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The following presents the significant events in the life of Christ and the corresponding Bible books where each event is detailed (Part 1):
Birth: (Matthew 1—2; Luke 2) – These passages narrate the well-known Christmas story, marking the commencement of Christ’s earthly life. They include Mary and Joseph, the lack of space at the inn, the baby in the manger, the shepherds with their flocks, a host of angels celebrating. Additionally, we read about the wise men from the East tracing the star to Bethlehem, offering gifts to the Christ child, and Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fleeing to Egypt before returning to Nazareth. These accounts also feature Jesus’ presentation at the temple when He was eight days old and His dialogue with the teachers at the temple when He was twelve. The tale of the Savior’s birth two millennia ago is remarkable, brimming with intricate and significant details cherished by contemporary witnesses and believers through the ages. However, the narrative of God descending to earth as a human originated thousands of years earlier with the prophecies of the forthcoming Messiah. In Genesis 3:15, God foretold of a Savior. Centuries later, Isaiah prophesied about a virgin conceiving and giving birth to a son who would be called Emmanuel, meaning “God with us” «Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. », (Isaiah 7:14). The initial significant event in Christ’s life is His humble start in a stable, where God came to dwell among us, born to liberate His people and redeem us from our sins.
Baptism: (Matthew 3:13-17;Mark 1:9-11;Luke 3:21-23) – The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River marks the commencement of His public ministry. John’s baptism symbolized repentance.In the instance, although Jesus did not require such a baptism, He agreed to it to associate Himself with sinners. When John hesitated because Jesus wanted to be baptized by him, stating that he, John, should be baptized by Jesus, Jesus insisted. Jesus stated, “It is appropriate for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness,” so John complied with the request (Matthew 3:13-15). Through His baptism, Jesus aligned with the sinners whose sins He would soon bear on the cross, where He would exchange His righteousness for their sin, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Christ’s baptism symbolized His death and resurrection, foreshadowed and emphasized the significance of Christian baptism, and publicly associated Christ with those for whom He would die. Furthermore, His identity as the long-awaited Messiah was affirmed by God Himself, who spoke from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Jesus’ baptism marked the initial appearance of the Trinity to humanity. The Son was baptized, the Father spoke, and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. The Father’s directive, the Son’s compliance, and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment present a beautiful portrayal of the ministry and life of Christ.
First miracle: John 2:1-11 – It is appropriate that John’s Gospel is the sole record of Jesus’ first miracle. John’s narrative of Christ’s life aims to reveal His divinity. This incident, where Jesus transforms water into wine, demonstrates His divine nature.One power over the elements of the earth, the same power that would be revealed again in many more miracles of healing and the control of the elements such as wind and the sea. John goes on to tell us that this first miracle had two outcomes—the glory of Christ was manifest and the disciples believed in Him “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”, (John 2:11). The divine, glorified nature of Christ was hidden when He assumed human form, but in instances such as this miracle, His true nature burst forth and was made manifest to all who had eyes to see “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”, (Matthew 13:16). The disciples always believed in Jesus, but the miracles helped to strengthen their faith and prepare them for the difficult times that lay ahead of them.
Sermon on the Mount: (Matthew 5:1-7:29) – Perhaps the most famous sermon of all time was preached by Jesus to His disciples early in His public ministry. Many memorable phrases that we know today came from this sermon, including “blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth,” “salt of the earth,” “an eye for an eye,” “the lilies of the field,” “ask and you will receive,” and “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” as well as the concepts of going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, and the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Also in the sermon is the Lord’s Prayer. Most importantly, though, the Sermon on the Mount dealt a devastating blow to the Pharisees and their religion of works-righteousness. By expounding the spirit of the Law and not just the letter of it, Jesus left no doubt that legalism is of no avail for salvation and that, in fact, the demands oIf the demands of the Law are humanly impossible to fulfill. He concludes the sermon by urging genuine faith for salvation and cautioning that the path to salvation is narrow, and only a few discover it. Jesus illustrates that those who not only hear His teachings but also follow them are like prudent builders who construct their homes on a sturdy foundation; when storms arise, their homes remain standing.
