As I've written before, after completing work on the Gospel COMPARATIVE, I was asked more than once; "What did you come away with?" or “Did you learn anything new?”
One thing that stood out to me by reading in this format is how you can see what is offered or not offered within each account; all at the same time. This can help you think and/or visualize in ways you never could having to read each account separately. This applies to an incredible number of scenes in the gospel story.
An example of this is the denial sequence of Peter after Jesus is arrested. It's one thing to read a single account in any particular gospel, but when you read all the accounts combined together, each contributing to the entire sequence; digesting all the pieces each account has to offer, the sense of fear alone that Peter experienced becomes so incredibly more tangible.
Something a reader would never accomplish through reading a single version by itself.
This is because all four accounts have different bits they contribute; together making up the whole. And then, when you juxtapose this against a previous scene when Peter was the one who drew a sword as Jesus was being arrested; (only referenced by name in one account) this presents a much greater depth of his flawed humanity as well as his fragility as a follower. And one must remember Peter was a fisherman. So illiterate with no education and has to be very physical. If anyone in modern times has met a fisherman today, you would readily agree that these people are stouthearted. Now multiply that by the time and place where Peter lived. No technology; no motorized power at all; no weather or navigational charts. Oh, and by the way, if you don't make a catch; you and your family might not eat.
All of this begins in scene 200 where Jesus is arrested, and Peter follows. Then culminates in scene 205 with Peter's final denial. There is a line within one verse and only in Luke that really jumped out to me. It was after the cock crowed for the third time.
In Scene 205 - Luke 22:61 (KJV) it’s written;
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.
And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, before the cockcrow thou shout deny me thrice.
It's very compelling to read this and it’s only in Luke, “the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.” I often wondered if they could actually see each other. In the previous scenes, the writers described being outside the palace and being on a porch. I thought, was this metaphorical or was it actually physical? Was it some kind of mental/psychological/ spiritual connection? Or was Peter able to actually peer in through a doorway or window to see Jesus? And then Jesus was able to turn and catch his eye.
It’s a small part within a bigger scene and only in one account, but still rather compelling. Regardless of what I think, it’s certainly a deeper fuller experience to have every bit of the descriptions, along with all the information from each account, all at the the same time.
The complete reversal of this dynamic is in the Nativity scene also described only in Luke. I also found it equally compelling that every time I've demonstrated to someone that the account for this is only in a single version of the gospels, the response is always an astonishing "Really? I never new that…" (See Only Three Verses blog) So I can't help but think the most celebrated tradition in bible history, happens to constitute a mere three verses of a single gospel account.
Regardless of one's philosophy - four together is much more compelling then one apart.
My sincere appreciation as always for the support of my family, friends and associates in helping me publicize this work. To learn more about the Gospel COMPARATIVE book and how it enables anyone to read all the gospels simultaneously go to:
http://www.gospelcomparative.org/
Many Thanks and More to Come -