Part 1
Before coming to the earth and being born as a human, Jesus was an angel, a spirit person. He was known as Michael the archangel, the first of all God's creations. After humans were created, he was also called the Word, or a spokesman between Jehovah God and man.
As a human, Jesus’ lineage was recorded by Matthew through his step-father Joseph to David and then to Abraham. Through his mother's father, Heli, Luke traced the generations back to Adam.
Sometime in May or June of 3 BC, Zechariah the priest went to offer incense at the temple in Jerusalem. When he saw an angel appear next to the alter, he became startled. The angel said he was Gabriel, and he told Zechariah his barren wife would bear him a son, and he was to name him John. This son would be filled with holy spirit and go ahead of the Messiah and turn many back to worshipping God. Because Zechariah hesitated unbelievingly, he was told he'd be unable to speak until those things took place.
Around the end of December, 3 BC or beginning of January, 2 BC, in the town of Nazareth in Galilee, Gabriel also appeared to Mary, the daughter of Heli. He told her she'd found favor with God and would become pregnant with a son. She should name him Jesus, and he'd rule on the throne of David and his Kingdom would last forever.
Although she was already engaged to marry Joseph, Mary told Gabriel she was Jehovah's slave girl and would accept whatever was expected of her. She was then told that Zechariah's wife Elizabeth was also pregnant.
A few days later, Mary went to see her cousin. When Elizabeth heard her voice, the child within her leaped for joy. She recognized immediately that Mary was to become the mother of the Messiah and she blessed her. Mary stayed with her for three months, then returned home.
It was around the beginning of April, 2 BC, in Judea, that Elizabeth gave birth to her son. Eight days later the child was circumcised, and as soon as Zechariah wrote down on a tablet that the child’s name was John, he was able to speak once more. Zechariah praised God and prophesied his son would become a prophet, would give knowledge of salvation to his people by forgiveness of their sins and prepare the way for the Messiah.
In Nazareth, Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant. He was thinking of divorcing her secretly, but had a dream where an angel told him to marry her and name the child Jesus, which means Jehovah is salvation. He then took her into his household.
Because Caesar Augustus had ordered that all males must be registered in the city of their forefathers, Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem of Judea when the child was born around the first of October, 2 BC.
Some shepherds were in a field a short distance away when an angel appeared and told them their savior, Christ the Lord had been born. After seeing the child with his parents, they praised God for all they'd heard and seen.
Matthew 1:1-25, Luke 1:1-80, Luke 2:1-20, Luke 3:23-38, John 1:1-5
As a human, Jesus’ lineage was recorded by Matthew through his step-father Joseph to David and then to Abraham. Through his mother's father, Heli, Luke traced the generations back to Adam.
Sometime in May or June of 3 BC, Zechariah the priest went to offer incense at the temple in Jerusalem. When he saw an angel appear next to the alter, he became startled. The angel said he was Gabriel, and he told Zechariah his barren wife would bear him a son, and he was to name him John. This son would be filled with holy spirit and go ahead of the Messiah and turn many back to worshipping God. Because Zechariah hesitated unbelievingly, he was told he'd be unable to speak until those things took place.
Around the end of December, 3 BC or beginning of January, 2 BC, in the town of Nazareth in Galilee, Gabriel also appeared to Mary, the daughter of Heli. He told her she'd found favor with God and would become pregnant with a son. She should name him Jesus, and he'd rule on the throne of David and his Kingdom would last forever.
Although she was already engaged to marry Joseph, Mary told Gabriel she was Jehovah's slave girl and would accept whatever was expected of her. She was then told that Zechariah's wife Elizabeth was also pregnant.
A few days later, Mary went to see her cousin. When Elizabeth heard her voice, the child within her leaped for joy. She recognized immediately that Mary was to become the mother of the Messiah and she blessed her. Mary stayed with her for three months, then returned home.
It was around the beginning of April, 2 BC, in Judea, that Elizabeth gave birth to her son. Eight days later the child was circumcised, and as soon as Zechariah wrote down on a tablet that the child’s name was John, he was able to speak once more. Zechariah praised God and prophesied his son would become a prophet, would give knowledge of salvation to his people by forgiveness of their sins and prepare the way for the Messiah.
In Nazareth, Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant. He was thinking of divorcing her secretly, but had a dream where an angel told him to marry her and name the child Jesus, which means Jehovah is salvation. He then took her into his household.
Because Caesar Augustus had ordered that all males must be registered in the city of their forefathers, Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem of Judea when the child was born around the first of October, 2 BC.
Some shepherds were in a field a short distance away when an angel appeared and told them their savior, Christ the Lord had been born. After seeing the child with his parents, they praised God for all they'd heard and seen.
Matthew 1:1-25, Luke 1:1-80, Luke 2:1-20, Luke 3:23-38, John 1:1-5
Part 2
Eight days later, the infant born to Mary daughter of Heli was circumcised in the local synagogue in Bethlehem and named Jesus. When Jesus was 40 days old, Joseph took Mary and the babe to Jerusalem, about 6 miles NW of Bethlehem, to present him to the temple of Jehovah. There they met Simon, a devout man to whom the holy spirit had revealed that he'd see the Christ before he died. He took the child in his arms, thanked Jehovah and blessed Joseph and Mary.
Right after that, the widow Anna came up to them and gave thanks to God that she'd been able to see the Christ for herself. Afterward, she went out and began speaking about him to all who were there. Upon leaving Jerusalem, Joseph Mary returned with the child to Bethlehem.
A few months later astrologers came to Jerusalem from the East. They said they'd seen a star that led them there, and they wanted to find the newly born King of the Jews.
King Herod the Great became agitated upon hearing what they’d said. He called the chief priests and asked them where the Christ was to be born.
They quoted from Micah 5:2, "Bethlehem in Judea." Herod summoned the Astrologers secretly to find out when the star appeared. He told them to go to Bethlehem, then return and report what they'd found.
But Herod didn't need to tell them where to go, for the star appeared again and led them directly to the house where Joseph, Mary and Jesus were living. They bowed down to the child and presented their gifts of gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. When the astrologers left, they had a divine warning in a dream telling them not to return to Herod.
A short time later, an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph and told him to take his family and flee to Egypt, about 75 miles SW, for Herod was plotting to kill the child. They left immediately in the night.
When Herod realized the Astrologers weren't returning, he flew into a rage. He ordered that all the male children in the district of Bethlehem under the age of two years were to be killed.
Joseph remained in Egypt until Herod died around December of 1 BC. His son Archelaus began to rule in Jerusalem after Herod’s death, and he was just as cruel as his father. When Joseph heard that Herod was dead, he moved his family back to Nazareth in the district of Galilee.
As was his custom every year, Joseph took his family to Jerusalem for the passover when Jesus was twelve. On their way home they noticed Jesus was missing, so they returned to Jerusalem. They searched for him for three days before finding him in the temple with the teachers, asking questions.
When his mother asked why he'd acted that way Jesus said, "Did you not know that I must be in the house of my Father?” They then returned to Nazareth, where Jesus progressed in both wisdom and in favor with God.
Luke 2:21-52, Matthew 2:1-23
Right after that, the widow Anna came up to them and gave thanks to God that she'd been able to see the Christ for herself. Afterward, she went out and began speaking about him to all who were there. Upon leaving Jerusalem, Joseph Mary returned with the child to Bethlehem.
A few months later astrologers came to Jerusalem from the East. They said they'd seen a star that led them there, and they wanted to find the newly born King of the Jews.
King Herod the Great became agitated upon hearing what they’d said. He called the chief priests and asked them where the Christ was to be born.
They quoted from Micah 5:2, "Bethlehem in Judea." Herod summoned the Astrologers secretly to find out when the star appeared. He told them to go to Bethlehem, then return and report what they'd found.
But Herod didn't need to tell them where to go, for the star appeared again and led them directly to the house where Joseph, Mary and Jesus were living. They bowed down to the child and presented their gifts of gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. When the astrologers left, they had a divine warning in a dream telling them not to return to Herod.
A short time later, an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph and told him to take his family and flee to Egypt, about 75 miles SW, for Herod was plotting to kill the child. They left immediately in the night.
When Herod realized the Astrologers weren't returning, he flew into a rage. He ordered that all the male children in the district of Bethlehem under the age of two years were to be killed.
Joseph remained in Egypt until Herod died around December of 1 BC. His son Archelaus began to rule in Jerusalem after Herod’s death, and he was just as cruel as his father. When Joseph heard that Herod was dead, he moved his family back to Nazareth in the district of Galilee.
As was his custom every year, Joseph took his family to Jerusalem for the passover when Jesus was twelve. On their way home they noticed Jesus was missing, so they returned to Jerusalem. They searched for him for three days before finding him in the temple with the teachers, asking questions.
When his mother asked why he'd acted that way Jesus said, "Did you not know that I must be in the house of my Father?” They then returned to Nazareth, where Jesus progressed in both wisdom and in favor with God.
Luke 2:21-52, Matthew 2:1-23
Part 3
In the Spring of 29 AD, John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, began preaching in the Wilderness of Judea. Dressed in garments of camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, he told the people, “Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” He was also baptizing people in symbol of repentance for forgiveness of sins in the Jordan River.
When some Pharisees and Sadducees came to see John, he called them the offspring of vipers and warned them that the one coming after him would be stronger and would baptize with holy spirit. He told tax collectors not to take more than they should. To those in military service he said not to harass anybody or accuse them falsely.
About six months later Jesus, the son of his mother’s cousin Mary, came from Galilee to be baptized by him. At first John refused saying he was the one who needed to be baptized by Jesus. But Jesus told him, “Let it be this time." So John baptized him, and when Jesus came up from the water, holy spirit in the form of a dove came down upon him and a voice was heard saying: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.”
After his baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness of Judea to assimilate the knowledge the holy spirit had bestowed upon him. After 40 days and nights without food, Jesus noticed he was hungry. Satan the Devil took advantage of of his hunger and told him, if he was the son of God, he would turn a stone into a loaf of bread.
But Jesus told him, “It is written, ‘Man must not live on bread alone.’” Next Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth and told him he would give them to him if he'd do an act of worship before him. Jesus answered, “It is Jehovah your God you must worship.”
Satan then took Jesus into Jerusalem. Standing him on the battlement of the temple, he told him if he was a son of God, he could throw himself down, for it was written that the angels would protect him.
Jesus answered, "You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.” After that the Devil left him alone.
A little while later, John the Baptist saw Jesus walking toward him. He pointed him out to two of his disciples as, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!."
Jesus' cousin John and his friend Andrew hurried to catch up to Jesus. (According to tradition, John and his older brother James were sons of Salome, Mary’s sister). Seeing them, Jesus invited them to stay with him for a while. When they reached Capernaum, Andrew went to find his brother Simon Peter and told him he had found the Messiah.
A few days later, Jesus found Philip and asked him to be his follower, and then Philip told his friend Nathanael, who was also called Bartholomew.
Matthew 3:1-17, Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:1-13, Luke 3:1-22, Luke 4:1-13, John 1:6-51
Part 4
In late winter of 30 AD, Jesus attended a wedding in Cana of Galilee along with his mother and brothers. Many more people attended then were expected, so they ran out of wine, something which was unthinkable and devastating for the young couple. Jesus' mother told those serving to do as Jesus said. He hesitated, but then told the servants to fill six stone water jars with water and to take some to the director of the feast. Later, the director told the bridegroom that while everyone else put out their best wine first, he'd waited to serve the finest wine.
After the wedding they went to Capernaum for a few days, but because the Passover was near, they left for Jerusalem. Arriving at the temple, Jesus became incensed at what he saw happening in the outer courtyard. He made a whip of ropes, drove out the sellers of animals and overturned the tables of the money changers. He told them to, "Stop making the house of my Father a house of commerce!”
