Our Daily Bread - Bible BasicsSample

1. Gospels: Biography

The New Testament story begins with the cry of a newborn baby. In Bethlehem of Judea, a son was born to Joseph of Nazareth and his young wife, Mary. But this was no ordinary birth. It was a virgin birth, prophesied in the Old Testament, announced by angels, and made possible by a miracle.  

Jesus’ Birth. An angel appeared to Mary, a devout Jewish girl, to tell her three astounding things: (1) She was to be the mother of the “Son of the Highest” who would be given “the throne of His father David.” (2) He would be miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit. (3) Her aged cousin Elizabeth was pregnant.

Joseph, Mary’s husband-to-be, was troubled when he learned that she was pregnant. But he was told by an angel that the baby conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit, that he should marry her, and that this child would “save His people from their sins.”

When it came time for Mary to deliver, she and Joseph were in Bethlehem, “the city of David,” miles away from home because Rome had demanded that everyone in Palestine enroll for the tax in the city of their lineage. This fulfilled a prophecy of Micah.

Angels heralded Jesus’ birth to shepherds on a Judean hillside. Eastern astrologers followed the leading of a star to worship Him. Joseph was warned by an angel in a dream to flee to Egypt, saving the child from a massacre by the jealous and cruel King Herod.

Jesus’ Inauguration. The child born to Elizabeth was John the Baptizer. He began to preach, calling the Jews to repentance in preparation for the kingdom of God. Those who purified their hearts testified to their act of preparation by being baptized.

One day, while John was baptizing in the Jordan River, Jesus came and insisted on being baptized. While He was in the water, the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove and the Father in heaven voiced His approval. John’s words, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” introduced Jesus to the world as its Messiah-Savior. The next day, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan. Jesus thwarted His enemy’s attack by quoting from the Old Testament.

Jesus’ Public Ministry. After His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus began to make Himself known to the people. His 3 years of public life were marked by 3 major activities: teaching, performing miracles, and training His apostles.

The Sermon on the Mount was Jesus’ first great teaching session. In it He presented principles for living in His kingdom, His relationship to the Law, and instruction in prayer. He taught in ways the common people understood: parables, epigrams, and object lessons. Yet He taught with authority.

His teaching was accompanied by miracles. He demonstrated that His claim to be the Son of God was true by showing His power over nature, demons, disease, and even death.

Jesus chose 12 men to be His apostles. During the last 2 years of His public ministry, these men were with Him nearly all the time. This was important because the responsibility of carrying out His plan would fall squarely on their shoulders when He was gone.

Crowds flocked to Jesus. It seemed that wherever He went, He was surrounded by throngs. The common people accepted Him, and He soon became popular. 

The religious leaders of Israel, however, hated Him. They resented His popularity and they despised His claims. To them He was an impostor and a blasphemer, so they began plotting His death.

As His ministry drew to a close, even the crowds forsook Him. His enemies grew more bold. Finally, one of His own apostles conspired to betray Him.

Jesus’ Death. Each of the four gospel writers closed his book with an account of the last few days of Jesus’ life. In Matthew, it covers 9 chapters; in Mark, 6; in Luke, 4 1/2 long chapters; and in John, 10. This should not surprise us, for Jesus had made it clear from the beginning that He had come to give His life. Seven times He had told His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and die.

Jesus traveled to Jerusalem at Passover, the annual commemoration of Israel’s rescue from the slaying of the firstborn in Egypt. When He came into the city of Zion in a triumphal entry, He was celebrated by the common people. The next day, He threw the moneychangers out of the temple.

His enemies, masterminded by Caiaphas the high priest, planned Jesus’ death. He met with His disciples one last time in an upper room, and while they were assembled, Judas left to betray Him. Jesus initiated the communion service before making His way to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. There He was arrested by a mob and then given an illegal trial before the Sanhedrin, declared guilty, and brought to Pilate. When the Roman proconsul could not persuade the mob to release Him, he turned Him over to them. Jesus was led to Calvary, where He was crucified with two criminals. When He died, His body was claimed by two of His followers and placed in a new tomb.

All seemed lost for Jesus’ disciples. But 3 days later, He rose from the dead. He appeared privately to His disciples on several occasions, and was also seen by hundreds of others. He had conquered death! The last sight of Him was His ascension into heaven 40 days after His resurrection.

Seeing God. Because Jesus was God in the flesh, and because the Gospels tell His story, they tell us volumes about God. Here are some examples of what Christ’s life, death, and resurrection tell us about God.   

In Jesus’ birth, we see the mercy of God as He humbled Himself to come to our rescue (Matthew 1:21-23).   

In Jesus’ teaching, we see the wisdom and goodness of God as He tells us what to believe and how to live (John 12:49-50).   

In Jesus’ miracles, we see the unlimited power of God to control nature, disease, and death (Mark 4:35-41; Luke 7:11-18; 9:37-42).   

In Jesus’ training of the Twelve, we see God’s desire to work through His people (John 14:12).   

In Jesus’ death, we see how far God would go to redeem us from our sins (John 3:16).  

In Jesus’ resurrection, we see the supernatural power of God to conquer death (Mark 16:1-8).