INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF CHRIST IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER Part One: The Method The Life of Christ in Chronological Order takes verses and chapters from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and arranges them in the order in which they occurred. Therefore, by the time we finish, we will have covered all four Gospels in their entirety. The study begins with events that precede the birth of Jesus and finishes with His ascension into Heaven. The lessons are set up to be done on a daily basis. Let us be much in prayer as we work on each lesson and as we meet to encourage each other. Let us lay claim in prayer to Jesus promise to us: The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26). Each of the four Gospels brings out an important part of the life of Christ. Matthew was written to Jews and reveals Jesus to be the long awaited Messiah. Prominent among the many themes in the Gospel is the Kingdom of God and the authority and power of Jesus. Matthew presents Jesus as the Lion of Judah who says, Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near (Matthew 4:17). Written to Romans, Mark unveils Jesus as the suffering servant who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Mark s Gospel is a book of action with immediately and straightway being key words to draw attention to what Jesus was doing. Mark presents Jesus as the ox that bears the sins and infirmities of a fallen world. Unlike the two previous Gospels, Luke wrote to an individual, a Gentile whose name was Theophilus, in order that he might know with certainty the things he was taught. The Gospel reveals Jesus to be the Son of Man who came to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10). In his gospel, Luke repeatedly shows Jesus compassion for the downtrodden of the day: for women, for the poor, and for the social and religious outcasts. Taken together, Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels because they have much content in common. Written to believers around the end of the first century A.D., the Gospel of John provides a spiritual key to understanding the Synoptic Gospels. Key words are Son of God, believe and Holy Spirit. John records only seven miracles and refers to them as signs. Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30-31). 1
In Ezekiel 1:4-14, we are given a glimpse of the four living creatures, which are identified as cherubim in Ezekiel 10:15. In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings (Ezekiel 1:5). Their faces looked like this Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces (Ezekiel 1:10-11). It has been said that that the four Gospels taken together form a picture of Christ that is reflected in the faces of the cherubim. In Luke, we see Jesus as the Son of Man who has come to redeem sinful man. In Matthew, we see Jesus as the Lion of Judah who is the long awaited Messiah. In Mark, we see Jesus as the ox laden down with the burdens of man. And in John, we see Jesus, the Son of God, as the eagle sent from Heaven. May our study be used by God to have reflected on our faces the Lord s glory as we are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). Part Two: The Mission Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess (Hebrews 3:1). Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). These words, written nearly two thousand years ago, give us the key to a fabulous treasure a treasure hidden from the world and too often left unopened by those who believe in Jesus. These words are the key that opens the treasure box wherein we find abundant life, a life of fulfillment, peace and joy. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). The Greek word for full is perissos which means more than is really necessary, a surplus. Jesus offers us a life that is overflowing in peace and joy. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete (John 15:11). Jesus lived, died, rose from the dead and ascended to the right Hand of God the Father so that those who believe in Him might have abundant life, a life of fulfillment, peace and joy, year in and year out, day in and day out, hour by hour and minute by minute. Jesus made these promises to people who lived over two thousand years ago. He is God. He knew that soon they would be persecuted, hunted down and killed for His sake. Yet He still promised abundant life, a life of fulfillment, peace and joy. The first believers received the fulfillment of His promise of abundant life, and they endured the fulfillment of His warning. They were stoned; they were thrown into pits filled with vicious animals; they were sewn up in the skins of animals and 2
tossed into the arena where wild animals mauled them for the enjoyment of the spectators; they were crucified; they were beheaded; they were sawed in two; they were tied to poles and set on fire. But in all these things they were more than conquerors because just as He had warned them of persecution, so He had promised them abundant life, a life of fulfillment, peace and joy, and it was theirs. While many believers around the world face persecution and death, others of us do not have to fear for our lives because we are followers of Christ. However, we do live in a day in which dangers and pressures are as real and as threatening as they were for the first believers. Satan is still a roaring lion, still intent on stealing, still intent on killing and still intent on destroying each of us, each member of our family, each of our friends, indeed, each person on earth. The dangers are here and the result is evident. Today there is little difference in the divorce rate of the general population when compared with that of Christians. Like nonbelievers, Christian husbands and wives are being caught up in the sin of adultery. Like nonbelievers, Christian teenagers are committing the sin of fornication in alarming numbers. The sin of looking at pornographic pictures and movies has ensnared innumerable Christian men and boys, just as it has non-believing men and boys. Homosexual acts are considered acceptable by many