the life of christ - monergism€¦ · the life of christ chapter 1: the preparation at the time...

TheLifeofChrist

ByJ.GreshamMachen

TableofContents

Chapter1:ThePreparationChapter2:TheComingoftheLordChapter3:TheBaptismChapter4:TheEarlyJudeanMinistryChapter5:TheBeginningoftheGalilaeanMinistryChapter6:ThePeriodofPopularityChapter7:TheTurningPointChapter8:JesusasMessiahChapter9:ThePredictionoftheCrossChapter10:TheLastJourneysChapter11:TeachingintheTempleChapter12:TheCrucifixionChapter13:TheResurrectionChapter14:TheBeginningsoftheChristianChurch

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TheLifeofChrist

Chapter1:ThePreparation

At the timewhen theOldTestamentnarrative closes, theJewswereundertheruleofPersia.ThePersiancontrolcontinuedforaboutonehundredyearsmore,andthengavewaytotheempireofAlexandertheGreat.AlexanderwaskingofMacedonia, a country to thenorthofGreece; but the language andcultureofhiscourtwereGreek.AfterGreeceproperhadbeenconqueredbyAlexander's father, Philip, Alexander himself proceeded to the conquest ofthe East. The Persian Empire fell in 331 B.C., and with the other Persianpossessions Jerusalem came into the hands of the conqueror. In 323 B.C.,when Alexander died, his vast empire, which extended around the easternend of the Mediterranean Sea and to the borders of India, at once fell topieces.Butthekingdomsintowhichtheempirewasdividedweretoa largeextentGreekkingdoms.Short-lived,therefore,asAlexander'sempirewas, ithad the permanent effect of spreading the Greek language and GreekcivilizationovertheEasternworld.Itbecamethusaswillbeseen,oneofthemostimportantfactorsinthedivinepreparationforthegospel.

After the death of Alexander, the country of Judea became a bone ofcontentionbetweentwoofthekingdomsintowhichAlexander'sempirewasdivided-theGreekkingdomofSyriaandtheGreekkingdomofEgypt.Atlast,however, the Syrian kingdom, with its capital at Antioch, near thenortheasterncorneroftheMediterraneanSea,gainedtheupperhand.JudeabecamepartoftheterritoryoftheSyrianmonarchs.

In the reign of Antiochus IV of Syria, called Antiochus Epiphanes, 175-164B.C., the Jews began a war for independence. Antiochus Epiphanes haddesecratedtheTempleatJerusalembysettingupanimageofaheathengodin theHolyofHolies.The resultwas theglorious revolt of theJewsunderMattathias and his sons-the family of the Maccabees. The Maccabeanuprising,ofwhichastirringaccounthasbeenpreservedintheFirstBookoftheMaccabees,anapocryphalbookattachedtotheOldTestament,certainlyconstitutes one of themost glorious chapters in the history of liberty. Theuprisingwassuccessful,andforaboutonehundredyearsthelittlecountryofthe Jews, though surrounded by powerful neighbors, succeeded in

maintainingitsindependence.

At first theMaccabeeshadbeen animatedby a religiousmotive; the revolthadbeenduenottoaninterferencewithwhatmaybecalledcivilliberty,buttothedesecrationbyAntiochusEpiphanesoftheTempleandtotheattemptat prohibiting the worship of Jehovah. As time went on, however, theMaccabeanrulersbecamemoreworldlyintheirpurposesandthusalienatedthedevoutelementamongtheirpeople.Hencethelittlekingdombecameaneasypreytothenextgreatworldempirewhichappeareduponthescene.

That empirewas the empire ofRome.Originally a small city-state in Italy,RomehadgraduallyextendedherconquestsuntilshecameintoconflictwithGreece and with the Greek kingdoms of the Eastern world. Weakened bymanycauses,thesuccessorsofAlexandersoonsuccumbed,andamongthemthemonarchsofSyria.Judeacouldnot,resistthenewconqueror.In63B.C.,the famous Roman general, Pompey, entered Jerusalem, and Jewishindependencewasatanend.

TheRomancontrolwasexerted inPalestine fora timethroughsubservienthighpriests,untilin37B.C.HerodtheGreatwasmadeking.HerodwasnotarealJew,butanIdumaean;andat,hearthehadlittleornoattachmenttotheJews' religion.But hewaswise enoughnot to offend Jewish feeling in theoutrageous way that. had proved so disastrous to Antiochus Epiphanes.Throughout his reign Herod was of course thoroughly subservient to theRomans;thoughaking,hewasstrictlyavassalking.Herodreignedfrom37B.C.to4B.C.HiskingdomembracednotonlyJudea,butallPalestine.ItwasneartheendofHerod'sreignthatourSaviourwasborn.Thusthereckoningof theChristianera,whichwas institutedmanycenturiesafterChrist, isatleastfouryearstoolow;Jesuswasbornalittleearlierthan4B.C.

When Pompey conquered Jerusalem in 63 B.C., Romewas still a republic.But before many years had elapsed Julius Ceasar assumed the supremepower,andtheancientRomanlibertiesweregone.AftertheassassinationofCaesarin44B.C.,therewasalongperiodofcivilwar.FinallyAugustuswastriumphant,andtheRomanEmpirebegan.InthelongreignofAugustus,27B.C.toA.D.14,ourSaviourwasborn.

The political events which have just been outlined did not take place bychance.TheywereallpartsoftheplanofGodwhichpreparedforthecomingoftheLord.WhenJesusfinallycame,theworldwaspreparedforhiscoming.

In the first place, the Roman Empire provided that peace and unity whichwas needed for the spread of the gospel. War interrupts communicationbetweennations.ButwhentheapostleswentforthfromJerusalemtospreadthe good news of Christ to the world, there was no war to interrupt theircourse.Nationwasboundtonationtinder thestronghandofRome.Travelwas comparatively safe and easy, and despite occasional persecution theearliest missionaries usually enjoyed the protection of Roman law. In thesecond place, the Greek language provided a medium of communication.When the Romans conquered the Eastern world, they did not endeavor tosubstitutetheirownlanguageforthelanguagewhichalreadyprevailed.Suchan attempt would only have produced confusion. Indeed, the Romansthemselves adopted the Greek language as a convenient medium ofcommunication. Greek thus became a world language. The original, locallanguages of the various countries continued to be used (Aramaic, forexample, was used in Palestine), but Greek was a commonmedium. Thuswhentheapostleswent forthto theevangelizationof theworld, therewerenobarriersoflanguagetochecktheircourse.

Inthethirdplace,thedispersionoftheJewsprovidedtheearlymissionarieseverywhere with a starting point for their labors. As a result not only ofcaptivity,butalsoofvoluntaryemigration,theJewsinthefirstcenturywerescattered abroad throughout the cities of the world verymuch as they arescattered today. But there was one important difference. Today the JewishsynagoguesareattendedonlybyJews.Inthosedaystheywereattendedalsobymenofotherraces.ThuswhenPaulandtheotherChristianmissionariesexercised theirprivilegeof speaking in the, synagogues, theywerespeakingnotonlytoJewsbutalsotoapickedaudienceofGentiles.

QuestionsonChapter1

1. Name in order the foreign powerswhich possessed the country of theJews,beginningwithOldTestament timesandcontinuingdownto thepresent(lay.

2. WhatwastheimportanceoftheMaccabeanuprisinginthe.preparationfor the coming of the Lord?What would have happened if AntiochusEpiphaneshadbeensuccessful?

3. What was the importance of the Roman Empire for the spread of thegospel?oftheGreeklanguage?ofthedispersionoftheJews?

Chapter2:TheComingoftheLord

John1:1-18

WhentheSonofGodcametoearthforoursalvation,theworldwasreadyforhis coming.Thewhole courseofhistoryhadbeenmade to leadup tohim.Andhewaswellworthyofbeing thus thegoalofhistory.For theOnewhocamewasnoneotherthantheeternalSonofGod,theWordwhowaswith.God and who was God. He had existed from all eternity; he had been theinstrument in creating the world. He was himself truly God, the same insubstancewith theFather, and equal in power and glory. Yet theOnewhowassogreathumbledhimselftobebornasamanandfinallytosufferanddie.Hiscomingwasavoluntaryact,anactoftheFatheringivinghimforthesinsoftheworld,andhisownactwhichheperformedbecausehelovedus.Itwas an act of infinite condescension. The Son of God humbled himself tolead a true human life; he took upon himself our nature.Hewas born, hegrewinwisdomandstature,hesuffered,hedied."HewasalwaysGod,buthebecamealsoman.Whocanmeasurethedepthofsuchcondescendinglove?

What, then, was themanner of his coming? The story is told, in beautifulnarrative,inthefirsttwochaptersofMatthewandLuke.

Luke1:5-25,57-80

First, the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner, was announced by theangel Gabriel to Zacharias, a devout priest, as he was ministering in theTemple. Luke 1:5-25. Zachariaswas old; he had given up hope of children.Thepromiseseemedtohimtoowonderfultobetrue;hedoubtedtheangel'sword.But thepunishmentwhichwas inflicteduponhim forhisdoubtwastemporarymerely, and the bitterness of itwas swallowedup in joy for thechild that was born. The tongue of Zacharias, which had been dumb onaccountofhissin,wasloosed,andheutteredawonderfulsongofpraise.Vs.57-80.

Luke1:26-56

ButbeforeJohnwasborn,infulfillmentoftheangel'spromise,therewasapromiseofagreaterthanJohn.Luke1:26-56."TheangelGabrielwassentfromGoduntoacityofGalilee,namedNazareth, toavirginbetrothed toamanwhosenamewasJoseph,ofthehouse,ofDavid;andthevirgin'snamewasMary."ItwasafarmorewonderfulpromisethanthatwhichhadcometoZacharias,notonlybecauseofthegreatergloryofthepromisedSon,butalsobecauseofthemysteryofhisbirth.Thechildwastohavenohumanfather,butwastobegivenbythepoweroftheHolySpirit.Butthistime,despitethestrangenessofthepromise,therewasnounbelief,asinthecaseofZacharias."Behold, thehandmaidof theLord,"saidMary;"be ituntomeaccordingtothyword."And thenMarywent toJudea tovisitherkinswomanElisabeth,thewifeofZacharias;andwhileinJudeashegavegloriousexpressiontoherthanksgiving in the hymn which is called, from the first word of it in theLatintranslation,the"Magnificat"

"My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God mySaviour."ThenMaryreturnedtoherownhomeinNazareth.

Matthew1:18-25

Butanotherannouncementof theSaviour'sbirthwasmade toJoseph,whowasbetrothedtoMary.Matt.1:18-25.Josephwastohavethehighprivilegeofcaringforthechildthatwastobeborn."FearnottotakeuntotheeMarythywife,"saidtheangeltoJosephinadream,"forthatwhichisconceivedinher is of the Holy Spirit." And here again, there was no unbelief and nodisobedience.Joseph"didastheangeloftheLordcommandedhim,andtookuntohimhiswife."

Luke2:1-7

JosephandMarylivedinNazareth,atownofthenorthernpartofPalestine,whichwascalledGalilee.ButthepromisedChildwastobelongtothehouseofDavid,anditwasfittingthatheshouldbebornatBethlehem,alittletownfivemilessouthofJerusalemwhereDavidhimselfhadbeenborn.Tocausehim to be born at Bethlehem,Godmade use of an event of world politics.Luke 2:1-7. A decree had gone out from the emperor, Augustus, that thewholeempire shouldbeenrolled.Thisenrollmentor censusseems tohavebeen carriedout in thekingdomofHerod theGreatby the Jewishmethodwhichtookaccountoffamilyrelationships.So,althoughatthetimeJosephandMary were living at Nazareth, they went up to the home of Joseph's

ancestors, toBethlehem, tobe enrolled.AndatBethlehem theSaviourwasborn.Therewasnoroominthelodgingplace.TheChildwaslaid,therefore,inamangerthatwasintendedforthefeedingofcattle.