While Jesus was there one of the rulers of the jews, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, came to him after dark and said it was obvious God was with him because of the things he done. Jesus told him he must be born again with water and spirit if he wanted to see the Kingdom of God. Also that the Son of man must be lifted up. "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”
Jesus then traveled throughout the Judean countryside where his disciples baptized some of the people who listened to him. When some of John the Baptist's disciples told him about what Jesus’ disciples were doing, he said no one could do those things unless the power was given to him from heaven. John admitted he wasn't the Christ, but instead, he’d been sent ahead of him.
A short time later John reproved Herod the district ruler because he'd married Herodias the wife of Philip his brother. When Jesus heard John had been arrested and locked up in prison for it, he left for Galilee.
Passing through Samaria, Jesus stopped to rest at Jacob's well near Sychar, while the others went into the city to buy food. About the sixth hour a woman approached to draw water. Jesus asked her for a drink. She was surprised, for Jews didn't speak to Samaritans.
Jesus told her that if she knew who he was, he could give her living water. Everyone drinking from Jacob's well would get thirsty again, but the water he gave would impart everlasting life. When she asked for some, he told her to call her husband to come there. She admitted she didn't have a husband. Then he told her the man she was living with wasn't her husband even though she'd been married five different times. She said he must be a prophet. Jesus admitted to her that he was the Messiah.The disciples arrived just then, and the woman hurried into the city to tell those living there what had happened to her. When she returned with the villagers, they asked Jesus to stay with them. He stayed there two days and many came to believe.
Entering Cana again, Jesus met a royal official who's son was sick to the point of dying. Jesus told him to return home, for his son would live. When the man returned home, he learned that the child became well at the seventh hour, the same time that Jesus had said he would live. Because of this his whole household became believers.
In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah. “Jehovah’s spirit is upon me, because he anointed me to declare good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and a recovery of sight to the blind, to send the crushed ones away free, to preach Jehovah’s acceptable year.” He then said, “Today this scripture that you just heard is fulfilled.” While they were amazed at his words, the people remembered that he was the son of Joseph the carpenter. Because they didn't like what he said, the people became angry and tried to throw him off the mountain the city had been built upon. He slipped through the crowd, however, and got away.
Jesus left there and set up residence in Capernaum, alongside the Sea of Galilee. A few days later at Gennesaret, on the other side of the Sea, Jesus took the boat of Simon Peter and Andrew, the two sons of Jonah who was also called John, out a short distance from the shore so he could talk to the large crowd of people who had gathered. Later, he told Peter to take the boat out and lower the nets. Peter hesitated, as they'd had the boats out all night and hadn't caught anything, but did as Jesus said. They caught so many fish the nets started to rip, and they had to ask for help from the boat with James and John, the sons of Zebedee and Salome, Mary's sister, in it. Simon Peter apologized for not believing, but Jesus told him from now on he'd be catching men alive. All four men immediately left their boats to follow him.
This was just the beginning of Jesus' 3 1/2 years of preaching the good news of the Kingdom in all the synagogues on both sides of the Jordan River. He also cured people of every sort of disease and infirmity and cast out many demons.
Matthew 4:1-22, Mark 1:14-20, Luke 3:19-20, Luke 4:14-44, Luke 5:1 - 11, John 2:1-25, John 3:1- 36, John 4:1- 42
Part 5
Jesus climbed up the side of a mountain, sat down and began speaking. His disciples followed, along with a large crowd of others. He told them they could find happiness by being conscious of their spiritual needs and by being mild-tempered. They were to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful, pure in heart and be peacemakers. The Kingdom of the heavens belonged to those who'd been persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
He said when people lie and say wicked things, remember that was also the way the prophets were persecuted. Let men see your fine works. Give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.
Jesus didn't come to destroy the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them. Not even one of the smallest stroke of a letter of the law would pass away until all things mentioned in the scriptures took place.
Even though someone didn't commit murder, if they continued wrathful, they would still be accountable to Jehovah. A man who continued to look at a woman with passion for her had already committed adultery in his heart.
Divorcing a wife except on account of sexual immorality made her a subject for adultery, and whoever married a divorced woman committed adultery.
Let your yes mean yes, your no mean no. If you're slapped on your right cheek, turn the other to them. Continue loving your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Your Father in the heavens made his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and made it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Don't be like the hypocrites who would blow a trumpet and declare aloud their gifts of mercy. The real reward is the one received from Jehovah, not accolades from others. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who stand on street corners and in synagogues praying aloud to gain the attention of men. Pray quietly and alone to Jehovah, for he's the only one who answers your prayers.
When a disciple asked Jesus how they should pray, Jesus said to pray for God's name to be sanctified or kept holy, for his Kingdom to rule over the earth, and for his will to be done on earth like it was in heaven. Thank Jehovah for what he's provided, such as your food. Ask for forgiveness of your sins, and to be delivered from Satan, the wicked one.
You don't need a lot of material possessions, for they are fleeting. Moths, rust and thieves could take it all away. Instead store up treasures in heaven by being obedient to what is in God's word. Don't slave for God and for riches. Don't be anxious about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Seek first the Kingdom and God's righteousness, and Jehovah will provide all you need. Don't judge others. Respect the things that are holy and give value to the provisions of Jehovah.
Keep on asking, seeking and knocking. Pray to God continuously, for even as parents provide for their children, so how much more will Jehovah provide for his earthly children. What you want men to do to you, you should do to them.
Search for the way to life by reading the law and the prophets. Watch out for false prophets who come in sheep’s covering, but inside are as ravenous wolves. Recognize them by what they do and say. Only the ones doing the will of the Father will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens. Be like the discreet man who built his house on rock. When the rain poured down, the winds blew and floods came, but it didn't cave in. Don't just listen to Jesus' sayings, do them.
Matthew 5:1-48, Matthew 6:1-34, Matthew 7:1-29
Part 6
A man full of leprosy saw Jesus approaching. Pleading on bended knee he said, if Jesus wanted to, he could make him clean. Moved with pity, Jesus touched him and said, “I want to! Be made clean.” (In the Law, Jews were forbidden to touch anyone with Leprosy) Immediately, the man’s leprosy vanished. From then on, even though Jesus kept telling people not to say anything, the word kept spreading about him and what he was doing.
In the city of Capernaum there was a Roman army officer who had a faithful slave who'd become paralyzed and was about to pass away. When the man heard about Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to ask him to come and make his slave well. They came to Jesus and pleaded with him, saying that the officer loved the Jews and had even built their synagogue.
When Jesus neared the Roman's home, the man sent some friends to say he wasn't worthy to have Jesus under his roof, but he knew if Jesus just said the word, his servant would be healed. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said he'd never seen so great a faith. When those who'd been sent returned to the officer’s house, they found the slave had been healed in that very hour.
On the next Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue in Capernaum. There he saw a man possessed with an unclean spirit demon. Jesus ordered it to come out of him. After throwing the man to the ground with convulsions, the spirit came out and left him.
At Simon Peter’s house, Jesus found Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a fever. He took her hand, raised her up and the fever left her. As the news spread of how he was helping people, more and more Jews brought him those who were sick and demon-possessed. He expelled all the spirits and cured all of those suffering.
On a day when the crowd surrounding him became too numerous, Jesus went aboard a small boat and fell asleep in the stern. That night his disciples took the boats out to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. A violent windstorm blew up suddenly. Large waves crashed against the boat and the boat began to take on water. When they frantically woke him,
Jesus told them they lacked faith. He got up and said to the sea, “Hush! Be quiet!” Immediately the wind died down and a great calm set in. That made the men even more fearful, for they wondered who this was who had such power over the wind and sea.
On the other side of the sea was the area of the Gadarenes. At Gerasenes two demon possessed men came out from some caves. They called Jesus Son of the Most High God and asked if he'd come to torment them before the appointed time. Jesus asked one his name. The man said Legion, for there were many demons within him. After Jesus told the demons to come out, the demons pleaded with him not to send them out of the country.
Seeing a large herd of swine nearby, Jesus gave them permission to enter them instead. With that the whole herd of about 2,000 swine rushed over the precipice and into the sea and drowned. When the people in that area came to see what the commotion was, they became afraid and asked Jesus to leave. Jesus then told the man to go home and tell others what God had done for him.
Returning to Capernaum, Jesus found there were many who wanted to hear him speak, but there wasn't enough room for all of them in his house. To combat that, four men removed part of the roof above Jesus head, and with ropes lowered down a paralytic on a stretcher. Upon seeing the faith of those men, he said to the paralytic that his sins were forgiven. The scribes and Pharisees who heard him thought he was speaking blasphemies for no one but God can forgive sins. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, told them he spoke that way so they would know God gave the Son of man authority to forgive sins. Then he told the man to pick up his stretcher and return home. After he left, the crowd glorified God, for they'd never seen anything like that before.
Matthew 8:1-34, Matthew 9:1 - 38, Mark 1:29-45, Mark 2:1-12, Mark 4:35-41, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 4:31-37, Luke 5:12-26, Luke 7:1-10, Luke 8:22-39
Part 7
Jesus walked passed the tax office and saw Matthew Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting inside. When he invited him to be his follower, Matthew immediately stood up and left everything behind.
A few days later, Matthew held a large reception for Jesus in his home.
When some scribes and Pharisees saw Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners they were indignant and asked his disciples why he ate with them. Jesus overheard and said he’d come to call not righteous people but sinners to repentance.
Some of John the Baptist's disciples came up to Jesus and asked why his disciples didn't fast like they did. He told them his disciples had no need to fast while he was with them. When he's taken away, then they will fast.
Jairus, one of the presiding officers of the Synagogue approached Jesus and pleaded with him to help his 12 year old daughter as she was very ill. He told him that even though his daughter was probably dead by then, he knew that if Jesus laid his hand on her, she’d come back to life.
On their way to Jairus’ home, Jesus felt power go out of him. He turned around and asked who’d touched his outer garment. A frightened and trembling woman fell down at his feet and admitted that it was her. She’d had a flow of blood for twelve years and no doctor had been able to help her. She knew if she just touched the hem of his outer garment she’d be made well. Jesus said it was because of her faith that she was healed.
Just then some men approached and told Jairus that his daughter had died. Jesus overheard and told the man to exercise faith.
Arriving at the ruler’s house, they saw a crowd making a commotion. He told them to leave for the child was sleeping. They began to laugh scornfully, but the father sent them all outside. Jesus took hold of the girl's hand and told her to get up. When she did, he told her parents to get her something to eat.
After Jesus left there, two blind men followed him into his house. When he asked them if they had faith he could heal them, they told him "Yes." He touched their eyes and they both regained their sight.
Jesus then traveled throughout all of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom and curing the people. Feeling pity for the crowds, as they were like sheep without a shepherd, he said to his disciples that the harvest was great but the workers were few.
Later, some people brought him a speechless man possessed of a demon. He expelled the demon and the man began to speak.
Matthew 9:38, Mark 2:13-22, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 5:27-28, Luke 5:29-39, Luke 8:40-56
Part 8
Jesus went alone up a mountain to pray. When he returned, he chose twelve of his followers to be his Apostles, which means sent ones. Those twelve were: the sons of Jonah-Peter and Andrew, James and John the sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew who was also called Nathanael, Thomas who was also known as the Twin or the Doubter, Matthew Levi the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, Judas the son of James who was also called Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananaean who was also called Simon the Zealous One, and Judas Iscariot. Jesus also gave his cousins James and John the name Boanerges or “Sons of Thunder”.
Jesus sent out 70 other disciples to various cities. He told them to cure the sick and to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God. He gave them many of the same powers he had, such as the ability to expel demons, cure diseases and even raise the dead. They were to preach that the Kingdom of the Heavens had drawn near just to the lost sheep of Israel and no one else.
