Discussion at the Beach

This conversation took place on a Florida beach while I was wearing a t-shirt that read: John 3:16 was there. Admittedly, I took the liberty to embellish the discussion a bit. 😉

👫: Hi! We like your t-shirt!

👴: Let me ask you a question. What is the difference between Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? There is a simple three word answer.

👫: I don’t know, that never came up in Bible class.

👴: Do you ever think for yourself?

👫: Of course not, I just repeat whatever the teacher said.

👴: Who wrote the book of John?

👫: God?

👴: John wrote the book of John. He was an apostle. He also wrote 1,2,3 John.

👫: Oh.

👴: John was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. So, John was there. Literally.

👫: Now I get it! John was there!

👴: Now, who wrote the book of Luke?

👫: Luke!

👴: That’s right, Luke identifies himself. And Luke was not a disciple. Luke was not there. Matthew and Mark have similar content to Luke. These authors were not there. Did you actually read the Gospel accounts?

👫: Why, was I supposed to?

👴: If you had, you may have noticed in Matthew, Mark, and Luke that Jesus recruits his first disciples in Galilee, while in the book of John he begins recuiting in Judea, the day after John the Baptist announces him. Which do you believe?

👫: The book of John, because John was there.

👴: In the book of John, Jesus is arrested before the Jewish festival of Passover while in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus is arrested after the Passover meal. Which do you believe?

👫: The book of John, because John was there.

👴: In Matthew, Mark, and Luke the kingdom of God is suppose to come to earth, but in the book of John Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world. Which do you believe?

👫: The book of John, because John was there.

👴: Where did Jesus appear to the eleven after the resurrection? Was it in Galilee as in the books of Matthew and Mark, or was it in Jerusalem as in the books of Luke and John?

👫: Jerusalem.

👴: Now would you like to hear about the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on humanity?

👫: You mean Obama?

👴: No, this is bigger than Obama. According to the book of John, no one knew who the Messiah was, until he was announced by John the Baptist. Not even his mother.

👫: O my gosh! Virgin Mary is a fraud!

👴: The book of John is eyewitness testimony of the Son of God, while Matthew, Mark and Luke are hearsay and full of fables. And your church never told you this?

👫: No. And I’m going to ask for my money back.

👴: Stop depending on what boneheads have taught you and go and read the book of John like your eternal life depended on it.