Arrives. The Messiah. Adult Quarter 1. Student Guide

Transcription

1 Year 3 Adult Quarter 1 The Messiah Arrives Student Guide Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. Psalm 119:89 90 God s Word for ALL Generations

2 Answers Bible Curriculum Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Student Copyright 2014 Answers in Genesis, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, unless expressly permitted by the terms of the Limited License. For more information write: Answers in Genesis PO Box 510 Hebron, KY Printed in China.

3 Contents Introduction to Answers Bible Curriculum The Messiah Has Come... 7 Prepare to Learn...8 Studying God s Word Connecting the Testaments God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests We Can Trust the New Testament...15 Prepare to Learn Studying God s Word Trusting the Text God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests The Gospel Truth Prepare to Learn Studying God s Word Four-part Harmony God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests Jesus in the Gospels...31 Prepare to Learn Studying God s Word Jesus Is God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests The Life of Christ Prepare to Learn Studying God s Word Life of Christ Timeline God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests New Testament Attacks Prepare to Learn Why 27? Video Studying God s Word Other Gospels? God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests... 50

4 7 The Messiah s Messengers...51 Prepare to Learn Studying God s Word God s Messengers God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests Birth of Christ Prepare to Learn Before and After Studying God s Word God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests Seeking the King Prepare to Learn Studying God s Word Two Responses God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests Jesus Obeys Prepare to Learn Studying God s Word Three Imputations God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests Jesus s Baptism & Temptation Prepare to Learn Studying God s Word Personal Battle Plan God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests Jesus Calls Followers...91 Prepare to Learn Studying God s Word Are You an Evangelist? God s Word in the Real World Prayer Requests... 96

5 Introduction to Answers Bible Curriculum For the past two years, we have been studying the Old Testament. We ve seen over and over how the prophecies and types of the Old Testament were pointing forward to the coming of the Messiah, the Christ. From the declaration by God way back in Genesis 3:15 that He would send the Seed of the woman to crush Satan s head to the prophecy by Malachi, the final prophet of the Old Testament, who spoke of a messenger (John the Baptist) coming to prepare the way for the Messenger of the Covenant the expectation has been building. This quarter, we are finally beginning our study of the New Testament and the life of Christ! We ll explore the nature and purpose of the four Gospels and begin to learn about the early years of Jesus s life on earth and His ministry. There was truly no man like Jesus. We encourage you to read the Prepare to Learn section before class each week. This will provide important background information so that you will get more from each lesson. For more information and links to online articles and videos, be sure to visit the Online Resource Page at Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Introduction 5

6 6 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

7 1 The Messiah Has Come Key Passages Luke 2:21 35; John 1:40 42; Hebrews 1 What You Will Learn How the coming of the Messiah in the Old Testament connects with His arrival in the New Testament. How Simeon responded to the arrival of the Messiah. Lesson Overview We first read about the Savior and God s plan to redeem a people for Himself in Genesis 3. He was foretold by the prophets throughout the history of the Old Testament. And the people waited 4,000 years for His arrival. God s people longed for their Messiah to come. And finally, in God s appointed time, He was born. The people rejoiced, and the writers of the New Testament confirmed that Jesus was the Savior the prophets of old had told of. Memory Verse John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 1 7

8 Prepare to Learn SCRIPTURAL BACKGROUND Through the prophet Amos, God had declared to His people, Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11). This judgment came about during the 400 years of silence that followed the prophet Malachi. There were no prophetic words from God to the people. God had closed the Old Testament by confirming His promise to His people through His prophet Malachi that one day the Messiah the Messenger of the Covenant would come (Malachi 3:1). For a remnant of the Jews who understood the message of the prophets, such as Simeon (Luke 2:25 32), this was a message of hope as they waited expectantly for the Savior who would deliver them from their sins. It seems that the majority, however, were looking for national deliverance and restoration, as is seen by the question of some of Jesus s own disciples in Acts 1:6: Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? God s people had already been waiting a very long time for this promise of the Messiah to become reality. In fact, God first mentioned this good news nearly 4,000 years earlier in the Garden of Eden when the serpent was told that a Seed of Eve would bruise his head (Genesis 3:15). We hear of it again when the Lord promised that Abraham s descendants would outnumber the stars in the sky and that in his seed all nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:17 18). The covenant continued with Abraham s son Isaac (Genesis 26:4). Then it passed to Isaac s son Jacob when God said to him that a company of nations would proceed from him, and He assured him of the land that He had given Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 28:13). The promise continued on through the tribe of Judah to David (Genesis 49:8; Revelation 5:5). God promised David a throne that would last forever (2 Samuel 7:16). And from the line of David, Jesus, the only eternal King, would enter the world as a helpless babe to one day sit on the throne of David (Luke 1:32 33). Shadows and pictures of the Messiah are woven throughout Old Testament history. This history, these accounts, and the glimpses of God s plan of redemption help to prepare us for the fuller truth revealed in the New Testament the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, the promised one who is the Light of the world. The New Testament letter to the Hebrews triumphantly proclaims Jesus Christ as the revelation of what was anticipated by 8 Lesson 1 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