Luke2:8-20

ButhumbleaswerethesurroundingsofthenewbornKing,hisbirthwasnotwithoutmanifestations of glory. Luke 2:8-20. Shepherds, keepingwatch inthefieldsbynight,heardamultitudeoftheheavenlyhostpraisingGodandsaying,"GlorytoGodinthehighest,andonearthpeaceamongmeninwhomheiswellpleased."Theshepherdswentthentoseethesignwhichhadbeenmade known to them. It was a strange sign indeed-Christ the Lord, thepromisedKing,wrappedinswaddlingclothesandlyinginamanger.

Luke2:21-38;Matthew2:1-12

Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary made the offeringaccording to the Old Testament law, and presented the Child, as the first-born,totheLordintheTempleatJerusalem.Luke2:21-38.Thentheymusthave returned to Bethlehem, for it was at Bethlehem that gifts werepresentedbyWiseMenfromtheEast.Matt.2:1-12.TheWiseMenhadbeenguidedtoBethlehempartlybyawonderfulstarwhichtheyhadfirstseenintheir own country, and partly by questions which were answered by thescribes.

Matthew2:13-23

ButthelifeoftheinfantSaviourwasnotalltobeahearingofangels'songsandareceptionofgoldand frankincenseandmyrrh.TheLordbadcometosufferforthesinsoftheworld,andthelastgreatsufferingonthecrosswasanticipatedbythepersecutionwhichcameintheearlydays.Matt.2 :13-18.ThesuspicionsofHerod,thejealousking,hadbeenarousedbythequestionsoftheWiseMen.HesenttoBethlehemtoputapossiblerivaloutoftheway.Butitwastoolate.'

'Theking'sragewasventedupontheinnocentchildrenofthelittletown,butGodhadcaredfortheinfantSaviour.TheLordwasfinallytodieforthesinsof theworld.Butmeanwhilemanywordsofwisdomandgracewere to fallfrom his lips; his hour was not yet come. Joseph was warned of God in adream,and took theyoungChildandhismotheraway toEgypt, outof the

way of harm, until Herod the Great was dead. Then they returned toNazareth,where theChildwas tospend long,quietyearsofpreparation forhiswork.

QuestionsonChapter2

1.WhatlifehadourSaviourlivedbeforehecametoearth?DidheceasetobeGodwhilehewasonearth?

2.Whydidhecome?

3.Whowas his forerunner?What sort of persons were the parents of theforerunner?

4.HowdidJesuscometobebornatBethlehem?

5.Whatwasthecharacterofhismother?

Chapter3:TheBaptism

Luke2:40-50

TheNewTestamenttellsverylittleabouttheboyhoodandearlymanhoodofour Saviour. One incident, however, is narrated. Luke 2:41-50. Joseph andMary,weare told,were in thehabitof goingup fromGalilee toJerusalemeveryyearinthespringatthefeastofthePassover.WhenJesuswastwelveyearsold,hewentupwiththem.ButwhentheyleftJerusalemonthereturn,JesusremainedbehindintheTemple,tostudytheOldTestament;andwhenJosephandMaryfoundhim,herepliedtotheirinquiries,"KnewyenotthatImustbeaboutmyFather'sbusiness?"Theincidentshowsthepresenceevenin the human consciousness of the boy Jesus of a knowledge of the greatmissionthathewascalledtofulfillandofhisspecialrelationtoGod.

Luke2:51,52

ButtheconsciousnessofthesegreatthingsdidnotpreventourSaviourfrom

performing the humble tasks of daily life and from being obedient to hishumanparents.Luke2 :51,52.Jesusbecameacarpenter,andsinceJosephalsowasacarpenter,nodoubtJesus learnedthetradeinearlyyouth.Mark6:3; Matt. 13:55. For many years, till he was about thirty years old, theSaviour of the world labored at the carpenter's bench, and lived as anobedientsoninahumblehomeatNazareth.Luke3:23.

At last, however, the time came for the beginning of his public ministry.Beforethatministryisstudied,itmaybewelltocastaglanceattheconditionofthecountryintowhichJesusnowcameforward.

WhenHerodtheGreatdiedin4B.C.,hisdominionsweredividedamonghisthree sons. Archelaus received Judea, the southern part of Palestine, withJerusalemasitschiefcity;HerodAntipas,the"Herod"whoismentionedintheGospelsinconnectionwithJesus'publicministry,receivedGalileeandadistrict to the east of the Jordan River called Perea; and Philip received aregionlyingtotheeastofGalileeandtothenorthofPerea.WhenArchelauswasbanishedinA.D.6,histerritorywasplacedunderthecontrolofRomanofficials called procurators. The procurator who was in office duringJesus'public ministry was Pontius Pilate. Herod Antipas, with the title of"tetrarch," continued to rule until A.D. 39; Philip until about A.D. 33. ThepublicministryofJesusextendedfromA.D.26or27toA.D.29or30.Duringmost of that time hewas in the territory ofHerodAntipas and of PontiusPilate,thoughoccasionallyheenteredtheterritoryofPhilip.

Matthew3:1-12,andParallels

ThebeginningofJesus'publicministrywaspreparedforbytheworkofJohntheBaptist.Matt.3:1-12,andparallels.Johnwasthelastandgreatestprophetoftheolddispensation,whocamejustbeforethedawnofthenewage.Forcenturiesprophecyhadbeensilent.Butat lastaprophet came in the spiritand power of Elijah to prepare the heart of the people for the promisedMessiah.

Even in dress and inmanner of life, Johnwas like a prophet of the oldentime. His food was locusts and wild honey; he was clothed with a roughcamel's-hair garment; andhis preachingwas carried on in the deserts. Thesubstance of hismessage is summed up in the words, "Repent ye; for thekingdomofheavenisathand."Matt.3:2.

The phrase, "kingdom of heaven," or "kingdom of God," was evidentlyfamiliar to the hearers of John, and the meaning of the phrase, up to acertainpoint,isperfectlyclear.AsthekingdomofCaesaristheplacewhereCaesar bears rule, so the Kingdom of God is the place, or the condition,whereGodbears rule. In one sense, thewhole universe is theKingdomofGod, for nothing happens apart from God's will. But evidently John wasusingthephraseinsomenarrowersense;hemeantbytheKingdomofGodtheconditionwhereGod'swilliswroughtouttocompletion,wherethesinfuldisobediencewhichprevailsintheworldisbanishedandGodistrulyKing.

TheJewsexpectedanagewhichshouldbeundertheperfectcontrolofGod.But they were surprised by what John the Baptist said about therequirements for entrance into that age. They had supposed that all Jewswouldhave theblessingof theKingdom,but John told them that only therighteouswouldbeallowedtoenterin.Itwasastartlingmessage,sincethehearers of John knew only too well that they did not possess therighteousnesswhichwasrequired.Repentance,therefore,orcleansingfromsin,wasnecessary.Andthesignofcleansingwasbaptism.

Matthew3:13to4:11,andParallels

AmongthosewhocametobebaptizedwasJesusofNazareth.Matt.3:13-15,andparallels.Jesusdidnotneedtobebaptizedforhisownsake,forhehadnosintobewashedaway.Buthisbaptismwaspartofwhathewasdoingforhis people. Just as on the crosshe received thepunishment of sin, thoughthere was no sin of his own, so in his baptism he represented the sinfulpeoplewhomhecametosave.

When Jesus had been baptized, there was a wonderful event which wasperceivednotonlybyhimbutalsobyJohntheBaptist.Matt.3:16117,andparallels. The Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove, andtherewasavoicefromheavenwhichsaid,"ThisismybelovedSon,inwhomIamwellpleased."ThiseventmarksthebeginningofJesus'publicministryasMessiah.HehadbeentheMessiahalready,andhehadalreadypossessedthe Holy Spirit; but now the power of the Spirit impelled him to comeforwarddefinitelyasthepromisedOne.

Attheverybeginning,however,therewastemptationtobeovercome.Matt.4:1-11,andparallels.JesuswasledupfromthedeepJordanValley,wherethebaptism had taken place, into thewilderness on the heights. And there he

wastempted.Thetemptationwasbasedupontheholyexperiencewhichhehadjustreceived.ThevoicefromheavenhaddesignatedJesusasSonofGod."If that be true," said the Tempter, "if thou art really Son of God, use thypowertoobtaincreaturecomfort,testoutthypowerbycastingthyselfdownfromapinnacleoftheTemple,obtaintheimmediateenjoymentofthypowerbydoingobeisance tome."TheDevilquotedScripture forhis evilpurpose.ButJesusdidnotneedtorepudiatetheScriptureinordertorefutehim.TheHoly Scriptures themselves contained a sufficient answer to everysuggestionof theEvilOne.Thegreatvictorywaswon.TheKingdomof theMessiahwasnottobeaworldlyrealm,anditwasnottobewonbyworldlymeans.ThepathtotheMessiah'sthroneledbythewayofthecross.AndthatpathourSaviourwaswillingtotreadforoursakes.

QuestionsonChapter3

1.WhatisknownabouttheboyhoodandyouthofJesus?

2.DescribethephysicalfeaturesandthepoliticaldivisionsofPalestineatthetimeofourLord.WherewasJesusborn,wheredidhespendhisyouth,andwherewashebaptized?

3.WhatwasthemeaningofJohn'sbaptism?WhywasJesusbaptized?

4.Whatwasthemeaningofeachofthethreetemptations,andhowdidJesusovercomethem?

Chapter4:TheEarlyJudeanMinistry

John1:19-34

AfterthetemptationJesusdescendedagainintotheJordanValley,wherethebaptism had taken place. There he received the testimony of John theBaptist.John1:19-34.Johnhadcomenottoperformaworkofhisown,buttobeawitnesstothegreaterOnewhowastofollow.Heputaside,therefore,allthoughtsofpersonalambition,declaredplainlythathewasnottheChrist,

andrejoicedwhenhisdiscipleslefthiminordertofollowtheOne.whomhehadcometoannounce.Johnhadhadrevealedtohim,moreover,notmerelythefactthatJesuswastheSaviour,butalsosomethingofthewayinwhichthesalvationwastobewrought.Jesuswastodie,likeasacrificiallamb,forthesinsofothers."Behold,theLambofGod,"saidJohntohisdisciples,"thattakethawaythesinoftheworld!"

John1:35-51

Two pairs of brothers, in those early days, left John to follow the Saviour.John1:35-42.OnepairconsistedofAndrewandPeter; theother,nodoubt,consistedof thetwosonsofZebedee,JamesandJohn,althoughJohn,whowrote theGospel inwhich thisnarrative iscontained,hasnevermentionedhisownnameinhisbook.Twoothermen,besidesthesefour,cametoJesusonthefollowingday-PhilipandNathanael.Vs.43-51.

John2:1-11

Afterthemeetingwiththesesixdisciples,ourLordascendedagainfromthevalleyoftheJordantothehighercountryofGalilee.Andthere,inthevillageofCana,hewroughtthefirstofhismiracles.John2:1-11.Hewasaguestatawedding feast, andwhen thewine ran out he supplied the lack by turningwater into wine. Thereby he not only manifested his power, but alsoindicatedthemannerofhisministry.HewasnottobeanausterepersonlikeJohntheBaptist,livingfarfromthehabitationsofmen.Onthecontrary,hisministrywas,forthosewhomhecametowin,aministryofjoy.Heenterednotmerelyintothesorrows,butalsointothejoysofmen;theOnewhowastodieforthesinsoftheworldwasalsowillingtograceamarriagefeast!

John2:12-22

AfterabriefsojournatCapernaum,ontheshoresoftheSeaofGalilee,wherehe was afterwards to carry on a large part of his ministry, Jesus wentsouthwardtoJerusalematpassovertime.AtJerusalemhisfirstrecordedactwasanactofsternrebuke.John2:13-22.TheTempleareawasfilledwiththetablesofthosewhosoldthesheepandoxenanddoveswhichwereintendedfor sacrifice; the sacredprecincts ofGod's househadbeenmade aplace ofbusiness.TherewasnohesitationonthepartofJesus;hemadeascourgeofcords and drove the traffickers out. It is a mistake to suppose that thewonderfulgentlenessofourSaviourorhisgraciousparticipationininnocent

joyswasanyindicationofweakness.Thoughalwaysmercifultothepenitent,Jesuscouldbeindignantagainstblatantsinners;andtherighteousangeroftheSaviourwasaterriblething.

