THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #1 The Word of Life

John 1:1-18

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was already with God in the beginning. 3 Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him. 4 He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity. 

5 The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it. 6 God sent a man named John to be his messenger. 7 John came to declare the truth about the light so that everyone would become believers through his message. 8 John was not the light, but he came to declare the truth about the light. 9 The real light, which shines on everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him. Yet, the world didn't recognize him. 11 He went to his own people, and his own people didn't accept him. 12 However, he gave the right to become God's children to everyone who believed in him. 13 These people didn't become God's children in a physical way--from a human impulse or from a husband's desire [to have a child]. They were born from God. 14 The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth. 

15 (John declared the truth about him when he said loudly, "This is the person about whom I said, 'The one who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.'") 16 Each of us has received one gift after another because of all that the Word is. 17 The Teachings were given through Moses, but kindness and truth came into existence through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. God's only Son, the one who is closest to the Father's heart, has made him known. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #2 Jesus’ Birth is Announced

Luke 1:1-4 & Luke 1:26-35

1 Many have attempted to write about what had taken place among us. 2 They received their information from those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of God's word from the beginning, and they passed it on to us. 3 I, too, have followed everything closely from the beginning. So I thought it would be a good idea to write an orderly account for Your Excellency, Theophilus. 4 In this way you will know that what you've been told is true. 

26 Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. 27 The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, "You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you." 29 She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant. 30 The angel told her, "Don't be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. 31 You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. 32 He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 Your son will be king of Jacob's people forever, and his kingdom will never end." 

34 Mary asked the angel, "How can this be? I've never had sexual intercourse." 35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #3 Jesus’ Birth

Luke 2:1-21

1 At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All the people went to register in the cities where their ancestors had lived. 4 So Joseph went from Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a Judean city called Bethlehem. Joseph, a descendant of King David, went to Bethlehem because David had been born there. 5 Joseph went there to register with Mary. She had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant. 6 While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there wasn't any room for them in the inn. 

8 Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. 9 An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. 11 Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David's city. 12 This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." 

13 Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will!" 15 The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about." 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in a manger. 17 When they saw the child, they repeated what they had been told about him. 18 Everyone who heard the shepherds' story was amazed. 19 Mary treasured all these things in her heart and always thought about them. 20 As the shepherds returned to their flock, they glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. Everything happened the way the angel had told them. 

21 Eight days after his birth, the child was circumcised and named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #6 Jesus Talks to a Religious Leader

John 3:1-21

1 Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish council. 2 He came to Jesus one night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that God has sent you as a teacher. No one can perform the miracles you perform unless God is with him." 3 Jesus replied to Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." 4 Nicodemus asked him, "How can anyone be born when he's an old man? He can't go back inside his mother a second time to be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood, but the Spirit gives birth to things that are spiritual. 

7 Don't be surprised when I tell you that all of you must be born from above. 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you don't know where the wind comes from or where it's going. That's the way it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus replied, "How can that be?" 10 Jesus told Nicodemus, "You're a well-known teacher of Israel. Can't you understand this? 11 I can guarantee this truth: We know what we're talking about, and we confirm what we've seen. Yet, you don't accept our message. 12 If you don't believe me when I tell you about things on earth, how will you believe me when I tell you about things in heaven? 13 No one has gone to heaven except the Son of Man, who came from heaven. 14 "As Moses lifted up the snake [on a pole] in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. 15 Then everyone who believes in him will have eternal life." 

16 God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. 18 Those who believe in him won't be condemned. But those who don't believe are already condemned because they don't believe in God's only Son. 19 This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil. 20 People who do what is wrong hate the light and don't come to the light. They don't want their actions to be exposed. 21 But people who do what is true come to the light so that the things they do for God may be clearly seen. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #10 Jesus Makes the Leaders Angry

Luke 6:6-11

6 On another day of worship, Jesus went into a synagogue to teach. A man whose right hand was paralyzed was there. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could find a way to accuse him of doing something wrong. 