9 the prophets of old. The writer of Hebrews, in the first two verses, expressed that God, who spoke in times past by the prophets, has now spoken through His Son. Then, the Son is richly described as the heir of all things, the one through whom God created the universe, and the express image of God, upholding all things by the word of His power and seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having purged our sins (Hebrews 1:2 3). Another account in the New Testament that reveals Jesus as the promised Messiah is in the book of Luke. Simeon was a devout man in Jerusalem, waiting for the Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25). The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he witnessed the Lord s Christ. When Jesus was brought into the Temple as a baby to be dedicated to the Lord, Simeon rejoiced that the Lord had, in Jesus, revealed to him the salvation promised for thousands of years (Luke 2:30 31). Simeon s response to Mary and the baby was based on his knowledge of the Old Testament. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he confirmed that this child was destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel. His mother would be grieved because of Him, and the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed by their response to Him (Luke 2:34 35). Simeon knew this was the Christ, and he believed. Simeon s reaction to the Christ shows the joy of one who had been faithful to God, had studied the Scriptures of old, and had waited for the revealing of God s plan. He was now overjoyed at seeing the promise of salvation through the Messiah in the flesh and was content to die, knowing that his own salvation would be accomplished through this precious little child. Simeon grasped the fullness and richness of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, through the revelation of the Holy Spirit and the Old Testament Scriptures. Like Simeon, our study of the Old Testament and the promises of God to redeem His people coupled with the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit will allow us a richer delight in Jesus Christ His life, His death, and His Resurrection. Study and meditation on the Old Testament can guide us to a more complete joy in the hope, comfort, peace, grace, and forgiveness we find throughout the pages of the New Testament in the life of our Savior. HISTORICAL/APOLOGETICS BACKGROUND Without the history of the Old Testament, the New Testament narratives are hard to understand. If Jesus just showed up and died on a cross, no one would understand why He came. God was pleased to reveal His plan, but it was slowly revealed over thousands of years Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 1 9

10 with increasing clarity (Romans 3:2). Why did God take so long to bring the Savior into the world? Why did God allow 400 years to pass between Malachi and Matthew? We can only answer these questions by trusting that God did as He pleased (Psalm 115:3) in His perfect timing the fullness of the time described by Paul in Galatians 4:4. Many have suggested that the fullness of the time described by Paul is tied, in some part, to the rise of the Roman Empire. Because of the common use of the Greek language and the roads and trade routes that connected the remotest regions of the empire, the message of reconciliation could spread widely and quickly. Combine that with the relative peace that accompanied the period around the birth of Christ (the pax Romana), and you have a culture that could effectively be reached with news that the Messiah had finally come. As we turn from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the manuscript language moves from Hebrew to Greek. In the Hebrew Old Testament text, we find Jesus described as meshiyach, or Messiah. The basic meaning of Messiah is anointed one and refers to priests and others who were set apart for service to God through an anointing. In the New Testament we see that the Greek word used to describe Jesus is christos, or Christ. This Greek word also means anointed and is the equivalent of the Hebrew word mashiach, or Messiah. Some misunderstand the title of Christ given to Jesus in the New Testament to be part of His name. It is not His name, but proclaims His position as the anointed one of God. Jesus confirmed His position for us and for the Jews of Nazareth when He read in the synagogue from the book of Isaiah: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor... (Luke 4:18). The Samaritan woman at the well confirmed her knowledge of the Messiah, who is called Christ (John 4:25) as did Andrew who proclaimed, We have found the Messiah (which is translated, the Christ) (John 1:41). These references to Jesus the Messiah, the Christ found through all of Scripture confirm the truth of who Jesus was and why He came. Confirmation of this sort builds the believer s confidence in the living Word of God. Your own confidence will increase as you grow in studying the Bible. Passage cross-references can be a tremendous help as you read and study God s Word. There are almost 300 references to the Old Testament in the New Testament. In most Bibles, a quotation from the Old Testament will be set in italics and often set apart as a block quote. The publisher of your particular Bible, no doubt, has a unique format. It would be worth your while to become familiar 10 Lesson 1 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

11 with it. It is usually explained in the introduction or preface. Using the Bible this background was written from, Old Testament quotations can be found in Luke 4:10 and 4: These verses are set in quotes and block text, setting them apart from the rest of the text. This tells us that these verses are quoted from the Old Testament. These verses are accompanied by a small number or letter that refers to a footnote identifying the passage(s) quoted. Your personal study of Scripture will be richer if you become familiar with the study helps your Bible has included for you. The Bible is the inerrant, infallible, and living Word of God. It is worthy of serious study. It tells of the Savior, who was born of a woman in the fullness of time. As we drink deeply from the record we have of His existence from eternity past, His life on earth, and the hope we have of joining Him in eternal glory, we will be filled with awe, wonder, and anticipation for what is in store for us as believers. Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 1 11