John2:23-25

At Jerusalem Jesus won adherents because of the miracles which hewrought.Buthewasable todistinguish truedevotion fromthatwhichwasfalse.He"knewallmen,...andneedednotthatanyoneshouldbearwitnessconcerningman;forhehimselfknewwhatwasinman."John2:24,25.

John3:1-15

OneexampleofthisknowledgewasaffordedbythecaseofNicodemus,John3:1-15;JesusknewwhatNicodemuslacked.Nicodemus,aruleroftheJews,came to Jesus by night, to discuss the substance of what Jesus had beensaying. But our Lord would not waste time with things that lay on thesurface.Hewentstraighttotheheartofthematter,andsaidtoNicodemus,"Ye must be born anew." V. 7. None of the learning, none of the worldlyinfluenceofNicodemuswouldavail;truelifecouldcomeonlybyanewbirth,whichall,richandpoor,learnedandignorant,mustreceive,andreceive,notbytheirownefforts,butbythemysteriouspoweroftheSpiritofGod.Jesusspoke,too,onthatmemorablenight,ofthesacrificialdeathwhichhehimselfwas to die for the sins of men. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in thewilderness," he said, "even so must the Son of man be lifted up; thatwhosoeverbelievethmayinhimhaveeternallife."

John3:22-30

ThenJesusleftJerusalem'thecapital,andcarriedon,throughhisdisciples,a-ministryofbaptisminthecountrydistrictsofJudea.John3:22-30.Hewasthus engaging in aworkwhich before had belonged peculiarly to John theBaptist. Some of John's disciples were perhaps inclined to be envious. ButtherewasnoenvyintheheartofJohnhimself.Hehadcomenotforhisownsake but to be a witness to Jesus asMessiah. And now he rejoiced in thegrowingprominenceofJesus."Thefriendofthebridegroom,"hesaidabouthimself, "rejoices at the voice of the bridegroom. He must increase, but Imustdecrease."Vs.29,30,insubstance.

John4:1-42

When this early Judeanministrywas over, Jesuswent back toGalilee.OnthewayhepassedthroughSamaria.John4:1-42.TheinhabitantsofSamariawerenotofpureJewish race,andalthough theyaccepted the fivebooksofMosesandlookedforthecomingofaMessiah,theydidnotacceptalloftheOldTestament.TheyweredespisedbytheJews.ButevenfortheSamaritans,andforthemostdegradedamongthem,theSaviourhadamessageofhope.Weariedbyhisjourney,ourLordwassittingbyJacob'swellnearthecityofSychar.Whenhisdiscipleshadgoneintothecitytobuyfood,awomancametodrawwaterat thewell.For thatwoman itwasamemorablehour.Jesuswaswilling to labor, and that in themidst of hisweariness- for one sinfulsoul,aswellasforallthemultitudesthathadcrowdedaroundhiminJudea.Thewomanwasofsinfullife,andshecouldnothidehersinfromJesusButJesussearchedouthersin,notinordertocondemnher,butinordertobringtoherthemessageofsalvation.Attracted,then,bywhatthewomanhadsaid,a number of the Samaritans came to Jesus and recognized him as theMessiahandastheSaviouroftheworld.

QuestionsonChapter4

1. GiveanaccountofthetestimonyofJohntheBaptisttoJesus.HowdidJohnknowthatJesuswastheMessiah?

2. WhathappenedatCana?Who,besidesJesus,wasaguestatthefeast?

3. Give an outline of all the journeys of Jesus up to his passage throughSamaria.

4. Give an account, fuller than the outline given, of the early Judeanministry.WhatdidJesussaywhenhewasaskedtogiveasign?

5. What is themeaningof the "newbirth"? Is it still necessary today if amanistobesaved?Howdoesitcome?

Chapter5:TheBeginningoftheGalilaeanMinistry

AfterpassingthroughSamaria,JesusarrivedinGalilee,anditwasinGalileethat a large part of his ministry was carried on. The Galilaeanministry isnarrated for the most part by the first three Gospels, which are calledSynoptic Gospels, whereas the Gospel According to John deals moreparticularlywiththeworkinJudea.

Luke4:16-30

Afterthehealingofanobleman'sson,whenJesuswasatCanaofGalilee,ourLordbeganhispreachingintheGalilaeansynagogues.Earlyinthisperiodhewent toNazareth, the placewhere he had been brought up. Luke 4 :16-30.ButthepeopleofNazarethcouldnotbelievethatthecarpenter'sSonwhomtheyhadknownwasreallychosenbyGodtofulfillthegloriouspropheciesofIsaiah.WhenrebukedbyJesustheyevendesiredtokillhim.Thusdidtheyillustrate, to their own eternal loss, thewords of Jesus that "Noprophet isacceptableinhisowncountry."

LeavingNazareth,ourLordwentdownanddweltatCapernaum,makingthatcityapparentlythecenterofhiswork.ButbeforethedetailsoftheGalilaeanministry are studied, it will be well to cast a hurried glance at thegeographicalfeaturesofthecountrywhereJesus'ministrywascarriedon.

The political divisions of Palestine have already beenmentionedGalilee inthe north, under the tetrarch, Herod Antipas; Samaria and Judea to thesouth,undertheRomanprocurator,PontiusPilate.Butthephysicalfeaturesof the countrydonot correspond at all to thepolitical divisions. Physicallythecountry isdivided into fournarrowstrips, eachaboutonehundredandfiftymiles long, running fromnorth to south.Thewesternmost strip is thecoastal plain, along theMediterranean Sea, into which Jesus hardly went;then comes the low hill country, the "shephela"; then the highlands, uponwhich Jerusalem is situated, reaching an altitude of some 2500 feet (760metres)abovesea level.ThesecentralhighlandsofPalestinearebrokenbytheplainofEsdraelon,insouthernGalilee.Alittletothenorthofthisplain,inahill country, lies the townofNazareth.Eastof thecentralhighlands isthedeepvalleyoftheJordanRiver.TheJordanrisesintheextremenorthofPalestine,oneofitssourcesbeingontheslopesoftheloftyMountHermon;thenflowssouthwardtothelakecalled"thewatersofMerom"'then,issuingfromthatlakeitflows,afterashortcourse, intotheLakeofGennesaret,orSeaofGalilee,whichisabouttwelvemileslong;then,issuingfromtheLake

of Gennesaret, it flows southward, through a very deep valley to the DeadSea,whichhasnooutletandisextremelysalt.DuringmostofitscoursetheJordan Valley lies far below the level of the sea, being on account of thispeculiarityabsolutelyuniqueamongtherivervalleysoftheworld.TheDeadSea is 1292 feet (394 metres), and the Lake of Gennesaret 682 feet (208metres)belowsealevel.ItwasontheshoresoftheLakeofGennesaretthatalarge part of ourLord'sministrywas carried on.Centuries ofmisrule havenow ruined the country, but in those days Galilee supported a largepopulation.Theshoresofthelake,particularly,were linedwithvillagesandtowns. The work of our Lord was thus carried on amid "life's throng andpress,"thoughfromtimetotimehesoughtoutthedesertplacesforrestandprayer.


At thebeginningof theministryon theshoresof theLakeofGalileeJesuscalled the twopairs of brothers - SimonPeter andAndrew, andJames andJohn.Matt. 4 :18-22, andparallels. Theyhad known Jesus before, andhaddevoted themselves tohis service.Butnow theywere commanded to showtheir devotion by leaving their ordinary occupation and becoming Jesus'permanentfollowers.

Mark1:21-39,andParallels

The Gospels give a vivid picture of a Sabbath which Jesus spent atCapernaum.nearthebeginningofhisGalilaeanministry.Mark1:21-34,andparallels.Asusual,hewent intothesynagogue.OurLordknewhowtofindGod'shandiwork in the flowersof the field;buthewasnot like thosewhothinkthattheworshipofGodthroughnatureisanysubstituteforthepublicworshipoftheChurch.InthesynagoguethepeoplewereastonishedatJesus'teaching: "He taught themashavingauthority,andnotas thescribes."Butthey were also astonished at his power; he commanded even the uncleanspiritsandtheyobeyedhim.Hewasnotmerelyateacher,butalsoahealer;hebroughtnotmerelyguidance,butalsoactivehelp.

Afterthesynagogueservice,JesuswentintothehouseofSimonandAndrewwithJamesandJohn.InthehousehehealedSimon'swife'smotherwhowassick of a fever. Others had heard of the wonderful power of Jesus, anddesiredtobehealed.ButinordernottobreaktheSabbath,theywaiteduntilsunset,whentheJewishSabbathwasover.AtsunsettheybroughttoJesus

thosewhoweresickandthosewhowerepossessedwithdemons,andJesusputforthhisdivinepowertoheal.

Ithadbeenacrowded,busyday.OurLordmusthavebeenwearyasnightatlastcame.Buteveninsuchbusydays,hetooktimetoseekthesourceofallstrength.Agreatwhilebeforethedawnhewentout intoadesertplaceandthereprayed.Mark1:35-39,andparallels.


After a tour in theGalilaean synagogues,with both preaching and healing,our Lord returned to Capernaum. There, as is told in one of the vividnarrativesoftheGospels,Jesushealedaparalytic.Matt.9:1-8,andparallels.Thesickmancouldnotbebroughtinbythedoorofthehousebecauseofthecrowds.Butheandhis friendswerenot tobedenied.The four friendswhoborehiscouchloweredhimthroughtheroofintotheplacewhereJesuswas.Theyhad found theHealer at last.But bodily healingwasnot the first giftwhich Jesus bestowed. "Son," said Jesus, "thy sins are forgiven." It was astrange physician indeed who could forgive sins. The scribes said that thewordofJesuswasblasphemy.Andsoitwas,unlessJesushimselfwereGod.Asaproofofhisdivinepower,theLordsaidalsototheparalytic,"Arise,andtakeupthybed,andwalk."AndsothemanwentawayfromthepresenceofthegreatHealer,wholeinbodyandinmind.

QuestionsonChapter5

1. Describe the political and the physical divisions of Palestine. In whatparts of the country was our Lord's ministry carried on? Where wasNazareth?Capernaum?Pointouttheseplacesonamap.

2. Describe the call of the four disciples. When and where had theyfollowedJesusbefore?Whatwastheiroccupation?

3. Give an account of the Sabbath in Capernaum that is described in theGospels. What great divisions of Jesus' work were illustrated on thatday?

4. Describe the healing of the paralytic. What can be learned from thisincident about the nature of Jesus' person? Why were the scribesoffended?

Chapter6:ThePeriodofPopularity

DuringthefirstpartoftheGalilaeanministry,ourLordhadthefavorofthepeople. Great crowds followed him so that he could scarcely enter into ahouse.On one occasion he embarked in a little boat and put forth a shortdistanceintothelake,soastobeabletospeaktothethrongontheshore.

Thispopularity,itistrue,wasnotuniversal.ThecommonpeopleheardJesusgladly,but theofficial teacherswerehostile.These teachers,whoarecalledscribes,belongedforthemostparttothesectofthePharisees.AtthetimeofChrist there were two chief parties among the Jews-the Pharisees and theSadducees. The Sadducees were a worldly aristocracy, in possession of thehigh-priestlyofficesatJerusalem,favoredbytheRomans,andsatisfiedwiththe existing political order. The Pharisees, on the other hand,were a strictJewishparty,insistedonastrictinterpretationoftheMosaicLaw,andaddedto the Law a great mass of oral "tradition," which ostensibly consisted ofinterpretation of the Law, but really meant an enormous and oppressiveadditiontoit.ThePhariseeswereopposedtoJesusforatleasttworeasons.In the first place, they were envious of his success in teaching, whichendangeredtheirownposition.Inthesecondplace,theywereopposedtothecontents of his teaching; he rejected their interpretation of the Law, andrebukedthemforpayingsuchattentiontothedetailedruleswhichweresetforthintheirtraditionastoforgettheweightiermattersofjusticeandmercy.