8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Get up, and stand in the center [of the synagogue]!" The man got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you--what is the right thing to do on a day of worship: to do good or evil, to give a person his health or to destroy it?" 10 He looked around at all of them and then said to the man, "Hold out your hand." The man did so, and his hand became normal again. 11 The scribes and Pharisees were furious and began to discuss with each other what they could do to Jesus.



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #14 The Faith of a Roman Officer

Luke 7:1-17

1 When Jesus had finished everything he wanted to say to the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 There a Roman army officer's valuable slave was sick and near death. 3 The officer had heard about Jesus and sent some Jewish leaders to him. They were to ask Jesus to come and save the servant's life. 4 They came to Jesus and begged, "He deserves your help. 5 He loves our people and built our synagogue at his own expense." 

6 Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell Jesus, "Sir, don't bother. I don't deserve to have you come into my house. 7 That's why I didn't come to you. But just give a command, and let my servant be cured. 8 As you know, I'm in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, 'Go!' and he goes, and another, 'Come!' and he comes. I tell my servant, 'Do this!' and he does it." 9 Jesus was amazed at the officer when he heard these words. He turned to the crowd following him and said, "I can guarantee that I haven't found faith as great as this in Israel." 10 When the men who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant healthy again. 

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12 As he came near the entrance to the city, he met a funeral procession. The dead man was a widow's only child. A large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. He said to her, "Don't cry." 14 He went up to the open coffin, took hold of it, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, "Young man, I'm telling you to come back to life!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 

16 Everyone was struck with fear and praised God. They said, "A great prophet has appeared among us," and "God has taken care of his people." 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #15 Jesus Forgives a Prostitute

Luke 7:36-50 & Luke 8:22-25

36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went to the Pharisee's house and was eating at the table. 37 A woman who lived a sinful life in that city found out that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So she took a bottle of perfume 38 and knelt at his feet. She was crying and washed his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them over and over again, and poured the perfume on them. 39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought, "If this man really were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him. She's a sinner." 

40 Jesus spoke up, "Simon, I have something to say to you." Simon replied, "Teacher, you're free to speak." 41 [So Jesus said,] "Two men owed a moneylender some money. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42 When they couldn't pay it back, he was kind enough to cancel their debts. Now, who do you think will love him the most?" 43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled." Jesus said to him, "You're right!" 

44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, "You see this woman, don't you? I came into your house. You didn't wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn't give me a kiss. But ever since I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn't put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 That's why I'm telling you that her many sins have been forgiven. Her great love proves that. But whoever receives little forgiveness loves very little." 48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." 49 The other guests thought, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" 50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace!" 

22 One day Jesus and his disciples got into a boat. He said to them, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." So they started out. 23 As they were sailing along, Jesus fell asleep. A violent storm came across the lake. The boat was taking on water, and they were in danger. 24 They went to him, woke him up, and said, "Master! Master! We're going to die!" Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to stop. The wind stopped, and the sea became calm. 25 He asked them, "Where is your faith?" Frightened and amazed, they asked each other, "Who is this man? He gives orders to the wind and the water, and they obey him!"



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #17 Jesus Heals Many People

Matthew 15:21-39

21 Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that territory came [to him] and began to shout, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her at all. Then his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away. She keeps shouting behind us." 24 Jesus responded, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel." 25 She came to him, bowed down, and said, "Lord, help me!" 26 Jesus replied, "It's not right to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "You're right, Lord. But even the dogs eat scraps that fall from their masters' tables." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, you have strong faith! What you wanted will be done for you." At that moment her daughter was cured. 

29 Jesus moved on from there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain and sat there. 30 A large crowd came to him, bringing with them the lame, blind, disabled, those unable to talk, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he cured them. 31 The crowd was amazed to see mute people talking, the disabled cured, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. So they praised the God of Israel. 

32 Jesus called his disciples and said, "I feel sorry for the people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they may become exhausted on their way home." 33 His disciples asked him, "Where could we get enough bread to feed such a crowd in this place where no one lives?" 34 Jesus asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" They answered, "Seven, and a few small fish." 35 He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. 

