Perfect Harmony

When I was in elementary school, I enjoyed singing in the choir, but had lost interest in the school choir after my first year in junior high.  One day, the premier choir from the senior high school came to sing for the junior high.  From the very first note, I was hooked.  I determined to be part of that choir. 

The difference between the two choirs was as wide as the Atlantic Ocean.  The high school concert choir sang almost exclusively a capella.  That means they sang without any accompaniment from piano, organ, guitar or any other musical instrument.  Our choir director was extremely skilled in leading us in harmony.  Each voice—soprano, alto, tenor and bass harmonized so perfectly with the others that the parts were often indistinguishable from each other.  We sang in as perfect a unity as is humanly possible but in four different parts.

I enjoy listening to beautiful music and enjoy favorite soloists and their talents.  But when I hear choirs or other groups that sing in seamless harmony—four parts as one—the beauty of it brings tears to my eyes. 

When talking about a “harmony” of the Gospels, we mean that all four of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John fit together in perfect unity to tell about Jesus' life and ministry.  Each one presents the life of the Lord Jesus Christ emphasizing or depicting various aspects of His life and character, yet together presenting His ministry as one unified complete account.  Their unity is inspired by the Holy Spirit as He directed the human authors to write.

Matthew was one of the twelve disciples, the tax collector.   Mark (John Mark) was the cousin of Barnabas who was Paul’s companion.  Mark was Peter’s scribe who wrote Peter’s testimony of Jesus’ life.  Luke was a Gentile who traveled with the Apostle Paul.  John was the youngest of the disciples, the brother of James.  Specifically, three of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark and Luke are very similar in how they present Jesus Christ.  These three are often called the Synoptic Gospels.  Syn=together with   Optic=to see.  Therefore, the Synoptic Gospels are a summary, overview, of Jesus’ life.  The book of John, however, is different.  John does give some narrative accounts of events during Jesus’ life, but the book of John focuses more on revealing the nature of Jesus Christ in His deity.  

As we read of Jesus’ life, I hope that you’ll grow in your love for Him more and more.  May you be thoroughly equipped for every good work, increasing in your knowledge of God in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.