They weren’t to take any money, extra food or clothing with them. Jehovah would provide for their needs. When they went into a house, if they found it deserving, they were to let peace come upon it and its inhabitants. But if no one received their words favorably, they were to leave and shake the dust off their feet.
Jesus told the men to be on guard, for they’d be handed over to courts, be scourged (whipped), persecuted and handed over for death by their own families. But they weren’t to fear those who killed the body. Only God was able to destroy a person’s soul. Though many considered a sparrow worthless, Jehovah knew when any one of the small birds fell to the earth. He even knows the number of hairs on everyone’s head.
Jesus said he came not to bring peace but a sword. His teachings would cause a division between family members. Some would choose to follow him while others would not, but whoever was killed for his sake would find life.
Speaking to a large crowd of people, Jesus healed them of their sicknesses and cured those with unclean spirits. He told them to seek the Kingdom of God, for that is what brings happiness to the poor. Those who were hungry would be filled. Those who wept would laugh. Rejoice and be happy if men hate you, exclude you, reproach or denounce you, because that is what was done to prophets of old.
Jesus then spoke woes on those who were rich, had plenty of food, were happy with their lives and people spoke well of them, for that was the life of false prophets.
They were to love their enemies, to do to others as they'd want them to do in return and to be merciful. He said to not judge others, but forgive them. Give to others without expecting anything in return. Don't try to fix other people's problems, but work on your own. Build your spiritual life with a strong foundation by following his example.
In the city of Nain, Jesus saw a funeral procession. A widow had just lost her only son. Jesus was moved with pity and told the young man to get up. Then he presented him alive and well to his mother. The news of what happened quickly spread throughout all of Judea.
Matthew 10:1-44, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-49, Luke 7:11-17, Luke 10:1-16
Part 9
Jesus blessed his twelve Apostles with the same powers that he’d been given. They could cure all diseases, plus they had the authority to expel the demons. He sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and told them not to carry anything with them, no food, money or extra garments, for Jehovah would provide everything they needed.
John the Baptist, still in prison, sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the promised one. Jesus told them to report to John what they’d seen. The blind could see, the lame could walk, lepers were cleansed, the deaf could hear, the dead were raised up, and the poor were being told the good news of God’s Kingdom.
Jesus turned and told the crowd that John was more than a prophet, he was the promised Elijah who would prepare the way for the Messiah to come. While John came neither eating nor drinking, many still said he had a demon. When the Son of man came eating and drinking, people called him a glutton, a drunkard and a friend of sinners.
Jesus told them not to condemn others. It’s by a person's works that they should be judged. He then reproached the cities where he'd done most of his preaching and healing work, for they hadn't repented of their bad ways. He also praised Jehovah, because while some things were hidden from those who thought themselves wise, they were revealed to those willing to listen.
Jesus went on to say that his father Jehovah gave him power over all things, for he knew he would use it wisely. When people helped him with his work in preaching the good news of the Kingdom, it wouldn't be tiresome for them. He was a mild and humble taskmaster, so they’d find joining his work rejuvenating, not burdensome.
When Jesus' disciples walked through a field on the Sabbath, they plucked and ate some heads of grain. Some Pharisees saw it and reminded Jesus that such a thing was unlawful as it was work. Jesus knew that plucking and eating heads of grain on the sabbath was never stated as swork in the law for it was merely eating and not gathering. He reminded them that David's men ate some of the presentation loaves at the temple and that was alright with God. Also that the priests "worked" when they killed and prepared sacrifices on the sabbath. He further told them something greater than the temple was there before them. The Sabbath came into existence for the sake of man, and not man for the sake of the Sabbath. Also that the Son of man was Lord of the Sabbath.
Jesus went into their synagogue and found them watching to see what he’d do about a man with a withered hand. Since the Pharisees wanted to accuse him of wrongdoing, they asked if it was lawful then to cure on the Sabbath. He told them if they had a sheep fall into a pit they would lift it out, would they not? When they remained silent, he felt grieved at their insensitivity. He told the man to stretch out his hand, and when he did so, his hand was made well. Seeing that, they flew into a senseless rage, then went out and conspired to kill Jesus.
Since Jesus was aware of what they were planning, he left there, but continued to cure many people. When the common people heard about all the marvelous things Jesus was doing, they came from all around to see him.
Matthew 11:1-30, Matthew 12:1-21, Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-12, Luke 6:1-11, Luke 7:18-30, Luke 9:1-6
Part 10
A Pharisee asked Jesus to dine with him. While they were eating, a woman brought in an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. After washing Jesus' feet with her tears, she poured the oil on them. The Pharisee was displeased and thought to himself that Jesus should know the woman was a sinner.
Jesus told the man he hadn't given him any water to wash his hands and feet, he hadn't been treated with a kiss when he arrived and he'd not provided oil to be poured on his head. But the woman had done all three to his feet. He then turned to the woman and told her that her sins were forgiven.
Jesus traveled to each village in Galilee declaring the good news of the Kingdom of God. Besides the twelve apostles, several women accompanied him. One was Mary Magdalene, who had been cured of seven demons. Also many others including Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s man in charge, and Susanna.
A demon-possessed man who could neither see nor speak was brought to Jesus and was healed. While the crowds were amazed at what he'd done, when some Pharisees heard of this, they said Jesus could only do so with the aid of the ruler of the demons. Jesus told them that couldn’t possibly be true, for it would mean Satan was divided against himself. He asked, “How can Satan expel Satan?” Jesus expelled the demons through the use of God's holy spirit.
Jesus continued, saying that every sort of sin and blasphemy would be forgiven a man, but the man who spoke against the holy spirit would not be forgiven. It was by their words that people would be declared righteous or be condemned. Some then asked Jesus for a sign. He said no sign would be given except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and nights, so the Son of Man would be. But while those of Nineveh headed the warning, he said many of those who he spoke to wouldn’t.
When Jesus was told his mother and brothers had arrived and wanted to speak with him, he said whoever did the will of God, that one was his brother, sister and mother, for they would hear the word of God and do it.
Matthew 12:22-50, Mark 3:19-35, Mark 6:7-13, Luke 7:36-50, Luke 8:1-3,
Luke 8:19-21
Part 11
Jesus walked a short distance away from his home in Capernaum to an inlet of the Sea of Galilee that formed a natural amphitheater. Seeing how many people had followed him however, he got into a small boat and rowed a short distance out to sea. That made it possible for more people to hear him better as water makes a great conductor of sound. As was his custom, he began speaking to them in illustrations or parables.
He told how a sower planted some seeds. Some were trampled on, some were eaten by birds, some fell on rocks and some fell among thorns. Others fell upon fine soil and produced a hundred times more fruit.
When his disciples asked what he’d meant, Jesus told them the seed is the word of God. Some would hear about the Kingdom, but the Devil would take it from their hearts. Some would hear and accept with joy, but they had no root and stumbled at the first tribulation and fell away. The ones who fell among thorns heard, but they allowed the anxieties, riches and pleasures of the world to choke them. The one sown on fine soil however, heard, got the sense of it and bore fruit.
Jesus likened the Kingdom of the heavens to a man who sowed fine seed, but an enemy came and sowed weeds over them. When the man's servants saw this, they asked if they should remove them. The master said to wait until the harvest so the wheat wouldn't be pulled out with the weeds. Later he explained to his Apostles that the sower of the fine seed was the Son of man and the field was the world. The seeds were planted, they grew and then it was time for the harvest. The fine seeds were the sons of the Kingdom, while the weeds were the sons of Satan.
At the conclusion of the system of things, the Son of man would send his angels, and they would collect together the people who practice lawlessness. The angels would be like fishermen with a dragnet. When the dragnet was full, a fishermen would sit on the beach and collect the fine ones but throw away the others.
Jesus was asked what the Kingdom of the Heavens was like. He compared God’s Kingdom to a mustard seed. It’s very small when planted, but then it grows until it's the size of a tree large enough for birds to nest in it. It's also like a little bit of leaven or yeast that a woman mixes into flour to make bread. Or it can be likened to a treasure hidden in the field. When a man found it, he sold everything he had to buy the field. Jesus then said it was similar to a traveling merchant finding a pearl of high value. He sold all he had so he could buy it.
Jesus then returned to Nazareth and on the sabbath went into the synagogue and began to teach. While the people were astounded at what he said, they stumbled because to them he was merely Joseph the carpenter's son. Also they knew his mother Mary, his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas and his sisters. Because of their lack of faith, he could lay his hands on a only a few sick ones to cure them.
Matthew 13:1-58, Mark 4:1-32, Mark 6:1-6, Luke 8:11-15
Part 12
When Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great and the “tetrarch” or district ruler of Galilee and Perea heard about Jesus, he became afraid. He thought Jesus must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. Herod had imprisoned John because he'd told him it was unlawful to take Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, as his wife. Herod wanted to kill John then but was afraid of the crowd, for they thought John was a prophet. A while later, Salome the daughter of Herodias danced for his birthday party and he promised to give her whatever she asked for up to half his kingdom. With prompting from her mother, she asked for John's head on a platter. Herod felt he had no choice but do as she requested.
When Jesus heard what had happened to John, he took a boat across the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberius, to an isolated place to be alone. Later the Apostles joined him, but since a large crowd had followed them, Jesus was unable to speak to them alone. Feeling pity for the crowd because they were as sheep without a shepherd, he cured their sick.
As evening fell, his disciples told him he should send the crowds away so they could get something to eat. Jesus told them they should feed them. When they looked, they found only five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus took what they had and told the crowd of over 5,000 men plus women and children to sit on the grass in groups of 50. He said a prayer, broke the loaves and handed the food to the Apostles to distribute to the crowd. After they’d all eaten to satisfaction, they counted and there remained twelve baskets of bread plus many fish.
The people who saw what he'd done realized Jesus was the promised Prophet and wanted to make him King. Refusing to get involved, Jesus told his disciples to board the boat and go on to the opposite shore and he'd meet up with them at Bethsaida. Then he sent the crowds away and went up on the mountain to pray.
Close to morning, the boat was about 3-4 miles away from land and the disciples were struggling to row the boat against the wind and waves. In the fourth watch, around 3:00 am, they caught sight of Jesus walking toward them on the sea looking as though he would pass them. When they cried out in fear, Jesus told them it was he and to not be afraid.
Peter became excited, wondering if he too could walk on the sea. When Jesus said “Come!”, Peter got out of the boat and walked toward Jesus.
But then Peter noticed how strong the wind blew and he became afraid.
When he started to sink. Jesus stretched out his hand, caught hold of him and said, “You with little faith, why did you give way to doubt?” The other men in the boat were frightened, but they helped the two of them into the boat. Awestruck, they said to Jesus, “You really are God’s Son.”
Matthew 14:1-33, Mark 6:14-52, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-21
Part 13
Jesus and his twelve Apostles continued on their way in the boat and came to land in Gennesaret. As soon as they got there, Jesus was recognized and word went out to all the surrounding countryside. The people brought to him all who were ill. They pleaded with him to just allow them to touch the fringe of his outer garment, and all who did so were healed.
Afterward Jesus and his men returned to Capernaum. When those who were following him found him in the synagogue there, Jesus told them not to work for the food that perishes, but work for the food that leads to everlasting life. They asked him how. He said to exercise faith in the one who God sent. That was the bread of God that gave life to the world.
Then he told them he was the bread of life. He’d come down from heaven to do, not his will, but the will of the one who sent him. The will of his Father was that everyone who recognized the Son and exercised faith in him should have everlasting life. Then he’d resurrect them on the last day.