36 He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to the disciples, and they gave the bread and fish to the people. 37 All of them ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets. 38 Four thousand men had eaten. (This number does not include the women and children who had eaten.) 39 After he sent the people on their way, Jesus stepped into the boat and came to the territory of Magadan. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #18 Jesus and His Brothers

John 7:1-24

1 Jesus later traveled throughout Galilee. He didn't want to travel in Judea because Jews there wanted to kill him. 2 The time for the Jewish Festival of Booths was near. 3 So Jesus' brothers told him, "Leave this place, and go to Judea so that your disciples can see the things that you're doing. 4 No one does things secretly when he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, you should let the world see you." 5 Even his brothers didn't believe in him. 

6 Jesus told them, "Now is not the right time for me to go. Any time is right for you. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I say that what everyone does is evil. 8 Go to the festival. I'm not going to this festival right now. Now is not the right time for me to go." 

9 After saying this, Jesus stayed in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone to the festival, Jesus went. He didn't go publicly but secretly. 11 The Jews were looking for Jesus in the crowd at the festival. They kept asking, "Where is that man?" 12 The crowds argued about Jesus. Some people said, "He's a good man," while others said, "No he isn't. He deceives the people." 13 Yet, no one would talk openly about him because they were afraid of the Jews. 

14 When the festival was half over, Jesus went to the temple courtyard and began to teach. 15 The Jews were surprised and asked, "How can this man be so educated when he hasn't gone to school?" 16 Jesus responded to them, "What I teach doesn't come from me but from the one who sent me. 17 Those who want to follow the will of God will know if what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts. 18 Those who speak their own thoughts are looking for their own glory. But the man who wants to bring glory to the one who sent him is a true teacher and doesn't have dishonest motives. 19 Didn't Moses give you his teachings? Yet, none of you does what Moses taught you. So why do you want to kill me?" 

20 The crowd answered, "You're possessed by a demon! Who wants to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I performed one miracle, and all of you are surprised by it. 22 Moses gave you the teaching about circumcision (although it didn't come from Moses but from our ancestors). So you circumcise a male on a day of worship. 23 If you circumcise a male on the day of worship to follow Moses' Teachings, why are you angry with me because I made a man entirely well on the day of worship? 24 Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly." 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #19 Is Jesus from God?

John 7:25-53

25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem said, "Isn't this the man they want to kill? 26 But look at this! He's speaking in public, and no one is saying anything to him! Can it be that the rulers really know that this man is the Messiah? 27 However, we know where this man comes from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from." 

28 Then, while Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he said loudly, "You know me, and you know where I come from. I didn't decide to come on my own. The one who sent me is true. He's the one you don't know. 29 I know him because I am from him and he sent me." 30 The Jews tried to arrest him but couldn't because his time had not yet come. 31 However, many people in the crowd believed in him. They asked, "When the Messiah comes, will he perform more miracles than this man has?" 

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd saying things like this about him. So the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest Jesus. 33 Jesus said, "I will still be with you for a little while. Then I'll go to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you won't find me. You can't go where I'm going." 35 The Jews said among themselves, "Where does this man intend to go so that we won't find him? Does he mean that he'll live with the Jews who are scattered among the Greeks and that he'll teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean when he says, 'You will look for me, but you won't find me,' and 'You can't go where I'm going'?" 

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus was standing [in the temple courtyard]. He said loudly, "Whoever is thirsty must come to me to drink. 38 As Scripture says, 'Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.'" 39 Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom his believers would receive. The Spirit was not yet evident, as it would be after Jesus had been glorified. 40 After some of the crowd heard Jesus say these words, they said, "This man is certainly the prophet." 41 Other people said, "This man is the Messiah." Still other people asked, "How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Doesn't Scripture say that the Messiah will come from the descendants of David and from the village of Bethlehem, where David lived?" 43 So the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but they couldn't. 