12 Studying God s Word Did God reveal anything during the 400 silent years? Take notes as you study the following passages. Luke 2:21 35 John 1:40 42 Connecting the Testaments Your Bible is an amazing tool that allows you to understand God s revelation to mankind. In most Bibles, the editors have included helpful tools like cross-references and different formatting styles to help you understand the text. The activity today is going to help you understand how your Bible formats the Old Testament quotations found in the New Testament. Hebrews is a book filled with Old Testament references, so it is a great place to look at this formatting. Open your Bible there and quickly read through Hebrews 1, noticing the formatting of the text. 1. What formatting features do you notice in the text? 2. What does each of the different formats indicate? 12 Lesson 1 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

13 Most Bibles also have a way of telling you where in the Old Testament the quotes come from. This is usually a small letter or number, not to be confused with the verse reference, that points to a reference in the center column, margin, or footnotes. 3. Looking at Hebrews 1:5, how does your Bible indicate what is quoted from the Old Testament? 4. Are there any numbers or letters, probably as a superscript (set above the other text like the 2 in cm 2 ), that refer to a note? Where are these notes? 5. How does your Bible s formatting compare to others in your group? 6. What Old Testament passages are referenced in verse 5? 7. Which books of the Old Testament does the writer of Hebrews quote from in chapter 1? 8. What other information is included in the footnotes or other notes regarding verse 5? Take notes as you study the following passage. Hebrews 1 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 1 13

14 God s Word in the Real World 1. As you think about the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament, how does the thread of redemption help you understand the purpose of each? 2. How can you use the Seven C s of History to help others see the connections between the Old and New Testaments? 3. What is one key aspect of the account of Simeon s blessing of the infant Jesus you can use to encourage yourself or others this week? 4. How might you use the cross-references and Old Testament quotes found in your Bible to enhance your personal study of the Bible? 5. How can you use what you have learned about the connections between the Old and New Testaments to teach or encourage someone else in your life? Prayer Requests 14 Lesson 1 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

15 2 We Can Trust the New Testament Key Passages 2 Peter 1:12 21, 3:14 16; Revelation 22:18 21; Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Hebrews 10:15 17; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 What You Will Learn How we got the New Testament. How ancient manuscripts support the reliability of the New Testament. Lesson Overview The apostles were eye witnesses to the things Jesus did. Jesus promised the apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit, the Helper, to bring to their remembrance all that He said and did. The things they wrote were inspired by God through the Holy Spirit. What they wrote in the Bible is true. Memory Verse John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 2 15

16 Prepare to Learn SCRIPTURAL BACKGROUND We recognize the New Testament to be the history of the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah, His teaching and ministry, and the founding and building up of the Church through His apostles. It spans approximately 90 years, beginning shortly before Jesus s birth and ending with the book of Revelation, written while John was on the island of Patmos shortly before he died. But how do we know the New Testament is true? How do we know we can trust the testimony of what is written as God s Word? First, we find that Jesus empowered the apostles through the Holy Spirit to recall, write, and interpret the life, words, and deeds of Jesus. Jesus said the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would come in His name and would teach His apostles all things and bring to their remembrance the things Jesus said to them (John 14:26). The apostles would receive special revelation and record that truth through the Holy Spirit who would guide them into all truth (John 16:13). Second, we have it on the authority of the apostles that the words recorded for us are true. They recorded these truths as eyewitnesses. The apostles were ordained by Jesus to spread the message of the gospel, and we have the writings from them and their close associates. Peter verified this emphatically when he wrote that they were eyewitnesses of Jesus s majesty. This is further verified when Peter expressed that they heard the voice of God Himself acknowledge the beloved Son with whom He was well pleased (2 Peter 1:16 18). The Apostle John also verified himself as an eyewitness to the events he wrote about: This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true (John 21:24). Not all of the 27 books of the New Testament were written directly by one of the Twelve Apostles. For example, James, the brother of Jesus, wrote a letter to the church. Mark, who wrote the Gospel of Mark, is mentioned various times in the New Testament, so we know him to be an eyewitness. And the Apostle Peter reflected on Mark as his son, indicating a close relationship and giving credibility to the words Mark wrote (1 Peter 5:13). Luke, writer of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, was not an apostle but a very close companion of the Apostle Paul and travelled with the other apostles (2 Timothy 4:11). It isn t certain who wrote the book of Hebrews, but the writer verifies that what he spoke of had been confirmed by those who heard the Lord (Hebrews 2:3). 16 Lesson 2 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

