Life of Christ part24 Matthew 3.13-17, Mark 1.9-11, Luke 3.21-22

 Matthew 3.13-17, Mark 1.9-11, Luke 3.21-22

One day while John was carrying out his prophetic ministry and baptising converts in the Jordan River, Jesus arrived on the scene. He went to John to be baptised, not because He had any need to repent but so that He could be identified with John’s message and ministry. Although they had likely never met, John recognised Jesus as the promised Messiah. He insisted that he was unworthy of baptising Jesus, but Jesus persisted. So John baptised Jesus. At the moment that Jesus came up out of the waters of baptism, heaven was opened, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended on Him, and a voice from heaven trumpeted, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Here we see the triune God, the Father speaking from heaven, the Son submitting to baptism, and the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus. God was initiating a wonderful and powerful work on earth.

Life of Christ part 23 Matthew 3.1-12, Mark 1.1-8, Luke 3.1-20

 Matthew 3.1-12, Mark 1.1-8, Luke 3.1-20

Luke’s Gospel anchors the events of Jesus' ministry in its historical context. Tiberius was now the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate had become the governor of Judea. Two descendants of Herod the Great ruled portions of the land, Herod Antipas having jurisdiction over Galilee and Perea, and Herod Philip ruling over the regions east of Galilee. Luke’s historical note reminds us that the events of Jesus’ life took place in time and space. He really lived, He really walked among us, He really died and rose again.

It was within this historical context that messianic expectations grew among the people of God. The Jews were ready for a change. They desperately wanted David’s promised descendant to rule on the throne. At this very moment in history John the Baptist burst on the scene. The Old Testament scriptures had predicted such an individual, a “voice crying in the wilderness.” Indeed, John's ministry took place in the desert of Judea where he called God’s people to repent. They had lived for themselves long enough. It was now time to turn back to God. John must have been a striking figure. He wore the traditional garb of the ancient prophets, a camel hair tunic and a leather belt. He lived and preached in the rugged Judean wilderness. He challenged people to demonstrate their repentance by being baptised in the Jordan River. Many people, hungry for spiritual reality, responded to John's message and were baptised.

Not everyone, however, was favourably impressed with John's message. Two sects of religious leaders, the legalistic Pharisees and the compromising Sadducees, went out to the Judean desert to inspect John's work. John addressed these sceptics in harsh terms, referring to them as snakes and demanding that they show fruit of repentance. At the same time John assured the crowds that he himself was not the Messiah they were anticipating. The Messiah would be more powerful, more authoritative, and more worthy of honour. In fact, John described himself as unworthy even to untie the coming Messiah’s sandal!

The Messiah would baptise, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Life of Christ Intro to The Early Judean and Samarian Ministry of Jesus

 Shortly after the birth of Jesus Christ, Herod the Great, that tyrant king of the Jews, died. Although Herod had attempted to protect his throne, the Roman authorities divided his kingdom into several distinct regions. The southern region, called Judea, with Jerusalem at it's heart. East of Judea, beyond the Jordan River, was the land of Perea. North of Judea the central hill country was known as Samaria, with its mixed population of Jews and Gentiles who had intermarried generations earlier. North of Samaria was Galilee, including Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, and the harbour village of Capernaum, which would play such important roles in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus grew up in Nazareth, in the northern region of Galilee. But He would carry on an itinerant ministry. This travelling ministry makes it possible for us to describe Jesus’ life using geographic terms. Although He grew up in Galilee, Jesus’ public ministry began in the southern region of Judea where John the Baptist had begun his prophetic ministry. 

The story of Jesus’ ministry begins with John the Baptist. God raised up John to be a powerful prophet and the forerunner of the Messiah. John’s preaching prepared the hearts of many for the arrival of Jesus. In addition, it would be John’s great privilege to introduce Jesus to the world.