45 When the temple guards returned, the chief priests and Pharisees asked them, "Why didn't you bring Jesus?" 46 The temple guards answered, "No human has ever spoken like this man." 47 The Pharisees asked the temple guards, "Have you been deceived too? 48 Has any ruler or any Pharisee believed in him? 49 This crowd is cursed because it doesn't know Moses' Teachings." 

50 One of those Pharisees was Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus. Nicodemus asked them, 51 "Do Moses' Teachings enable us to judge a person without first hearing that person's side of the story? We can't judge a person without finding out what that person has done." 52 They asked Nicodemus, "Are you saying this because you're from Galilee? Study [the Scriptures], and you'll see that no prophet comes from Galilee."  53 Then each of them went home. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #26 Jesus Says Who He is

John 10:22-42 & Matthew 16:13-17

22 The Festival of the Dedication of the Temple took place in Jerusalem during the winter. 23 Jesus was walking on Solomon's porch in the temple courtyard. 24 The Jews surrounded him. They asked him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 

25 Jesus answered them, "I've told you, but you don't believe me. The things that I do in my Father's name testify on my behalf. 26 However, you don't believe because you're not my sheep. 27 My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from me. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else, and no one can tear them away from my Father. 30 The Father and I are one." 

31 The Jews had again brought some rocks to stone Jesus to death. 32 Jesus replied to them, "I've shown you many good things that come from the Father. For which of these good things do you want to stone me to death?" 33 The Jews answered Jesus, "We're going to stone you to death, not for any good things you've done, but for dishonoring God. You claim to be God, although you're only a man." 

34 Jesus said to them, "Don't your Scriptures say, 'I said, "You are gods"'? 35 The Scriptures cannot be discredited. So if God calls people gods (and they are the people to whom he gave the Scriptures), 36 why do you say that I'm dishonoring God because I said, 'I'm the Son of God'? God set me apart for this holy purpose and has sent me into the world. 37 If I'm not doing the things my Father does, don't believe me. 38 But if I'm doing those things and you refuse to believe me, then at least believe the things that I'm doing. Then you will know and recognize that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father." 

39 The Jews tried to arrest Jesus again, but he got away from them. 40 He went back across the Jordan River and stayed in the place where John first baptized people. 41 Many people went to Jesus. They said, "John didn't perform any miracles, but everything John said about this man is true." 42 Many people there believed in Jesus. 

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They answered, "Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He asked them, "But who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!" 17 Jesus replied, "Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you.



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #27 Jesus Says He will be Killed

Matthew 16:21, 24-27, Matthew 17:1-9 & Luke 10:25-37

21 From that time on Jesus began to inform his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. There he would have to suffer a lot because of the leaders, chief priests, and scribes. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be brought back to life.

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. 25 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them. 26 What good will it do for people to win the whole world and lose their lives? Or what will a person give in exchange for life? 27 The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done. 28 I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." 

1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. 2 Jesus' appearance changed in front of them. His face became as bright as the sun and his clothes as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them and were talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it's good that we're here. If you want, I'll put up three tents here--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 He was still speaking when a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, "This is my Son, whom I love and with whom I am pleased. Listen to him!" 6 The disciples were terrified when they heard this and fell facedown on the ground. 7 But Jesus touched them and said, "Get up, and don't be afraid!" 8 As they raised their heads, they saw no one but Jesus. 9 On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen. Wait until the Son of Man has been brought back to life."

25 Then an expert in Moses' Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 Jesus answered him, "What is written in Moses' Teachings? What do you read there?" 27 He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.' And 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'" 28 Jesus told him, "You're right! Do this, and life will be yours." 

29 But the man wanted to justify his question. So he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man went from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead. 31 "By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went around him and continued on his way. 32 Then a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he, too, went around him and continued on his way. 33 "But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man, 34 went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll pay you on my return trip.' 36 "Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?" 37 The expert said, "The one who was kind enough to help him." Jesus told him, "Go and imitate his example!"



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #33 Jesus Again Predicts His Death

Luke 18:31-43

31 Jesus took the twelve apostles aside and said to them, "We're going to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to foreigners. They will make fun of him, insult him, spit on him, 33 whip him, and kill him. But on the third day he will come back to life." 34 But they didn't understand any of this. What he said was a mystery to them, and they didn't know what he meant. 

