The Beginning and Ending Sections of Each Gospel Show That The New Testament Is the Fulfillment of the Old Testament
Last time we saw how the beginning of each Gospel draws heavily upon the Old Testament with quotes and allusions. Today I want to show that comparing the way each Gospel begins and ends shows how the story of Jesus is the fulfillment of key Old Testament themes. This is true for all four Gospels.
Matthew:
Matthew begins with a link to Abraham, and shows that the promise that God would bless the nations through the Seed of Abraham is fulfilled in Jesus and given to the Church in the Great Commission:
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Matthew 1:1
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Mark:
Mark begins with the note that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and with the voice in the wilderness showing that the exile is ending. The Gospel then ends with the confession of the centurion that Jesus is the Son of God, the curtain in the Temple rent in two, and the disciples sent out on mission:
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — 3 “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Mark 1:1-3
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:38-39
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Luke:
Luke begins with a priestly family and the Temple, and ends with the people of God told they will receive the Spirit and then leave the Holy City on worldwide mission:
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron… 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. Luke 1:5, 8-9
He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:46-49 (NOTE – this will be fulfilled and told in the Book of Acts, the second part of Luke’s writing).
John:
John begins with the Word creating all things, and near the end we read the account of the new creation as the Creator Word breathes upon the disciples to give them new life. (NOTE: John completes the story of the new creation in Revelation 21-22!)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22
Once again, this means that when we read the New Testament it is imperative that we read it as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Anyone who wants to understand Jesus must see Him as the fulfillment of the Old Testament, and anyone who wants to understand the Old Testament must look to Jesus.
In Christ,
Bret