The Monarch Butterfly—An Illustration of Transformation—Part 4—The Four Gospels

 

Introduction and Review

Part 3 of this series examined how the human body, an element of creation, and its functions are categorized with the number four. Here in part four of this series, we are going to transition into the Bible's use of the number for beginning with the four Gospels. 

The four rivers represent the four Gospels. 
The Yorck Project (2002) Meisterwerke der Malerei Distributed by Direct Media Publishing

Four Gospels and New Creations

In terms of transformation, should it be any surprise that the New Testament begins with four Gospels, perhaps indicating the new creations that would be born from them?

"Christ's purpose in giving us this teaching was not to write a famous book ... Christ wanted not to create an infallible book, but to create true lives, and to trust them through the power of His Spirit to create other true lives till the world became altogether true."

— J. Edgar Park "The Wonder of His Gracious Words"

John, the fourth Gospel, begins very much like the creation account in Genesis.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth ... Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light ... 

— Genesis 1:1

In John's account, notice the four descriptions of Jesus the Word linking Him with the creation account.

1. In the beginning was the Word, 

2. and the Word was with God, 

3. and the Word was God. 

4. He was in the beginning with God. 

and ... 

1. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 

2. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

3. And the light shines in the darkness, 

4. and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

— John 1:1-5

John, the fourth Gospel, also gives the idea of becoming a new creation through a born-again event.

... unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
— John 3:3

In his commentary "All the Doctrines of the Bible," Herbert Lockyer reveals the aspect of formation and transformation in the message we are commanded to proclaim to all the earth. We are to call all men to come and be born again, as he writes in a portion titled "The Spirit Transforms Men into Christ's Image."

"As we possess four gospels, presenting four different aspects of the one divine person, so the continuous ministry of the Spirit is to fill the world with men and women reproducing Christ."

The four rivers of Eden illustrate the four Gospels that go out to all the earth. They reveal the source of all life, the Fountain of Living Waters, which flows from the very heart of God, crying out in the wilderness of this world His desire that all men would repent and be saved.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
— II Peter 3:9

The fulfillment of the four rivers, which image the Gospel throughout the earth, is realized in the Book of Acts. Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 days after His death and resurrection. He commissioned them to four places, the fourth being the earth.

... you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and

1. You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem,
2. and in all Judea
3. and Samaria,
4. and even to the end of the earth.”
— Acts 1:8 

 

Four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
NYPL digital library

John the Baptist in All Four Gospels

All four Gospels include the account of John the Baptist, who was the herald of change through repentance in preparation for the Savior's coming. 

In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 

— Matthew 3:1-2 

John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. — Mark 1:4 

... the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins 

— Luke 3:2-3

The book of John points to the one who made repentance and salvation possible.  

... “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

— John 1:29

All four accounts include a quote from an Old Testament prophecy from the book of Isaiah, specifically chapter 40, that metaphorically illustrates what repentance looks like in transformative geographical terms. 

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth ... ”
— Isaiah 40:3-4 

 

"Memory of Generations"
Michael Pagliarao

Proverbs Chapter Thirty—Creation and the Gospel

Chapter thirty of the book of Proverbs emphasizes earthly created images to illustrate spiritual (3 the number of spiritual things) and practical (4 the number of earthly things) living lessons. It begins with four questions that ask "who" in the fourth verse, referring to who created all things.

1. Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? 

2. Who has gathered the wind in His fists? 

3. Who has bound the waters in a garment? 

4. Who has established all the ends of the earth? 

— Proverbs 30:4

The first order of establishment of any life lesson is to know that He created all things, and all things give teaching and testimony of Him.

... since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made. 

— Romans 1:20  

He is also the following.

... the great pattern-pilgrim, passing through this world.
— Henry Ironside

Four wicked generations are discussed in verses 11-14. They are those who do not trust God and follow His ways in this life. 

1. There is a generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother. 

2. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. 

3. There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. 

4. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. 

— Proverbs 30:11-14

The Expositor's Bible Commentary makes an excellent observation on this passage related to the number four.

"Four times the word generation is used, describing the classes of people frequently mentioned in the preceding chapters of Proverbs. Then follow four things which are insatiable."

Four times, "three and four" are used together to describe the spiritual lessons that can be gleaned from the things that He has made.

A Leech
Chris Schuster

The Leech

The first on the list created things that can transform our understanding is the Leech.

The leech has two daughters

— Give and Give! 

— Proverbs 30:14

Charles Spurgeon comments on a leech's insatiability, which he applies to the natural man.

"It (the leech) is like the "flesh" in man." 

The examples continue with three or four things in four sets of four. 

There are three things that are never satisfied, 

Four never say, “Enough! 