35 As Jesus came near Jericho, a blind man was sitting and begging by the road. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he tried to find out what was happening. 37 The people told him that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by. 38 Then the blind man shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 The people at the front of the crowd told the blind man to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 40 Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Lord, I want to see again." 42 Jesus told him, "Receive your sight! Your faith has made you well." 43 Immediately, he could see again. He followed Jesus and praised God. All the people saw this, and they, too, praised God.



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #36 Jesus’ Betrayer

Luke 22:1-34, 47-62

1 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, called Passover, was near. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for some way to kill Jesus. However, they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles. 4 Judas went to the chief priests and the temple guards and discussed with them how he could betray Jesus. 5 They were pleased and agreed to give him some money. 6 So Judas promised to do it. He kept looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them when there was no crowd. 

7 The day came during the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the Passover lamb had to be killed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John and told them, "Go, prepare the Passover lamb for us to eat." 9 They asked him, "Where do you want us to prepare it?" 10 He told them, "Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Tell the owner of the house that the teacher asks, 'Where is the room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' 12 He will take you upstairs and show you a large furnished room. Get things ready there." 

13 The disciples left. They found everything as Jesus had told them and prepared the Passover. 14 When it was time to eat the Passover meal, Jesus and the apostles were at the table. 15 Jesus said to them, "I've had a deep desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 I can guarantee that I won't eat it again until it finds its fulfillment in the kingdom of God." 17 Then he took a cup and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He said, "Take this, and share it. 18 I can guarantee that from now on I won't drink this wine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 Then Jesus took bread and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, "This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this to remember me." 20 When supper was over, he did the same with the cup. He said, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new promise made with my blood." 

21 "The hand of the one who will betray me is with me on the table. 22 The Son of Man is going to die the way it has been planned for him. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays him." 23 So they began to discuss with each other who could do such a thing. 

24 Then a quarrel broke out among the disciples. They argued about who should be considered the greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of nations have power over their people, and those in authority call themselves friends of the people. 26 But you're not going to be that way! Rather, the greatest among you must be like the youngest, and your leader must be like a servant. 27 Who's the greatest, the person who sits at the table or the servant? Isn't it really the person who sits at the table? But I'm among you as a servant. 

28 "You have stood by me in the troubles that have tested me. 29 So as my Father has given me a kingdom, I'm giving it to you. 30 You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will also sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel." 31 [Then the Lord said,] "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you apostles for himself. He wants to separate you from me as a farmer separates wheat from husks. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples." 33 But Peter said to him, "Lord, I'm ready to go to prison with you and to die with you." 34 Jesus replied, "Peter, I can guarantee that the rooster won't crow tonight until you say three times that you don't know me." 

47 While he was still speaking to the disciples, a crowd arrived. The man called Judas, one of the twelve apostles, was leading them. He came close to Jesus to kiss him. 48 Jesus said to him, "Judas, do you intend to betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" 49 The men who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen. So they asked him, "Lord, should we use our swords to fight?" 50 One of the disciples cut off the right ear of the chief priest's servant. 51 But Jesus said, "Stop! That's enough of this." Then he touched the servant's ear and healed him. 

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple guards, and leaders who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? 53 I was with you in the temple courtyard every day and you didn't try to arrest me. But this is your time, when darkness rules." 

54 So they arrested Jesus and led him away to the chief priest's house. Peter followed at a distance. 55 Some men had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard. As they sat together, Peter sat among them. 56 A female servant saw him as he sat facing the glow of the fire. She stared at him and said, "This man was with Jesus." 57 But Peter denied it by saying, "I don't know him, woman." 58 A little later someone else saw Peter and said, "You are one of them." But Peter said, "Not me!" 

