Four Views of Christ: The Characteristic Differences of the Four Gospels

by Andrew John Jukes, Mark Riedel (Editor)

First published in 1853 under the title Characteristic Differences of the Four Gospels, this little work shows the distinctive aspect of Christ's ministry and work emphasised in each Gospel. Drawing from the Cherubim of Revelation and Ezekiel, Andrew Jukes (1815-1901) identifies Jesus as the Son of Abraham in Matthew's Gospel, as Servant of God in Mark, Son of Man in Luke and as the Son of God in John. A final chapter shows the elements shared in the accounts of all four Gospel writers and the spiritual application and challenge presented to us.

Genres: Theology

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 1982

Reviews

[Tom Brennan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second Jukes work I have read. Based on the first, I expected much and was rather disappointed. His basic premise is to take each gospel and show us how it reveals Christ in a unique way. So far, so good. But he goes off the rails repeatedly. He spiritualizes obnoxiously, telling us some text or example is a type of this or that or the other and does so without any biblical explanation or foundation. He places great stress on what each gospel does not say as a way of showing us what it does say. Technically, I don't have a problem with that as an aspect of understanding but he relies upon it entirely too much. He asserts simplistic explanations of complex scriptural passages, passages I have been forced to labor over to find an understanding.

The work isn't a total loss. His chapter on Mark is especially helpful in showing Christ's emphasis on servanthood. But for the most part, the rest eminently forgettable.

[Jacob Ballard · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a fine read, but I fear it is wrong. The symbols for the gospels according to Jukes is Matthew=Jesus is the Lion, the Son of Abraham; Mark=Jesus is the ox, the bearer of burdens and sacrifice; Luke=Jesus is the human face, the Son of Adam; and John=Jesus is the eagle, the Son of God. I don’t find his reasoning convincing, but the common testimony, which every author agrees upon, that Christ suffered and to be like him we must also suffer, was an interesting and powerful close to the book.

[Joseph P. Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid. Interesting. I didn't always agree. Still a good read on the Gospels.