Because he said he came down from heaven, some began to murmur against him. He told them no man can come to him unless the Father draws them, and whoever believes in him has everlasting life. When he said they needed to feed on his flesh and drink of his blood in order to live forever, they didn't understand he wasn't speaking literally. Jesus, knowing this, explained it was the spirit not the flesh that was life-giving. It was the sayings that he spoke to them that are spirit and are life. That’s why he said that no one could come to him unless the Father grants it to them.
Simon Peter might not have fully understood what he meant, but when asked if he wanted to leave like many others had, he answered that they’d come to know that he was the Holy One of God.” Jesus then told the twelve that even though he chose them, one of them had become a slanderer.
While he was still in Galilee, some Pharisees came from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They saw some of the disciples eat their meal without doing a ceremonial cleansing of their hands before they ate. They asked Jesus why he allowed them to do such a thing. Jesus told them they were following the traditions of men instead of God's commandments, for nowhere in the Law was it required that they must wash their hands before eating. He then told the crowd around him, "It is not what enters into a man’s mouth that defiles him, but it is what comes out of his mouth that defiles him.”
Later, Jesus' disciples told him the Pharisees were stumbled because of what he’d said. Then they asked him to explain what he meant. He told them all foods are declared clean, but what comes from the mouth comes from the heart. Those things that defile a person were injurious reasonings, sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery, greed, acts of wickedness, deceit, brazen conduct, an envious eye, false testimonies, blasphemy, haughtiness, and unreasonableness, but not unwashed hands.
Matthew 14:34-36, Matthew 15:1-11, Mark 6:53-56, Mark 7:1-23, John 6:22-71, John 7:1
Part 14
Jesus traveled north into Tyre and Sidon. A Phoenician woman cried out that her daughter was possessed by a demon. He ignored her because she was a Canaanite, an enemy of the Jews. But the woman bowed down to him and begged him to help her. Jesus told her it wasn't right to take from the Jewish children and give it to dogs. When she reminded him that dogs do eat the crumbs that fall from their master's tables, he told her that because of her faith, she could go home, for the demon had gone out of her daughter.
In the region of Decapolis, a deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him. After the man could hear and speak, the people began to say about Jesus, "He even makes the deaf hear and the speechless speak.”
Returning again to the Sea of Galilee, large crowds approached Jesus and he healed all who were sick.
Jesus then sent the crowds away and went to Magadan, possibly also known as Magdala or what is called Migdal today. After three days, Jesus told his disciples he felt pity for the crowd, for they'd had nothing to eat. He asked how many loaves they had. He was told seven loaves and a few small fish. He then told the 4,000 men as well as women and children to sit on the grass, said a prayer of thanks and handed the food to his disciples to distribute. After they finished eating, there remained seven large baskets of food
Jesus and his disciples now went into the area of Dalmanutha. Some Pharisees and Sadducees approached and asked him to give them a sign from heaven. Knowing they just wanted to test him, he told them that while they could read the signs in weather patterns, they were unable to interpret the signs of the times. He told them, "No sign will be given to this generation.” Then Jesus turned away and left them there.
When he got into the boat with his disciples to cross to the other side the Sea, he told them to watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Since they’d forgotten to take any bread along, they thought that's what he meant, and they began arguing amongst themselves about who forgot it. Jesus again called them men with little faith, for hadn't they just served five loaves to 5000 men and then seven loaves to 4000 men. Then he told them he was speaking about the leaven the Pharisees and Sadducees used to corrupt the teachings of the Law.
At Bethsaida, people brought Jesus a blind man. He took him outside the village, touched his eyes and the man could see. He then told him to go home and not go back into the village.
Matthew 15:12-39, Matthew 16:1-12, Mark 7:24-37, Mark 8:1-26
Part 15
When they came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked the twelve who men were saying the Son of man was. They mentioned John the Baptist, Elijah and Jeremiah as well as some other prophets. He then asked who they thought he was.
Simon Peter immediately said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus called Peter happy, for it was God who revealed that knowledge to him. He called Peter the rock on which he'd build his congregation and then instructed them not to tell anyone he was the Christ.
Again warning them not to say anything to anyone else, Jesus told the men the Son of man would go to Jerusalem and undergo many sufferings at the hands of the priests and elders. He’d be rejected and they’d have him killed, but on the third day he'd be raised up. Hearing this Peter told him to be kind to himself for that wouldn't really happen. But Jesus turned his back and said to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan.” Peter was thinking man's thoughts, not God’s.
Jesus told the people that if anyone wanted to follow him, they must pick up their own torture stake. Also that some of them would be there to see the Son of man coming into his Kingdom.
Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to the top of a mountain. As he prayed his appearance changed so that his face appeared bright like the sun, his garments glistened white and it looked like Moses and Elijah were talking to him. When Peter offered to set up three tents, a cloud formed around them.
Before he finished speaking a voice said, “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved. Listen to him.”
The three disciples fell down in fear, but Jesus told them not to be afraid.
Later as they were walking back down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to speak about what they saw until after he'd risen from the dead. The three then asked why the scribes said Elijah must come first. When he told them Elijah had already come but wasn't recognized, they realized he spoke of John the Baptist.
Returning to where the other disciples were, they heard a large commotion. A man in the crowd came toward Jesus and told him his son had a speechless spirit but the disciples couldn't cure him. Jesus asked to see the child and when they brought the boy to him, he immediately began to go into convulsions. Jesus rebuked the spirit, lifted up the boy and returned him to his father. Later the disciples asked why they couldn't expel it. Jesus said that kind only come out by prayer.
Once more Jesus told the disciples that he was going to be betrayed and killed, then raised up on the third day.
Matthew 16:13-23, Matthew 17:1-23, Mark 8:27-33, Mark 9:2-36, Luke 9:18-43
Part 16
As Jesus returned to Capernaum, some men approached Peter and asked about the two drachmas tax for the temple. Jesus told Peter to cast a fishhook into the sea, open the mouth of the first fish he caught and give the men the silver coin for their tax.
Upon entering his house in Capernaum, Jesus asked the men what they'd been arguing about on the road. They remained silent because they'd been arguing about who was the greatest among them. Jesus took hold of a nearby young boy and told the men that in order to enter the Kingdom of the heavens they needed to humble themselves and become like a child. "The one who conducts himself as a lesser one among all of you is the one who is great.”
John said they saw someone expelling demons by using Jesus' name, and they tried to stop him. Jesus said not to prevent the man, "For whoever is not against us is for us.”
At that time, Jesus' brothers still weren't recognizing him as the Messiah. They urged him to go to Jerusalem with them, for the Festival of Tabernacles was drawing near. He knew though that the Jewish leaders were seeking to kill him and it wasn't yet time for that to happen, so he told them to go on without him. Then Jesus went up secretly a little later.
Jesus sent some disciples ahead to make preparations. They entered a village of Samaritans, but the people there refused to receive him. When James and John saw that, they asked if Jesus wanted them to call down fire from heaven to annihilate them. Jesus turned and rebuked them, so they went to a different village instead.
Jesus warned them not to stumble or become a snare to others. If a body part made someone stumble, they should cut it off. He ended by saying, "Have salt in yourselves, and keep peace with one another.”
To his Father in the heavens one lost sheep was more important then all the others, for God rejoices when it is found. If you see someone sin, first talk to them alone and show them the error of their ways. If they don't listen, then take one or two others with you to speak to them. If they don't listen to the congregation of elders, then you should treat them as you would a stranger. Any final decision regarding the person would be up to Jehovah.
Peter asked how many times he should forgive someone for sining against him. Jesus told him 77 times, which meant an indefinite number.
Jesus related the story of a King who had a servant who owed him a lot of money. When the King said he was going to put the man in jail for not paying the debt, the servant begged to be allowed to pay it back as soon as he could. The King felt sorry for the man and cancelled his debt. However, the man then went to someone who owed him a small amount of money and had them thrown into prison. When the King heard about it, he ordered that the servant be put into jail until he paid back the original debt
Matthew 17:24-27, Matthew 18:1-35, Mark 9:33-50, Luke 9:49-56, John 7:2-9
Part 17
In October of 32 AD, there was a lot of talk about Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles, but not openly as the people were afraid of the Pharisees.
When the festival was nearly over though, Jesus went into the temple and began teaching the people. He told them what he taught wasn't his, but belonged to the one who sent him. Those who sought to do God's will would already know it.
He asked why it was alright to circumcise a baby on the sabbath, yet when he tried to heal someone from their illness on a sabbath, they wanted to kill him. He also said they knew the one who sent him was real, but they didn't really know him. But he knew him because he was his representative and had been sent by him.
The Pharisees and chief priests sent officers to seize Jesus, but many of the people put faith in him. On the last day of the festival, Jesus stood up and told the people if they were thirsty, they could come to him and drink. John explained that he was speaking about the holy spirit that would be poured out after Jesus had been raised from death.
In the Temple Treasury, Jesus told the people he was the light of the world, and if they followed him, they'd posses the light of life. Some Pharisees said that wasn't true for he was talking about himself. Jesus said it was true, for he knew where he came from and where he was going. In the Law it stated there must be two witnesses. He was a witness of himself and the second witness was the Father who sent him. When they asked who his Father was, he told them if they knew him, they would know his Father. He didn't speak anything on his own initiative, but only what the Father taught him to say.
Turning to speak to those who believed in him, Jesus told them if they remained in his word, they were his disciples. They knew the truth and the truth would set them free. Everyone was a doer of sin, thus a slave of sin. People wouldn't be seeking to kill him if they were doing the works of their father Abraham. If God was their father, they would love him. Instead they were from their father the devil, who was a murderer from the beginning because truth wasn't in him. He was a liar and the father of the lie. When Jesus told them the truth, they wouldn't believe him.
The Pharisees accused Jesus of having a demon. He replied that those who observe his word would never taste death, for it was God who glorified him. As for Abraham, he rejoiced greatly at seeing that day. They scoffed at him, saying he wasn't old enough to have seen Abraham. When he told them he'd been in existence since before Abraham, they picked up stones to throw at him. Hiding within the crowd, he slipped away from them.
The officers that were sent to seize Jesus returned empty handed saying,
“Never has any man spoken like this.” But the majority of the Pharisees turned on those who tried to put faith in him by saying that those who did not know the Law were a cursed people, for nowhere in the Law did it say that the promised one would come from Galilee.
“Never has any man spoken like this.” But the majority of the Pharisees turned on those who tried to put faith in him by saying that those who did not know the Law were a cursed people, for nowhere in the Law did it say that the promised one would come from Galilee.
John 7:10-52, John 8:1-59
Part 18
When Jesus’ disciples saw a man who'd been blind from birth, one of them asked if it was this man or his parents who had sinned. Jesus said it was neither, but in this case, his blindness would make God's works manifest.
As long as Jesus was in the world, he was the world's light, but the night would soon come when no man could do the work. Then Jesus spat on the ground and making a paste with his saliva, spread it on the man's eyes. He told him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and when the man returned, he could see.
When his neighbors saw he could see, they asked how his eyes had been opened. He told them it was Jesus. They took him to some Pharisees who had him explain again what happened. Since it had been on a Sabbath that this happened, they were first angry because Jesus hadn't observed the edict to do no work on that day. Then they decided the man was lying and he'd never been blind. They called in his parents, but they were afraid they might be expelled from the synagogue, so they said he'd been blind since birth. And besides, he was of age so he was old enough to speak for himself.
Again the Pharisees called in the man. They told him Jesus couldn't have cured his blindness, for that man was a known sinner. The man told them all he knew was that he had been blind and now he cold see. If Jesus wasn't from God, he couldn't have healed him, for no one had ever healed a person before who was blind from birth. The angry Pharisees threw him out of the synagogue.
When Jesus heard what had happened to the man, he went and asked him if he put faith in the Son of Man. The man asked who that was. Jesus told him he was speaking to him. The man did obeisance to him and said he did put faith in him. Jesus then said, “For this judgment I came into this world, that those not seeing might see and those seeing might become blind.” The Pharisees who heard this asked if they were blind. He told them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, ‘We see.’ Your sin remains.