17 As the New Testament letters began to be gathered and read throughout the church, we find evidence that they were already being described as Scripture, being included as part of the established Old Testament canon. The Apostle Peter made such a claim about Paul s writings in 2 Peter 3:15 16 when he put Paul s epistles in the same category as the rest of the Scriptures. A similar confirmation is seen when Paul, in his letter to Timothy, quoted from Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7, indicating that both statements are from the Scriptures (1 Timothy 5:18). Paul apparently considered Luke s writings to be on par with those of Moses! And we should, too. As the Holy Spirit directed these various writers, they recorded these truths to produce the inspired original manuscripts of the New Testament (2 Peter 1:19 21). These writings were then spread throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa as copies were transferred from local church to local church. The collection of writings was acknowledged by Christians and used as a source of teaching by the early leaders including those we call the Church Fathers. Early in the first and second centuries, there was a small degree of disagreement about which letters and books should be included in the canon the official list of the inspired texts but these differences were discussed and resolved as the true writings from the Holy Spirit were made clear and acknowledged. Now God s Word is closed. We can be confident that the 27 books of the New Testament canon combined with the 39 books of the Old Testament is the completed Word of God. God clearly warns us that we are NOT to add to His Word or take away from what is written (Revelation 22:18 19). This warning from almighty God sits as a capstone at the end of the New Testament a stone we dare not move. HISTORICAL/APOLOGETICS BACKGROUND The Christian faith is not a blind faith we have much evidence to support the things that we believe. Although we do not have the original manuscripts (the documents actually penned by the authors) of the New Testament, we do have many documents that were copied from those originals. The originals were written at the direction of the Holy Spirit, and we refer to them as the original inspired manuscripts or autographs. But if all we have today are copies of copies of copies, wouldn t there be a few copying mistakes? Yes, but it turns out having lots of copies is a good thing. We have so many copies of the New Testament letters and Gospels that we can compare them to one another and come to an understanding of where the errors were made during the copying and what the Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 2 17

18 originals said. Most of the errors, which are called variants, are very easy to correct or are insignificant. For example, sometimes words or phrases got switched (e.g., Christ Jesus vs. Jesus Christ) or there are variant spellings (e.g., similar to the variation in the English spelling of honor and honour). Some areas are more difficult to deal with, but we have literally thousands of documents to help us understand what the original manuscripts written in Greek said. This is called textual criticism and gives us great confidence in the Bible we already trust by faith. Consider this simplistic example of how textual criticism works: If we found manuscripts A, B, and C, could we determine what the original statement was? A: Justin took his friends to the beach. B: Justine took his friends to the beach. C: Justin took his friends to the sea. The variants can be examined: beach or sea; Justin or Justine. Since all three include his, it seems Justin is the correct reading over Justine. Since there are two instances of beach, sea seems to be the error, but it really doesn t change the meaning. The manuscript copies were made by handwriting on animal skins, papyrus, and various forms of paper developed through the centuries. That means that the originals, written in the same way, would have deteriorated. And the many manuscripts we have are in various states of decay, with only a few being complete. Later, the invention of the printing press allowed the Bible, in its various forms, to be copied much more quickly and with fewer errors, but these are not considered manuscripts since they were not written by hand. There are over 5,800 partial or complete manuscripts in the original Greek language, not to mention around 10,000 in Latin and 9,000 in various languages like Coptic, Armenian, and Syriac. On top of all this, there are regularly new finds that help us understand the history of the Bible we hold in our hands. One fascinating area of new discovery came from Egypt. Many masks and other burial items made of papyrus and linen bonded together with plaster (similar to papier-mâché), called cartonnage, have been found. These were decorated in various ways, but they often used old scraps of papyrus that had writing on them. Recently, portions of the Bible have been found by carefully dissolving and separating the sheets in these masks. And these are some of the oldest manuscripts known! The fact of the matter is, the historicity of the Bible is obvious to anyone willing to fairly investigate it. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, the truth can transform the lives of people who put their faith in Christ. The Bible is uniquely self-consistent and extraordinarily authentic. It has 18 Lesson 2 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

19 been confirmed countless times by archaeology and other sciences. It possesses divine insight into the nature of the universe and has made correct predictions about distant future events with perfect accuracy. When Christians read the Bible, they cannot help but recognize the voice of their Creator. The Bible claims to be the Word of God, and it demonstrates this claim by making knowledge possible. It is the standard of standards. And we can trust it and the life-giving message of the gospel it contains. Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 2 19

20 Studying God s Word How can old books help us trust the New Testament? Take notes as you study the following passages. 2 Peter 1:12 21 Hebrews 10: Timothy 3:16 2 Peter 3: Thessalonians 2:13 Trusting the Text After watching the video clips, discuss the following questions and record your thoughts. 1. Why do we only have fragments of the earliest manuscripts of the Bible? 20 Lesson 2 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