TheconflictofJesuswiththePhariseeswasprecipitatedparticularlybytheattitudeofJesustowardtheSabbath.TheSabbathcontroversywascarriedonpartlyinGalileeandpartly,John,ch.5,duringavisitofJesustoJerusalem.ThePhariseeshaddevelopedforthepreservationoftheSabbathanelaboratesetofruleswhichwentfarbeyondwhatwassetforthintheOldTestament.Theywereoffended,therefore,whenJesusrefusedtorebukehisdisciplesforpluckingtheearsofwheatontheSabbathDay,andwhenhehimselfinsistedonusingtheSabbathtoperformworksofmercylikethehealingofthemanthathadawitheredhand.ButforthepresenttheoppositionofthePhariseeswasheldincheckbythefavorwhichourLordhadamongthepeople.

ThisfavorwasduepartlytotheteachingofJesusandpartlytohismiracles.He interpreted the Scriptures in a fresh, original way; "He taught as onehaving authority andnot as their scribes."Andhehadpower to heal everymannerofdiseaseandtocastoutdemons.Itwasnowonderthatthecrowdsfollowedsowonderfulateacher.

Matthew4:17

TheGalilaeanteachingofJesusbeganwiththeproclamationoftheKingdomofGod.ThemessagesoundedatfirstsomewhatlikethemessageofJohntheBaptist.QuitelikeJohn,Jesuscameforwardwiththesummons,"Repentye;for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." But the new teacher differed fromJohn in the more complete account which he gave of the nature of theKingdom, and especially in the central place in the Kingdom which heassignedtohimself.

Matthew,Chapters5to7

Thenatureof theKingdomofGodisset forth inthegreatdiscourseofourLordwhichiscommonlycalledtheSermonontheMountMatt.,chs.5to7.Havinggoneup from the shoresof theSeaofGalilee to theheightswhichsurround the lake, our Lord taught his discipleswhatwas to be the life ofthose who should have a part in the Kingdom of God. In one sense, theKingdomlayaltogetherinthefuture;itwouldbeusheredinwithfullpoweronly at the end of the world. But in another sense, it was present alreadywherevertherewerethosewhoweretrulysubmittingtheirlivestoJesus.

The Sermon on the Mount contains certain features which arefundamentalinallofJesus'teaching.

Inthefirstplace,Godispresented,intheSermonontheMount,as"Father."The fatherhood of God, in the teaching of Jesus, is sometimesmisunderstood.JesusdidnotmeanthatGodisFatherofallmen.Godstandsindeed toallmen ina relationwhich isanalogous to thatofa father tohischildren;hecaresforall,hemakeshissuntoriseuponall.Matt.5:45.Butinthe teaching of Jesus and in the whole New Testament the lofty term,"Father,"isreservedforastillmoreintimaterelationship.SointheSermonon the Mount the great world without is sharply distinguished from thecompany of Jesus' disciples; it is only the latter who can say, "Our Father

whichartinheaven."

Therewasnothingnarrowinsuchteaching; foralthough inJesus' teachingthe intimate relationof sonship towardGodwasofferedonly to thosewhoshouldbe of thehousehold of faith, yet thedoor of thehousehold of faithwasopenwidetoallwhowouldbewillingtocomein.IndeedJesushimselfdiedonthecrosswiththepurposeofopeningthatdoor.OurSaviourdidfarmore than teachmen that they were already children of God; he came tomakethemchildrenofGodbyhissavingwork.

Inthesecondplace,theSermonontheMounttellswhatkindoflifeisledbythose who should have entered into the Kingdom and been made thechildren of God. That life is far more than obedience to a set of externalrules; thepuritywhichJesusdemanded is apurityof theheart.The life inthe Kingdom is also far removed from all pretense; the children of Godengage in prayer and goodworks not to be seen bymenbut to be seen byGod. Finally, the life in the Kingdom is a life of perfect trust; all anxiousthoughtforthemorrowisbanished,sinceGodwillcareforhischildren.

Onedifficulty arises in the reading of the Sermonon theMount.How cansuchanidealbeattained?Itmightbepossibletoobeyasetofrules,liketherulesofthePharisees,buthowisitpossibleforsinfulmentoattainpurityofheart? The righteousness of the Kingdom of heaven exceeds by far the"righteousnessofthescribesandPharisees."Howcansuchrighteousnessbeattained?

Theanswertothisquestionwaspartlyunderstoodevenbythe,firsthearersof the Sermon on theMount. The disciples of Jesus knew even then thatJesusalonecouldgivethementranceintotheKingdom;theytrustedinhimalready not merely as teacher but also as Saviour. But the answer to thequestion is far plainer to us; for we know the cross. The atoning death ofChrist itwasthatgavementhekindofrighteousnessrequiredforentranceinto the Kingdom of God, for it gave them the righteousness of Christhimself.ThesignificanceofthecrosswasspokenofbyourLordevenduringhisearthlyministry,butthefullexplanationofitwaslefttotheapostles.ThesavingworkofJesuscouldbefullyexplainedonlyafterithadbeendone.

QuestionsonChapter6

1. Whatisthemeaningof"thekingdomofGod,"inJesus'teaching?

2. WhoweretheSadducees?

3. WhowerethePharisees,andwhyweretheyopposedtoJesus?

4. GiveanoutlineoftheSermonontheMount.

Chapter7:TheTurningPoint

TheteachingofJesuswascarriedoninvariousways.SometimestherewereextendeddiscoursesliketheSermonontheMount.Ontheotherhand,muchofthemostpreciousteachingofourLordiscontainedinbriefsayingswhichwere uttered in answer to some objection or in view of some specialsituation.Oneotherformofteachingrequiresspecialattention-namely,theparables.

Mark4:1-34,andParallels

Aparableisanarrativetakenfromordinarylife,butintendedtoteachsomespirituallesson.Itdiffersfromanallegoryinthattheapplicationisnottobecarried out in such detail. Ordinarily a parable teaches simply one lesson;there is only one point of similarity between the literal meaning of theparableandthedeeperspiritualtruth.ThuswhenourLordcomparedGod'sanswer to prayer with the answer which an unjust judge gives to animportunate widow, the details in the two cases are not intended to besimilar;Godisverydifferentfromtheunjustjudge.Butthereisonepointofsimilarity-importunitydoeshaveitseffectinbothcases.

The distinction between a parable and an allegory is not an absolutedistinction,andsometimesthetwoshade intoeachother.Thustheparableof theWickedHusbandmen,which Jesusutterednearly at the close of hisearthlyministry, partakes largely of thenature of allegory.Thedetails to aconsiderable extent are significant-the wicked husbandmen represent theJews and their leaders, the servants who were first sent represent theprophets, the sonwhowas sent last representsJesushimself.ButmanyofJesus'parables are parables pure and simple; they are not intended to be

pressedindetail,butteach,eachofthem,someonelesson.

The purpose of Jesus in using parables was twofold. In the first place theparables were not clear to those who did not wish to learn. In accordancewithaprincipleof thedivine justice,willfulclosingof theeyes to the truthbroughtanincreaseofdarkness.Butinthesecondplace,tothosewhowerewilling to receive the truth, the parables were made gloriously plain; thefigurativeformof theteachingonlyservedtodrivethemeaninghome.TheministryofJesusdidnotconsistmerelyofteaching.Alongwiththeteachingtherewentwonderfulmanifestationsofdivinepower.Thesemanifestationsof divine power were of various kinds. Many of them were miracles ofhealing;Jesushadpowertomakethelametowalk,thedumbtospeak,thedeaf tohear.Healsohadpower tocastoutdemons.At thepresenceof theSonofGod,Satanandhisministershadputforthalltheirbanefulpower.ButthedemonswereobligedtofleeatJesus'word.


Notallofthemiracles,however,weremiraclesofhealing.Someofthemostnotableofthemwereofadifferentkind.Butallofthemweremanifestationsof Jesus' divine power. When, on the lake, in the midst of the frighteneddisciples, our Lord said to the winds and the waves, "Peace, be still,." theRuler of all nature was revealed. The particular form of Jesus' miraclesdependeduponhisowninscrutablewill;butallofthemiraclesrevealedhimas theMaster of the world. He who hadmade the world in the beginningcouldstillputforththesamecreativepower.Amiracle,asdistinguishedfromthe ordinary course of nature, is a manifestation of the creative, asdistinguishedfromtheprovidential,powerofGod.


AmongthemiraclesofJesusthefeedingofthefivethousandseemstohavebeenparticularly important.Its importanceis indicatedbythefactthat it isnarrated in all four of the Gospels.Matt. 14:13-21, and parallels. Even theGospelofJohn,whichisconcernedforthemostpartwithwhathappenedinJudea, here runs parallel with the Synoptic Gospels and narrates an eventwhichhappenedinGalilee.

Thiseventmarks theclimaxof thepopularityofourLordandat the same

time the beginning of his rejection. Even before this time he had beenrejected by some; his popularity had been by nomeans universal. He hadbeenopposedbythescribesandPharisees;hehadnotbeenunderstoodevenbythemembersofhisownhousehold;andhehadbeenrejectedtwiceatthetownwherehehadbeenbroughtup.But for themostparthehadenjoyedthefavorofthepeople.

At the time of the feeding of the five thousand, this popular favor hadreacheditsheight.Jesushadwithdrawnfromthecrowdsintoalonelyplaceacross the lake fromCapernaum.Butsuchwashispopularity thathecouldnotescape.Thepeoplefollowedhimevenwhenhetriedtobealone;theyhadhadnothoughtoffoodoroflodgingforthenight,soeagerhadtheybeentolistentohisteaching.Wheneveningcame,therefore,theywereinwant.ButourLordhadpityonthembecausetheywerelikesheepwithoutashepherd.Byagraciousmanifestationofhisdivinepowerhemadethefiveloavesandtwofishessufficeforallthemultitude.


AfterthefeedingofthefivethousandJesusfoundatlastthesolitudewhichhehadsought;hewentup into themountain topray.Themultitudesweremaking theirwayaround the lakeby theshore; thediscipleshad taken theonlyboatandwererowinghardagainstthewind.Butaboutthreeo'clockatnightourLordcametothediscipleswalkinguponthewater.Itisnowonderthattheybowedbeforehimandsaid,"OfatruththouarttheSonofGod."

John6:22-71

Meanwhile themultitudehadgoneon foot around the lake toCapernaum.When they found Jesus there before them theywere astonished. But theirastonishment, unfortunately, was not of the kind that leads to true andabidingfaith.TheyhadvaluedtheearthlybreadwhichJesushadgiventhem,but were not willing to receive the spiritual bread. Jesus himself, he toldthem, was the Bread of life who had come down from heaven; only thosecouldtrulylivewhowouldfeeduponhimbyacceptinghissavingwork.John6:22-71.

ItseemedtotheJewstobeahardsaying.HowcouldtheJesuswhosefamilytheyknewbethebreadwhichhadcomedownfromheaven?Manyevenof

thosewhohadformerlyfollowedJesuswereoffendedat this"hardsaying."ThepopularityofJesusatthistimebegantowane.

Butthereweresomediscipleswhoremained.Jesushadchosentwelvemen,whomhecalledapostles.Hehadhadthemashiscompanions,andalreadyhehadsentthemoutonamissiontoteachandtoheal.Turningnowtothem,he asked, "Would ye also go away?" Then Peter, speaking for the others,showedthedifferencebetweentruedisciplesandthosewhoareoffendedateveryhardsaying."Lord,"hesaid,"towhomshallwego?thouhastthewordsofeternallife."

QuestionsonChapter7

1. Whatisaparable?Howdoesitdifferfromanallegory?2. WhydidJesususeparables?Mentionsomeoftheparablesrecordedin

theGospels.3. Whatisamiracle?WhydidJesusworkmiracles?4. Whatistheparticularimportanceofthefeedingofthefivethousand?5. WhywerethepeopleoffendedbythediscourseontheBreadoflife?

Chapter8:JesusasMessiah

The waning of Jesus' popularity was by no means sudden. Even after thediscourseontheBreadoflife,wefrequentlyfindthemultitudesaroundhim.But in general, from that timeonourLord seems tohavewithdrawn fromthe crowdsmore frequently than before, in order to devote himself to theinstructionofhisintimatedisciples.