The 70 disciples Jesus had sent out returned with joy, for even the demons had been made subject to them in Jesus' name. He told them, “I see Satan already fallen," and, "Rejoice because your names have been written in the heavens.”
Overjoyed with holy spirit Jesus praised Jehovah and said, "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.”
A man versed in the Law asked what he needed to do to inherit everlasting life. Jesus asked him what the Law said. He quoted from Deuteronomy, “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength and with your whole mind.’" and Leviticus, "‘your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus told him he answered correctly.
But then the man asked who was his neighbor. Jesus told the illustration of a man who was beaten and robbed. A priest and a Levite both ignored him, but a Samaritan saw him, felt pity and helped him. Jesus asked who acted neighborly. The man said the one who acted mercifully. Jesus told him to be like that man.
Luke 10:1-37, John 9:13-41
Part 19
Jesus stopped to the home of Martha and Mary to eat a meal. While Martha rushed around to get everything just right, Mary sat at Jesus' feet to listen to what he had to say. When Martha complained that Mary wasn’t helping her, Jesus told her Mary chose the best part, for what she learned couldn't be taken away from her.
He gave an illustration of a man who had unexpected company. He went to his neighbor to ask for a loaf of bread, but the neighbor was sleeping and didn't want to get up. However, because of the man's persistence, his neighbor finally got up and gave him the bread. With our Father in heaven who loves us in spite of us all being sinners, how much more will he gift us with holy spirit when we ask.
Jesus expelled a demon so a man could speak again, but there were those present who said he did so by means of the leader of the demons. He told them Satan wouldn't be divided against himself, so what they were saying would be impossible. It was through God's finger that he expelled the demons.
A woman called out from the crowd saying happy was the womb that carried him. He told her she was wrong, for “Happy are those hearing the word of God and keeping it!”
He told the crowds that they were looking for a sign, but the only sign they’d be given was the sign of Jonah, who was in the belly of the fish for three days. They were to keep their eyes open and be watchful for what was to come.
On another occasion when a Pharisee asked Jesus to dine with him, the man was surprised to see that Jesus didn't do a ritualistic washing of his hands before he ate. Jesus told him they were more concerned with washing the outside of the cup instead of the inside. But inside they were full of greediness and wickedness. They needed to give as gifts of mercy the things from within, and then both the inside and outside would be clean.
Another of the Pharisees dining with them who was versed in the Law said Jesus was insulting them. Jesus pronounced woe on them for they loaded men down with laws that weren't in the Commandments. They disregarded the justice and the love of God.
The blood of all the prophets spilled from the founding of the world would be charged against their generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house. Because he was so stern with them, they tried to ply him with many questions, searching to catch him out on something he might say.
Luke 10:38-52, Luke 11:1-54
Part 20
Jesus continued speaking words of wisdom to his followers. He said not to fear those who only kill the body. Instead fear the One who after a person has died has authority to throw them into Gehenna, or everlasting destruction.
Even though five sparrows sell for two small coins, God doesn’t forget about them. God even knows how many hairs you have on your head. To Him you are worth more than many sparrows.
A person speaking against the Son of man will be forgiven, but anyone blaspheming against the holy spirit won’t be forgiven.
Guard yourself from greed, because a rich person’s possessions don’t have the ability to give him life. Jesus then gave the illustration of a rich man who built bigger and bigger storehouses, but died before he could enjoy any of the possessions he’d accumulated.
Ravens don’t sow seed nor do they reap at harvest time. Neither do they put their produce in a barn or a storehouse. Since God feeds them, you can be confident he will take care of your needs too, for you are worth much more than birds.
Lilies are beautiful flowers. They don’t need to work for their beauty and neither do they clothe themselves. Still, Solomon, the richest of all the men living in his time period, didn’t have clothing as beautiful as Jehovah arrayed even the simplest flower.
When you seek God’s Kingdom, everything else will be provided for you.
The treasure that is available in the heavens cannot be stolen by a thief or eaten by a moth. Keep your heart focused on Jehovah.
Keep yourself ready like the men waiting for the Groom to return from his marriage. When he knocks, you’ll be ready to open the door to him.
If you knew what hour a thief was coming, you could prevent your house from being broken into. You should always be prepared, for neither do you know at what hour the Son of man is coming.
Those who receive a lot of privileges would also be expected to do all that was demanded of them.
Jesus said he didn’t come to the earth to bring peace, but rather a division. Fathers would be divided against sons and sons against fathers. Mothers and daughters would also be divided, as would mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws.
At that time the Jews became angry because Pilate had some Galileans killed, then mixed some of their blood in with his Roman sacrifices. Jesus told the people that it didn't make those people sinners anymore then the 18 who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell and killed them. Still, they all needed to repent of their sins.
On a sabbath in a local synagogue, there was a woman who had been bent double for 18 years. Jesus touched her and told her she was released from her weakness. When the presiding officer of the synagogue saw she could stand upright again, he became indignant because he felt Jesus had done work on the Sabbath. Jesus said what he did was the same as if he’d untied a bull or a donkey in order to lead it to water.
Jesus told the people that the Kingdom of God was like a mustard seed. When it was planted it grew and became a tree strong enough for birds to nest in it. The Kingdom of God was also like the leaven that a woman took and mixed with flour until the whole mass became fermented.
Luke 12:1-59, Luke 13:1-21
Part 21
Jesus told some Pharisees that when the shepherd opened the door and the sheep heard his voice, they would follow him. He then said he was the door and whoever went in through him would be saved.
He was the fine shepherd who would surrender his life for his sheep. He knew his sheep and they knew him. He also had other sheep he’d bring in. They, too, would listen to his voice, and they would all become one flock.
That was why his Father loved him, because he was willing to surrender his life so that he’d receive it again.
On his way his way to Jerusalem for the Festival of Dedication, Jesus told his disciples to exert themselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door. Many would seek to get in but wouldn’t be able to. They would weep and gnash their teeth, for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets would be found in the Kingdom of God, but they’d be thrown outside. He continued by saying that those who were last would be first, and some who were first would be last.
In Jerusalem some Jews surrounded Jesus in the Colonnade of Solomon. They asked if he was the Christ. He said he'd already told them, but they didn't believe. Only his sheep listened and followed him. He could give the sheep everlasting life because his Father gave him something great so they couldn't be snatched away.
When he added that he and the Father were one, some of the Pharisees picked up stones. He asked them why they wanted to stone him. Hadn't he been doing fine works? They said it was because of his blasphemy in trying to make himself a god. He told them if he wasn't doing the works of his Father, then they shouldn't believe him. But if he was doing the works of his Father, they should believe in the works, for that was proof he was in union with the Father. Hearing that they became even more outraged. They tried to seize him, but he managed to slip away.
Jesus then went across the Jordan River to where John had baptized him and many people there put faith in him.
Some of the Pharisees came and told Jesus to go farther away, for Herod wanted to kill him. He told them he must continue on, for a prophet shouldn't be put to death outside of Jerusalem.
Luke 13:22-35, John 10:1-42
Part 22
Jesus went on a sabbath to eat a meal at the home of a prominent Pharisee. He saw a man there who had dropsy and asked the others if it was lawful to cure on a sabbath. Getting no answer, he healed the man.
Seeing that many of the others who were invited were trying to find the most prominent places to recline at the table, he said it was better to go to the lower places so that when the owner saw them there, he would invite them to come to the head of the table. Then they would be shown honor in front of the others. He concluded saying that everyone who exalts himself would be humbled, but whoever humbled himself would be exalted.
When another guest said that dining in the Kingdom of God would make one happy, Jesus gave the illustration of a man who’d invited many to a feast. Soon all those invited began making excuses as to why they couldn't come. At that the man became angry and decided that none of those who were invited would taste his evening meal. He then sent his servant out to the streets, alleys and roadways to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, the lame, and anyone else who would come to fill his house.
Many crowds of people followed Jesus as he traveled from one place to another. He told them that those who followed him would have to carry their own torture stake. Also that the one following him would need to say good-bye to all his belongings to be his disciple.
When some Pharisees and scribes complained because Jesus talked and ate with sinners, he reminded them how a shepherd rejoiced at finding one lost sheep. He said there would be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repented than over 99 righteous ones who didn't need repentance. He reminded them of how a woman would rejoice when finding a lost coin. The same type of joy arose among the angels of God when one sinner repented.
Jesus next gave the illustration of what is called, "The Prodigal Son." A man had two sons. The younger boy asked for his inheritance, then traveled to a distant country and squandered all he had on a debauched life. When the money was gone, the only job he could find was herding swine, something detestable to the Jews. Even then he didn't have enough to eat. Finally, he came to his senses and returned home, determined to humble himself. His father, however, saw him coming and after ordering that the fattened calf be slaughtered, he ran out to meet him with a new robe and new sandals for his feet.
When his older brother found out he'd returned and that his father had provided a feast for him, he became angry. His father explained that everything he had would be his, but it was time to rejoice, for his brother was as good as dead, was lost but had been found.
Luke 14:1-35, Luke 15:1-32
Part 23
Jesus told his disciples the illustration of a rich man who had a wasteful steward. When the steward was told to hand in his accounts, he tried to think of a way to continue with his same extravagant lifestyle. He called in the men who owed his master money and lowered the amount they owed to curry favor with them. Even though the man did wrong, his master commended him, for he acted with practical, worldly wisdom.
Jesus continued, saying that a servant can’t be a slave to two masters, for he’d end up hating one and loving the other. A person can’t be a slave to God and Riches. When some Pharisees heard that, they sneered. Jesus told them God knew their hearts. What was considered exalted by men was disgusting in God’s sight.
The Law and the Prophets ended with John. But even then it would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to go unfulfilled.
Anyone who divorced their wife and married another committed adultery, and whoever married a woman divorced from her husband committed adultery.
Another illustration Jesus told was of a rich man and a beggar. They both died, but the beggar was with Abraham while the rich man was in a common grave. The rich man begged for mercy for himself and for his brothers, but Abraham pointed out that his brothers could listen to Moses and the prophets. The rich man said if someone from the dead goes to them, then they would repent. Abraham told them if they didn't listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither would they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.
Jesus told his disciples to be careful not to stumble anyone. If they saw someone commit a sin, they were to rebuke them. When they repented, they were to forgive them. No matter how many times a person was sinned against, they should forgive.
When the apostles asked for more faith, he told them if they had enough faith, they could tell a mulberry tree to plant itself in the sea and it would obey.
We are all slaves. When we do what we're supposed to do, then we have done what we should have done.
On the way to Jerusalem, they passed along the edge of Samaria. Jesus cured ten men of leprosy, but only one returned to thank him and he was a Samaritan and not a jew.
Some Pharisees asked when the Kingdom of God would come. Jesus said it wouldn't be observable. Then he said it would be as in the days of Noah and Lot. People wouldn't be paying attention. Remember Lot's wife on that day. Everyone should leave behind their personal possessions and trust in Jehovah, for even if they lost their life they'd be saved.
Luke 16:1-31, Luke 17:1-10
Part 24
Jesus illustrated the importance of persistence in prayer by illustrating how a widow kept going to a judge and asking that she get justice from her legal opponent. Just to get rid of her, he saw to it she received justice. If an unrighteous judge would do that, then how much more so would God see that we receive justice when we ask.
Another illustration was of two men who went into the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanked God he wasn't unrighteous like other men. The Tax Collector prayed that God would be gracious to him for being a sinner. Jesus ended by saying that the one who exalted himself would be humiliated, while the one who humbled himself would be exalted.