21 2. Why were texts erased and written over to create a rescriptus? 3. What is so significant about the Codex Climaci Rescriptus described in the video? 4. What can these fragments or ancient texts never convince the skeptic of? Take notes as you study the following passages. Revelation 22:18 21 Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32; Proverbs 30:6 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 2 21

22 God s Word in the Real World 1. What idea from our lesson today has helped you trust in the New Testament we have in our Bibles? Discuss various answers. 2. We have talked about internal reliability of the New Testament (the writers affirming one another) and external reliability (manuscript evidence). How can you use each of these ideas to share the trustworthiness of Scripture with those who doubt it is reliable? 3. Mormons believe there has been ongoing revelation in modern days (primarily in The Book of Mormon and other writings from their prophets). If you mention that Revelation 22:18 19 says nothing can be added to Scripture, they will likely tell you that can t be true since the same warning is given in Deuteronomy and Proverbs. How could you respond? 4. We have talked about evidences that confirm the reliability of the New Testament, but will this be enough to convince skeptics that Jesus is Lord? Prayer Requests 22 Lesson 2 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

23 3 The Gospel Truth Key Passages Luke 1:1 4; Matthew 14:24 33; John 6:16 21 What You Will Learn The intent of the Gospels. How the parallel accounts help us to trust the Gospels. Lesson Overview The four Gospels are books that were written about the events of Jesus s life, death, and the events after His death. They were written so that we would believe. Each is different, with different details and perspectives from eyewitness accounts. Their differences serve to confirm the truth of God s Word. Memory Verse John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 3 23

24 Prepare to Learn SCRIPTURAL BACKGROUND God has been pleased to give us the gospel, meaning good news, of the birth, life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ for the redemption of sinners. This news is found in the four books we know as the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We know that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). And God in His infinite wisdom ordained the Gospels to be written by men. Through Luke, God was pleased to set in order a narrative of the things seen in Christ and His life. Luke recorded his testimony from eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word so followers of Christ would know that what is heard about Jesus is certainly true (Luke 1:1 4). Similarly, John stated that he wrote his Gospel account so the reader may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing he may have life in His name (John 20:31). As we study the four Gospels, we find that they are not identical in content or style. In fact, each is unique to the man who penned it. Consequently, each Gospel is focused on different details of Christ s life. For example, each of the Gospels begins at a different point in the life of Jesus, and they each end in a slightly different way. However, the three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are similar in that they record the same basic events although not all three men recorded each event in exactly the same way. These books are referred to as the synoptic gospels because they often take the same point of view. The Gospel of John is very different from the other three. John included information not recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Jesus s early ministry in John 2 4 and the account of Jesus raising Lazarus in John 11 are examples of events recorded exclusively by John. John also left certain events out of his work that the other Gospels did document. Some of the accounts John left out include the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, the Sermon on the Mount, and the narrative parables. All four Gospels primarily focus on the three years of Jesus s public ministry and largely skip over the early years of His life. We have very little information about the early years apart from the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke and the trip to Jerusalem in Luke 2. After that, all of the writers jump forward to the time when Jesus was about 30 years old and entered into His formal ministry. Many Bibles have headings indicating references to the same account in the other Gospels. For example, in the New King James Version being used to write this background, the account of the feeding of the 5,000 is recorded 24 Lesson 3 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

25 first in Matthew 14: The Bible has a heading at that reference where this account can be found in the books of Mark, Luke, and John. Understanding how your Bible cross-references passages can help as you continue your study of the full counsel of God s Word. Each of the Gospels reveals something unique about the life of Jesus Christ. The entire picture cannot be seen without seeing all four Gospels presented side by side. This is called a harmony of the Gospels. Your Bible may have a section or a chart a harmony of the Gospels that shows the events of Jesus s life and where those events are recorded in each of the Gospels. The Gospels are another example of God s amazing revelation to His people. That these four unique men could each write a personal account of his Savior Jesus Christ, and that all four of these accounts would complement each other, is evidence of the inspiration of their writings through the Holy Spirit to present to His people a complete and perfect testimony. HISTORICAL/APOLOGETICS BACKGROUND Many skeptics point to the apparent inconsistencies in the parallel accounts in the Gospels to suggest that the Holy Spirit could not have inspired the writings or else they would be exactly the same. Well, how do they know that is the case? To make that assertion, they have to know how God thinks and how He would do things the very thing they are denying we can know by reading the Bible. This attempt by the skeptic to discredit the authority of the Bible is simultaneously an elevation of man s word above God s Word as he sits in judgment over what God has revealed to us. Stop and think about this for a moment: If you heard a news report of a car accident on the TV news, read about it in the newspaper, and then heard about it from a friend who witnessed it, would you expect the three accounts to be exactly the same? Would differences cause you to doubt the truthfulness of any one witness? For example, if one report said it happened in front of Taco Town and another said it happened across the street from the mall and your friend said it was on Third Street, would that mean there was a contradiction? Not at all if Taco Town is on Third Street right across the street from the mall. This is analogous to the subtle differences we see in the Gospels. These subtle differences actually help to corroborate the truthfulness of the accounts. If a police officer was investigating the accident and two witnesses told about the collision in exactly the same words, he would likely think they were working together to conceal something. Matthew and Mark didn t have a meeting to decide how to tell the same story the Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 3 25

