Four Gospels: Creating a Wider View

    There's one gospel message--one foundationally true story of how God came to the world as Jesus Christ and made it possible for people to be forgiven of sins--and wonderfully, there's not just one written account of it, but four! They're all completely reliable, as each narrative was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and while they speak of the same Person and often recount the same events, not one of the four gospels is a carbon copy of another.
    Matthew's gospel, for example, is very detailed with references to Old Testament Scriptures, emphasizing the prophecies of the Messiah spoken hundreds of years before that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled. The gospel of Mark, in something of a contrast, sticks to crafting a quick account of the actions and events that occurred in Christ's ministry on earth, making a shorter but no less fulfilling read. Luke's gospel account (written by a Gentile, which is a rarity) is full of the parables that the Lord spoke, creatively painting pictures of His Kingdom and the kind of lives we, His followers, should lead. And in the gospel of John, spiritual matters are spoken of in depth, stressing Christ's divine identity--particularly in the famously eloquent first chapter.
    Each gospel tells the same story, but they don't tell it in the same way. It's like looking at four different pictures of one tree; the subject is absolutely the same, but the different angles catch new aspects and details that the other photos don't focus on as much. One picture on its own provides a sufficient view of the tree, but all four together complete the appearance, giving a full picture.
    So in having four gospels to read, the Lord has given us a more in-depth look at our Savior; a wider view of His love and the greatness of His saving grace. Isn't that awesome? :)