Jesus went into the area of Judea across the Jordan, which was also called Perea. As usual, large crowds followed him as well as many of the Pharisees. Again trying to test him, they asked if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife on every sort of grounds, something that had become commonplace at that time. Jesus asked if they had read the account in Genesis where Jehovah said a man would leave his father and mother and stick to his wife and they would become one flesh.
When they asked why Moses allowed for giving a certificate of divorce, he told them it was because of their hard-heartedness. If a man divorced his wife and married another, he committed adultery, and if a woman divorced her husband and married, she committed adultery.
When a disciple commented that maybe a man shouldn't marry at all, Jesus said if a person preferred not to marry, then they didn’t need to.
When people began bringing children to him, the disciples tried to prevent them. Jesus told them not to prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belonged to such ones. Then he took the children into his arms and blessed them.
When people began bringing children to him, the disciples tried to prevent them. Jesus told them not to prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belonged to such ones. Then he took the children into his arms and blessed them.
A man ran up to Jesus, fell on his knees and asked what he must do to inherit everlasting life. Jesus told him to follow the commandments, sell his material possessions to give to the poor, and and come be his follower. This grieved the man for he was very rich, and so he left.
Later, Jesus told his disciples it was easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. One of the disciples asked who can be saved then? Jesus said that with men it was impossible, but not so with God. All things were possible with God.
Peter asked what would be in it for them who were already following him.
Jesus told him they would sit on thrones and judge the ones left on the earth. Those who left family or possessions behind for the sake of the Kingdom would get everlasting life in the coming system of things.
Matthew 19:25-30, Mark 10:1-12, Luke 17:11-37, Luke 18:1-8
Part 25
Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary lived in Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem. When the sisters sent a message that Lazarus was sick, Jesus said it was so the Son of God would be glorified through it. Instead of leaving right away, however, he waited two days. Finally, he told his disciples he was leaving for Judea because Lazarus had fallen asleep and he was going there to wake him. When they didn't understand, he explained that Lazarus had died.
By the time they arrived, Lazarus had been dead four days. When Martha heard Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him. She told him she knew if he'd been there, her brother wouldn't have died. When Jesus said her brother would rise again, she agreed, saying he'd rise in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus then told her he was the resurrection and the life.
Martha agreed, saying she knew he was the Christ, the Son of God.
Martha left to get her sister Mary. When they returned, Mary fell at Jesus' feet. When she began to weep, Jesus also gave way to tears.
After Jesus asked where they'd laid him, Lazarus’ sisters took him to the cave outside the city. Jesus asked that the stone sealing it be removed. Martha hesitated, then asked some men who’d followed them to remove it.
Jesus looked heavenward and thanked his Father for listening to him. Then he said he knew his father would do as he asked, but spoke on account of the crowd standing around them so they’d believe that God had sent him.
Then he said in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
A minute later, the man who had been dead for four days came walking out, still bound in his burial wrappings and his face wrapped in a cloth.
Many of those who saw what happened now put faith in Jesus. Others though went to the Pharisees and told them what he'd done. Worried that more would put faith in Jesus and that would mean the Romans would come and they'd no longer be allowed the little bit of power they had, they gathered in the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas, the High Priest, prophesied, saying that it was to their benefit that one man should die rather than the whole nation.
Because Jesus knew they were conspiring to kill him, he left for Ephraim, near the Judean wilderness. While waiting there until it was time to go back to Jerusalem for the Passover, Jesus told an illustration to show what he meant by saying, "The last ones will be first, and the first ones last.”
A master of a vineyard went out early in the morning to hire workers. They agreed to work a 12 hour day for a denarius, a Roman coin of silver with Caesars likeness engraved on one side. Going out again about the third hour (9 am), sixth hour (12 pm), ninth hour (3 pm) and eleventh hour (5 pm), he hired more laborers. When it was time to pay them, they all received the same amount. Those who he hired first complained. He told them to take their coin and go, for he as the master had the right to pay anything he wanted and that was what he wanted to do. All those who decided to work for Jehovah received what he wanted to give them no matter when they started working for him.
Matthew 20:1-16, John 11:1-57
Part 26
In late winter of 33 AD, Jesus went up the mountain to Jerusalem. He reminded the twelve that he’d said he’d be taken by the Jewish authorities, persecuted and condemned to death. He would then be handed over to the nations. With them he’d be mocked, scourged and executed and on the third day be raised up.
Salome, the mother of James and John, approached and asked that her sons might sit down at his right and left hands when Jesus came into his Kingdom. He told them that wasn't his right to give. Only his Father Jehovah could make that decision.
When the other ten heard, they became indignant. Jesus told them that mustn't be the way between them. They must be as a slave to one another. Whoever wanted to be first must be last. He’d came to minister and give his life as a ransom in exchange for many.
As they left old Jericho, two blind men shouted, begging to recover their sight. Feeling pity, Jesus touched their eyes. Seeing again, they followed him.
Passing through new Jericho, a chief tax collector named Zacchaeus saw the procession. He tried to see the man so many were talking about, but he was quite short, so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree.
When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and told him to hurry down, for he’d stay at his house that day.
Zaccheuaus welcomed him and said he’d give half his belongings to the poor, and what he'd extorted from others, he'd return tenfold. That would have amounted to a lot for he was very rich.
Jesus told the illustration of a man of noble birth who was going away to secure kingly power. He called ten slaves and gave each ten minas and told them to take care of his business while he was gone. When he returned as King, he again summoned the slaves. One had invested the minas and made ten more. Another made five more. But one said he hid it away in a cloth as he was afraid, for his master was a harsh man. While the other slaves were rewarded for their work, the one who hid his away was chastised and the minas he had taken away.
On Nisan 8, 33 AD, Jesus and his followers drew near Bethphage. Jesus sent two disciples ahead to find a donkey with its colt on which no man had ever sat. The next morning, Nisan 9, they brought the colt to him, and throwing their outer garments across it's back, seated Jesus on it.
As they reached the Mount of Olives, a great multitude of disciples praised God with a loud voice because of all the powerful works they‘d seen Jesus perform. Riding on into Jerusalem, the crowds spread their outer garments on the road ahead of him. Others cut off branches from the nearby palm trees. They shouted, calling him the Son of David, for many had come to recognize him as the Messiah and wanted to make him King.
Reaching the spot where they could see Jerusalem and the temple, Jesus began to weep. He said days would come when enemies would build a fortification of pointed stakes around her, besiege her from every side and not leave a stone upon a stone.
Arriving at the temple, Jesus went in, looked around, then left and they returned to Bethany.
Matthew 20:17-34, Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 10:32-52, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 18:31-43, Luke 19:1-44, John 12:1-19
Part 27
Early the next morning, Nisan 10, Jesus and the twelve returned to Jerusalem. Jesus was hungry, and passing a fig tree saw that it already had leaves, but there was no fruit. When he said it would never bear fruit again, it began to wither.
Entering the temple a little later, Jesus threw out the men selling animals for sacrifices and overturned the tables of the money changers. He told them they’d made a house of prayer a cave of robbers.
The priests and scribes came up to him and protested at all the noise. Then they again tried to figure out a way to have him killed, for they received a cut of the money that was made in the temple. Ignoring them Jesus continued to teach the people and heal those who came to him. Then he left and returned to Bethany.
The following morning, Nisan 11, the disciples saw the fig tree had totally withered overnight. Peter asked Jesus how that could be. Jesus told them if they had enough faith, they could throw a mountain into the sea.
Jesus was in the temple again and teaching the people about the good news of God's Kingdom when the chief priests came up and asked him who gave him the authority to do those things. He asked them what source John's baptism came from. Was it from heaven or from men?
They didn't want to admit it was from God, for fear he’d ask why they didn't believe in John. Yet if they said from man, the people listening might stone them, for they thought John a prophet. So they said they didn't know. He told them he wouldn't tell them by what authority he did things either.
Jesus then gave an illustration about a man who had two sons. He told the first to go work in the vineyard, but the boy refused. Later he felt regret and went out to work anyway. The man said the same to the second child and he said he would, but then he didn’t go. Jesus asked which of the two did the will of his father? When they said the first, Jesus told them the tax collectors and prostitutes believed in the righteousness of John, but even though they saw so many of his followers repent, they didn’t feel regret and believe in him.
Another illustration was of a man who planted a vineyard, leased it to cultivators then traveled abroad. When harvest season came, the man sent a servant to get some of the fruit. The cultivators beat him and sent him away empty-handed. The man then sent two more, but they treated them the same way. Finally he sent his son, but they killed him too. Jesus told them when the master returned, he’d kill the cultivators and give the vineyard to others. The chief priests realized he was talking about them and wanted to kill him right then, but again they feared the crowd.
The next illustration was of a King who prepared a marriage feast for his son. When those who were invited wouldn't come, he sent his slaves out to gather the people on the roads, both wicked and good. There was one man there, however, who the King saw wasn't wearing a marriage garment. He had him thrown outside, for many were invited, but few were chosen.
Matthew 21:12-46, Matthew 22:1-14, Mark 11:12-33, Mark 12:1-12, Luke19:45-48, Luke 20:1-19
Part 28
Some of the Pharisees hired some party followers of Herod to ask Jesus if it was lawful to pay head tax to Caesar. Jesus asked them to show him a tax coin, a denarius. When he asked whose image was on the coin, they answered "Caesar's." Jesus told them to pay Caesar's things to Caesar but God’s things to God.
Some Sadducees, who say there's no resurrection, asked Jesus about a woman who’d married in succession seven brothers. Eventually she too died, leaving no children to pass on the inheritance. They wanted to know which one's wife would she be in the resurrection? Jesus told them in the resurrection the dead would be like the angels, neither marrying nor being given in marriage.
A scribe asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus told him he must love Jehovah God with his whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second commandment was to love one’s neighbor as oneself. When the scribe praised him for his answer, Jesus told the man he wasn't far from the Kingdom of God.
Jesus turned and asked the crowd whose son was the Christ. When they said, “David’s.,” he asked how can the Christ be David’s son when David called him Lord. Nobody was able answer, so they stopped questioning him.
Jesus continued by saying to the people to do what the scribes and the Pharisees told them to do, but not to do what they did, for they don't practice what they say. They were hypocrites and blind guides who only did things that could be seen outwardly by others. They walked around in special robes, loved greetings in the marketplaces, took the front seats in the synagogues, sought out the most prominent places at evening meals and for show made long prayers. Jesus also said not to call anyone Rabbi, for they were all brothers. They were not to call anyone on earth Father, for there was only one heavenly Father Jehovah. They were not to call anyone their Leader, for the Christ was their only leader.
He then called out to the scribes and Pharisees. He pronounced seven woe's on them. They shut up the Kingdom of God to themselves and others. They traversed the land to make one proselyte, then taught them things contrary to the scriptures. They were blind guides saying that swearing by the temple was nothing, but it was inhabited by God so swearing on it was swearing on God’s throne and thus God himself. They gave a tenth to the priest according to the Law, but ignored justice, mercy and faithfulness. They cleansed their outside, and yet their inside was full of plunder and immoderateness. They appeared to be righteous on the outside, but inside they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. They said they wouldn’t have killed former prophets, but admitted they were the sons of those who did. He called them serpents and offspring of vipers, for he knew when he’d send them prophets and wise men in the future, they’d kill them like they’d done all the others in the past.
Jesus then called Jerusalem the killer of the prophets. He said he wanted to gather her children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But they did not want that, so their house was abandoned to them.
Sitting down near the treasury chests a little later, Jesus saw a poor widow drop in two small coins of little value. He told his disciples she put in more than all the others, for she put in all she had.
Matthew 22:15-46, Matthew 23:1-39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:20-47, Luke 21:1-4
Part 29
That evening, the start of Nisan 12, Jesus and his apostles sat together on the Mount of Olives. Peter, James, John, and Andrew approached Jesus and asked what the sign of his presence would be at the conclusion of the system of things and when it would take place.
