If you have read Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John — the Gospels — you know that not only do they tell the story of Jesus’ life and present Jesus’ teaching, but they are made up of individual stories. I prefer to call these brief accounts “episodes.” So the one story about Jesus is made up of multiple episodes about Jesus. For example, we see the “leper” episode in Mark 1:40-45, followed by the “paralytic down through the roof” episode in March 2:12, and so forth. These episodes in the Gospels are not just history, though. Each gospel writer included them purposefully. We are not just supposed to read them as true, but as relevant for our lives. Let me explain this by asking first, “Why should we appreciate the episodes in the Gospels?” And then, second, I’ll give some simple answers to the question, “How should we read the episodes in the gospels?”
Why should we appreciate the episodes in the gospels?
First, episodes in the Gospels are God’s revelation to us. They are not just nice stories to tell kids in Sunday school. These narratives are God’s words for us to hear and read and understand — they’re in the Bible — and so we ought to listen carefully because of their ultimate source and usefulness (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Second, episodes in the Gospels proclaim truths that make believers increasingly holy. These stories often testify to Christ’s greatness, and his humility. They recount Christ’s mission and magnify his worth. They highlight this world’s fallenness, and they lift up Jesus Christ and God’s kingdom that he ushers in as the answer for a broken world. They show both right and wrong ways to respond to Jesus. The believer who slows down, meditates on these stories, and discovers (or rediscovers) these magnificent truths will see his affections for Christ increase and his growth in Christlikeness advanced.
Third, episodes in the Gospels are both gripping and Christ-exalting — a powerful combination when evangelizing the lost. Stories are often compelling to unbelievers, perhaps even more so than other genres. And God, in his providence, has given us many colorful narratives with surprising twists and potent messages. Those of us who grew up around the Bible, hearing these same stories over and over, have perhaps forgotten just how fascinating they really are. But Bible stories aren’t as well-known as they once were in our society. This illustrates a biblical illiteracy that should sadden us, but we can take advantage of this in evangelism.
Think about those who have never heard the story of the raising of Jairus’ daughter, or the report of Jesus walking on the water, or even the telling of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Son of Man. Those are amazing accounts of events that actually happened in history. A believer should take advantage of the general interest in stories by learning, understanding, and then sharing these enthralling, gospel-focused narratives with those who have rarely, if ever, heard them.
How should we read episodes in the gospels?
The best way to grow in your appreciation for these stories is to start reading and meditating on them. Here are a few items to think about for each episode in order to interpret and apply them correctly:
- The setting (including geography) and characters. Pay special attention to what Jesus does, and responses to him.
- Literary devices such as repetition, dialogue, foreshadowing, questions, comparisons, contrasts, surprise, and interpretive statements. You might find a story’s point through devices like these.
- The scenes, structure, and development of the story (dilemma, climax, resolution, results), all of which can reveal the idea the writer of the gospel account is communicating.
- The story’s various “contexts”: What comes before and after this episode? Why did the author put this episode with the other episodes (and sometimes teachings of Jesus) in this section of the Gospel? What themes emerge as you look at the broader picture? How does this story, and the larger section it fits into, contribute to the purpose of the whole gospel in which it is written? And how does the story of redemptive history, and specifically the death and resurrection which are so prominent in each of the gospels, help to understand this individual story?
You’ll ultimately want to discern what the gospel writer’s purpose was in telling the story, what the episode communicates about Jesus, and what you should do in response.