THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MINISTRY By Jake, Katie, Tim, Andrew and Meredith

JOHN THE BAPTIST- THE COUSIN OF JESUS

Who is John the Baptist? “And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.” Luke 1:36 John the Baptist was born of Elizabeth, Mary’s sister, making John the cousin of Jesus.

THE FIRST ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH When Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, went to see her sister, John jumped in Elizabeth’s womb and was the first to recognize that Jesus was the Son of God “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’” Luke 1:41-42

BEFORE THE BAPTISM The people asked John why he could baptize if he was not the Messiah, Elijah or the Prophet. John answered, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” The next day, Jesus came forth and John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God”.

The Baptism of Jesus Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan River by John

“On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.” Mark 1:10

“And a voice came from the heavens, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’” Mark 1:11

PART TWO: THE TEMPTATION IN THE DESERT

Temptation in the Desert After Jesus was baptized, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, which led him into the Jordan Desert. The story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert is one that is often attributed to signify that we should stick with God.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” – Matthew 4: 1-4

He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:3

Jesus is told to eat when he is fasting. The Devil is trying to end the sacrifice that Jesus is performing. Jesus rejects the Devil and continues to fast. Later the Devil brought Jesus to the Parapet of the Temple and tempted him to “throw himself down”.

PART THREE: THE WEDDING AT CANA

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 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.”

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 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.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Important Points This is Jesus' first miracle Jesus listens to his mother and does what she tells him Jesus’ disciples begin to believe in him

PART FOUR: THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Simon who was called Peter Andrew who was the brother of Peter James “the Great” John the son of Zebedee Phillip Bartholomew also known as Nathaniel James “the Less” or James son of Alphaeus Matthew the Tax Collector Simon the Canaanite Judas Iscariot Matthias who replaced Judas Iscariot THESE ARE THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Simon (Peter), Andrew, James “the Great”, and John Simon (Peter) and Andrew were fishing in the Sea of Galilee when Jesus called them to be Apostles Matthew 18 Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Phillip Jesus called Phillip to follow him John 43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

Bartholomew (Nathaniel) Jesus spoke out to Bartholomew John 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, I saw you underneath the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these!" 51 He said to him, "Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Thomas Thomas spoke out in a crowd John 14 So Jesus said to them plainly then, "Lazarus is dead. 15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let's go to him." 16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go also, that we may die with him."

Matthew the Tax Collector Jesus instructed Matthew to follow him Luke 27 After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow me!" 28 He left everything, and rose up and followed him. 29 Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.

Matthias Acts 15 In these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, 16 "Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry. 18 Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. 19 It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called 'Akeldama,' that is, 'The field of blood.'

Mathias (continued) 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein;' and, 'Let another take his office.' 21 "Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection." 23 They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 They prayed, and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place." 26 They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Simon the Canaanite (Simon the Zealot), James The son of Alphaeus, and Judas Iscariot It is unknown how Simon, James, and Judas where called to be part of the 12 apostles

JEPOARDY