Jesus told them there'd be some who‘d say they were the Christ and the end was near. Many would be misled. There would be wars, food shortages, pestilence and earthquakes, but that would just be the beginning. Many of his followers would be hated and killed. They would be handed over to the courts, beaten, and even taken before Kings. But they needn't worry, for he’d give them the words to say when that happened. Yet even though they might perish, their endurance would preserve them.
There would also be false prophets who would mislead many. There’d be an increase of lawlessness, for many would no longer love God. Still, the good news of the Kingdom would be preached in all the earth before the end came.
When they caught sight of the disgusting thing that caused desolation standing in a holy place, they were to flee to the mountains, for there would be great tribulation. But because of the chosen ones, those days would be cut short.
After the tribulation, the sun and moon would be darkened, stars would fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens would be shaken. The sign of the Son of man would appear and he’d come with power and glory. He’d send out his angels to gather his chosen ones together from all the earth.
Jesus then gave the illustration of the fig tree. When one budded, a person knew summer was near. So when they saw those things happening, they were to stand straight and know their deliverance by the Kingdom of God was near. That generation wouldn't pass away until all those things happened.
They were told not to let their hearts become weighed down with the anxieties of life, for no one would escape the things that must occur. No one except Jehovah knew when that day would come, but times would be the same as they were in Noah's day.
Jesus asked who was the faithful and discreet slave that the master appointed over the domestics to give them their food at the proper time. He then warned that slave to be on the watch for the Son of man was coming when they least expected it.
Jesus told an illustration of ten virgins with lamps who went out to great the bridegroom. Five were foolish and didn't take any extra oil for their lamps. While the bridegroom was delaying, the virgins fell asleep. In the middle of the night the Bridegroom came. The foolish virgins had to leave to try to buy some oil. When they returned the door was shut, and and the Bridegroom told them he didn't recognize them.
Another illustration was of a man who was going to travel for a while. He called his servants and entrusted some of his wealth to each. The one who received five talents did business with it and earned five more. The second had 2 talents and gained two more. But the third who had one talent buried it in the ground. (One talent equaled about 19 years wages) When the master returned, he was pleased with the first two, but with the third he was angry, and he took the talent away from him and gave it to the first.
Matthew 24:3-51, Matthew 25:1-30, Mark 13:3-37, Luke 21:7-33
Part 30
Jesus told his apostles that in the last days the Son of man would come and sit on his throne. He and his angels would separate the people into two groups. The group on his right would be those who treated his people well and they’d earn everlasting life. The ones on his left would be ones who treated his people badly and they’d be cut off just like Satan the Devil.
While Jesus continued to preach in the temple the next morning, the chief priests and elders met with High Priest Caiaphas to discuss how they could seize Jesus and kill him. Because so many people came to see the Lazarus who’d been raised from the dead, the chief priests also conspired to kill him along with Jesus. They decided, though, to wait until after the festival to arrest them.
Some Greeks who were in Jerusalem for the festival approached Philip and asked to meet Jesus. Philip told Andrew, who told Jesus. Jesus said that the time had come for the Son of man to be glorified. Anyone who wanted to minister could follow him and the Father would honor them.
Although Jesus asked the Father to save him, he then said that was why he’d come, so the Father could glorify his name. At the moment Jesus said that, a voice was heard like thunder saying, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”
Jesus told those who heard the voice that it spoke for their sake. For there would be a judging of the world and the ruler of the world would be cast out. But he would be lifted up and draw all sorts of men to himself. They must walk in the light while the light was still with them, and exercise faith in the light to become sons of the light.
While many didn't put faith in Jesus, there were many others who did. They were afraid to acknowledge him openly, however, for they were afraid of being expelled from the synagogue. Jesus told them whoever puts faith in him puts faith in the one who sent him. He didn't come to judge the world, but to save it. The Father told him what to say, and God’s commandment meant everlasting life.
That evening, Nisan 13, Jesus and his disciples ate a meal in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus came in with a large alabaster jar of expensive perfumed oil and began pouring it on Jesus head and feet. Judas Iscariot became indignant, complaining that it was a waste, for it should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus said Mary was doing a fine thing by preparing him for burial. They would always have the poor, but not always have him.
After the meal, Satan entered into Judas Iscariot. He’d already been secretly stealing from their money case and pocketing the money for himself. Judas then went to the chief priests and asked what they’d give him to betray Jesus. They said 30 silver pieces, the amount it cost at that time to buy a slave.
Matthew 25:31-36, Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-11, Luke 21:34-38, Luke 22:1-6, John12:2-59
Part 31
The next morning, Jesus sent Peter and John into Jerusalem to make the preparations for the Passover meal.
That evening, Nisan 14, Jesus and the twelve reclined at the table in an upper room in Jerusalem. As they were still eating the Passover meal, Jesus got up, took off his outer garments and wrapped a towel around his waist. He put water into a basin and started to wash the feet of the disciples.
When he came to him, Peter said he wasn't going to allow him to wash his feet. Jesus said if he didn’t, Peter wouldn't have a share in his Kingdom. Peter told him he could wash his face and hands as well as his feet. Jesus told him that wasn't necessary for they had already washed up before they ate.
When he finished washing their feet, Jesus put on his outer garment and reclined again at the table. He told them they called him Lord and teacher and it was true he was both. Since he'd humbled himself to wash their feet, then they should do the same with one another. From then on he would tell them the things that would happen, but what would happen was for all the scriptures to be fulfilled.
Towards the end of the meal, Jesus became troubled in spirit and said one of them would betray him. They all denied it, but then Peter asked John who he was talking about. Jesus said it was the one he gave the piece of bread to. Then he dipped a piece of bread, gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon and told him to go quickly and do what he was going do.
After Judas left, Jesus told the eleven he'd been looking forward to this last meal with them. He said the Son of man was now glorified and so was God. He was only going to be with them for a little longer. He gave them a new commandment. They were to love one another as he loved them.
Jesus then took a loaf of unleavened bread and said a blessing. He broke it into pieces and gave one to each of the remaining eleven, telling them it meant his body. He took a cup of wine, blessed it and told each to take a drink of it. It represented his blood of the covenant which was to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins. Then he told them to continue doing the same in memory of him.
Once again, a heated dispute arose over who was the greatest among them. Jesus told them that was the way of the world. They were not to be that way. And yet because they'd stayed with him, he would make a covenant with them for a kingdom and they would sit on thrones with him. Then he warned them that Satan had demanded of God to have all of them.
Going out to the Mount of Olives a little later, Jesus said all of them would be stumbled that night. Peter became indignant and said he’d never be stumbled for he would go to prison or death with him. Jesus told him that before a rooster crowed twice, he'd disown him three times.
Matthew 26:17-35, Mark 14:12-31, Luke 22:7-34, John13:1-38
Part 32
On the Mount of Olives after the Passover meal, Jesus told the eleven he'd wait for them in Galilee. Simon Peter asked where he was going. He told Peter he’d follow later, but for now, he was going to the Father where he would prepare a place for them. He would come again, though, so they could be with him.
Thomas asked how they would know the way. Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life. Humans must go through him to get to the Father. Philip asked to see the Father. Jesus told him that whoever had seen him had seen the Father, for he was in union with the Father. He only did and spoke as the Father told him. He added that whoever observed the commandments loved him. In turn, whoever loved him would be loved by the Father.
The other Judas asked why he showed himself clearly to them but not the world. Jesus said whoever loved him observed his word, and those words came from the Father who sent him. The Father would send a helper, the spirit of truth, which would bear witness about him. Then they'd remember all the things he'd taught them. They too, in turn, were to bear witness to others.
He wouldn't be able to speak to them much longer, for the ruler of the world was coming. He had no hold on him, though, for he was going to do just as the Father commanded him to do.
Jesus told them he was the true vine and the Father was the cultivator. The Father takes away the branches not bearing fruit and cleanses the ones bearing fruit. Jesus said he was the vine but his disciples were the branches. Remaining in union with him would ensure they would bear much fruit.
They were to love one another just as he loved them, for there’s no greater love than that someone would surrender his life for his friends. Whatever they asked the Father for in his name, He may give it to them.
Jesus told them to love one another. The world hated him first, so they would also hate his followers. Since the world persecuted him, they would persecute his followers. Whoever hated him, hated the Father.
Jesus warned them that they’d be expelled from the synagogue. They'd be killed by those who thought they were doing the right thing. That was because those ones didn't know him or the Father. He was telling them now because the time had come for him to go to the one who sent him. He had to go away so he could send the helper to them. That helper would give convincing evidence concerning sin for not exercising faith in him, for righteousness because he would not be seen any longer, and for judgement because the ruler of the world had been judged.
Luke 22:35-38, John 14:1-29, John 15:1-27, John 16:1-11
Part 33
Jesus told his faithful apostles that the helper, the spirit of truth, would guide them into realizing all the truth and would glorify him. The Father had given him all things. In a little while they wouldn't see him, but then in a little while after that they would see him again.They’d weep and wail while the world rejoiced. They’d grieve, but their grief would soon be turned to joy.
Anything they asked the Father for, he would give it to them in his name.
When they didn't understand what he meant, Jesus explained he was leaving the world and going to the Father. They told him they believed he came from God. He then warned them that they would scatter and leave him alone, but he wouldn't be alone, for the Father would be with him. They were to take courage, for he had conquered the world.
Jesus then raised his eyes to heaven and spoke aloud to his Father. His hour had come. He asked to be glorified so he could glorify the Father. He'd been given authority over all flesh so he could give everlasting life to those who came to know God and the one He sent, Jesus Christ. He'd finished his work of making God's name manifest to those he'd been given, and they had accepted him for who he was.
The time had come for him to return to his former life. He asked that his Father watch over his companions so they may be one, just as he and the Father were one. But the world hated them, for they were no longer a part of the world, so he asked that God sanctify them by means of the truth.
They needed to be watched over because of the wicked one. Yet not only his close companions, but all those putting faith in him did, so the whole world would know that the Father loved them. While the world hadn't come to know the Father, he knew him, and now so did his followers. He made his Father's name known. Now the love he'd received would also be in them, and they'd all be in union together.
At the Garden of Gethsemane, which was across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives, Jesus told the disciples to sit down while he went to pray. He told Peter, James and John to keep on the watch and pray themselves so they wouldn't be tempted. Going a short distance away from the others, Jesus said if the Father wanted to, He could remove the cup from him. But it wasn’t his will but the Father’s will for this to take place. An angel appeared then to strengthen him, but Jesus remained in much agony. Praying earnestly, his sweat became as drops of blood falling to the ground.
Rising a little later from his prayer, he found his disciples sleeping. He told them to get up and keep praying. Two more times he went off to pray, only to return and find them sleeping.
While he was still speaking to them the third time, a crowd approached with swords and clubs. Leading them was Judas Iscariot, bringing a detachment of soldiers and officers of the chief priests and Pharisees. Judas immediately went up to Jesus and gave him a tender kiss.
Matthew 26:36-49, Mark 14:32-45, Luke 22:39-47, John 16:12-33, John 17:1-26, John 18:1-3
Part 34
After being kissed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus turned and asked the crowd why they'd come to him as if he were a robber? Before they could answer, he told them it was their hour as well as that of the authority of darkness. Then he asked who they were looking for. He was told Jesus the Nazarene. He said he was Jesus and to let the others go.