1. The grave, 

2. The barren womb, 

3. The earth that is not satisfied with water— 

4. And the fire never says, “Enough! 

(four-line interlude)
The eye that mocks his father,
And scorns obedience to his mother,

The ravens of the valley will pick it out,

And the young eagles will eat it.

There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Yes, four, which I do not understand

1. The way of an eagle in the air,
2. The way of a serpent on a rock,
3. The way of a ship in the midst of the sea,
4. And the way of a man with a virgin

(Three line interlude)

This is the way of an adulterous woman; 

She eats and wipes her mouth,

And says, “I have done no wickedness.” 

— Proverbs 30:15-20

Notice the four uses of the word "way." (See the section on way paths and doors.) The Expositor's Bible Commentary on this portion of Scripture makes these observations in keeping with the theme of number four. First, it notes that these four cannot be observed continuously. They appear and then disappear. Second, they all have a means of propulsion or driving force. Third, they all describe movement from one sphere or domain to another. And the fourth is their mysteriousness.

... three things the earth is perturbed,
Yes, for four it cannot bear up

1. For a servant when he reigns,
2. A fool when he is filled with food,
3. A hateful woman when she is married,
4. And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress 

The interlude between these last two sets of four is a discourse about four wise things, which will be studied in more detail immediately following the three things and four. 

There are three things which are majestic in pace,
Yes, four, which are stately in walk

1. A lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn away from any.

2. A greyhound

3. A (wild) male goat also,

4. And a king whose troops are with him

— Proverbs 30:21-31

All of these earthly-world examples show us that the created world without God is insatiable, lacking in wisdom, and out of order.

Ants—one of the four wise things in Proverbs chapter 30
"Fir0002/Flagstaffotos"

The Four Wise Things

One final four in this chapter does not use the number three but is introduced between the third and fourth: "three things ... and four." Henry Allen Ironside notes these four wise things "present a beautiful picture of the Gospel that transforms the hearts of humankind." I will attach his notes to the end of each "wise" thing as it refers to this in the following sections.

The Ant—Material Things in Preparation for the Eternal

The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

— Proverbs 30:25

"In material things, man readily shows the same wisdom as this tiny creature. He, too, provides against the coming days when ill health or old age will forbid his going forth to labor. But is it not amazing that men who display remarkable foresight in earthly matters will forget altogether to prepare for that unending eternity to which every moment brings them nearer? ... Forgetful of the ages that follow this short life on earth, they allow golden opportunities to slip by, never to return. They rush carelessly on, ignoring the need of their souls and the fearful danger that lies just beyond death. “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation ... little ant preaches loudly, crying in the ears of any who will listen, “Flee from the wrath to come ... It is unlike human beings who waste the days of childhood, youth, and middle age with insignificant matters, leaving themselves unprepared for eternity."
— Henry Ironside 

 

Hyrax
Giles Laurent

Hyrax—Taking Refuge in Christ

The rock badgers are a feeble folk, 

Yet they make their homes in the crags; 

— Proverbs 30:26 

 

... the rock speaks of Him; for He alone is the sinner’s refuge. The little unclean hyrax, weak and feeble, flees to the rocks and is safe. So, too, the helpless unclean sinner, awakened to a sense of his dire need and aroused by the signs of the storm that is soon to break over the heads of all who neglect God’s salvation, flees for refuge to the Lord Jesus Christ. He finds in Him a safe and blessed shelter where no foe can ever reach him and judgment can never come ... It is in the clefts of the rock that the hyrax hides; it is in a Savior, pierced for our sins and bruised by the awful vengeance of the Holy One, that the believing soul finds a hiding place.

On Him almighty vengeance fell, which would have sunk a world to hell; He bore it for a chosen race and thus became their hiding-place.

Have you found a refuge in Him? If you are still living under the wrath of God, cease from all effort to save yourself (which can only result in bitter disappointment in the end). Flee to Jesus while He still extends the peace-giving invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
— Henry Ironside 

 

A Swarm of Locusts
Петр Бобровничий

Locusts—Christ is King

The locusts have no king, 

Yet they all advance in ranks; 

— Proverbs 30:27

To those who have found a refuge in Christ, the locusts furnish an example of that subjection one to another and to our unseen head in Heaven ... To the world and the world-church, the body of Christ must seem like a heterogeneous, miscellaneous company, with no leader and no bond of union. But the same Jesus who died for His people’s sins is now seated in highest glory; God has made Him the head of all who have been redeemed by His precious blood. The Holy Spirit, sent down from Heaven upon His ascension there as man, is now indwelling every believer; this binds all together in one great company, every one “members one of another ... The locusts all work together, and this declares their wisdom. So it should be with the body of Christ. Divisions and schisms are plainly declared to be sinful and works of the flesh.

