The Gospel of Mark may not be the first Gospel to appear in our Bible, but it was the first to appear in written form.  Within its pages we find an urgent, even breathless message about Jesus and the message he brought human kind.  It is filled with mystery, secrets, and even an unfinished ending.  At its heart, it is more than just a story – it is a message of Good News for all who would read its words.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often referred to as the “synoptic Gospels,” which simply means “seen together.”  Then there is John, often just called “the fourth Gospel.” Anyone, after reading all four Gospels, can clearly see why the Gospel of John stands apart from the other three.

While the Gospel of Matthew was not the first Gospel written in manuscript form, it is the first one found in the New Testament – and there is good reason for that. Matthew was one of the most popular Gospels among the early church. Filled with lessons about how that church was called to live as Christ followers, Matthew still speaks an important message for us today – a message about what God’s kingdom is meant to look like, now and forever.

In comparison to the other Gospels, Luke has a theme so central to its message that it permeates the book from beginning to end.  The message is that Jesus has come to bring good news to the poor, the marginalized, and the outcast. It also has some clear warnings for those who are rich and hold power and influence over others. For those of us on the privileged side of life, Luke can be a hard Gospel to read, but if we listen and learn then we too might find ourselves celebrating its Good News.