Seeing the crowd’s reaction, Simon Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the slave of the high priest, Jesus told Peter to return his sword to its sheath, then he healed the slaves ear. At that the crowd seized Jesus and bound his hands. As Jesus had foretold, all his disciples abandoned him then, even Mark who left his outer garment behind and ran off naked
Jesus was taken first to Annas, the former high priest, and questioned. They then took Jesus to the home of Caiaphas, his son-in-law and the current high priest. All the chief priests, elders and scribes followed them into the courtyard and so did John and Peter. The priests listened to many false testimonies, but they couldn't find any of them worthy of death.
At sunrise they led Jesus into the Sanhedrin, the highest court of justice in Jerusalem. Finally, the High Priest came right out and asked Jesus if he was the Christ. Jesus said he was, and told them that from then on they’d see the Son of man sitting at the powerful right hand of God and coming on the clouds of heaven.
At that the high priest ripped his outer garments, called Jesus a blasphemer, and he and the the other priests condemned him to death. After that the men in the courtyard mocked Jesus, hit him and said many blasphemous things against him.
Meanwhile, Peter had been watching from a distance. Three separate times people came up to him and accused him of being with Jesus. Each time Peter swore he didn't know him. Immediately after swearing so the third time, Peter heard a rooster crow. He then remembered Jesus telling him he’d betray him three times that night. before a rooster crowed, and he went outside and wept bitterly.
When Judas Iscariot saw that the priests condemned Jesus to death, he tried to return the 30 pieces of silver. They refused to take it, so he threw the money on the floor, and then went out and hung himself. He may have been trying to show remorse, but his actions didn't show repentance.
Matthew 26:50-75, Matthew 27:1-10, Mark 14:46-72, Luke 22:48-71, John 18:1-27
Part 35
The Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Court, took the bound Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Governor of Judea. He asked what they were accusing the man of. The priests said he was a wrongdoer. He was subverting their nation, forbidding the paying of taxes to Caesar and claiming he’s Christ the king.
Pilate turned to Jesus and asked if he was King of the Jews. Jesus didn’t deny it, but instead said Pilate himself said it. Pilate told the priests to judge him according to their own law and execute him themselves. They replied that it was unlawful for them to kill anyone.
Pilate was then told that Jesus ought to die because he'd made himself God's son. At that Pilate became afraid, but Jesus reassured him saying his Kingdom wasn’t part of this world.
The chief priests continued to accuse Jesus, but through it all he remained silent. Pilate told the chief priests he found no crime in Jesus, but they continued to insist, saying he stirred up the people by teaching throughout all Judea and Galilee. Pilate then asked Jesus where he was from. Upon ascertaining that Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate sent him off to King Herod.
At first Herod rejoiced at seeing Jesus, for he'd been wanting to see the man he'd heard so much about. To every question Herod asked, though, Jesus remained silent. Disgusted, King Herod began to mock Jesus and even had a special kingly-type garment put on him. Then he sent him back to Pilate.
At Jesus’ return, Pilate called together all the priests and told them nether he nor Herod found any grounds for the charges brought against Jesus.
Since it was the custom to release a man at Passover, though, he could release Jesus. The Priests, however, urged the crowd to say they wanted Barabbas released, a man who’d been imprisoned for sedition and murder.
After that, Pilate took some water and washed his hands to show that Jesus' blood wasn’t on him. Then, in order to stop the uproar of the crowd, he ordered the release of Barabbas and told his soldiers to have Jesus scourged.
After the whipping, the soldiers braided a crown of thorns to put on Jesus’ head and placed a purple robe around his shoulders. They mocked him by bowing down and calling him King of the Jews. Then they hit him with a reed, slapped and spit on him. Finally, they exchanged the purple cloak for his own outer garments and returned him to Pilate.
Pilate again asked the priests what he should do with Jesus. The crowd, however, prodded by the chief priests, began to yell, “To the stake with him!” When Jesus remained silent, Pilate asked him if he realized he had the authority to release or execute him. Jesus told him he had no authority unless he'd been granted it from above. The men who handed him over had the greater sin.
Finally, someone in the crowd said that if Jesus was released, then Pilate wasn't a friend of Caesar. When Pilate asked if he should execute their King, the chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Pilate had no choice but to hand Jesus over to be executed.
Matthew 27:11-31, Mark 15:2-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, John 19:1-16
Part 36
The Roman soldiers took Jesus and two other men out to Golgotha, or Skull Place. On their way they forced Simon, a man of Cyrene, to help Jesus carry his torture stake.
Upon arriving there, the soldiers gave Jesus wine drugged with myrrh to drink. He took a taste, but refused any more. They then nailed his hands and feet to the stake and placed it upright in the hole that had been dug for it. One of the criminals was then placed on each side of him. Finally they nailed a sign above his head written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek that read, “Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews.”
The soldiers took Jesus’ clothing to divide among themselves, but since his inner garment was all in one piece, they cast lots over it, fulfilling that prophecy. Then they sat down to keep watch over him.
Many people passed by, mocking Jesus and telling him if he really was the Christ, he would save himself. While one of the criminals spoke abusively to Jesus, the other asked Jesus to remember him when he got into his kingdom. Jesus told the man he would be with him in Paradise.
About the sixth hour, or around noon, an unusual darkness fell over all the land of Judah. Watching the proceedings along with Jesus' mother Mary, was her sister Salome, who was the mother of the apostles James and John, Mary Magdalene, and another Mary. This other Mary was the the wife of Clopas and mother of the apostle James the Less and his brother Joses. These women had followed Jesus from Galilee and helped take care of his and the apostles’ personal needs while Jesus did his teaching.
When Jesus saw John standing near his mother, he asked him to take care of her. John agreed and took her into his own home from then on. Jesus then asked for a drink and was given some plain sour wine on a sponge.
At the ninth hour, around 3:00 pm, Jesus called out with a loud voice in Hebrew: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
A little later Jesus called out with another loud voice and said: “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” Finally he said, “It has been accomplished!” and he gave up his spirit.
At that very moment a strong earthquake struck the land, one large enough to tear the thick curtain of the temple sanctuary from top to bottom straight down the middle. Rocks were split and tombs were opened so that dead bodies were seen rolling into the streets of Jerusalem. Upon seeing all that happen, the army officer in charge of Jesus’ execution was heard to say, “Certainly this man was God’s Son.”
Although the legs of the other two men were broken to help hasten their death, when the soldiers saw Jesus was already dead, they just jabbed his side with a spear. That fulfilled the prophesy that like the sacrificial Passover lamb, none of his bones would be broken.
A rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower of Jesus and a member of the Jewish Council who hadn't supported the Pharisees’ schemes, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After ascertaining that Jesus was dead, Pilate said he could take the body. Jesus was then wrapped in the finest linen and laid in Joseph's own tomb, one that he'd recently had quarried from the rock. Then a large stone was rolled before it
Some of the women who had followed Jesus went to prepare some of the hundred pounds of spices and perfumed oils that Nicodemus brought, but since it was nearing sundown, they waited until after the Sabbath to use them.
Matthew 27:32-61, Mark 15:2-32, Luke 23:1-56, John 19:17-42
Part 37
The day after Jesus’ death, a sabbath, the chief priests went to Pilate and asked that a guard be placed before the grave so the body couldn't be stolen. Pilate approved their request and told them to go ahead and make the grave as secure as they could.
The following day, Nisan 16, just as it started to turn light, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less, Salome, Joanna and some other women approached Jesus' burial place. They’d come to rub oils and spices on his body, something that was the custom at that time. They were wondering how they were going to move the large stone covering the entrance when they noticed it had already been rolled away. At first they thought there must have been an earthquake, but when they went inside, there was no body to be seen.
While Mary Magdalene ran off to find Peter and John, the other women stood perplexed and trembling in fear. Then they saw two men in shining white garments appear beside them. One of the angels told them not to be afraid, for Jesus the Nazarene wasn't there. He said Jesus had been raised up just as he’d told them he'd be. At that the women remembered what Jesus had said.
As they ran to report what they’d seen and heard to the disciples, Jesus met them and they bowed down to him. He told them to tell his disciples he'd meet them in Galilee. The women then continued on to find the eleven and report what had happened to them and what Jesus had said.
At first Simon Peter and John had a hard time believing what Mary Magdalene told them, but they finally decided to go see for themselves.
John got there first. Glancing inside he saw that the linen cloths that Jesus had been wrapped in were lying there but his body was gone. Then Peter arrived and went inside. He too saw that all that remained were the linen cloths. Then he noticed that the cloth that had covered Jesus' face was rolled up and had been set aside by itself.
Finally John entered too, but at that time they still didn't understand that Jesus had risen from the dead.
After the two men left, Mary remained outside weeping. When she next looked inside, she saw two angels sitting on the ledge where Jesus had been laid, one sitting where his head had been placed and the other at the feet. When they asked why she was weeping, she told them she didn't know where Jesus had been taken.
Mary heard something behind her and turning saw a man standing there. He asked who she was looking for. Thinking it was the gardener, she asked where he'd taken him. When the man said her name, however, she realized it was Jesus. She must have reached out and grabbed him, for he told her to stop clinging to him. Then he told her to go and tell the others he was ascending to his Father. Mary Magdalene then went to find the rest of the disciples and tell them what Jesus said to her.
The men who’d been sent to guard the tomb woke up then from where they'd fainted at the sight of the angels. When they went into the city to report what happened, the chief priests gave them many silver coins to lie and say that his disciples came in the night and stole the body.
Matthew 27:62-66, Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:11-12, John 20:1-18
Part 38
Later in the day on Nisan 16, a man named Cleopas and his companion began traveling to Emmaus. They had been talking to one another about everything that had happened the past few days in Jerusalem when another man joined them. He asked them what they’d been discussing.
They told him Jesus the Nazarene had been put to death. That morning some women had gone to the tomb, but his body was gone. The women also said they saw some angels who said Jesus was alive again.
The men didn't recognize that their new companion was Jesus, but as they continued along, he started to interpret many things pertaining to himself in the scriptures. Getting close to the village, they urged him to stay and eat the noon meal with them. When they saw the man take a loaf of bread and bless it, their eyes were opened. But as soon as they realized who he was, Jesus disappeared. They quickly returned to Jerusalem to report what had happened to them to the eleven.
As they were still speaking to the disciples in a locked room, Jesus appeared in their midst. When he said, “May you have peace,” they all became frightened. He showed them his hands, feet and his side. He then asked for something to eat and took a piece of fish and ate it. Jesus then told them that all those things that happened needed to take place in order to fulfill the scriptures. Finally, he told them he was sending them just as he'd been sent. He then blew on them and said, "Receive holy spirit.” At that their minds were opened to understanding.
Since Thomas wasn't with them that day, when he was told, he said he wouldn't believe it until he saw Jesus for himself. Eight days later, Jesus again appeared in a locked room and Thomas was there. Jesus showed him his hands and side and then said, "Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
Jesus later appeared to seven of his disciples as they were fishing in the Sea of Tiberius. They were about 300 feet from shore when they noticed a man standing on the beach. He told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. When they did, there were so many fish they couldn't pull the net into the boat. John turned and told Peter that it was Jesus. Peter immediately jumped in the water and swam to shore while the boat followed, dragging the net.
Arriving at the shore, the men saw that Jesus had a charcoal fire burning with some fish and bread. When they’d finished eating, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Three times Peter said he had affection for him. Jesus told him in reply to feed his lambs, to shepherd his little sheep and then to feed his little sheep.
Jesus then told Peter that when he grew old, another man would clothe him and take him where he didn't want to go. Peter asked what about John. Jesus told him John was of no concern to him, but to keep following him.
Jesus said that all authority had been given him in heaven and on the earth. He also told them to make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing and teaching them. He concluded by saying he'd be with them until the conclusion of the system of things.
Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus led the apostles to Bethany where he blessed each one of them. From there they watched as Jesus was taken up to heaven. Afterward the men returned to Jerusalem and praised God openly in the temple.
Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 24:13-53, John 20:19-31, John 21:1-25
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