26 Holy Spirit directed their writing. When we examine the books carefully, the apparent contradictions disappear, despite the claims of the skeptics whose hearts are hardened to the truths of God. Another irony of those who are skeptical about the truthfulness of the Gospels is the number of witnesses. Four witnesses recorded the same basic information of the life of Jesus, and we have reliable records of their initial reports. From the biblical perspective, a matter is established on the word of two or three witnesses, so the four we have in the Gospels is more than sufficient to lead us to trust what they record (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16). No one else from Jesus s time has such a rich historical record as that of Jesus. And no one could because it was God the Holy Spirit who directed the recording of the earthly life of God the Son who was sent by God the Father. It did not take long for false gospels to appear and cause confusion about what was true and what was false (2 Peter 2:1). Many writers tried to take portions of the real Gospels and blend them with mystical teachings. These mystical ideas developed into what we call Gnosticism. Some of these false gospels have been popularized in movies, novels, and documentary-style films that seek to discredit Jesus as God or redefine His teaching and work in some blasphemous way. Other false gospels blended Jewish and Christian ideas, and others tried to fill in the gaps of the true Gospels. One such false gospel, The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, was written more than 100 years after Jesus died. This gospel reveals a young Jesus who was an infant prodigy, performed miracles, breathed life into clay birds, cursed a boy who then died, healed a man s foot, and other acts. These ideas directly contradict the true nature of Jesus we see recorded at the direction of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were directed by the Holy Spirit to record the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. And through God s providence, we have the truth of those accounts in the first four books of our New Testament. We can absolutely trust these as true regardless of the attacks that come from skeptics and regardless of the doubts that may even arise in our own minds. As we study the Scriptures, asking the Holy Spirit for wisdom, we can know the truth and be emboldened to share that truth with others. 26 Lesson 3 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

27 Studying God s Word Why are there differences in the Gospels? Take notes as you study the following passages. Luke 1:1 4 John 20:30 31 Four-part Harmony The table below has a small section of a harmony of the four Gospels. Take a few minutes to examine one of the rows, reading each of the passages, and then answer the questions below. The first five rows are chronological with a small leap forward to the sixth row. Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 3 27

28 Event Matthew Mark Luke John First call of 4: :16 20 four disciples Teaching/ healing in Capernaum Peter s mother-inlaw healed Tour of Galilee 1: :31b 37 8: : : : : :42 44 Second call of the four disciples 5:1 11 Lame man healed on the Sabbath 5: As you read the text from one of the rows, how did the texts compare? 2. As you look at the table, what things stand out to you as these passages are laid side by side? 28 Lesson 3 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

29 3. Look at Matthew 4:18 22 and Luke 5:1 11. Were these the same events or did they happen at different times? What evidence would you use for your conclusion? 4. Do these differences mean that the Bible is not reliable? Explain your thinking. Take notes as you study the following passages. Matthew 14:24 33 John 6:16 21 God s Word in the Real World 1. How do you see yourself using the information in this lesson as you interact with other people, believers and unbelievers? Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 3 29

30 2. What should we do with the claims of missing gospels like the Gospel of Mary or Barnabas or Thomas? 3. If you are challenged by a skeptic with the charge of contradictions between the different Gospels, what is the best way to respond to those accusations? 4. What questions do you still need to have answered about the Gospels? Prayer Requests 30 Lesson 3 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

31 4 Jesus in the Gospels Key Passages Selected passages from the four Gospels What You Will Learn How Jesus is portrayed in each of the Gospels. Lesson Overview Four Gospels written by four men and all showing something unique about who Jesus is. Jesus is revealed in Matthew as the Jewish Messiah and promised King; in Mark as a suffering servant; in Luke as the Son of Man and friend of sinners; and in John as the Son of God, the Christ who alone brings eternal life. Memory Verse John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 4 31