At this time our Lord withdrew into Phoenicia, northwest of Palestine. InPhoenicia he healed the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman. It was aforetasteoftherichstreamsofmercywhichafterPentecostweretoflowoutintothewholeworld.

Afterabriefstay inPhoenicia,JesusreturnedtoGalilee,whereheengagedagainincontroversywiththePhariseesandagain,byhisdivinepower,fedagreatmultitude.Thissecond time four thousandmenwere fed.Therewerealsomiracles of healing, and in general the essential characteristics of theGalilaeanministrywerecontinued.


ButbeforelongJesusdepartedagainfromGalilee,andfinallywentwithhisdisciples to the regions of Caesarea Philippi, northeast of Galilee. NearCaesareaPhilippioccurredthegreatconfessionofPeter,whichisoneofthemostimportantincidentsoftheGospelrecord.Matt.16:13-20,andparallels.

"Who," Jesus asked of his disciples, "domen say that I am?And they toldhim,saying,Elijah;butothers,Oneoftheprophets.Andheaskedthem,Butwho say ye that I am? Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art theChrist."Mark8:27-29.

In this confession Peter recognized that Jesus was the "Messiah," the"AnointedOne,"oraccordingtotheGreektranslationofthesameword,"theChrist."Itwasbynomeansthefirstrecognitionofthefact.TheMessiahshipofJesushadbeenrevealedtoJosephandMaryandZachariasandElisabethevenbeforeJesuswasborn; ithadbeen revealed to the shepherdsand theWiseMenwhogreetedthe infantSaviour; ithadbeenrevealedtoJohntheBaptist; ithadbeenrevealedtothelittlegroupofdiscipleswholeftJohnattheJordaninordertofollowJesus;ithadbeenproclaimedbyJesushimselfinhisconversationswithNicodemusandwiththeSamaritanwoman;ithadbeenrecognizedevenbytheuncleanspirits.

ButalthoughJesushadbeenproclaimed ,isMessiahbefore, theconfessionof -Peter was by nomeans amatter of course. Although the disciples hadalready accepted Jesus as the Messiah it required considerable faith anddevotion to continue to accept him, for Jesuswas not the kind ofMessiahwhomtheJewshadbeenexpecting.TheyhadbeenexpectingaMessiahwho,as anointed king of Israel, would deliver God's people from the Romanoppressors,andmakeJerusalemthecenterofthewholeworld.

SuchexpectationsseemedtobesetatnoughtbytheProphetofNazareth.Nokinglypompsurroundedhim;hemingledfreelywiththecommonpeople;he

livedintheutmosthumility,havingnotevenaplacetolayhishead.PoliticalMessiahship he definitely refused. When, after the feeding of the fivethousand, thepeoplewereabout to comeandmakehimaking-that is, theMessianicking-heleftthemandwithdrewintothemountain.John6:15.Itisnowonder that theyweredisappointed.All their enthusiasmseemed toberuthlesslyquenched.JesuswouldhaveabsolutelynothingtodowiththekindofMessiahshipwhichtheyoffered.

BythisattitudeofJesusnotonlythemultitudeswerediscouraged.EventhemembersofJesus'household failedtounderstand,andthevery forerunnerof Jesus, John the Baptist himself, was assailed, momentarily at least, bydoubts. Conceivably the twelve apostles alsomight have been discouraged.But their faith remained firm. Despite all disappointments, despite therefusal of our Lord to accept what were supposed to be prerogatives ofMessiahship,Peterwas able still to say, atCaesareaPhilippi, "Thouart theChrist."

But in what sense was Jesus the Christ? He was not an earthly king whowouldleadthearmiesofIsraelouttobattleagainsttheRomans.HewasnotthatsortofMessiah.Whatthenwashe?WhatwasJesus'ownconceptionofMessiahship?

Inordertoanswerthatquestionfully,itwouldbenecessarytoreturntothestudy of the Old Testament. Jesus accepted to the full the Old Testamentpromises about the Messiah; what he rejected was merely a falseinterpretationofthem.

EventhosepromisesoftheOldTestamentwhichmaketheMessiahakingofDavid's linewere fulfilled in Jesus.Hewas actually ofDavid's line, andhewasborninDavid'scity.HewasalsotheKingofIsrael.

Only his kingship was exercised in ways different from those which thepeople generally were expecting. And there were other features of the OldTestament promises which Jesus also fulfilled. Jesus was not only Son ofDavid;hewasalsoSonofMan.Thetitle"SonofMan,"whichwasJesus'ownMessianic designation of himself, does not denotemerely the humanity ofJesus indistinctionfromhisdeity.Onthecontrary, it isplainlytakenfromthe stupendous scene in Dan. 7:13, where "one like unto a son ofman" isrepresented as coming with the clouds of heaven, and as being in thepresence ofGod. It indicates, therefore, not thehumanweakness of Jesus,

buthisexaltedpositionassupremeRulerandJudge.

It isnotsurprisingthatforatimeat leastduringhisearthlyministryJesususedthistitleoftheMessiahratherthantheothertitles,forthetitleSonofManwaswithout thepolitical associationswhichJesusdesired to avoid. Ithad been employed, not so much by the masses of the people, as by thecircles which read the books which are called the "Apocalypses." In thesebooks, on the basis of Daniel and other Old Testament prophecies, theMessiah was represented not as a political king, but as a heavenly,supernatural person. The title, therefore, was admirably fitted to designatethe lofty character of theMessiah's person,without the dangerous politicalassociationswhichhadgatheredaroundcertainothertitles.

Indeed for a time, in the earlyGalilaeanministry, our Lord seems to havekept hisMessiahship somewhat in the background. Public proclamation ofhis Messiahship would have aroused false, worldly hopes of politicalupheaval.BeforeproclaiminghimselfagainasMessiah,ourLordneededtomakeclearbyhisteachingandbyhisexamplewhatkindofMessiahhewas;beforefinallysettinguphisKingdomheneededtoshowthatthatKingdomwasnotofthisworld.ButhewasMessiahandKingfromthebeginning,andevenatthebeginninghisMessiahshiphadbeenmadeknown.

QuestionsonChapter8

1. Mention some of the titles which are used to designate Jesus asMessiah, and explain their meaning. Was the title "Son of Man" everusedwithreferencetoJesusbyanyoneexceptJesushimself?

2. WhatwasthesignificanceofPeter'sconfession?3. WhydidJesusbecomelesspopularthanhewasatfirst?

Chapter9:ThePredictionoftheCross

Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi was a triumph of faith, for whichJesuspronouncedPeterblessed.Througha revelation fromGod,Peterhadbeenmade able to endure the disappointment involved in Jesus'refusal of

kinglyhonors.Butanothertrialoffaithwassoontocome.


AfterPeter'sacknowledgmentofJesusasMessiah,ourLordbeganto teachthe disciples more of what his Messiahship meant. Matt. 16:21-28, andparallels. It meant, he said, not worldly honors, and not merely acontinuation of the humble life inGalilee, but actual sufferings anddeath.ThisteachingwasmorethanPetercouldendure."Beitfarfromthee,Lord,"hesaid,"thisshallneverbeuntothee."InsuchrebellionagainstGod'swillJesusrecognizedarepetitionofthetemptationwhichhadcometohimatthefirst,immediatelyafterthevoicefromheavenhadproclaimedhimtobetheMessiahthetemptationtousehisMessianicpowerforhisownworldlyglory.Andnowaswellasthenthetemptationwasresolutelyovercome."Gettheebehindme,Satan,"saidJesus:"thouartastumblingblockuntome:forthoumindestnotthethingsofGod,butthethingsofmen.

Jesuswasthusreadytotreadthepathofsufferingwhichhehadcomeintotheworld, for our sakes, to tread. And he called upon his true disciples totreadthatpathafterhim.Yetallthesufferingwastobefollowedbyagreaterglory than Peter had ever conceived; and almost immediately there was awonderfulforetasteofthatglory.


SixdaysafterthesceneatCaesareaPhilippi,ourLordtookPeterandJamesand John, his three most intimate disciples, with him up upon a highmountain-no doubt somewhere on the slopes of the loftyMountHermon.Therehewastransfiguredbeforethem,Matt.17:1-13,andparallels;"hisfacedidshineasthesun,andhisgarmentsbecamewhiteasthelight."WithhimappearedMoses and Elijah, talkingwith him. And theywere talking aboutwhatseemstobeastrangesubjectatsuchamoment.

They were talking not- of the glories of Jesus' Kingdom, but of the"departure"whichhewasabouttoaccomplishatJerusalem.Luke9:31.The"departure" included not only the resurrection and the ascension, but alsothecrucifixion.Eventheshininglightofthetransfigurationwasintendedtopointtothecross.


After the glorious experienceon themountain, ourLord cameat once intocontact with the repulsiveness of human misery, Matt. 17 :14-20, andparallels.Buthedidnotshrinkfromthesuddentransition.Ashecamedownfromthemountain,hefoundatthe,bottomaboypossessedofademon,who"fell on theground, andwallowed foaming." Itwasadepressing sight, veryunlike the brightness of the transfiguration. Even more discouraging,moreover,thantheconditionoftheboyhimselfwasthepowerlessnessofthedisciples.Theyhadtriedtocastthedemonoutbuthadfailedmiserably,notbecausethepowermightnothavebeentheirs,butbecauseoftheirunbelief.Thefatheroftheboy,too,waslackinginfaith."Ibelieve,"hesaid;"helpthoumineunbelief."Jesusdidhelphisunbelief,andtheunbeliefofthedisciples.Herebukedtheuncleanspirit,andhealedtheboy.

AtthisperiodJesusrepeatedonseveraloccasionstheprophecyofhisdeath.ThetragedyonCalvarydidnotovertakehimunawares.Hewentdeliberatelytohisdeathforoursakes.


Evenonsuchsolemndays,whentheshadowofthecrosslayoverthepath,thediscipleswereunabletoovercomethepettinessoftheircharacter.Onthevery journeywhen Jesus had told them about his approaching death, theyhadquarreledaboutthequestionastowhichofthemshouldbegreatest inthe Kingdom of heaven. Thereby they had shown how far they were fromunderstandingthetruenatureoftheKingdom.IftheKingdomwasfinallytobeadvancedunder the leadershipof suchmen, somemightychangewouldhavetotakeplaceinthem.Thatchangedidtakeplaceafterwards,asweshallsee,atPentecost.Butatpresentthepettinessandcarnal-mindednessofthedisciplesaddedto thesorrowsofourLord.Despite the intimacy intowhichhe entered with his earthly friends, he towered in lonely grandeur abovethemall.

AfterthetransfigurationandrelatedeventsnearCaesareaPhilippi,ourLordreturned to Galilee. But apparently he did not resume permanently hisGalilaeanministry.SoonwefindhimpassingthroughSamaria,andlaboringinJudeaandinthatcountryeastof theJordanRiverwhich iscalledPerea.ThispartofJesus'ministryisrecordedparticularlyintheGospelsAccordingto Luke and According to John, although Matthew and Mark containimportant information about the latter part of the period. The general

characteroftheperiodisfixedbytheexpectationofthecross.Jesushadsethis face toward Jerusalem to accomplish the atoning work which he hadcomeintotheworldtoperform.

Luke10:1-24;John,Chapter5

AtthebeginningoftheperiodJesussentoutseventydisciples,toprepareforhisowncomingintotheseveralcitiesandvillageswhichhewasintendingtovisit. The Seventy were in possession of something of Jesus' power; theywereabletoreportwithjoythatthedemonsweresubjectedtothem.

During the same period we find Jesus in Jerusalem at the feast oftabernacles.EvenduringtheperiodoftheGalilaeanministryJesushadgoneuptoJerusalematleastonce,atthetimeofoneoftheJewishfeasts;andinconnectionwiththehealingofamanatthepoolofBethesdahehadthensetforththetruenatureofhispersonandhisrelationtoGodtheFather.John,ch.5.At the laterperiodwithwhichwearenowdealing, thesameteachingwascontinued.Chs.7,8.