A Gecko
Rushenb

The Gecko—In My Father's House

The spider (Ironside says gecko) skillfully grasps with its hands,
And it is in kings’ palaces.
— Proverbs 30:24-28

... should speak to us of the power of faith. This is indeed the hand by which the believing sinner takes hold of the precious truth of God and enters into His blessings. Faith allows us to be at home in the King’s palace and ensures an eternal abode in the Father’s house.
— Henry Ironside

Bullinger also notes a fourfold witness showing nature's inability to find wisdom as recorded in the Book of Job. 

As for the earth, from it comes bread,
But underneath it is turned up as by fire;
Its stones are the source of sapphires,
And it contains gold dust.

That path no bird knows,
Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.
The proud lions have not trodden it,
Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
— Job 28:5-8 

 

The crucifixion of Christ
Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross
Giovanni Battista Langetti

The Cross—The Heart of the Gospel

John, the fourth Gospel's account of Christ's human and earthly death on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, is in keeping with the categorization of four. Death is exclusive to created material things. The second of the four laws of thermodynamics, one of the governing laws of the universe, is the "law of entropy" or "law of disorder," which states: 

 "... nature tends from order to disorder in isolated systems."

The creation, apart from the governance of its creator, breaks down and dies. When Jesus died on the cross, He became one of us. He died an earthly death, and He might grant us an opportunity to be resurrected to a life eternal, spiritually speaking, governed by God, who now could reside in us because of it. 

"Jesus has transformed death from a dreary cavern into a passage leading to glory."
— Charles Spurgeon

This portion of Scripture is categorically arranged into four parts, some of which will be included and explained shortly.

1. The Crucifixion and the title on the cross (17–22).

2. The four enemies and the four friends (23–27).
3. The two words, ‘I thirst,’ ‘It is finished’ (28–30).
4. The hostile and the friendly petitions (31–42).
— Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

In John 19:25, we are told that four friends were present with Jesus at the crucifixion.

1. His mother
2. His mother's sister
3. Mary, the wife of Clopas
4. and Mary Magdalene

Notably, they were all women. Also, there were four women in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

1. Tamar
2. Ruth
3. Rahab
4. and the wife of Uriah the Hittite

Eve, the mother of all those living on the earth (Genesis 3:20), is mentioned four times in the Bible. Four women on the ark began a new generation, and Jacob's four wives began the tribes of Israel. There were four women prophets in the Old Testament.

1. Miriam
2. Deborah
3. Huldah
4. and Noadiah

And Phillips's four virgin daughters prophesied in the New Testament. (Acts 21:9) Prophecy also falls under the category of four.

Back to our subject of Christ's crucifixion: In verses 23 and 24, we are shown a squadron (four) of soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross and parted His four outer garments between them. This particular garment, among the four, is exclusive to John. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes the following.

"The four pieces to be divided would be, 

1. the head-gear, 

2. the sandals, 

3. the girdle, 

4. and the tallith or square outer garment with fringes. 

— Vincent Word Studies 

 

The Fourth Word on the Cross

In verse 24 of John 19, there was also a seamless tunic that could not be divided, so they cast lots for it. John Dummelow, a Bible scholar, makes the following observation relevant to number four.

"There remained the seamless inner garment. For this, they cast lots, fulfilling Psalms 22:18, a Davidic psalm, from which the fourth 'Word' of seven, on the cross (My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me") was taken. (In Aramaic, this amounted to four words; eli eli lama sabachtani)

Psalm 22, verses 1 and 18

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? ... They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.

Jesus bore our sins and separation from God. He experienced the nakedness of humanity fully without God so that we might be united with Him once again. The completion of this work fulfilled four things, according to pastor and author Henry Mahan's commentary on John 19:17.

"When Christ received the vinegar, he cried, ‘It is finished,’ bowed his head, and died. What was finished?

1. The whole will of God in regard to redemption (Hebrews 10:7).
2. The whole work his Father had given him to do (1 Timothy 1:15).
3. The Levitical law and all types and ceremonies (Hebrews 10:9-14).
4. The righteousness of God performed, perfected, and imputed to believers (Romans 3:19-24; Romans 10:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21)."

It is also worth mentioning that Christ came to this created realm in created form 4000 years into its history.

My entire theology can be condensed into four words: 'Jesus died for me.'
— C. H. Spurgeon 

 

Fourfold Witness 

The fourth Gospel of John also records a fourfold witness of Jesus as Messiah in its fifth chapter, as observed by C.I. Scofield in his section divisions. The first one is John the Baptist.

You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 

— John 5:33

The second witness is His works.

But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
— John 5:36

The third witness is the Father.

... the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
— John 5:37-38

The fourth witness is the Scriptures.

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
— John 5:39

The four Gospels
Carolingian art, Aachen Gospels, early 9th century, church treasury of Charlemagne's Palatine Chapel

Events That Occur In All Four Gospels

12 (4 x 3) events occur in all four Gospels and can be categorized into three sections of four. Three is the number of God's Spirit and the dimension of the Spirit. Four is the number of creation and the processes thereof. We will see how God enters the created realm and, once again, establishes His kingdom on earth. The first four events are as follows.

