Lesson 51-John the Baptist ALMOST A THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN, THE PROPHET ISAIAH PREDICTED that a man would come and preach to the people of Israel and tell them that Jesus was coming, and that's exactly what happened. The Bible says that-...in those days John the Baptist came...this is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him." The Bible tells us John the Baptist ate, where he lived, and how he dressed. In the book of Matthew, Chapter 2, the Bible tells us that- John s clothes were made of camel s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Vs. 3-4. The people came from all over to see this man and hear him preach. The Bible says that- People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan River. V. 5. John told people to repent, which means stop sinning. In verse 5 it says that- Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan [River]. But John knew that some of the people had not stopped sinning. He told them they were evil and should stop sinning. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Vs. 7-8. But John knew that he was preparing the way for Jesus, God's son. He said, I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. V. 11. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. The Bible says that- Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John didn't think he should baptize Jesus. In verse 13 John says- I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus knew God wanted him to be baptized by John, and Jesus replied, Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. Then John consented. The Bible says that John baptized Jesus, and THEN -- As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Vs. 16-17.
Lesson 52-Jesus is Baptized THREE APOSTLES TELL US ABOUT JESUS BEING BAPTIZED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST-- The book of Matthew tells us the story of Jesus' baptism. In Matthew, chapter 13, verse 3, the Bible says that- Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John didn't think he should baptize Jesus. In verse 13 John says- I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus knew God wanted him to be baptized by John, and Jesus replied, Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. Then John consented. The Bible says that John baptized Jesus, and THEN -- As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Vs. 16-17. The story of Jesus' baptism can be found in the book of Mark, too--the Bible tells us that- At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. Mark 1: 9-11. The book of Luke tells the story too, in 3:21f-- - Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.
Lesson 53-Jesus Goes to a Wedding AFTER HE WAS BAPTIZED, JESUS WENT BACK TO GALILEE to a town named Cana, which was about eight miles from Nazareth. It was where he had lived as a boy. There was a wedding in Cana, and the Bible says that-...[t]here was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. John 2:1-2. Jesus had not yet done any miracles, but at the wedding his mother, who knew he was the son of God and could do miracles, wanted him to help the people giving the wedding. The Bible says that. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine. And Jesus said to her, Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you. Vs. 3-6. Jesus decided to help, and the Bible tells us that--...[t]here were six stone water jars there...each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, Fill the jars with water. And they filled them up to the brim. Vs. 7-8. We know that Jesus turned that water into wine, because the Bible says that-- And he said to them, Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now. Vs. 9-10. This was Jesus' first miracle that everyone knew about. the Bible says that-- This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. V. 11.
Lesson 54-Jesus Heals the Sick AFTER JESUS TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE, HE BEGAN HIS MINISTRY, and part of his ministry was to heal people. In the book of Matthew, Chapter 8, the Bible says- When Jesus came down from the hill, great crowds followed him. Then a man with a skin disease came to Jesus. The man bowed down before him and said, Lord, you can heal me if you will. Vs. 1-2 The man with the skin disease had faith that Jesus could heal him, and Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, I will. Be healed! And immediately the man was healed from his disease. Then Jesus healed the servant of an army officer. The Bible says that- When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, an army officer came to him, begging for help. The officer said, Lord, my servant is at home in bed. He can t move his body and is in much pain. Vs. 5-6. Jesus said to the officer, I will go and heal him. The officer answered, Lord, I am not worthy for you to come into my house. You only need to command it, and my servant will be healed. I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, Go, and he goes. I tell another soldier, Come, and he comes. I say to my servant, Do this, and my servant does it. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to those who were following him, I tell you the truth, this is the greatest faith I have found, even in Israel. Vs. 7-10. Then Jesus said to the officer, Go home. Your servant will be healed just as you believed he would. And his servant was healed that same hour. Vs. 7-13. Jesus next healed his friend Peter's mother. The Bible says that- When Jesus went to Peter s house, he saw that Peter s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever. Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she stood up and began to serve Jesus. Vs. 14-15. Jesus the healed many more people. The Bible says that- That evening people brought to Jesus many [others]...[and] he healed all the sick. The prophet Isaiah had said hundreds of years before that the Messiah would heal people. Jesus was the Messiah that people were waiting for, and the Bible says that- He did these things to bring about what Isaiah the prophet had said: He took our suffering on him and carried our diseases. Isaiah 53:4. Vs. 14-17. Jesus did many other miracles too, that we learn about when we read the Bible.
Lesson 55-The Leper Who Said Thank You WHEN JESUS WAS TRAVELING TO JERUSALEM TEN MEN MET HIM. These men had a very bad disease which was not curable back then. People who had it looked terrible, and no one wanted to go near them, so they usually lived outside the towns or cities, away from other people. In the book of Luke, chapter 17, the Bible tells us that-... on his way to Jerusalem, as Jesus... was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. Vs. 11-13. These ten men didn't even come near to Jesus. The Bible says that- They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, Jesus, Master, have pity on us! Vs. 19. Jesus did take pity on these very ill men. The Bible says that- When he saw them, he said, Go, show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were cleansed. Vs. 14. After the men showed themselves to the priests and the priests told them they were healed, nine of the men (who must have been very excited) went on their way and did not even thank Jesus, who had, after all, completely changed their lives by healing them. The Bible tells us that one of the men--only one--did something else. The Bible says that- One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus feet and thanked him and he was a Samaritan. Vs. 15-16. Foreigners, or people from other countries, often look different, sound different, and act different, and because them seem different, people who are different are sometimes looked down on. People felt that way about Samaritans. However, the only leper who came back was the one who was a Samaritan! Jesus asked him-... Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner? Then he said to him, Rise and go; your faith has made you well. Vs. 17-19. It was the foreigner, the Samaritan, who came back and thanked Jesus, and that pleased Jesus. Jesus was pleased with the Samaritan, but not with the other nine men.
