Four independent accounts that cover as many events as the gospels will certainly contain dissimilarities – many of these may seem contradictory. Some critics question the gospels for not being similar enough – while others say they aren’t credible because they are too much alike!
We believe the gospels walk the perfect middle line. They are close enough for us to know they tell the same story yet contain enough variation to indicate the writers didn’t collude or invent their stories.
To have three independent historical narratives from antiquity capturing the deeds and teachings of a single individual, supported by the evidence that we find for the gospels, is unprecedented. We trust the synoptic gospels as a reliable source in our search for the truth.