Matthew11:27,andParallels

ItisparticularlytheGospelofJohnwhichrecordsthewayinwhichJesussetforththenatureofhisownperson,butwhatisfullysetforthintheGospelofJohnisreallyimpliedallthroughtheSynopticGospels,andinMatt.11:27;Luke 10 :22 it ismade just as plain as it is in John. According to his ownteaching,JesusstoodinarelationtowardGodtheFatherwhichisabsolutelydifferent from that in which othermen stand toward God. In the plainestpossibleway, our Lord laid claim to true deity. "I andmyFather," he said,"are one." All the Gospels present the true humanity of Jesus, the GospelAccording toJohn,no less than theSynoptists.Butall theGospelsalso setforthhisdeity.Hewas,accordingtoatruesummaryoftheGospelteaching,"Godandman,intwodistinctnatures,andonepersonforever."

QuestionsonChapter9

1.WhattrialofPeter'sfaithcamejustafterhisgreatconfession?

2.Whatwasthemeaningofthetransfiguration?

3.Whateventtookplacejustafterwards?

4. Give an account of Jesus' teaching at the time of the feast oftabernacles.John,chs.7,8.Howwasthisteachingreceived?

5.GiveanaccountofthemissionoftheSeventyandcompareitwiththepreviousmissionoftheTwelve.

Chapter10:TheLastJourneys

John,Chapter9

DuringthelatterpartofJesus’ministry,withwhichChapter9begantodeal,Jesusspokesomeofthemostbeautifulofhisparables.

A number of them, such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, arerecordedonlybyLuke.FromthesameperiodtheGospelAccordingtoJohnrecords some notable teaching of Jesus, in addition to that which wasmentioned in the last lesson. Part of this teaching was introduced by thehealing of the man born blind. John, ch. 9. This miracle, which had beenperformed on the Sabbath, had aroused the special opposition of thePharisees. In answer to them,ourLordpointedout thedifferencebetweenthoseleadersofthepeoplewhoarelikerobbersbreakingintothesheepfoldoratbestlikehirelingswhofleeatthefirstapproachofdanger,andthegoodshepherdwho iswillingto laydownhis life for thesheep.SuchashepherdwasJesushimself,andhislifewassoontobelaiddown.

John11:1-53

Finally, after various j ourneyings of Jesus in Judea and in Perea, thereoccurredinBethany,alittlevillagenearJerusalem,oneofthemostnotableofourLord’smiracles.Johnii1—44.AtBethanylivedacertainLazaruswithhissistersMarthaandMary,whomJesusknewwell.Lazarus fell illduringtheabsenceofJesusacross theJordan inPerea;and the illness resulted inhis death. On the fourth day after Lazarus’ death, Jesus came to Bethany.Marthacametomeethim;Maryremainedmourninginthehouse,untilhersisterbroughtwordthatJesusbadarrived.Thenshe, too,wenttogreet the

Lord.WhenJesussawherandherfriendsweepingfortheonewhohaddied,he,too,weptwiththem.Buthehadpowernotonlytosympathize,butalsotohelp.Goingwiththesisterstothetomb,hecausedthestonetoberemoved,thenprayed,andthencalled‘withaloudvoice,“Lazarus,comeforth.”AtthewordofJesus, thedeadmancameoutof the tomb.JesuswasMasteroverdeathandthegrave.

ItwasnotthefirsttimethatourLordhadraisedthedead.Hehadraisedthedaughter of Jairus in Galilee and the son of the widow of Nain. But theraising of Lazarus is especially important, not only because of thewonderfully vivid way in which the incident is narrated in the GospelAccording to John, but also because it served to hasten the crisis inJerusalem. Both the Sadducees and the Pharisees were now aroused. Themovement institutedbyJesushadreachedalarmingproportions. Ifallowedto continue it would be full of danger. The Romans, it was feared, wouldregard itas rebellionandwouldutterlydestroy thenationof theJews.Thediverse parties among the Jewish leaders were becoming more and moreunitedagainstthestrangeProphetfromGalilee.

John11:54

Forashorttimestillthecrisiswasdelayed.OurLordretiredfromJudeatoacitycalledEphraim,nearthewilderness.Wealsofindhim,inthisperiodofhisLife,againbeyondtheJordan,inPerea.InthisPereanresidenceistobeplacedaportionof the teachingcontained in theSynopticGospels, suchasthe teaching concerningdivorce,Matt. 193—12, andparallels, thewords totherichyoungruler,vs.16—30,andparallels,andtheparableoftheLaborersintheVineyard.Matt.201—16.

Luke19:2-16

Before long,however,Jesuswentup toJerusalemfor the last time.Ontheway,whenhewaspassing throughJericho, in theJordanValley,hehealedtwoblindmen,andconvertedthetaxcollectorZacchaeus.TheconversionofZacchaeus was in accord with Jesus’ custom all through hisministry. Thetax-gatherersweredespisedbytherestoftheJewsatthetimeofChrist.Theyhad allied themselves with the Roman oppressors, and no doubt most ofthem were guilty of abominable extortion on their own account. By thePharisees,particularly, theywereregardedasbelongingtotheverydregsofthe people, withwhom no true observer of the law could be intimate. But

Jesuswasboundbynolimitsinhissavingwork.Hedidnotcondonesin—either the sin of the tax-gatherers or the sin of the Pharisees. But he waswillingtosavefromsinallwhowouldbelieve.Thewhole,hesaid,neednotaphysician,but theythataresick.TheSonofManhadcometo“seekandtosavethatwhichwaslost.”

John11:55to12:1

Toiling up the long ascent from Jericho, our Lord arrived at last, six daysbefore thepassover, at the villageofBethany,which is less than twomilesfrom Jerusalem. During the remaining time before the crucifixion Jesuswenteverymorning into thecityandreturned in theevening to lodgewithhisfriendsatBethany.


Soon after his arrival at Bethany, when Jesuswas reclining at table in thehouse of a certain Simon the leper, hewas anointed byMary the sister ofLazarus.Matt.266—13;Mark143—9;John122—8.Thisanointingisnottobeconfusedwithasomewhatsimilareventwhichhadtakenplacesometimebefore,whenJesushadbeenanointedbyawomanwhohadbeenanotorioussinner. Luke 7 36—50. The disciplesmurmured at thewaste. The preciousointment,theysaid,mighthavebeensoldforagreatsum,whichcouldhavebeendistributedtothepoor.JudasIscariot,oneoftheTwelve,hadaspecialcausefordissatisfaction;inhiscasethementionofthepoorwasonlyacloakforcovetousness.Judaskeptthebag,andiftheproceedsoftheointmenthadbeenput intohiskeeping,hecouldhave indulgedhisthievingpropensities.But all themurmuring,whether it proceeded frommore sordidmotives orfrom a mere misunderstanding of the true spirit of the woman’s act, wasrebukedbyourLord.Thewoman,hesaid,hadanointedhisbodybeforehandfor the burial. The days just before the crucifixion were no time for truedisciples tomurmur at an actwhichwaspromptedby overflowing love fortheSaviourwhowassosoontodie.


Onthedayafter thesupperatBethany, that is,on thedayafter theJewishSabbath, on the ninth day of the Jewish spring month Nisan, our Lordentered into Jerusalem. Matt. 21: 1—11, and parallels. It was a triumphalentry; Jesus was received publicly by the multitudes as the Messiah, the

promisedKingofIsrael.Eventhemannerofhisentrywasinaccordancewithprophecy;hecameridingovertheMountofOlivesandintothecitymountedonanass, inaccordancewithZech.9:9.ThepromisedKingof Israelat lasthad come. The multitudes strewed palm branches in the way, and cried,“HosannatothesonofDavid.”

QuestionsonChapter10

1. WherewasPerea? Jericho?Bethany?Ephraim?Find on amap theplacesmentionedinthislesson.

2. Give an account of all the times when Jesus, during his earthlyministry,raisedthedead.InwhatGospelsaretheseincidentsnarrated?

3.WhatisthespecialimportanceoftheraisingofLazarus?

4. Give an account of some of those parables of Jesus which arecontainedonlyintheGospelAccordingtoLuke.

Chapter11:TeachingintheTemple

Despite the enthusiasmwhich themultitudeshad shownat the timewhenJesusenteredintoJerusalem,despitetheshoutsofthosewhocried,“BlessedishethatcomethinthenameoftheLord,”Jesusknewthatbewasgoingtohisdeath,and thatJerusalemwould turnagainstherKing. “Whenhedrewnigh,”wearetoldintheAccordingtoLuke,“hesawthecityandweptoverit,saying,Ifthouhadstknowninthisday,eventhou,thethingswhichbelongpeace!butnowtheyarehidfromthineeyes.”Luke19:41,42.

OntheSundayofthetriumphalentryitwasalreadylatewhenJesusenteredintotheTemplearea.Hedidnothing,therefore,thatday,except lookabouthim;andthenhereturnedtoBethanywithtwelveapostles.Mark11:11.


On Monday, however, the final conflict began. Entering into the city, our

LordcastoutoftheTemplethosewhoboughtandsold,justashehaddoneat the beginning of his public ministry. The rebuke which he hadadministeredseveralyearsbeforehadhadnopermanenteffect.ButJesusdidnothesitatetorebukeagainwhomadeGod’shouseaplaceofbusiness.Therulers, of course, were incensed. But popular favor for a time put a checkupon theirhate.On theway into the city, Jesus said to a fig tree,whichwbearingleavesonly,“Nomaneatfruitfromtheehenceforwardforever.”ThemotivesofourLord’sactarenotfullyknowntous;butatleasthewasableafterwards topoint out through the case the fig tree the limitlesspoweroffaith. The discipleswere exhorted to pray in faith. But their prayers, Jesussaid,mustbeinlove;nounforgivingspiritshouldbeleftintheirsoulswhenthey prayed to heavenly Father for their own forgiveness. The next day,Tuesday, was a day of teaching. Our Lord spent the day in the Temple,meetingtheattacksofhisenemies.Andhehadananswertoevery inquiry;thetrickquestionsofhisenemiesalwaysredoundedtotheirownrebuke.


FirstourLordwasquestionedastotheauthoritybywhichhehadcleansedtheTemplethedaybefore.

Matt. 21 : 23—32, and parallels. He answered that question by anotherquestion:“ThebaptismofJohn,whencewasit?fromheavenorfrommen?”The chief priests and elders could not say. They were not really sincereseekersfordivineauthority.ButJesuswasnotcontentwithhavingsilencedthem.Healsopointedout,positively, theirsin innotreceivingtheWordofGodwhichhadcomethroughJohn.


StillmorescathingwastherebukewhichJesusutteredthroughtheparableof the Wicked Husbandmen. Matt. 21 : 33—46, and parallels. The wickedhusbandmenhadbeenputinchargeofavineyard.Butwhenthetimecametorenderthefruitofthevineyardtotheowner,theykilledtheservantswhowere sent to them and finally the owner’s son. The chief priests andPhariseesneedednoelaborateexplanation;theywouldprobablyinanycasehaveapplied theparable to themselves.Butasamatterof factJesusmadethe application abundantly plain. “The kingdom of God,” he said, “shall betakenawayfromyou,andshallbegiventoanationbringingforththefruitsthereof.”

Matthew22:1-14

Justasplainlydirectedagainstthewickedleadersofthepeople,andagainsttherebelliousnationitself,wastheparableoftheMarriageoftheKing’sSon.Matt.22:1—14.Thosewhowerebiddentothefeastrefusedtocomein;butfromthehighwaysandhedges theking’shousewas filled.So thecovenantpeople,theJews,hadrejectedthedivineinvitation;butthedespisedGentileswouldbereceived.


The rulers would have liked to put Jesus to death at once; but they stillfearedthepeople.Sotheyadoptedtheunderhandmethodoftryingtocatchhim in his speech. First came the Pharisees and the Herodians, the latterbeingthepartisansoftheHerodiandynasty,withtheiradroitquestionaboutgiving tribute toCaesar,Matt.22:15—22,andparallels; then theSadducees,the worldly aristocracy who did not believe in the resurrection, with theirattempt to is the doctrine of the resurrection ridiculous, vs. 23—33, andparallels; then an individual Pharisee with his question about the greatestcommandment inthe law.Vs.24—40,andparallels.Jesushadawonderful,profoundanswer for themall.Butonly the last inquirer tohavebeenatallwilling to learn. “Thou art not far,” Jesus said him, “from the kingdom ofGod.”Mark12:34.