59 About an hour later another person insisted, "It's obvious that this man was with him. He's a Galilean!" 60 But Peter said, "I don't know what you're talking about!" Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked directly at Peter. Peter remembered what the Lord had said: "Before a rooster crows today, you will say three times that you don't know me." 62 Then Peter went outside and cried bitterly. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #37 Jesus Before the Leaders

Luke 22:63-71

63 The men who were guarding Jesus made fun of him as they beat him. 64 They blindfolded him and said to him, "Tell us who hit you." 65 They also insulted him in many other ways. 66 In the morning the council of the people's leaders, the chief priests and the scribes, gathered together. They brought Jesus in front of their highest court and asked him, 67 "Tell us, are you the Messiah?" Jesus said to them, "If I tell you, you won't believe me. 68 And if I ask you, you won't answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be in the highest position in heaven." 70 Then all of them said, "So you're the Son of God?" Jesus answered them, "You're right to say that I am." 71 Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We've heard him say it ourselves." 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #38 Jesus’ Trial (part 1)

Luke 23:1-16

1 Then the entire assembly stood up and took him to Pilate. 2 They began to accuse Jesus by saying, "We found that he stirs up trouble among our people: He keeps them from paying taxes to the emperor, and he says that he is Christ, a king." 3 Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, I am," Jesus answered. 4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I can't find this man guilty of any crime." 5 The priests and the crowd became more forceful. They said, "He stirs up the people throughout Judea with his teachings. He started in Galilee and has come here." 

6 When Pilate heard that, he asked if the man was from Galilee. 7 When Pilate found out that he was, he sent Jesus to Herod. Herod ruled Galilee and was in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Herod was very pleased to see Jesus. For a long time he had wanted to see him. He had heard about Jesus and hoped to see him perform some kind of miracle. 9 Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus wouldn't answer him. 10 Meanwhile, the chief priests and the scribes stood there and shouted their accusations against Jesus. 11 Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and made fun of him. They put a colorful robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 So Herod and Pilate became friends that day. They had been enemies before this. 

13 Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. 14 He told them, "You brought me this man as someone who turns the people against the government. I've questioned him in front of you and haven't found this man guilty of the crimes of which you accuse him. 15 Neither could Herod. So he sent this man back to us. This man hasn't done anything to deserve the death penalty. 16 So I'm going to have him whipped and set free." 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #39 Jesus’ Trial (part 2)

Luke 23:18-25

18 The whole crowd then shouted, "Take him away! Free Barabbas for us." 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for his involvement in a riot that had taken place in the city and for murder.) 20 But because Pilate wanted to free Jesus, he spoke to the people again. 21 They began yelling, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" 22 A third time Pilate spoke to them. He asked, "Why? What has he done wrong? I haven't found this man deserving of the death penalty. So I'm going to have him whipped and set free." 23 But the crowd pressured Pilate. They shouted that Jesus had to be crucified, and they finally won. 24 Pilate decided to give in to their demand. 25 He freed Barabbas, who had been put in prison for rioting and murdering, because that's what they wanted. But he let them do what they wanted to Jesus.



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #40 Jesus is Killed

Luke 23:25-56

26 As the soldiers led Jesus away, they grabbed a man named Simon, who was from the city of Cyrene. Simon was coming into Jerusalem. They laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd followed Jesus. The women in the crowd cried and sang funeral songs for him. 28 Jesus turned to them and said, "You women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me! Rather, cry for yourselves and your children! 29 The time is coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the women who couldn't get pregnant, who couldn't give birth, and who couldn't nurse a child.' 30 Then people will say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' 31 If people do this to a green tree, what will happen to a dry one?" 

32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be executed with him. 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him. The criminals were also crucified, one on his right and the other on his left. 34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing." Meanwhile, the soldiers divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. 

35 The people stood there watching. But the rulers were making sarcastic remarks. They said, "He saved others. If he's the Messiah that God has chosen, let him save himself!" 36 The soldiers also made fun of him. They would go up to him, offer him some vinegar, 37 and say, "If you're the king of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 A written notice was placed above him. It said, "This is the king of the Jews." 