believers just as they are by many nonbelievers. All are dangers and all are as deadly as those faced by the first believers. And just as the dangers are here, so are the pressures. Living with a spouse who is not a believer, living with a disagreeable spouse or disagreeable children, dealing with illness or death, spending long hours at work or having no work at all, living on a meager income or living above our income, raising children or caring for aging parents, living alone or feeling alone--all are pressures as debilitating as those faced by the first believers. In the midst of danger and pressure, Christ comes to us just as He came to the believers so long ago, offering us the gift of abundant life, a life of fulfillment, peace and joy. It is a gift He earned for us by His life, His death on the Cross and His resurrection from the dead. And by his life today, it is ours. Today, at this moment, Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God interceding for us. He, in His ongoing work of intercession for us, imparts abundant life to us, a life lived to the full, a life of peace and joy that is not dependent upon circumstances because we know who controls the circumstances, a life of joy that does not depend upon what happens but upon the One who controls what happens. If Jesus is our Lord and Master, then abundant life is ours because it is impossible for Him to be unfaithful. If we acknowledge that we are constantly filled with fear and discontent and are a prisoner to ongoing sin, then we have to wonder if Jesus is relevant for us today. As we begin our study, let us ask the Lord to give us the grace by the power of the Holy Spirit to shift our focus from ourselves and our circumstances in order that we may fix our thoughts and our eyes upon Jesus so that we may trust Him more and more. Let us ask Him to teach us His thoughts, His values, His priorities so 3
that abundant life, a life of fulfillment, peace and joy, will be a reality in us. Let us never forget that For no matter how many promises God has made, they are Yes in Christ. And so through him the Amen is spoken by us to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20). May our words be heard throughout the whole world, Jesus is relevant for us today. And may we believe without wavering in the promises of God for According to your faith will it be done to you (Matthew 9:29) Private Life: 30 years: From Jesus birth to the beginning of his public ministry Prologue of John s Gospel: John 1:1-18 Preface of Luke s Gospel: Luke 1:1-4 Memory verse: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1. Day 1: Read the notes and look over the chronological outline. 1. What was helpful to you from the lecture or from the notes? 2. Explain the difference in the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John. 3. Memorize John 10:10 and explain what it means to you. 4. What do you expect to gain from our study? Day 2: Preface of Luke s Gospel: Read Luke 1:1-4: 5. From Luke 1:3, give the phrase that tells what Luke did before he wrote his Gospel and the phrase that tells how he describes his account. 6. From Luke 1:4, why was Luke so careful to investigate his account? 4
7. Read 1 Timothy 3:16-17. a. Write down ways in which the Scriptures are viewed today. b. How might each view affect one s walk with the Lord? 8. Personal and only to be shared in class on a voluntary basis. a. What has determined how you view the Scriptures? b. How has your view of the Scriptures changed over the years? DAY 3: Prologue of John s Gospel: Read John 1:1-18 9. Memorize John 1:1. What do you think each of the following phrases means: a. In the beginning was the Word b. and the Word was with God c...and the Word was God. 10. Read John 1:14. a. Read John 20:24-29. What event proved to Thomas that Jesus is God? b. Read Romans 1:1-4. From verse 4, what event does Paul say proves Jesus is the Son of God? 11. Read John 1:2-3. a. What does John say about the Word of God? 5
b. Read Colossians 1:15-18. What does Paul tell us about Jesus? c. What do we learn about Jesus from Hebrews 1:1-4? 12. Read Micah 5:2 which is a prophecy of the Messiah who was to come. What phrase gives an indication that the Messiah would be more than just an ordinary man? DAY 4: Read John 1:6-18 which refers to John the Baptist, not John, the writer of this Gospel. 13. List phrases with the number of each verse that give: a. John s mission b. John s message c. the difference between John and Jesus Christ 14. From these verses, give reasons why the Word became flesh. 15. Read John 1:16-17. a. List blessings you have received through Jesus Christ. b. Take one of the blessings and tell how it has affected your life this week. 16. Challenge question: read John 1:1-2 with John 1:18. What did you learn about God the Father and God the Son from these three verses? 6
Day 5: Read John 1:4-9. 17. Challenge question: read Genesis 1:3-5. From verse 4, what did God do to the light and the darkness, and how does this gives us our first clue as to the coming of Jesus Christ? 18. Question for thought: read John 1:5. What do you think darkness symbolizes, and why do you think it cannot understand the light? 19. Read Isaiah 9:1-7. In verse 2, we see that The people who were walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. The word for in verse 6 indicates the great light will be fulfilled in a child, a son who is to be born. From verse 6, list the four names that he will be called. 20. Take each of the four names from your previous answer, and tell how each is fulfilled in Jesus. Day 6: Read John 12:35-36 21. Are you a son of the light? If so what does this mean to you? 22. Personal question: do you think your family, your co-workers, and your friends know that you are a son of the light? Give reasons for your answer. 23. Can you share with us how you lead your children, your co-workers, and your friends to become sons of the light? 24. Challenge question: Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 and Mark 2:13-17. How do you see these two passages fulfilled in your life and the lives of your children? 7