A Comparison Between Matthew and MarkA Comparison Between Matthew and MarkA Comparison between Matthew and MarkWhile both books of Mark and Matthew portray Peter as one of the most important followers of Jesus, Mark seems to emphasize Jesus spiritual career unlike the broad, more in-depth pursuit of Jesus life that Matthew embellishes on. As both Jesus student and friend, Peter is the one disciple most commonly referred to in the stories. Yet the two passages seem to draw different pictures of Jesus distinguished disciple. In Matthew, Peter seems to play a larger role in Jesus teachings and seems more significant to Jesus throughout the book. In Mark, he is still important, but to a lesser extent in the eyes of the author. Mark leaves Peter out of a few of the stories altogether and only touches on Peters importance to Jesus towards the very end. Each difference in the stories connected to Peter gives a slightly altered account of his personality and role.
Peter is introduced as one of Jesus first followers in both Matthew 4.18 and Mark 1.16. Both passages seem to recount Jesus speech word-for-word. He merely said to Simon (a.k.a. Peter) and his brother, “Follow me and I will make you fish for the people”(Matthew 4.19, Mark 1.17). Their reaction is described in a simple phrase, “And immediately they left their nets and followed him”(4.20, 1.18). This story presents Peter and his brother as incredibly devoted to their leader from the first few moments. Whether their lives as fishermen were prosperous or not, to simply abandon everything for one stranger is risky and takes faith. The storys important message about Jesus strength as a leader and his followers devotion entices both authors to include it among their lessons.
Yet, Matthews next significant mention of Peter is a story that Mark fails to develop. The story of Jesus walking on water appears in both accounts (Matthew 14.22-14.33 and Mark 6.47-6.52). Yet only in Matthew does Peter have a role in the story. Upon seeing Jesus on the water, he calls out, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water”(Mt. 14.28). He almost succeeds, yet he suddenly gives in to fear and begins sinking. Jesus scolds him by saying, ” You of little faith, why do you doubt?”(14.31). This draws a strange picture of Peter. He no longer simply listens to Jesus, but tries to become actively involved in his teachers lessons. This idea is again shown in Matthew 15.15. After the parable of the blind leading the blind, Peter asks, ” “Explain this parable to us.” Jesus replies with a rather impatient remark, but dives a little further into the meaning. He often comes to Jesus with questions throughout Matthew and these questions always ask for clear definitions of stories or truths about some spiritual detail. Many times Jesus snaps a little at him, but Peter obviously is not swayed by any impatience his teacher bestows. This seems to paint a closer relationship between the two men, where Peter is not afraid of Jesus and Jesus is not simply polite to Peter, as teachers tend to be. Jesus obvious favoritism of Peter, shown in the transfiguration and throughout the gospel, leads one to believe that the two are indeed close friends with trust and mutual respect, which allows them to be freer with their words to one another. Friends tend to be less polite and more open with each other, as Matthew has painted these two to be. Mark tends to leave out these little views into Peters relationship with Jesus, for they are rather trivial when it comes to the message from the Lord. Yet these few questions leave the reader with a better understanding of how the divine one interacted with his close buddies and the very human qualities to the exalted ones day to day life.
Peters deep trust in Jesus is apparent through his bold actions in Matthews account of walking on water. His faith is so strong that he is willing to put his fears aside and try to trust God with the purity his teacher does. For a short while he appears to succeed, proving that he above all the other followers has the courage to follow and the faith to see him through. Yet the fears of a mortal man keep him from attaining the faith that Jesus has secured. His life still is at risk and God seems so abstract when you are inch away from drowning. By leaving this story out, it appears Mark does not want to acknowledge something about the story. Perhaps he believes that Jesus and Jesus alone can accomplish such miracles and that the story undermines his power as the savior. Or the story could paint Peter as weak and without faith in some readers eyes and Mark may wish to save Peter from that humiliation. Nevertheless, it creates an important parable
The Gospel of Mark says:
“He is Jesus, the great God who has risen from his dead body and is come to rule, and is going to save the world by the blood of His own and His own soul in the name of Christ.” (Mark 1:34.)
The story clearly includes a number of people from the past that are present from the present. Many times it says “We are his disciples.” Some people could be from other churches but a church should not tell the story of one person only. Another example is Peter, Paul, John the Baptist, the early Church Fathers, and Mark with their family and friends. Some people may be from other religions but they have faith in Jesus.
You are invited to view the Gospel of Mark and to do so on behalf of others at the Church of Jesus and our website at www.gospeloftheway.org.
It is not clear why Matthew and Luke do not talk about the baptism and a later version of Mark tells the story it is about, but there is no question that these stories were part of The Gospel of Mark when used in other ways.
How to read the story of John the Baptist at the Church of Jesus?
Matthew 18:34
Mark (Matthew) gives John the baptism and says:
“And Jesus said, ‘Let us go to the baptist,’ and he took it from him, while Jesus was in the synagogue. Then the other side began to say, ‘Come.’ And Jesus said, ‘This is the man sent to take away the bread and drink the water of life; for he hath come with death,’ and he said, ‘If ye can take away one in the house of the Lord, neither can you kill two in the house of the Lord.’ And he led them into the temple; and they said to him, ‘Where art ye? I have said unto you, that ye should not lie with one another, for a man’s body hath no god like a god’s; but his heart hath a god like a gift.’ Then Jesus said unto Jesus, ‘If ye have kept your mouth to the letter, take off the part of my heart from the mouth of a beast, and if you have kept it to the letter, put it in his mouth and speak it to him.'”
Jesus says that his heart is now full of God in John, and when asked how he is now, Jesus replies, “Go and put my right hand to my mouth.” (See Acts 5:28-29.)
“But let me tell you why I said this. Why did I say this to you?’ You did not believe in me. Who was this Lord? This was Jesus. He is coming and coming, bringing power to men’s hearts, and he is the Christ Jesus. It is for all ages that he reigns and reigns before you and he is coming. But when he comes, you will not know his name, because He will only appear before you. I now stand before you for some reason, and I say this publicly, but before Him only I know, that there is that which I have given you, and I also say these to you now. For these things I have given you in the image of Jesus Christ for you, whom I love. Therefore do now your righteousness, and go out to your neighbours, and say unto them, We now come, and you also. Jesus that is, who is, you shall know me, and I are who you are.”
In the Gospel of Luke Jesus is asking for bread and water from people who are near by. Luke mentions Jesus walking to people’s homes, but when they come near Jesus