Lecture Notes on the Life of Jesus

The New Testament and the Gospels

The New Testament begins with the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Units 10 and 11 focus on Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth, miracles, teachings, death, and resurrection.

The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38)

Angel Gabriel sent to Nazareth to Mary, a virgin betrothed to Joseph.
Gabriel greets Mary as highly favored and blessed.
Tells Mary she will conceive and bear a son named Jesus.
Jesus will be great, the Son of the Highest, and inherit the throne of David.
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.
Mary questions how this is possible as she is a virgin.
Gabriel explains the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and the power of the Highest will overshadow her; the holy one born will be called the Son of God.
Mentions Elizabeth, Mary's relative, who conceived in old age, proving nothing is impossible with God.
Mary accepts, declaring herself the maidservant of the Lord.

The Nativity (Luke 2:1-21)

Caesar Augustus decrees a census, requiring everyone to register in their ancestral homes for taxation.
Joseph goes from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David, because he is of David's lineage, with Mary, who is pregnant.
While in Bethlehem, Mary gives birth to her firstborn son.
She wraps him in swaddling cloths and lays him in a manger because there is no room in the inn.
Shepherds in the fields are visited by an angel of the Lord, surrounded by glory, causing them great fear.
The angel brings good tidings of great joy: a Savior, Christ the Lord, is born in the city of David.
The sign: a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.
A multitude of the heavenly host appears, praising God and proclaiming:
- "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men!"
The shepherds go to Bethlehem and find Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus in the manger.
They make widely known what they were told about the child.
Mary ponders these things in her heart.
The shepherds return, glorifying and praising God.
After eight days, the child is circumcised and named Jesus, as the angel had said.

Wise Men from the East (Matthew 2:1-16, 19-23)

After Jesus is born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East come to Jerusalem, seeking the newborn king of the Jews because they saw his star.
King Herod is troubled and consults chief priests and scribes, who tell him the Christ is to be born in Bethlehem, according to prophecy:
- "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a ruler Who will shepherd my people Israel."
Herod secretly asks the wise men when the star appeared and sends them to Bethlehem to search for the child, asking them to report back so he can worship him too.
The star guides them to the house where the young child is.
They rejoice and worship Jesus, presenting gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they depart another way.

The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18)

An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, warning him to flee to Egypt with Jesus and Mary because Herod will seek to destroy the child.
They go to Egypt and stay there until Herod's death.
This fulfills the prophecy: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Herod, realizing he was deceived by the wise men, orders the killing of all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem and its districts.

Return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23)

After Herod's death, an angel tells Joseph in a dream to return to Israel.
Hearing that Archelaus is reigning over Judea, Joseph is afraid and, being warned by God in a dream, goes to Galilee.
They settle in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy: "He shall be called a Nazarene."

The Baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:4-11)

John the Baptist preaches in the wilderness, baptizing people for the remission of sins in the Jordan River.
John wears camel's hair, a leather belt, and eats locusts and wild honey.
He proclaims that one mightier than he is coming, whose sandal strap he is unworthy to loosen.
John baptizes with water, but the coming one will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus comes from Nazareth of Galilee and is baptized by John in the Jordan.
As Jesus comes up from the water, he sees the heavens parting and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
A voice from heaven declares, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Temptation in the Wilderness (Mark 1:12-13)

Immediately after the baptism, the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness.
He is tempted by Satan for forty days and is with the wild beasts; angels minister to him.

Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee (Mark 1:14-15)

After John is imprisoned, Jesus comes to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
He proclaims, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)

Jesus and his disciples are in a boat, and a great windstorm arises, filling the boat with water.
Jesus is asleep on a pillow in the stern.
The disciples wake him, asking if he cares that they are perishing.
Jesus rebukes the wind and says to the sea, "Peace, be still!"
The wind ceases, and there is a great calm.
Jesus asks the disciples why they are fearful and lack faith.
They are exceedingly afraid and ask, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey him!"

The Gadarene Demoniac (Mark 5:1-20)

Jesus arrives at the country of the Gadarenes.
A man with an unclean spirit meets him; he lives among the tombs and cannot be bound, even with chains.
He cries out, cutting himself with stones.
Seeing Jesus from afar, he runs and worships him.
He asks, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God that you do not torment me."
Jesus commands the unclean spirit to come out of him.
Jesus asks the spirit's name, and it replies, "My name is Legion; for we are many."
The spirits beg not to be sent out of the country and ask to enter a herd of about two thousand swine nearby.
Jesus gives them permission, and the unclean spirits enter the swine, which run violently into the sea and drown.
The swineherds tell the story in the city and country.
People come to see what happened and find the demon-possessed man sitting, clothed, and in his right mind; they are afraid.
They plead with Jesus to depart from their region.