Lesson 56-Jesus Loves the Children JESUS LOVED LITTLE CHILDREN. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT each of Jesus' disciples wanted to be his favorite, but in Matthew, Chapter 18, it says....[t]he disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Vs. 1-5 Jesus wanted his followers to know how important it is to set a good example for children. He said.. If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. V. 6. Jesus also wanted people to treat children well, and in verse 11 he tells us that children have angels. See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. V. 11. Little children were so important to Jesus that he told them this parable... What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. Vs. 12-14. And in Matthew Chapter 20, the Bible tells us that another time......people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Vs. 13-15.
Lesson 57-Jesus Feeds the Multitudes SOMETIMES JESUS WANTED TO BE ALONE. In the book of Matthew, Chapter 14, the Bible says that when Jesus heard that his cousin John had died, he wanted to be alone. The Bible says that- When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. However, a huge crowd of people followed Jesus everywhere he went. The Bible says that...they followed Him on foot from the cities. V. 13. These people followed Jesus for days at a time, bringing the people they loved for Jesus to heal, and listening to Jesus speak. Sometimes they ran out of food and were hungry. Matthew tells us that...when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food. Vs. 14-15. Jesus felt compassion for these people, and...jesus said to them, They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. V. 16. But the disciples gathered up whatever they had, but they did not have much food either.... they said to Him, We have here only five loaves and two fish. V. 17. Jesus said...... Bring them here to Me. Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Vs. 18-20. Jesus made the five loaves and two fish feed many thousands of people. The Bible tells us that.. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. V. 21.
Lesson 58-Zacchaeus Wants to See Jesus AS JESUS TRAVELED ALONG HE CAME TO THE TOWN OF JERICHO. As he was passing through, the Bible says in Luke 19 that. Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. Zacchaeus the tax collector....wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. V. 3. Zacchaeus decided that if he wanted to see Jesus, he would have to do something. The Bible says that--...he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. V. 4. Jesus did not pass by Zacchaeus without noticing him. The Bible says that-- When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today. So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. V. 5-6. Now Zacchaeus was a tax collector, and back then the tax collectors got people to pay more than they were supposed to, and then kept the extra. So. All the people saw this and began to mutter, He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. V. 7. But Zacchaeus decided to do what was right, and...zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. V. 8. So Jesus told Zacchaeus--.... Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Vs. 9-10.
Lesson 59-Mary Shows Her Love For Jesus WHEN JESUS WAS ASKED TO EAT AT THE HOUSE OF A PHARISEE, a man named Simon, Jesus accepted. This is what the Bible says in Luke 7:36. Now one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he entered into the house of the Pharisee and reclined at the table. Then a woman came into the house. She brought some perfumed oil with her. The Bible says that- And behold, a woman in the town..., when she learned that he was dining in the Pharisee s house, brought an alabaster flask of perfumed oil... This woman was a sinner, and she knew that Jesus could forgive her sins, and she was so grateful that she was crying. The Bible says that-...standing behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and was wiping them with the hair of her head and...anointing them with the perfumed oil. V. 38. However, Simon the Pharisee did not think Jesus should be around a sinful woman, and--...when the Pharisee who invited him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner. V. 39. But Jesus knew what Simon was thinking, and he told him a parable....jesus answered and said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he said, Teacher, say it. V. 40. This is the parable Jesus told Simon: There were two debtors who owed a certain creditor. One owed five hundred denarii's and the other fifty. When they were not able to repay him, he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered and said, I suppose that it is the one to whom he forgave more. Vs. 41-42. Simon understood that Jesus was saying that since the woman had been forgiven of more, she loved Jesus more. And Jesus told him-- You have judged correctly. Vs. 41-43
Lesson 60-Mary, Martha, and Lazarus JESUS HAD A FRIEND IN BETHANY, IN JUDEA. It was a man named Lazarus, and Lazarus was sick. The Bible says that: Now a man named Lazarus was sick. [and his]... sisters sent word to Jesus, Lord, the one you love is sick. John 11:1-3 Jesus loved Lazarus, but the Bible says that-,,,when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, Let us go back to Judea.", After he had said this, he went on to tell them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up. Vs. 6-11. The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant. His disciples replied, Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better. Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. Vs. 12-13 Then Jesus explained what he meant.,,,he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him. The Bible says that- On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. Lord, Martha said to Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again. Vs. 17-23, But Martha did not quite understand. Martha answered, I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. V. 24. So Jesus reminded her that-,,, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? Vs. 25-26 Martha knew who Jesus was--that he was the son of God, and she answered- Yes, Lord, she replied, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world. V. 27. Martha then went to get Mary, who was at home, and- When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village...when Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Vs. 28-31. Jesus saw how sad Mary was, and- When Jesus saw her weeping...jesus wept. Then the Jews said, See how he loved him! But some of them said, Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying? Vs. 32-37. Jesus was sad because Mary was sad, but the Bible says that-jesus...came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. Take away the stone, he said. Then Jesus said, Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God? So they did what Jesus said to do-...they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me. Vs. 41-42. Then- When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, Lazarus, come out! The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Vs. 43-44.