32 Prepare to Learn SCRIPTURAL BACKGROUND When we talk about harmony in the gospels, we are referring to the reality that the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, although different in many details and style, work in tandem to give the testimony of Jesus Christ and make up one account, as God ordained, to reveal who Jesus is, what He did, why He did it, how He did it, when He did it, and what He is still to do. With that in mind, let s explore each of the Gospels and consider what they teach us about Jesus. We ll start with the tax collector, Matthew (whose name was changed from Levi). At Jesus s simple words, Follow me, Matthew left all, rose up, and followed Him (Luke 5:27 28). As an apostle, Matthew became one of Jesus s closest friends. It is believed that as Matthew wrote his testimony of Jesus, he may have had his fellow Jews in mind. And the writing style of this author suggests that Matthew wanted to convince his Jewish brothers that Jesus truly was the Messiah and the King promised from the throne of David (Matthew 1:1, 1:6). In fact, Matthew quotes from the Old Testament the Scriptures so familiar to the Jews more than 60 times, revealing how Jesus was the fulfillment of these prophecies (e.g., Matthew 1:22 23, 2:5 6, 2:15). As we move on to the Gospel of Mark, we learn that Mark was a companion and spiritual son to one of the Lord s closest friends, Peter (1 Peter 5:13). Like Matthew, Mark had his own personal style as he wrote of the life of Christ under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He does not quote as often from the Old Testament, leading some to believe this Gospel was written not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles as well. As we harmonize this Gospel with the others, we see that Mark focused on Jesus as a suffering Servant revealing more of what He did and recording less of what He said. Mark sums up this theme of suffering Servant when he tells us that even the Son of Man, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, did not come to be served, but to serve. And in that service, He would ultimately suffer and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The Gospel of Luke and his orderly account of the life of Christ is the next Gospel we will explore. Luke was a physician and a close companion to the Apostle Paul. He wrote this book to the most excellent Theophilus (Luke 1:3). It is believed that Theophilus may have been a dignitary of some sort perhaps from Rome. It is also believed that Luke was a Gentile not a Jew. These opinions fit well with the theme of Luke s book, presenting Jesus as 32 Lesson 4 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

33 the Redeemer of humanity. Jesus is often referred to in this Gospel as the Son of Man, a title He used for Himself more frequently than any other name. One verse that sums up the essence of the Gospel of Luke is Luke 19:10: for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. This verse reveals Christ as Man in human flesh who consistently sought out sinners that they might be saved. We witness this in the account of the despicable tax collector and sinner Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5), in the miraculous healings (Luke 6:8, 7:10), and in Jesus s willingness to raise the dead (Luke 7:13 15). Not only did Jesus seek out sinners, but also Luke portrays Jesus as one who repeatedly showed compassion to women (Luke 7:13), to Samaritans (Luke 10:33), and to children (Luke 18:15 16). And in the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus paints a picture of the loving, compassionate Father who is eager to welcome repentant sinners and forgive the humble heart that willingly turns away from sin and to God (Luke 15:11 32). That brings us to the Gospel of John. As mentioned in Lesson 3, the Gospel of John is very different from the three Gospels already mentioned here. John clearly cites his reason for writing this Gospel: but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31). This verse states John s two-fold purpose to encourage his readers to believe in Jesus and to present Jesus as the Son of God fully God and fully man. Throughout his Gospel, John repeatedly makes his plea to his audience to believe in Jesus (John 1:7, 3:16, 5:24, 6:29, 11:25 26.) Also, John presents Jesus as the eternal God, describing Him as the Word who was in the beginning, who was with God, and who was God the very Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1, 1:14). What a beautiful testimony these four unique accounts of Jesus Christ are as they communicate God s revelation to man. By the power of the Holy Spirit, who inspired these books, we have the history of Jesus Christ, the God- Man, presented through a tax collector (Matthew), a Jewish friend (Mark), a Gentile doctor (Luke), and a Jewish fisherman (John). Only God could have sovereignly woven these lives together with the life of Christ to bring about this amazingly accurate and life-changing account. To Him alone be all the glory for His Word and the redemption it offers all who believe. HISTORICAL/APOLOGETICS BACKGROUND God knew what He was doing when He directed the writing of the Gospels. You might be thinking that is one of the most obvious things you have ever heard. But when you really dig into the differences of the four Gospels, Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 4 33

34 God s wisdom becomes evident. As you read above, each of the Gospels has a slightly different angle on the life of Christ. In a sense, each is written to bring the message of the gospel into a context that makes sense to different people with different backgrounds and different cultural practices both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 26:22 23). The Apostle Paul explains this approach in 1 Corinthians 9:19 23: For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law [Jews], to those who are without law, as without law... that I might win those who are without law [Gentiles]; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Paul was willing to approach Jews, Gentiles, and the weak with the gospel message delivered in a unique way to each unique group so they could relate to and better understand what was being taught. He did this without compromising his own conscience toward the holy God he served and without compromising the core gospel message of repentance toward God and faith in Jesus (Acts 20:21). An example of the same gospel message to different audiences is illustrated for us in the book of Acts by Peter and Paul. Both of these men boldly proclaimed the hope of reconciliation in Jesus, but in different ways. In Acts 2, we have a record of a proclamation of the gospel message given by Peter on Pentecost. Luke, the author of Acts, described what happened during this Jewish festival in Jerusalem. Although the people listening to Peter were from many different nations, they all shared the same religious heritage belief in and knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures (Acts 2:7 11). Consequently, Peter s message included many passages from the Old Testament writings. Peter did not need to explain ideas like sin and judgment because his audience was familiar with these ideas. When he talked of the prophet Joel and the patriarch David, he didn t need to offer an introduction Peter knew his audience was familiar with these men and the Old Testament accounts he preached from (Acts 2:16 39). Peter was living in and preaching to a Jewish culture. And he presented the message of repentance and faith in Christ in light of that context. 34 Lesson 4 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

