1. John the Baptist pg. 341 John the Baptist was a Levite Johns message was simple Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand Hundreds came to John to confess their sins He always made it clear that he was not the Christ, or the Anointed One His ministry fulfilled the prophecy that Elijah would return and turn the hearts of the people John completes the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah.. John the Baptist was a Levite Johns message was simple Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand Hundreds came to John to confess their sins He always made it clear that he was not the Christ, or the Anointed One His ministry fulfilled the prophecy that Elijah would return and turn the hearts of the people John completes the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah..

2. Jesus Baptized pg. 343 Jesus baptism by John identified Jesus with us sinners He freely chose to go through everything sinners would have to go through As a Levite and prophet, John anointed Jesus for his ministry The Spirit came to Jesus as it had on the kings of Israel when they were anointed Dove reminds us of the dove that Noah sent out after the flood - Baptism is a new creation.. Jesus baptism by John identified Jesus with us sinners He freely chose to go through everything sinners would have to go through As a Levite and prophet, John anointed Jesus for his ministry The Spirit came to Jesus as it had on the kings of Israel when they were anointed Dove reminds us of the dove that Noah sent out after the flood - Baptism is a new creation..

3. The Temptation in the Wilderness pg. 345 Jesus prepares for his ministry by fasting in the wilderness Jesus could not have sinned because He was God incarnate, but he was truly human and able to be tempted The symbolic number forty recalls the fasts of Moses and Elijah and the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness. Jesus overcomes the temptations that Adam and Israel could not resist. As the new Adam, Jesus had overcome the temptation that the first Adam had been unable to resist As the King of Israel, Jesus had repeated the trial of Israel in the wilderness, but had overcome the temptation to worship false gods.. Jesus prepares for his ministry by fasting in the wilderness Jesus could not have sinned because He was God incarnate, but he was truly human and able to be tempted The symbolic number forty recalls the fasts of Moses and Elijah and the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness. Jesus overcomes the temptations that Adam and Israel could not resist. As the new Adam, Jesus had overcome the temptation that the first Adam had been unable to resist As the King of Israel, Jesus had repeated the trial of Israel in the wilderness, but had overcome the temptation to worship false gods..

4. Water into Wine pg. 347 Jesus went to the marriage at Cana in Galilee The people ran out of wine and ask Jesus for his help Jesus said his hour had not yet come, but at his mothers encouragement, he performed the miracle Jesus had the servants fill 6 jars with water and then had them take some out and taste it and they were shocked to find it tasted like wine!.. Jesus went to the marriage at Cana in Galilee The people ran out of wine and ask Jesus for his help Jesus said his hour had not yet come, but at his mothers encouragement, he performed the miracle Jesus had the servants fill 6 jars with water and then had them take some out and taste it and they were shocked to find it tasted like wine!..

5. Cleansing the Temple pg. 348 Jesus began his public ministry with what must have looked like an outburst of bad temper to the priests and elders of Jerusalem. Faithful Jews had to pay there temple tax and the Jewish religion also required animal sacrifices at certain times Jesus was angered because money changers took advantage of the temple making it into a noisy street market rather than a place of prayer It was important because Jesus announced the coming of a new age, in which the spirit of the law, not the letter, would be the important thing.. Jesus began his public ministry with what must have looked like an outburst of bad temper to the priests and elders of Jerusalem. Faithful Jews had to pay there temple tax and the Jewish religion also required animal sacrifices at certain times Jesus was angered because money changers took advantage of the temple making it into a noisy street market rather than a place of prayer It was important because Jesus announced the coming of a new age, in which the spirit of the law, not the letter, would be the important thing..

6. Healing the Sick pg. 352 Jesus traveled, preaching the good news and healing the sick Miraculous healings were one of the things the faithful People of God expected to see as signs of the true Son of David As the prophet Isaiah shows, sickness was thought to be bound up with sin, and the forgiveness of sins would come with healing Only God could forgive sins, but Jesus claimed the same authority, making himself equal to God Because of this, the scribes called him a blasphemer.. Jesus traveled, preaching the good news and healing the sick Miraculous healings were one of the things the faithful People of God expected to see as signs of the true Son of David As the prophet Isaiah shows, sickness was thought to be bound up with sin, and the forgiveness of sins would come with healing Only God could forgive sins, but Jesus claimed the same authority, making himself equal to God Because of this, the scribes called him a blasphemer..