1. The baptism of John
2. The Feeding of the 5000
3. Peter's profession
4. and Christ's anointing by Mary.

All of the above involve Christ's ministry and relationship with people. It also reveals the development of the purpose of His coming, which was to show us the way of baptism into Him (John baptized Him). He is also revealed as the Good Shepherd, who finds and feeds His lost sheep (the feeding of the 5000). Finally, He is shown as the Messiah and Savior (Peter's confession) and appointed to die for our sins (Mary's anointing). The second group of four is the following. 

1. The triumphal entry
2. The Last Supper
3. Gethsemane
4. and the trials

These four follow a similar pattern of development,

1. The establishment of His Kingship and Lordship (triumphal entry),
2. The feeding with His followers (the last supper), 
3. Counting the cost of His Messiahship (Gethsemane),
4. and the establishment of His sinless appointment to die (the trials)

The eight together concern events that occurred in Christ's last week with humankind. The final group of four is His crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection, the Gospel in a nutshell. All twelve, taken together, reveal the life of Christ. They show His development and establishment of the Kingdom of God on the earth, from Baptism to Resurrection.  

Four Lepers by Charles Joseph Staniland (British 1838-1916)

The Four Lepers—Spreading the Gospel Old Testament Style

2 Kings 7 records a time when Syria besieged Samaria (Northern Kingdom of Israel). This section notes that there was also a severe famine in the land. In those days, cities were walled; therefore, this siege trapped everyone inside without food, water, or a means to get them. Life was so bad that they were eating their children. In his despair, the king said the following. 

“Surely this calamity is from the Lord; why should I wait for the Lord any longer?” 

— 2 Kings 6:33

Elisha, the prophet, then prophesied that the next day, salvation and provision would come, but the King's right-hand man expressed doubt that even God could save them from such a ridiculous mess. When God's words come to pass, this man does not take part in the provision because he dies. We will see how all this relates in a bit. 

The "Good News" and the miracle of provision and distribution are carried out by four men.

Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 

— 2 Kings 7:3

The lepers were shut out of the city based on God's law.

He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp. 

— Leviticus 13:46

From a spiritual application standpoint, leprosy is a picture of sin.

... leprosy generally begins with pain in certain areas of the body. Numbness follows. Soon, the skin in such spots loses its original color. It gets thick, glossy, and scaly... As the sickness progresses, the thickened spots become dirty sores and ulcers due to poor blood supply. The skin, especially around the eyes and ears, begins to bunch, with deep furrows between the swellings, so that the face of the afflicted individual begins to resemble that of a lion. Fingers drop off or are absorbed; toes are affected similarly. His throat becomes hoarse, and you can now not only see, feel, and smell the leper, but you can also hear his rasping voice. And if you stay with him for some time, you can even imagine a peculiar taste in your mouth, probably due to the odor. 

— Alfred Edersheim

This puts all who were infected by it outside the camp.

Leprosy is a vivid and graphic physical picture of the spiritual defilement of sin. Sin is ugly, loathsome, incurable, and contaminating; it separates men from God and makes them outcasts. 

— John Barnett

Humankind became nothing but the dirt they were made from after they were exiled from the garden.

For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.

— Genesis 3:19

Even in His (heavenly) servants, He puts no trust ... How much more those who dwell in houses (bodies) of clay, whose foundations are in the dust ...

— Job 4:18-19 (Amplified)

 As it concerns the lepers, these four tell us there is no natural hope for their condition, so it is with us and sin. J. Vernon McGee writes.

"The application for us is that before we came to Christ, we were in a predicament equally as desperate. We were like lepers, sitting among the dead, having no hope and without God in the world." 

The following commentary couldn't have given a better lesson on this portion of Scripture, which concerns the spread of the Gospel to all of humanity.

Well may all this be applied to our Lord’s work for us and to the provision of the gospel. He alone worked out the great salvation and provided all that sinners dying and lost (represented by the lepers) may come to eat and drink, without money and without price. It was a day of good tidings. Such is the still lasting day of salvation, the day of grace. The lepers who had their fill first and had tasted God’s great salvation could not hold their peace. Through them, the whole city hears of the provision made. And the people went out to see how wonderfully the prediction of Elisha had been accomplished. All enjoyed it. But the unbelieving lord perished, a warning that he that believes not must die in his sins. The repetition at the close of this chapter of the words of the unbeliever recorded at the beginning of this story is of solemn meaning. God is true to His Word, the Word which promises life to all who believe and which threatens eternal punishment to all who believe not. “He that believes on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believes not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” 

— Frank Gaebelein commentary