35 Paul, on the other hand, in the message he preached to the Greeks at the Areopagus (Acts 17:22 24), knew his audience did not possess knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures. So, Paul started this message from the beginning, explaining who God is: that there is but one God who created the world and everything in it, that this God determines the events of the world, and that He is the only God worthy of the praise and honor of all men. Paul recognized that those listening to this message had not heard of God s judgment or the Resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:22 31). And he had to lay that foundation before calling his hearers to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. As we tell others about Jesus Christ and the Bible, it is important to know what their foundation in the Scriptures is. What have they heard? What is their frame of reference when it comes to the gospel? This will help us to better understand where to begin as we proclaim the life-giving good news of Jesus Christ. Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 4 35

36 Studying God s Word What does each Gospel teach us about Jesus? Jesus Is... Complete the Jesus Is worksheet as you study the following passages. Matthew 1:1 Matthew 9:27, 12:23, 15:22, 20:30, 21:9, 21:15, 22:42 Matthew 2:1 6 Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 7:21, 13:11, 19:14 Matthew 27:11 Mark 1:40 42, 6:33 34, 8:1 3 Mark 1:10, 12, 18, 20, 21, 28, 31, 42 Mark 10:45 Luke 5:27 32 Luke 19:5 10 John 1:7, 1:12, 3:15 18, 17:1 5 John 1:1 5, 1:14, 20: Lesson 4 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

37 God s Word in the Real World 1. In the last two lessons, we have talked a lot about the four Gospels that reveal the life events of our Savior while He walked the earth. What has been the most helpful piece of information you have gathered and how is it helpful to you? 2. We talked about four different titles for Jesus today (King of the Jews, Suffering Servant, Redeemer of Mankind, and Son of God). Which of those is the most difficult for you to understand? 3. Which of those titles is most meaningful to you and why? 4. How can knowing that each of the Gospels has a slightly different audience in mind and a different way to highlight who Jesus is help you as you seek to share the gospel and make disciples? 5. How could you use the information we talked about today to disciple those who already believe and trust in Jesus as their Savior? Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 4 37

38 Prayer Requests 38 Lesson 4 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult

39 5 The Life of Christ Key Passages Selected passages from the Gospel of Luke What You Will Learn Some key events in Christ s life on earth. Lesson Overview The Gospels tell us about Jesus our Savior His humble birth, His early years, His miracles, His teachings, His death, His Resurrection, and His ascension. Memory Verse John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult Lesson 5 39

40 Prepare to Learn SCRIPTURAL BACKGROUND How could one possibly write an overview of the life of Christ in one lesson? We are reminded of the verse the Apostle John ended his Gospel with, John 21:25: And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. The important thing to remember here is that we know that what has been recorded about Jesus Christ His birth, His life, His death, His Resurrection, and His ascension is true history. Not only are they true historical events, but His brief life was more significant than any other life ever lived, for it affected all humanity for all eternity. We will take a bird s-eye view of Jesus s ministry from the book of Luke, discussing only a few of the myriad of events that were significant as He ministered, taught, preached, warned, and proclaimed the way to eternal life through humble faith and trust in Him. Jesus s birth (Luke 2:4 7): In fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the Bible records a humble birth for the King of kings, laid as an infant in a feeding trough because there were no rooms available. Jesus s early years (Luke 2:42, 2:46 50): At twelve years old, Jesus was already about His Father s business, listening to and asking questions of the teachers in the Temple, astounding them with His understanding and answers. Jesus s baptism (Luke 3:21 22): As Jesus was baptized by John, He humbly associated Himself with sinners and exhibited His humility and obedience to His Father, who proclaimed that this was indeed His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. Jesus taught in synagogues (Luke 4:14 15): Once Jesus started His adult ministry, we read of Him being in the synagogues, expounding the Scriptures with authority. Jesus healed the sick (Luke 4:38 39): In this account, Jesus healed Simon Peter s mother-in-law of a high fever. This was just one of many instances where Christ revealed His power over sickness and His compassion for others by healing them of various illnesses. Jesus controlled nature (Luke 8:22 25): Here is one example of many where Jesus manifested His power over nature. So amazing was His stilling of the storm that His disciples said to one another, Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him! Jesus taught His disciples (Luke 11:1 4): Jesus taught often in the synagogues. But He also spent much time teaching His disciples. In these verses, we learn that His disciples asked Him an important question about prayer. And Jesus 40 Lesson 5 Year 3 Quarter 1 Adult