Four Portraits of Jesus: A Look at the Gospels
Four Gospels, One Picture…
“Each Gospel highlights a different aspect of Jesus: King, Servant, Savior, and Son…”
By Nicole Boyd
The four Gospels each give us a unique portrait of Jesus—who He is, what He came to do, and how His life fulfilled God’s plan for salvation. While they tell many of the same stories, each author wrote with a distinct purpose, shining a light on a particular facet of Christ’s identity. Together, they create a complete picture of our Savior: King, Servant, Savior of all, and Son of God. As I've been reading through my latest book for the Ministers in Training program, I wanted to give a little insight into what I’ve been learning.
The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus the King and Messiah
Matthew’s Gospel is often called the “bridge” between the Old and New Testaments. His purpose was clear: to show the Jewish people that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. To do this, he traces Jesus’ genealogy back through King David to Abraham, establishing His rightful place in the kingly line.
Matthew also connected the words of the prophets to the ministry of Jesus, citing nine Old Testament prophecies that the other Gospel writers did not include. His goal was to demonstrate that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promises.
That’s why, in the imagery for this Gospel, I included the Lion of Judah, the Star of Bethlehem, and the royal color purple—all symbols that remind us of Christ’s kingship and divine authority.
The Gospel of Mark: Jesus the Servant
Mark’s Gospel paints Jesus in constant action. Unlike Matthew and Luke, he doesn’t begin with a genealogy. Instead, he presents Jesus as the Servant of the Lord, immediately stepping into ministry and carrying out His Father’s will. The first chapter of Mark details John the Baptist preparing the way, then immediately goes into Jesus’ baptism. In fact, the word “immediately” appears 42 times throughout Mark.
Half of Mark’s Gospel is devoted to the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. This shows us the ultimate act of service: Jesus laying down His life for us and rising again so we could be reconciled to God.
For this Gospel, I used blue—a color that signifies peace, communion with God, and cleansing. For me, it reflects both the washing of the disciples’ feet during the Last Supper and the reconciliation Jesus purchased for us on the cross. Jesus told his disciples to follow His example and be servants to all.
The Gospel of Luke: Jesus the Savior of All
Luke gives us a broader view of Jesus’ mission. Where Matthew focuses on proving that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, Luke emphasizes that Christ came for all people—Jew and Gentile alike.
Throughout Luke, we see Jesus reaching out to the poor, the outcasts, women, and those society had forgotten. In Luke 2, the angel announces to the shepherds: “I bring you good news…for all the people…a Savior has been born.”
Luke traces Jesus’ genealogy back beyond King David and Abraham—all the way to Adam—underscoring that Jesus is related to us all. He is the Son of Man, who understands our struggles, endured temptation, and yet remained without sin. In Him, we find a Savior who fully identifies with humanity.
For this part of the picture, I chose the color red, symobilzing his sacrifice. This part of the image also includes Jesus wearing the crown of thorns, showing hoe Jesus gave up his right as God of the universe to become a lowly Man and take our place. I have also included the picture of a dove, representing the Holy Spirit and how Jesus was connected with Holy Spirit in everything He did.
The Gospel of John: Jesus the Son of God
John’s Gospel stands apart from the other three. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the “Synoptic Gospels” because they share many of the same stories, John offers a unique perspective. His purpose was to show that Jesus is not only the Son of Man, but the eternal Son of God.
John begins with a powerful declaration: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Unlike the others, he records no genealogy, parables, or even the ascension. Instead, John emphasizes Jesus’ deity, writing so that unbelievers might believe and believers might grow deeper in their faith and follow Him.
For this reason, I chose gold to represent John’s Gospel—a symbol of God’s authority, majesty, and eternal rulership. Behind it, the words of John 1:1 remind us that Jesus was not only with God at the beginning—He is God.
One Savior, Four Perspectives
Each Gospel highlights a different aspect of Jesus:
Matthew: the promised King and Messiah
Mark: the faithful Servant
Luke: the Savior for all humanity
John: the eternal Son of God
Together, they give us a rich, multifaceted understanding of who Jesus is. Each perspective is like a piece of a grand mosaic, and when viewed together, they reveal the fullness of Christ’s identity and mission.