Life of Christ part22 Luke 2.51-52

 Luke 2.51-52

Obediently, Jesus went with Mary and Joseph back to Nazareth. He was truly an extraordinary child. Mary continually reflected on all the unique circumstances in her son’s life. She must have thought often about the initial announcement by Gabriel that she, a virgin, would have a son. She would have turned over and over in her mind the fact that Elizabeth’s son, John, while still in the womb leapt for joy at her arrival. She would have remembered Joseph’s kindness that he attributed to an angelic message. Mary would have thought about the stable, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna in the Temple, the arrival of the magi, and now Jesus' amazing interaction with the religious scholars in the Temple. While she reflected, she cared for Jesus. Jesus, the Gospel of Luke tells us, grew mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually. We know that Jesus learned Joseph’s skills, engaging in the work of carpentry. We know that Jesus was perfectly obedient to His parents and to the Law of God. We also know that Jesus would, as an adult, enter into a new phase of life. He would begin a public ministry in which He would heal the sick, help the poor, call God’s people to repentance, and eventually die on a cross for our sins. But those days were yet ahead. For now, Jesus spent the bulk of His years simply growing up in Nazareth, growing up to fulfil the eternal plan of God

Life of Christ Part21 Luke 2.41-50

Luke 2.41-50

The silent years of Jesus’ childhood are broken only by one account in the Gospel of Luke. Mary and Joseph consistently obeyed God’s Word. They went annually to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, a feast commemorating God’s work of rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. No doubt Jesus, as a boy, made this yearly journey with His parents. When Jesus was twelve years old He again made this journey to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph, along with many other who would have travelled together to the feast. When Passover was finished, the band of travellers began their journey back to Galilee. Mary and Joseph assumed that Jesus was among their friends and relatives as they made their way north. But Jesus had remained behind.

Any parent knows the feeling, either real or imaginary, of losing a child in a crowd. When the caravan stopped for the evening, Mary and Joseph were distressed to discover that Jesus was nowhere to be found. Had they misplaced the Son of God. Of course, Mary and Joseph quickly returned to Jerusalem, where they found Jesus in the Temple courts interacting with the scholars and scribes. Jesus was asking questions and posing answers of His own, answers that amazed those who heard Him. Mary, delighted and astonished, asked Jesus why He had stayed behind. Why had He put them through an emotional ringer? Jesus, in His first recorded words, simply and respectfully stated, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be involved in the things of my Father?” In His earliest statement, Jesus declared His unique relationship with God the Father and His unique role in performing the Father’s purposes for His life. Jesus knew as a child that He had a task to perform, one that set Him apart from all others. He would be devoted to accomplishing His heavenly Father’s business.

Life of Christ part20 Matthew 2.19-23, Luke 2.39-40

 Matthew 2.19-23, Luke 2.39-40

News reached Egypt that Herod was dead. In fact, an angel again appeared to Joseph and instructed him to return to the land of Israel. Jesus’ life was no longer in jeopardy. Once again, Joseph obeyed the heavenly messenger and took Mary and Jesus back to Israel. However, because Herod’s son now ruled over the southern region of Israel, Joseph didn’t return to Bethlehem. Having been warned in a dream, Joseph chose instead to return to Nazareth in the northern region called Galilee. Nazareth was Mary and Joseph’s hometown. Nazareth, that obscure village in Galilee, would be the place where Jesus would grow into manhood. 

Life of Christ part19 Matthew 2.16-18

 Matthew 2.16-18

Although Jesus had escaped Herod’s hatred, Bethlehem suffered the evil rage of this rampant tyrant. As soon as it became apparent to Herod that the magi had outmanoeuvred him, he ordered that all baby boys in Bethlehem under two years old be slaughtered. By this cruel method, Herod thought that he could eliminate any threat to his throne. Herod’s extermination of these innocent children was but one of many crimes committed by this madman. To the people of Bethlehem this act of cruelty brought untold grief. Herod would soon die. His throne would be given to others, some as heartless as he. The people of God needed a king who would reign in righteousness. That King was alive, hidden away in Egypt. 

Life of Christ part18 Matthew 2.13-15

 Matthew 2.13-15

Little did Mary and Joseph know that their new financial resources would be needed so quickly. When the magi left, an angel appeared to Joseph and warned him to flee to Egypt. Herod, who had been duped by the magi and who jealously guarded his throne, would be eager to eliminate anyone identified as the new King of the Jews. Joseph obeyed immediately. In the middle of the night he, Mary, and Jesus began their flight to Egypt, where they stayed until Herod's death. By God’s miraculous provision, Jesus was safe. His life was spared so that one day He could give His life as a ransom for us.

Life of Christ part 17 Matthew 2.1-12

 Matthew 2.1-12

After fulfilling their responsibilities at the Temple, Mary and Joseph would have returned to their temporary home in Bethlehem. But their lives would be anything but normal. They were soon to experience yet another unusual encounter. Magi from an eastern land would make a long journey to see Jesus, the King of the Jews. Although we often think of the wise men visiting Jesus in the stable, it makes much more sense to place their arrival sometime after Jesus’ consecration at the Temple. After all, shortly following the arrival of the magi, Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt for safety. Jerusalem and the Temple would be unsafe for their precious son.