Then,afterallthequestionswhichhadbeenputtohim,ourputonequestioninturn.“Davidhimself,”hesaidineffect,“callstheMessiahLord;howistheMessiah,then,David’sson?”InthiswayJesuswaspresentingtothepeopleahigherconceptionofMessiahshipthanthatwhichtheyhadbeenaccustomedto bold. TheMessiahwas indeedDavid’s Son, but hewas not onlyDavid’sSon.Matt22:41—46,andparallels.

Apparentlyonthesameday,ourLordcalledattentiontothepoorwidowwhowas castinghermite into the collectionbox.Agift,he said, ismeasured intheestimationofGodnotbyitsamount,butbythesacrificewhichitmeanstothegiver.Mark12:41—44,andparallels

Matthew,Chapter23

Finally, on the samememorable Tuesday, our Lord denounced openly theformalism andhypocrisy of the scribes andPharisees.Matt., ch. 23. ItwasalsoperhapsonthesamedaythatcertainGreeksdesiredtoseeJesus,John12 : 20, 21—a foretaste of that entrance ofGentiles into the Churchwhichwas to come after the resurrection. We are not told exactly how Jesusreceived the Greeks, but the importance of the moment was marked by avoicefromheavenwhichcameasadivineconfirmationofJesus’message.

Matthew,Chapters24,25

WhenJesus,onthesameday,hadgoneoutoftheTempleandhadascendedtotheMountofOlives,ahillwhichlayonthewaytoBethany,hetaughthisdisciplesaboutthecomingdestructionoftheTempleandalsoabouttheendoftheworld.Matt.,ch.24,andparallels.Thetimeoftheendoftheworld,hesaid, is unknown to all except God, and in expectation of it men shouldalwaysbewatchful.ThisdutyofwatchfulnessheillustratedbytheparablesoftheTenVirgins,Matt.25:1—13,andoftheTalents.Vs.14—30.ThenourLorddrewagreatpictureofthelastawfuljudgmentofGod,whenthewickedshallbeseparatedfromthegood.Vs.31—46.


1. WherewastheMountofOlives?DescribetheroutebetweenBethanyandtheTempleinJerusalem.

2.ComparethetwooccasionswhenJesuscleansedtheTemple.

3.OnwhatoccasionsduringhisministrydidJesusspeakaboutJohntheBaptist?

4. Givea fullaccountof thequestionswhichwereput toJesusontheTuesdayofthelastweek,andoftheanswersofJesus.

5.Whatwerethe“woes”whichJesuspronouncedagainstthescribesandPharisees?

6.WhatdidJesussayaftertheGentilescametoseekhim?

Chapter12:TheCrucifixion

ThisfollowingselectionhasbeenextractedfromajointworkofJ.GreshamMachenandJamesOscarBoydentitled "ABriefBibleHistory:ASurveyoftheOldandNewTestaments" (TheWestminsterPress,Philadelphia,1922),nowinthepublicdomain..

Matthew26:1-5,14-16,andParallels

On theWednesdayof theweekbefore thecrucifixion, the chiefpriestsandelders of the Jews took counsel how they might put Jesus to death. Thedifficultywas that if they arrested sopopular a teacher in themidst of thecrowdswhohadcometoJerusalemfortheapproachingfeastofthepassover,there would be a tumult. At first, therefore, the enemies of Jesus thoughtthat they might have to wait until the passover was over. But they werehelpedoutoftheirdifficultybyoneofJesus’ownfriends.JudasIscariot,oneofthetwelveapostles,provedtobeatraitor.Hereceivedapromiseofthirtypiecesofsilver,andwatchedforatimewhenJesuswouldbeawayfromthecrowdssothathecouldbedeliveredquietlyintothehandsofhisenemies.


Meanwhile,onThursday,Jesusarrangedforthecelebrationofthepassoverin company with the apostles. The passover feast commemorated thedeliveranceofIsraelfromEgypt,especiallythepassingoverofIsrael’sfirst-born when the first-born sons of the Egyptians were slain. The feast wasopenedontheeveningofNisan14,Nisanbeingaspringmonth,andthefirstmonth of the Jewish year. According to Jewish reckoning, the evening ofNisan14constitutedthebeginningofNisan15.Startingfromthattime,thefeastcontinuedforsevendays,nounleavenedbreadbeingusedwithinthatperiod.ThefirstandmostsolemnactofthewholefeastwastheeatingofthepaschallambontheeveningofNisan14.

ThispassoversupperwascelebratedbyJesusandtheapostlesonThursdayevening,Nisan14.AndthefeastwastobecontinuedintotheChristianera.The symbolswere changed; bread andwinewere to be used instead of thepaschallamb.Butthefundamentalmeaningofthefeastremainedthesame;

boththepassoverandtheLord’sSupperhadreferencetotheatoningdeathofChrist.Thepaschal lambprefiguredtheLambofGodwhowastodie forthesinsoftheworld;thebreadandwinealsosymbolizedthebodyofChristbroken for us and the blood of Christ poured out for the remission of oursins.ThuswhatthepassoversymbolizedbywayofprophecyissymbolizedintheLord’sSupperbywayof commemoration.Andon that last eveningourLordchangedthesymbolsinordertosuitthenewdispensationwhen,sincethe Lamb of God had once been offered up, other sacrifices should be nomore.


Jesusgatheredwithhisapostlesforthefeastinanupperroom.Matt.26:20,and parallels. Then, lamentably enough, there was a strife among theapostlesastowhoshouldbethegreatest.Luke22:24-30.AsarebukeofallsuchinordinateambitionsourLordgaveanexampleofhumilitybywashingthefeetofhisdisciples.John13:1-20.Thetraitor,JudasIscariot,thenlefttheapostolic company,John13:21-35,andparallels,and theLord’sSupperwasinstituted. ICor. 11:23-25;Matt.26:26-29,andparallels.Then thedenialofPeterwas foretold;before thecockshouldcrowtwicePeterwoulddenyhisLordthreetimes.

John,Chapters14to17

ThenfollowedsomeofthemostpreciousteachingofJesus-teachingwhichis preserved only in theGospelAccording to John.Chs. 14 to 17.OurLordspokeofthemissionwhichhehadcomeintotheworldtofulfillandofthemission which his apostles were to fulfill through the power of the HolySpirit. Themeaning of Jesus’ redeemingwork could not fully be explaineduntilithadbeenaccomplished.AnditwastobeexplainedbytheHolySpiritspeakingthroughtheapostles.


Aftertheyhadsungahymn,ourLordwentoutwiththeeleventotheGardenofGethsemane,outsideofJerusalem,ontheslopesoftheMountofOlives.Matt.26:36—46,andparallels.

There he sought strength in prayer for the approaching hourwhenwas tobearthepenaltyofoursins.Thediscipleswerenohelptohiminhisagony;

PeterandJamesandJohnsleptwhileheprayed.ButGodtheFatherheardhisprayer.

Matthew26:47to27:1

SoonthetraitorcamewiththeTempleguard,andJesuswasarrested,Matt.26 : 47—56, and parallels. On the same evening there was an informalhearingofthePrisonerinthehouseofAnnas,thefather-in-lawofCaiaphas,thehighpriest.Matt.26:57,58,69—75,andparallels.

MeanwhilePeterand“anotherdisciple,”whowasnodoubtJohnthesonofZebedee,thewriteroftheFourthGospel,hadenteredintothehouse.TherePeterdeniedhisLord.

The nextmorning there was amore formalmeeting of the Sanhedrin, thehighest court of the Jews. Luke 22:66-71, and parallels. This meeting wasintended to confirm the results of the informal hearing in the house ofAnnas.Butbothmeetingswerelittlemorethanaform.Thecourthadreallydecided the question beforehand; it had determined to bring Jesus by anymeans, lawful or otherwise, to his death.When faced by his enemies, ourLorddeclaredplainlythathewastheMessiah,theSonofGod.Thatanswerwasenoughtosatisfytheaccusers.Jesuswasjudgedguiltyofblasphemy.


ButtheSanhedrindidnotpossessthepoweroflifeanddeath.BeforeJesuscould be executed, therefore, the findings of the Sanhedrin had to beconfirmed by Pilate, the Roman procurator. And at first Pilate wasrecalcitranttotheJews’demands;hewasnotabletofindinJesusanycauseo~death. John 18 : 28—38, and parallels. In his perplexity, Pilate sent theprisonertobeexaminedbyHerodAntipas,thetetrarchofGalilee,whowasatthe time in Jerusalem. Luke 23 : 6—12. But this hearing also was withoutdecisiveresult.

At lastPilateyielded,againsthisbetter judgment, to the importunityof theJewish leaders and the mad shouts of the crowds, who had turned nowagainst the One whom formerly they had honored. Matt. 27:15—30, andparallels. Pilate delivered Jesus up to the will of the Jews. Before theexecution, however, the Prisoner was cruelly scourged andmocked by theRoman soldiers. Thenwhen a last effort of Pilate had failed to placate the

wrathofJesusenemies,John19:4-16,ourLordwasfinallytakenoutofthecitytobecrucifiedLuke23:26-33,andparallels.

ThePrisoneratfirstwascompelledtobearthecrossonwhichbewastobeputtodeath,butwhenhisstrengthgavewayacertainSimonofCyrenewaspressed into service. A crowd of people from Jerusalem followed thePrisoner,andespeciallyanumberofwomenwholamented.Atlasttheplaceofexecutionwasreached.Itwascalled“Golgotha,”oraccordingtotheLatintranslationof thename, “Calvary.”There they crucifiedourLord.Matt. 27:33-56,andparallels.

WithhimWerecrucifiedtwothieves,ofwhomonerepentedatthelasthour,andreceivedsalvation.AnumberofsayingswhichJesusutteredonthecrossarerecordedintheGospels.Atthemomentofdeath,hecried,“Itisfinished.”John 19 : 30. Themeaning of that saying is plain. Thework forwhich ourLordcameintotheworldatlastwasdone.TheLordofgloryhaddiedtowashawaythesinsofallbelievers.ThejustpenaltyofsinhadbeenbornebytheOnewhoknewnosin.


1. Summarize the teaching of Jesus on the last evening before thecrucifixion.

2.WhathappenedinGethsemane?

3.DescribethetrialofJesusbeforetheSanhedrinandbeforePilate.

4.WhydidtheJewishleadersputJesustodeath?WhydidJesusconsenttodie?

5.GiveanaccountofthecrucifixionofourLord.

Chapter13:TheResurrection

ThedeathofChristwasthegreatesteventthathistoryhaseverseen.Bythat

event thegraceofGod triumphedoversin,anda lostworldwasredeemed.Apart from Christ we all deserve eternal death. But the Lord of glory, onCalvary,boretheguiltwhichbelongedtous,andmadeuschildrenofGod.

So great an eventwas accomplishedwithout flare of heavenly trumpets orblazingofheavenlylight.Tomany,thedeathofChristseemedtobemerelythe execution of a criminal. But there were not wanting some strangephenomenawhichmarkedthegreatnessoftheevent.Fromtwelveo’clockonthedayofthecrucifixiontherewasdarknessuntilthreeo’clock,whenJesusdied. Then the veil of the Temple was rent, there was an earthquake, andgraveswereopened.ThuswasnaturemadetorecognizethesufferingandthetriumphofherLord.

AfterJesushaddied,hissidewaspiercedbyoneofthesoldierswhomPilatehad sent at the instance of the Jews in order that those who had beencrucifiedshouldbekilledandtheirbodiesremovedbeforetheSabbath.FromthebodyofJesustherecameoutbloodandwater.TheeventwaswitnessedbyJohnthesonofZebedee,writeroftheFourthGospel.John19:31-42.

Matthew27:57-66

Then, in the late afternoon of the same day Joseph of Arimathea, a secretdiscipleofJesus,removedourLord’sbodyfromthecrossandplacedit inanew tomb. Mark 15:42-46, and parallels. Another secret disciple, or half-disciple, Nicodemus, came also to anoint the body. John 19:39. CertainwomenalsocametoseewhereJesuswaslaid.Luke23:55,56,andparallels.The chief priests and Pharisees, on the other hand, obtained a guard fromPilate,towatchthetomb,lestthedisciplesofJesusshouldstealthebodyofJesusawayandsaythathehadrisenfromthedead.Matt.27:62-66.