A Suffering Woman and Jairus's Daughter (Mark 5:21-43)

Jesus crosses back to the other side of the sea, and a great multitude gathers.
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, begs Jesus to heal his dying daughter.
A woman with a flow of blood for twelve years touches Jesus' garment, believing she will be healed.
Immediately, her bleeding stops, and she feels healed.
Jesus asks who touched him, and the woman, fearing, tells him the truth.
Jesus tells her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."
Someone from Jairus's house says his daughter is dead, but Jesus tells Jairus, "Do not be afraid; only believe."
Jesus goes to Jairus's house with Peter, James, and John.
He finds a tumult of people weeping and wailing and says, "The child is not dead, but sleeping."
They laugh at him.
Jesus takes the child's parents and his companions into the room where the child is lying.
He takes her hand and says, "Talitha, cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."
The girl immediately gets up and walks, and they are greatly amazed.
Jesus commands them to tell no one and to give her something to eat.

A Prophet Without Honor (Mark 6:1-6)

Jesus returns to his own country and teaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath.
Many are astonished, questioning his wisdom and mighty works, identifying him as a carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon.
They are offended at him.
Jesus says, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."
He could do no mighty work there, except heal a few sick people, and he marveled at their unbelief.
He goes about the villages teaching.

The Death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29)

King Herod hears of Jesus and thinks John the Baptist has been raised from the dead.
Others think Jesus is Elijah or a prophet.
Herod recalls imprisoning John for speaking out against Herod's marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
Herodias wanted to kill John, but Herod feared him because he knew him to be a just and holy man.
On Herod's birthday, Herodias's daughter Salome dances for him, and he promises to give her whatever she asks, up to half his kingdom.
Herodias tells her daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist.
Herod is sorry but fulfills his oath and sends an executioner to behead John in prison.
John's head is brought on a platter and given to Salome, who gives it to her mother.
John's disciples take his corpse and lay it in a tomb.

Feeding the Multitude (Mark 6:30-44)

The apostles return and tell Jesus what they have done and taught.
Jesus invites them to rest in a deserted place because they are so busy.
The multitudes follow them on foot from the cities.
Jesus has compassion on them and teaches them many things.
The disciples suggest sending the people away to buy food because it is late and they are in a deserted place.
Jesus tells them, "You give them something to eat."
They question buying 200 denarii worth of bread.
Jesus asks how many loaves they have; they find five loaves and two fish.
Jesus has the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
He takes the five loaves and two fish, looks up to heaven, blesses and breaks the loaves, and gives them to the disciples to distribute.
Everyone eats and is filled; they take up twelve baskets full of fragments.
About five thousand men are fed.

Walking on the Sea (Mark 6:45-52)

Immediately after feeding the five thousand, Jesus sends his disciples ahead in a boat while he sends the multitude away.
He goes to the mountains to pray.
The boat is in the middle of the sea, and the wind is against them.
In the fourth watch of the night (around 3 A.M.), Jesus comes to them, walking on the sea.
The disciples think he is a ghost and cry out.
Jesus says, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
He gets into the boat, and the wind ceases.
The disciples are amazed because they did not understand about the loaves, and their hearts were hardened.

The Bread of Life Discourse (John 6:25-40)

The crowd finds Jesus on the other side of the sea and asks when he came there.
Jesus says they seek him not because they saw the signs, but because they ate the loaves and were filled.
He tells them not to labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give.
They ask what they should do to work the works of God.
Jesus says the work of God is to believe in him whom God sent.
They ask for a sign to believe, recalling that their fathers ate manna in the desert.
Jesus says Moses did not give them the bread from heaven, but his Father gives the true bread from heaven.
He says the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
They ask for this bread always.
Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst."
He explains that he came down from heaven to do the will of the Father, which is to lose nothing of what the Father has given him but to raise it up at the last day, and that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life.

The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)

Jesus goes up on a mountain, sits down, and teaches his disciples.
He begins with the Beatitudes:
- "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
- "Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted."
- "Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth."
- "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled."
- "Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy."
- "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God."
- "Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God."
- "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

The Sermon on the Mount: "But I Say to You" (Matthew 5:21-48)

Jesus contrasts his teachings with what was said to those of old:
- "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder,' and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment."
- Instruction on reconciliation before offering gifts at the altar.
- "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
- Instruction on plucking out the eye if it causes sin.
- "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
- Instruction on giving your cloak as well as your tunic.
- "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

The Sermon on the Mount: On Giving, Prayer, and Fasting (Matthew 6:1-18)

Do not do charitable deeds before men to be seen by them.
When giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your charitable deed may be in secret.
Do not use vain repetitions when you pray, as the heathen do.
The Lord's Prayer:
- "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

The Sermon on the Mount: Treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-24)

Do not lay up treasures on earth but in heaven.
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
No one can serve two masters; you cannot serve God and mammon.

The Sermon on the Mount: Do Not Worry (Matthew 6:25-34)

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or what you will wear.
Look at the birds; your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Consider the lilies of the field; even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of them.
Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you.
Do not worry about tomorrow.

The Sermon on the Mount: Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-5)

Judge not, that you be not judged.
With what judgment you judge, you will be judged.
Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

The Sermon on the Mount: The Two Foundations (Matthew 7:24-29)

The wise man builds his house on the rock, which stands firm in the storm.
The foolish man builds his house on the sand, and it falls.
The people were astonished at Jesus' teaching because he taught with authority, not like the scribes.