Jesus
Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah
Predictions about Jesus
Ever since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden because of their sin, God declared that He would send Jesus to crush the serpent’s, or Satan’s, head. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies that predict when and where Jesus will be born.
God’s love for his lost creatures, mankind, led Him to do the unthinkable. He laid aside His glory to take on human flesh.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Because there was no room in any of the hotels, motels, and inns, Jesus was born in a stable and slept in a manger trough.
Mary, His mother, was a virgin. An angel appeared to this young woman engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. The angel announced that God had chosen her to fulfill the prophecy, “the Virgin shall be with child.” Joseph,upset at first, wondered how on earth his fiance was pregnant, but the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, revealing that the baby was a miracle from Heaven. Mary could be trusted. She was a virgin. She was pregnant with the Son of God.
Angels appeared to shepherds the night Jesus was born filled with joy and praise to announce His birth. The shepherds hurried to find the God King in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
Wise men, or magi, from the East, saw His star and came to worship Him and present Him with gifts.
Herod was not happy when he found out that a King had been born in Bethlehem. He sent his soldiers to kill all the baby boys, but Joseph took his wife and adopted son Jesus to Egypt to keep them safe. When Herod’s killing spree was over, the Lord called the little family back to Israel. They settled in Nazareth where Joseph supported his family as a carpenter.
You can read the whole story of Jesus’ miraculous birth in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2 in The Holy Bible.
Jesus' Birth
Childhood of Jesus
We don’t know much about Jesus childhood except that he grew in wisdom and stature, and favor with God and man. We can assume that he obeyed his parents and lived a life of loving kindness. (Luke 2:40 & 52)
He was absolutely faithful to obey The Law.
He learned his adopted father’s trade of carpentry.
Jesus had at least four brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. He had sisters too, but we don’t know their names. James grew up to lead the church at Jerusalem and write the Epistle of James in the Bible. Judas grew up to write the Epistle of Jude. (Matthew 13:53-58 and Mark 6:1-6)
When he was twelve, he stayed behind at the temple in Jerusalem when his parents and siblings were headed back to Nazareth from the Passover Celebration. Jesus showed great wisdom and astounded the temple priests and teachers of the Law. Of course, He did. He wrote the Law with His Father. (Luke 2:41-51)
Baptism & Temptation of Jesus
When Jesus was thirty years old, his ministry began with HIs baptism by John the Baptist. John felt awkard about baptizing the Son of God, but Jesus insisted. As always, he was setting an example for His followers to follow.
While Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit desended on Jesus in the form of a dove. God the Father said, “This is My Beloved Son. In Him I am well pleased.”
Right after He was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert where He fasted for forty days. After forty days of no food and water, the devil came and tempted Him. Jesus responded to each temptation with Scripture.
For more information, read Matthew 3-4, Mark 1, Luke 3-4, and John 1.
Ministry of Jesus
Jesus performed His first miracle at His Mom’s request, turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2).
Jesus traveled from town to town preaching the Good News that the Kingdom of God was at hand. He revealed God’s love, holiness, wisdom, and character to the crowds that gathered to hear Him teach. They were amazed by His teaching.
Many people found truth and freedom when they heard Jesus preach. After a night in prayer, He chose 12 disciples to lay the foundation for His Church. These men followed Him and started His church after He died, rose, and ascended into Heaven. One disciple, Judas, betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. The rest honored Jesus in their lives, ministries, and death.
Jesus trained His disciples for their future mission. They watched Him at work: serving, healing, teaching, performing signs and wonder. Jesus had His disciples help Him with ministry. Jesus sent HIs disciples out on trail runs two-by-two. Later He would leave the building of His Church to His band of men.
Jesus healed many people including epileptics, a woman with a bleeding issue, lepers, cripples, blind men, deaf men, and people sick with disease. He walked on water, calmed a raging storm, multiplied a basket of food to feed a crowd of thousands, and gathered children into his arms.
Jesus delivered all kinds of folks from demons. One man had a legion of demons living inside him that were cast out and allowed to go into a herd of pigs. Hey, what were pigs doing in Israel?
Jesus even raised the dead including Lazarus and Jairus’ daughter. For more information, read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Last Week of Jesus' Life
The last week of Jesus life began at his friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus’ house in Bethany where Mary anointed his feet with oil in a tender act of worship. He told her that she was anointing Him for burial. (Read John 12)
The next day, Jesus left his friends home in Bethany for His triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The crowds cheered, praising Him while waving palm branches and laying down cloaks for His donkey to step on. It was a glorious time of worship.
The next day, zeal for God’s temple consumed Him. Jesus turned over the moneychangers’ temples and reminded them that HIs Father’s House was a place of prayer, not a den of theives and robbers.
Jesus taught in the temple early in the week and gave His disciples instructions to make preparations to celebrate the Passover.
In an upper room, Jesus celebrated the Passover with HIs disciples on Thursday evening. First, He washed their feet and gave them a new commandment: to love one another as He had loved them. While He celebrated the Passover Feast, He instituted The Lord’s Supper, or Celebration of Communion, declaring that the bread represented His Body and wine His blood. After singing a closing hymn, Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane.
In the Garden, Jesus poured His heart out to God. He asked for the cup to be taken from Him, yet wanted God’s Will, not His own. His disciples fell asleep while He prayed in agony. But in that place of sorrow, Jesus prayed for everyone in the future who would believe in HIm. (You can read His prayer in John 17.)
While they were leaving, Judas led the temple guards to Jesus. These men captured Jesus and arrested Him.
His trial was a mockery of justice. He was sentenced to death.
For more information, read Matthew 20-27, Mark 11-15, Luke 19-23, and John 12-19.
Death of Jesus
A crown of thorns was placed on Jesus’ head. Nails were driven through His hands and feet to hold Him on the cross.
As Jesus hung on the cross, the punishment we deserve for our sins was poured out on Jesus. He paid the price for us to satisfy God’s wrath for our sin. Justice and mercy met on the cross.
Jesus gave up His life.
After His body was taken down, it was wrapped and buried in a rich man’s tomb.
Roman guards stood at the entrance to make sure there was no funny business.
For more information, read Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19.
Resurrection of Jesus
On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead! The stone was rolled away! Death was defeated! Jesus triumphed over hell and sin forever!
After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples fellowshipping, eating, and teaching them.
He explained what happened to two of His disciples on the Road to Emmaus.
He met Peter and some of the disciples at the beach cooking them breakfast while they arrived after a night fishing. He performed a similar miracle to the one He performed when He first called Peter. Then reinstated Him.
For more information, read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21.
Ascension of Jesus
Jesus appeared to His disciples and followers over the next few weeks in His resurrected body.
When it was time, He had his disciples meet Him in Galilee. They worshipped Him, but some doubted. He commanded them to go and make disciples of all the nations. He promised to be with them always. He commanded them to wait for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit.
After commissioning His disciples, Jesus ascended into Heaven. He disappeared from their view on His ascent through the clouds.
For more information, read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21.
Jesus Will Come Again!
Jesus said that He would return to take us home.
In Luke 21, verses 25-28, Jesus says: “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Jesus is Building His Church
While we wait for Jesus to return, He is building His Church, His Glorious Bride!
God uses us to share the Gospel, make disciples, and pray for revival.