Matthew28:2-4,11-15

ThenextdaywasSaturday,theOldTestamentSabbath.ThefriendsofJesusrestedonthatday.ButveryearlyonSundaymornthewomenstartedtothetombbearingspicesinordertoanointthebody.Butbeforetheyarrived,ourLord had already risen from the dead. There had been an earthquake, anangelhadrolledawaythestonefromthesepulcher,andourLordhimselfhadrisen. At the sight of the angel, the soldiers of the guard, in their fear,“becameasdeadmen.”Matt.28:2-4.Allthattheycoulddowastoreporttheeventtothechiefpriestswhohadsentthem.Vs.11-15

Matthew 28:1, and Parallels; John 20:2; Matthew 28:5-10, andParallels

Then the women arrived at the tomb, and found it empty.Matt. 28:1, andparallels.One of them,MaryMagdalene,went back to tell Peter and John.John20:2.Theothersremainedat the tombandtheresawtwoangelswhoannouncedtothemthatJesuswasrisenfromthedead.Ontheirwaybacktothe city Jesus himselfmet them, and they fell down, grasped his feet, andworshipedhimMatt.28:5-10,andparallels.

John20:3-18

Meanwhile, at themessage ofMaryMagdalene, Peter and John ran to thetomb,founditempty,andbelievedthatJesusreallywasrisen.John20:3-10.ButMaryMagdalene, after they had gone, stoodweeping at the tomb; shesupposed that some one had taken the body of her Lord away. Then Jesushimself came to her, her sorrowwas changed into joy, and she joined hervoicetothatotherwomenwhotoldthedisciplesofthegladevent.Vs.11-18

ICorinthians15:5;Luke24:13-49;John20:19-23

Thus far, Jesus himself had been seen only by the women. But now heappeared toPeter, I Cor. 15:5; Luke 24:34, and to two of the discipleswhowere walking to the village of Emmaus. At first. the two disciples did notknow him; but they recognized him at Emmaus when he broke the bread.Then, on the evening of the same Sunday he appeared to the apostles inJerusalem. I Cor. 15:5; Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23. All doubts wereremovedwhenhethemthewoundsinhishandsandhisside,andpartookoffoodintheirpresence.ThenheinterpretedtheScripturestothemhaddoneto the two disciples on the walk to Emmaus, showing themthat it wasnecessary that theMessiah should suffer. Finally he breathed upon them,andsaid,“ReceiveyetheHolySpirit.”

John20:24-29

Thomas, one of the apostles,who had been absent from thismeetingwiththerisenLord,refusedtobelieveatthemerewordoftheothers.Jesusdealtverygraciouslywiththedoubtingdisciple.Again,oneweeklater,hecametotheapostles,thedoorsoftheroombeingshut,andpresentedtoThomashishandsandhis side.Alldoubtsnowmeltedaway in the joyofmeetingwith

therisenLord.Thomasansweredandsaiduntohim,“MyLordandmyGod.”John20:24-29

John21:1-24;ICorinthians15:6;Matthew28:16-20

TheapostlesthenwentbacktoGalileeinaccordancewithJesus’command,andinGalileealsoJesusappearedtothem.FirstheappearedtosevenofthedisciplesontheshoresoftheSeaofGalilee.AmongthesevenwasJohnthesonofZebedee,whohasgivenanaccountof theevent inhisGospel.John21:1-24.ThentherewasagreatappearanceofJesusonamountain.At thattime, apparently, not only the eleven apostles were present, but also fivehundredotherdisciples. ICor15:6;Matt.28:16-20.OnthemountainJesusinstituted the sacrament of baptism, and gave his disciples the GreatCommission to make disciples of all nations. The execution of thatcommission has sometimes been attended with discouragements. But therisenLordpromisedalwaystobewithhisChurch.

ICorinthians15:7;Acts1:1-11

After theappearances inGalilee, theapostlesreturnedtoJerusalem.ItwasnodoubtinJerusalemthatJesusappearedtoJames,hisownbrother,ICor15:7, who during the earthly ministry had not believed on him. Otherappearancesalsooccurredthere.AtoneormoreoftheseappearancesJesus

commanded the apostles towait in Jerusalem until theHoly Spirit shouldcomeuponthem.Then,saidJesus,theyweretobewitnessesofhim“bothinJerusalem,andinallJudeaandSamaria,anduntotheuttermostpartoftheearth.” Acts 1:8. Finally, forty days after the resurrection, Jesus led hisdisciplesouttotheMountofOlives,onthewaytoBethany,andtherehewastaken from them in a cloud into heaven. The disciples were saddened andbewilderedbythedepartureoftheirLord.Buttheirsadnesswassoonturnedto joy.“Twomenstoodbytheminwhiteapparel;whoalsosaid,YemenofGalilee,whystandyelookingintoheaven?ThisJesus,whowasreceivedupfromyouintoheaven,shallsocomeinlikemannerasyebeheldhimgoingintoheaven.”Acts 1:10,11Thediscipleswent then into the city,where theywereconstantlyintheTemple,praisingGod.

QuestionsforChapter13

1.DescribetheburialofJesus.Howlongdidhisbodyrestintomb?

2.Enumeratethepersonswhosawtheemptytomb.

3.Enumerate,sofarasthefactsareknown,thepersonswhoJesusaftertheresurrection.

4. In what books of the New Testament are the facts about theresurrectionmentioned?

5. WhatistheimportanceoftheresurrectionofJesusforourChristianfaith?

6. Describe the change which the resurrection produced in the earlydisciplesofJesus.

Chapter14:TheBeginningsoftheChristianChurch

TheChristianChurch is foundedonthe factof theresurrectionofJesus; ifthatfacthadnotoccurredtherewouldbenoChurchtoday.ThedisciplesofJesusofNazarethwereevidentlyfarinferiortohiminspiritualdiscernmentandincourage.Evidentlytheycouldnothopetosucceedifhehadfailed.Andwith his death what little strength they may have had before was utterlydestroyed. In thehourofhis trial theyhaddesertedhimincowardly flight.Andwhenhewastakenfromthembyashamefuldeath,theywereindespair.Neverdidamovementseemtobemorehopelesslydead.

But thenthesurprising thingoccurred.Thosesameweak,discouragedmenbegan,inafewdays,inJerusalem,theveryscene.theirdisgrace,aspiritualmovement the like ofwhich theworld has never seen.What produced thewonderfulchange?Whatthattransformedthoseweak,discouragedmenintothespiritualconquerorsoftheworld?

Theanswerofthosementhemselveswasplain.Theirdespair,theysaid,gavewaytotriumphantjoybecausetheLordJesushadrisenfromthedead,andbecause theywereconvincedofhis resurrectionby theempty tombandby

the appearances of Jesus himself. No other real explanation has yet beendiscovered to account for the sudden transformation of the despair of thedisciples into triumphant joy. The very existence of the Christian Churchitself, therefore, is the strongest testimony to the resurrection; forwithouttheresurrectiontheChurchcouldneverhavecomeintobeing.

Acts1:12-26

After the ascension of Jesus, which was studied in the last lesson, theapostlesreturnedtoJerusalem,andobeyedthecommandofJesusbywaitingforthecomingoftheHolySpirit.Buttheperiodofwaitingwasnotaperiodofidleness;itwasspent,onthecontrary,inpraisingGodandinprayer.Onedefinite action was taken - the place of Judas, the traitor, who had killedhimself inhisremorse,was filledbythechoiceofMatthias.Acts1:15-26.Atthat time, certain women and a number of other disciples were gatheredtogetherwiththeapostles,makingatotalofaboutonehundredandtwentypersons.Itwasuponthatlittlecompanyofprayingdisciples,orratheruponthe promise of Jesus which had beenmade to them, that the hope of theworldwasbased.

Acts,Chapter2

Atlast,atthefeastofPentecost,fiftydaysafterthepassover,thepromiseofJesuswasfulfilled;theHolySpiritcameuponthedisciplestofitthemfortheevangelizationoftheworld.Acts2:1-13.Theywerealltogetherinoneplace;therewasasoundasofarushing,mightywind;cloventongues,liketonguesoffire,satuponeachoneofthem;theywerefilledwiththeHolySpirit,andbegantospeakwithotherlanguagesastheSpiritgavethemutterance.Whenthecrowdcametogethertoseethewonderfulthingthathadhappened,Peterpreached the first sermon of the Christian Church. Vs. 14-36. At thepreachingofPeterthreethousandpersonswereconverted; thecampaignofworldconquesthadbegun.Vs.37-42.

The campaign from the beginning was a campaign of witnessing, inaccordance with Jesus’ command. Acts 1:8. The Christian Church was toconquertheworld,notbyexhortingmentoliveacertainkindoflife,butbybringing them a piece of news. The Son of God, said the Christianmissionaries,diedonthecrossandthenroseagain.Thatwasthegoodnewsthatconqueredtheworld.Christianityfromthebeginningwasawayoflife,butitwasawayoflifefoundeduponapieceofnews,awayoflifefounded

uponhistorical facts.Themeaningof thefactswasnotrevealedallatonce,but it was revealed in part from the very beginning, and throughout theApostolicAge therevelationcame ingreaterandgreater fullness,especiallythroughtheinstrumentalityofPaul.

The lifeof theEarlyChurch inJerusalemwas insomerespects like thatoftheJews.ThedisciplescontinuedtoobservetheJewishfastsandfeastsandwere constantly in the Temple. But a new joy animated the company ofbelievers.TheirLordwasindeedtakenfromthemforatime,andtheydidnotknow when he would return, but meanwhile he was present with themthroughhisSpirit,andalreadyhehadsavedthemfromtheirsins.

Eveninexternalobservancesthebelieversweredistinguishablefromtherestof the Jews.Entrance into their companywasmarkedby the sacrament ofbaptism, which signified the washing away of sin; and their continuedfellowshipwithoneanotherandwiththerisenLordfoundexpressioninthesacramentof theLord’sSupper,whichcommemoratedtheatoningdeathofJesus. Therewere alsomeals.And thosewhohadproperty devoted it, in apurely voluntary way, to the needs of their poorer brethren. The disciplesattended diligently,moreover, to the teaching of the apostles, and engagedconstantlyinprayer.

Acts,Chapter3

The preaching of the apostles in Jerusalemwas authenticated bymiracles.Onenotablemiracle isnarrated indetail in thebookofTheActs.Ch.3.AsPeter and Johnwere going up into the Temple at the hour of prayer, theyhealedalamebeggar,whowasinthehabitofsittingatthegate.Themiraclewas the means of bringing to the people something better than bodilyhealing; forwhen the crowdcame together inwonderat thehealingof thelameman,Peter proclaimed to them the goodnews of the salvationwhichJesushadwrought.

Acts,Chapter4

TheSadducees, therulingclass,being incensedatsuchaproclamation, laidhandsupon the twoapostles, andbrought thembefore theSanhedrin.Acts4:1-22.ButevenwhenPeterboldlyannouncedtothemthatthenameofthatJesus whom they had put to death was the only name which could bringsalvation tomen, they were unable to domore than warn the recalcitrant

preachers.Anotablemiraclehadbeenwrought,and theycouldnotdeny it.When Peter and John came again to the company of believers, all thecompanyunitedinagloriousprayerofpraise.Theanswertotheprayerwasplainly given. “The placewas shakenwherein theywere gathered together,andtheywereallfilledwiththeHolySpirit,andtheyspakethewordofGodwithboldness.”


1. Show how the Christian Church is founded upon the fact of theresurrection.

2.DescribethechoiceofMatthias.

3.Whoweregatheredtogetherinthe“upperroom”inJerusalem?

4.DescribethecomingoftheSpiritontheDayofPentecost.

5.WasthespeakingwithothertonguesontheDayofPentecostthesameasthegiftoftonguesdescribedintheFirstEpistletotheCorinthians?Ifnot,whatwasthedifference?

6.WhyweretheSadduceesopposedtothepreachingofPeterandJohn?

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