7. Who Sinned? pg. 353 Ordinary people seemed to understand who Jesus was, but the greatest Scripture scholars failed to Read Matthew 9:27-30 The eyes of the blind men did not see, but their hearts could see the truth about Jesus The scribes and Pharisees, whose eyes worked well, were blind to the spiritual truth Jesus was always careful to point out that sin was not the cause of sickness Pharisees were really blind and really sinners - even when they saw God working in Jesus, they refused to believe it.. Ordinary people seemed to understand who Jesus was, but the greatest Scripture scholars failed to Read Matthew 9:27-30 The eyes of the blind men did not see, but their hearts could see the truth about Jesus The scribes and Pharisees, whose eyes worked well, were blind to the spiritual truth Jesus was always careful to point out that sin was not the cause of sickness Pharisees were really blind and really sinners - even when they saw God working in Jesus, they refused to believe it..

8. Casting Out Demons pg. 354 His power over demons showed people who he was Demons recognized him, but Pharisees were too stubborn to see Scholars convinced themselves that Jesus cast out demons by demonic power God is infinitely more powerful than satan, and Jesus shows that over and over.. His power over demons showed people who he was Demons recognized him, but Pharisees were too stubborn to see Scholars convinced themselves that Jesus cast out demons by demonic power God is infinitely more powerful than satan, and Jesus shows that over and over..

9. Eating with Sinners pg. 355 Good Pharisees kept themselves from all contact with sinners Jesus could be found, day after day, visiting outcasts and Gentiles and having dinner with them Tax collectors were hated for working with the Roman government and extorting money from people The more fanatical Jews insisted that it was wrong for a Jew even to pay his Roman taxes One of Jesus most devoted followers was a tax collector named Levi or Matthew.. Good Pharisees kept themselves from all contact with sinners Jesus could be found, day after day, visiting outcasts and Gentiles and having dinner with them Tax collectors were hated for working with the Roman government and extorting money from people The more fanatical Jews insisted that it was wrong for a Jew even to pay his Roman taxes One of Jesus most devoted followers was a tax collector named Levi or Matthew..

10. Women and Samaritans pg. 356 Many were also shocked by the way Jesus would talk to women and Samaritans Well bred men didnt talk to women in public No Jew would speak to a Samaritan Jesus spoke to women and Samaritans as equals For Luke, the only Gentile Gospel writer, it was important to show that Jesus extended his ministry beyond the Jews By bringing the Good News to the Samaritans, Jesus fulfills the promises that the whole kingdom of Israel would be restored.. Many were also shocked by the way Jesus would talk to women and Samaritans Well bred men didnt talk to women in public No Jew would speak to a Samaritan Jesus spoke to women and Samaritans as equals For Luke, the only Gentile Gospel writer, it was important to show that Jesus extended his ministry beyond the Jews By bringing the Good News to the Samaritans, Jesus fulfills the promises that the whole kingdom of Israel would be restored..

11. The Twelve pg. 356 Jesus had hundreds of followers, but he entrusted his ministry to 12 in particular 12 is the same number as the tribes of Israel The prophets proclaimed that the Messiah would restore the Kingdom of Israel and bring all the tribes back together Apostles is a Greek word meaning ones who are sent The 12 would be the new leaders of his Church, the new Israel Most were from the lower class, only high class was tax collector Some had 2 names - one Jewish and a Greek or Roman name.. Jesus had hundreds of followers, but he entrusted his ministry to 12 in particular 12 is the same number as the tribes of Israel The prophets proclaimed that the Messiah would restore the Kingdom of Israel and bring all the tribes back together Apostles is a Greek word meaning ones who are sent The 12 would be the new leaders of his Church, the new Israel Most were from the lower class, only high class was tax collector Some had 2 names - one Jewish and a Greek or Roman name..

12. Hosanna to the Son of David pg. 358 After 3 years of public ministry, Jesus knew it was time to suffer in Jerusalem He also knew the authorities were planning to kill him But the ordinary people of Jerusalem were ready to welcome him as the Messiah He rode into Jerusalem on a colt, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 The triumph did not last long, within he week the promised Kingdom of David would appear to be lost forever.. After 3 years of public ministry, Jesus knew it was time to suffer in Jerusalem He also knew the authorities were planning to kill him But the ordinary people of Jerusalem were ready to welcome him as the Messiah He rode into Jerusalem on a colt, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 The triumph did not last long, within he week the promised Kingdom of David would appear to be lost forever..