Why do we have the gospels?

According to the prophecy in Isaiah 61:1, the Messiah would preach the gospel. In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus told the people in the synagogue of Nazareth that the prophecy was fulfilled. Jesus’ announcement identified him as the Messiah, the person anointed by the Lord whose coming was prophesied by Isaiah. His sermons, parables, and discourses from the gospel are unparalleled for providing comfort to the poor and demonstrate that he is the Messiah. Because of the effect the gospel preached by Jesus has had on humanity, more impoverished people have received food, clothing and shelter than due to any other reason.

 Dr. J. Clontz – Editor, The Comprehensive New Testament

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazara, where he had been brought up. And as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. And he unrolled the book, and found the place where it was written:

18        “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

                        because he has anointed me

                                    to preach the good news to the poor.

            He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

                        and recovery of sight to the blind,

                                    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

19        to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 Then he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Last Supper According to the Old Testament Prophets

When we collect all the references from the types for Jesus and the apostles in the Old Testament we can see a detailed account of the Last Supper that parallels the New Testament Gospel accounts. Below is the composite formed from the Old Testament for the Last Supper:

Jesus would have twelve men with Him during His travails.^JA72 He would call his brethren together to eat bread on their last night together before He departed.^JA73,RE5 He would die within twenty-four hours of eating the meal with His followers that was described by the law.^AD9 Prior to eating the meal, one of His followers would be influenced by His adversary to betray Him.^AD10 Jesus would act as their servant even though He was their host.^SO2 The feet of all the brothers would be washed.^JU9,SO3 They all would eat bread.^JU10,RE5,SO3 Judas would be cited as lifting his heel against Him.^JA76 Jesus knew through supernatural means what Judas was planning.^JU11 A piece of food would be shared between Jesus and His betrayer.^AD11 Jesus would offer the gift from His hand to the person plotting to kill Him. The conspirator would take the gift offered from His hand and then separate from those with Jesus.^JA77 They would eat His flesh with unleavened bread at Passover.^PL3 His followers would mysteriously be part of His own body.^AD6 Jesus would press them greatly and they would turn to Him.^SO4

By Dr. J. Clontz, Typology: The New Testament According to the Old Testament Prophets

AD6. Genesis 2:23 / Romans 12:5AD9. Genesis 2:16-17 / Matthew 26:21, Mark 14:18, Luke 22:15-23
AD10. Genesis 3:1-6 / Luke 22:3
AD11. Genesis 3:6 / Matthew 26:21-23
JA72. Genesis 29:1-49:33 / Matthew 26:20
JA73. Genesis 31:54 / Matthew 26:20-29, Mark 14:17-25, Luke 22:14-23
JA76. Genesis 25:26 / John 13:18
JA77. Genesis 33:10-16 / John 13:21
JU9. John 13:4-14 / Genesis 45:26
JU10. Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19 / Genesis 37:25, 45:24
JU11. Matthew 26:21, Mark 14:18, Luke 22:3-23, John 13:11,21-26 / Genesis 44:15-16
PL3. Exodus 12:8 / Matthew 26:26
RE5. Genesis 37:25 / Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19, John 13:18
SO2. Genesis 19:2 / John 13:1-20
SO3. Genesis 19:2-3 / Matthew 26:17-29, 36-46, Mark 14:12-25, 32-42, Luke 22:7-23, 1Corinthians 11:24-25, John 13:1-17:26
SO4. Genesis 19:3 / John 14:1-17:26

Typology: The New Testament According to the Old Testament Prophets