him hear."
— Matthew 11:15
Miracles with Meaning
Signs and Wonders
Yeshua's miracles were never mere displays of power. Each sign carried profound spiritual significance, confirming His authority over all creation while teaching deeper truths about His identity and mission. The natural realm bowed before its Creator, and in doing so, revealed spiritual realities.
Healing the Blind
Physical blindness healed, revealing His power to give spiritual sight. "I am the Light of the world," He declared. Those who come to Him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
Calming Storms
With a word, He commanded the wind and waves, and there was perfect calm. The disciples marveled: "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey Him?" He brings peace to the chaos of our souls.
Raising the Dead
Lazarus, Jairus' daughter, the widow's son — death itself could not resist His voice. "I am the resurrection and the life," He proclaimed. Those who believe in Him will live, even though they die.
Confronting Tradition
Conflict and Fulfillment
The religious leaders of Israel found themselves increasingly at odds with this rabbi from Nazareth. He challenged their traditions, exposed their hypocrisy, and dared to claim authority equal to God Himself. Yet His conflict with them was not rebellion — it was revelation.
Burden vs. Freedom
The Pharisees had built a fence around the Torah, adding countless regulations that bound the people under unbearable weight. Yeshua came to lift the burden, showing that true obedience flows from a transformed heart, not external rule-keeping.
Letter vs. Spirit
They meticulously tithed mint and cumin while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They strained out gnats but swallowed camels. Yeshua cut through their pretense, calling them to worship in spirit and truth.
Fulfillment not Destruction
"Think not that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets," He declared. "I came not to destroy but to fulfill." Every jot and tittle would be accomplished — in Him.
The true interpretation of Torah is not found in endless debates and man-made traditions, but in the two great commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength — and love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
The Ultimate Fulfillment
The Cross and the Covenant
The road to Calvary was not an accident or a defeat — it was the very purpose for which Yeshua came. From before the foundation of the world, this moment had been ordained. The Lamb slain from eternity would now become the Lamb slain in time.
On that old rugged cross, suspended between heaven and earth, the perfect Son of God bore the sins of the world. The weight of humanity's rebellion, the curse of the Law, the wrath of God against sin — all of it was placed upon His innocent shoulders.
His death ratified the New Covenant promised by Jeremiah: "I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people." No longer would atonement depend on the blood of bulls and goats. The final sacrifice had been offered.
"It is finished," He cried. Tetelestai in the Greek — paid in full. The debt of sin was satisfied. Justice was served. Mercy triumphed.
And at that moment, the veil of the temple — that thick curtain separating sinful man from the Holy of Holies — was torn in two from top to bottom. Not by human hands, but by divine decree. Access to YHWH was restored. The way into the presence of God was opened through the body of Yeshua.
Victory Over Death
The Resurrection
He is not here; He is risen!
Three days in the tomb. Three days of silence. Three days while the disciples hid in fear and the religious leaders celebrated what they thought was their victory. But death could not hold Him. The grave could not contain the Author of Life.
01
The Empty Tomb
Early Sunday morning, as the first light of dawn broke over Jerusalem, women came to anoint His body. But they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. An angel declared: "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!"
02
Forty Days of Proof
For forty days, the risen Lord appeared to His disciples and to over five hundred witnesses at once. He ate with them, taught them, showed them His wounds. This was no ghost or hallucination — this was bodily resurrection, the firstfruits of a new creation.
03
The Great Commission
Before ascending to the Father, He commissioned them: "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. Make disciples of all nations. You shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
"I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." — Revelation 1:18
The Heart of His Teaching
The Kingdom Message
Throughout His ministry, one theme dominated Yeshua's teaching above all others: the Kingdom of God. It was the subject of His first sermon and His last discourse. It was the focus of His parables and the goal of His miracles. But what is this Kingdom He proclaimed?
A Present Reality
"The Kingdom of God is within you," Yeshua declared. It is not merely a future destination but a present spiritual reality. Wherever the King reigns in hearts, there His Kingdom manifests through righteous living, love, and obedience.
A Future Reign
Yet the Kingdom also awaits its full manifestation. "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." One day, the King will return in glory, every knee will bow, and heaven and earth will be renewed under His perfect rule.
Seek First the Kingdom
"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." This is not one priority among many — it is the supreme priority that orders everything else in life.
"The Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." — 1 Corinthians 4:20
Hebrew Word of the Week
מָשִׁיחַ
Mashiach – The Anointed One
The word Mashiach (Messiah in English) comes from the Hebrew root mashach, which means "to anoint." In ancient Israel, anointing with oil was the sacred ceremony by which kings, priests, and prophets were set apart for their divinely appointed roles.
When Samuel anointed David as king, when Aaron was consecrated as high priest, when Elijah anointed Elisha as his successor — each act signified God's choice, God's empowerment, God's seal of approval. The oil represented the Holy Spirit coming upon them to equip them for their calling.
Yeshua is the Mashiach — the ultimate fulfillment of all these offices. He is the eternal King from David's line, our great High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, and the Prophet greater than Moses. He was anointed not with oil, but with the Holy Spirit without measure.
"We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ." — John 1:41
The Word Made Flesh
From Promise to Presence
The Gospels are not merely historical documents or biographical sketches. They are the bridge between eternity and time, between prophecy and fulfillment, between promise and presence. In these four sacred accounts, we encounter the King who walked among us, the God who became man, the Word who tabernacled in our midst.
Matthew
Revealed the King and His Kingdom
Mark
Showed the Servant and His sacrifice
Luke
Demonstrated the Man and His compassion
John
Declared the God and His glory
We have witnessed His birth in Bethlehem, His baptism in the Jordan, His teaching on the mountain, His miracles throughout the land, His death on Calvary, and His resurrection from the tomb. We have heard His words, seen His works, and understood His mission.
But the story does not end with the Gospels. The resurrected Lord ascended to heaven, but He did not leave His disciples orphaned. He promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who would empower them to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.
What Comes Next
The Birth of the Church
The Gospels introduced us to the Messiah. Now we turn to see how His followers carried His message throughout the known world. From a small group of frightened disciples hiding in an upper room, to a movement that would shake empires and transform civilizations — this is the story of the early church.
In our next lesson, we will explore the Book of Acts, often called "The Acts of the Apostles," though it might better be titled "The Acts of the Holy Spirit." We will witness Pentecost, the birth of the church, the bold preaching of Peter, the dramatic conversion of Paul, and the unstoppable spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond.
Next Lesson

Lesson 13: The Acts of the Apostles
The Birth of the Early Church
Discover how a small band of believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, turned the world upside down with the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah.
Until we meet again...
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
— John 1:1, 14
Israel Ministries | Bible 101 Series
Lesson Replay