Matthew’s Gospel alone tells us about the magi from the east. Their identity is puzzling, but they were apparently scholars and astronomers to whom God graciously revealed the arrival of Jesus. The magi, guided by a star, possibly the radiant revelation of God’s glory, journeyed to Jerusalem where they met with King Herod. Herod was a cruel man by every measure, as even secular history reveals. The magi informed Herod that a new King of the Jews had been born. Herod was threatened by any hint of challenge to his throne. He called together the religious scholars who informed him that the Scriptures pointed to Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. Herod sent the magi to Bethlehem to seek the child, feigning a personal desire to follow later and offer his own worship to this new king. 

The magi left for Bethlehem, and the star appeared again to guide them to the house in which Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were living. There the magi presented the infant Jesus with costly gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then God warned the magi in a dream not to return to Herod, so they avoided Jerusalem as they made their long journey home. Mary and Joseph must have once again been baffled by such an unusual visit, and this poor couple was greatly assisted by the gifts these magi brought. 

Life of Christ part 16 Luke 2.36-38

 Luke 2.36-38

Mary and Joseph’s second encounter in the Temple that day involved an elderly woman named Anna. Anna was a widow of many years. She frequented the Temple daily. At the very moment that Simeon took Jesus in his arms and announced his message to Mary, Anna arrived on the scene. She, too, gave praise to God and told the people present that this infant would bring redemption. Mary and Joseph must have been astounded by these encounters, and they must have taken great comfort in knowing that God was doing an unparalleled work through them. Jesus, their son, was the Son of God, the Messiah, the Saviour and Redeemer. 

Life of Christ part 15 Luke 2.25-35

 Luke 2.25-35

While Mary and Joseph were at the Temple to perform the rites of purification and consecration they experienced two surprising encounters. Their first encounter was with a man named Simeon. Simeon was an elderly man whom God had promised would see the Messiah before his death. On the very day that Jesus was consecrated, the Holy Spirit of God moved Simeon to visit the Temple. There, Simeon saw Jesus. He took the baby in his arms and offered a prayer of praise to God for fulfilling His promise. Simeon had seen the Messiah, the One who would bring salvation to God’s people. Simeon then reassured Mary that Jesus would accomplish great things for God, but also warned Mary that she would experience great pain in the process. In fact, Mary did later experience enormous pain. She saw her precious son nailed to a cross. This mother’s amazement at Simeon’s words would one day be surpassed by her agony, only to be surpassed once again by joy when Jesus would rise from the dead. 

Life of Christ part 14 Luke 2.22-24

Luke 2.22-24

In addition to circumcision, Jewish law also required that parents consecrate their firstborn sons, that is, present their firstborn to the Lord for His purposes. This act of consecration took place at the same time that the mother was to present an offering at the Temple for her own purification. Mary and Joseph, still living in Bethlehem, made the six-mile journey to Jerusalem to perform these rites about forty days after Jesus’ birth. There at the Temple, Mary presented her purification offering. Her offering, a pair of doves or pigeons, indicates that Mary and Joseph were considered to be among the poor in the land, since only the poor could present such meagre offerings for purification. Although Mary and Joseph were poor in material possessions, they were rich in faith. Carrying the infant Jesus to the Temple must have been a joy for this devout couple. Incidentally, this was Jesus first visit to the Temple, but it would not be His last! One day years later Jesus would march through that same Temple area, overturning the tables of moneychangers and upholding the holiness of worship. The Temple would indeed see Jesus again and again.

Life of Christ Infancy Intro and part 13 Luke 2.21

The four Gospels provide very little information about the childhood of Jesus, but they do relate some significant events that followed His birth. While we might wish for more information about the years leading up to Jesus’ public ministry, we can rest assured that God has given us in His inspired Word everything we need to know to live like His Son.

Luke 2.21

As we saw with John the Baptist, it was customary for Jewish parents to circumcise their sons on the eighth day after their birth. Joseph and Mary, in full compliance with the commands of God, had Jesus circumcised. On that day they officially named Him Jesus in obedience to their angelic messenger. Jesus means Saviour, and indeed Jesus would be our Saviour and our Lord.