39 One of the criminals hanging there insulted Jesus by saying, "So you're really the Messiah, are you? Well, save yourself and us!" 40 But the other criminal scolded him: "Don't you fear God at all? Can't you see that you're condemned in the same way that he is? 41 Our punishment is fair. We're getting what we deserve. But this man hasn't done anything wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom." 43 Jesus said to him, "I can guarantee this truth: Today you will be with me in paradise." 

44 Around noon darkness came over the entire land and lasted until three in the afternoon. 45 The sun had stopped shining. The curtain in the temple was split in two. 46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit." After he said this, he died. 47 When an army officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Certainly, this man was innocent!" 48 Crowds had gathered to see the sight. But when all of them saw what had happened, they cried and returned to the city. 49 All his friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance and watched everything. 

50 There was a good man who had God's approval. His name was Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish council, 51 but he had not agreed with what they had done. He was from the Jewish city of Arimathea, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 After he took it down from the cross, he wrapped it in linen. Then he laid the body in a tomb cut in rock, a tomb in which no one had ever been buried. 54 It was Friday, and the day of worship was just beginning. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed closely behind Joseph. They observed the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went back to the city and prepared spices and perfumes. But on the day of worship they rested according to the commandment. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #41  Jesus is Buried

Matthew 27:57-66

57 In the evening a rich man named Joseph arrived. He was from the city of Arimathea and had become a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. 60 Then he laid it in his own new tomb, which had been cut in a rock. After rolling a large stone against the door of the tomb, he went away. 61 Mary from Magdala and the other Mary were sitting there, facing the tomb. 

62 The next day, which was the day of worship, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together and went to Pilate. 63 They said, "Sir, we remember how that deceiver said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will be brought back to life.' 64 Therefore, give the order to make the tomb secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may steal him and say to the people, 'He has been brought back to life.' Then the last deception will be worse than the first." 65 Pilate told them, "You have the soldiers you want for guard duty. Go and make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66 So they went to secure the tomb. They placed a seal on the stone and posted the soldiers on guard duty. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #42  Jesus Comes Back to Life

Matthew 28:1-15 & John 20:1-18

1 After the day of worship, as the sun rose Sunday morning, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and was sitting on it. 3 He was as bright as lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. 4 The guards were so deathly afraid of him that they shook. 

5 The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid! I know you're looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He's not here. He has been brought back to life as he said. Come, see the place where he was lying. 7 Then go quickly, and tell his disciples that he has been brought back to life. He's going ahead of them into Galilee. There they will see him. Take note that I have told you." 8 They hurried away from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly, Jesus met them and greeted them. They went up to him, bowed down to worship him, and took hold of his feet. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go, tell my followers to go to Galilee. There they will see me." 

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 The chief priests gathered together with the leaders and agreed on a plan. They gave the soldiers a large amount of money 13 and told them to say that Jesus' disciples had come at night and had stolen his body while they were sleeping. 14 [They added,] "If the governor hears about it, we'll take care of it, and you'll have nothing to worry about." 15 The soldiers took the money and did as they were told. Their story has been spread among the Jewish people to this day. 

1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary from Magdala went to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb's entrance. 2 So she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved. She told them, "They have removed the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they've put him." 

3 So Peter and the other disciple headed for the tomb. 4 The two were running side by side, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked inside the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there but didn't go inside. 6 Simon Peter arrived after him and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there. 7 He also saw the cloth that had been on Jesus' head. It wasn't lying with the strips of linen but was rolled up separately. 8 Then the other disciple, who arrived at the tomb first, went inside. He saw and believed. 9 They didn't know yet what Scripture meant when it said that Jesus had to come back to life. 10 So the disciples went back home. 

11 Mary, however, stood there and cried as she looked at the tomb. As she cried, she bent over and looked inside. 12 She saw two angels in white clothes. They were sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying. One angel was where Jesus' head had been, and the other was where his feet had been. 13 The angels asked her why she was crying. Mary told them, "They have removed my Lord, and I don't know where they've put him." 

14 After she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. However, she didn't know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus asked her, "Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Mary thought it was the gardener speaking to her. So she said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I'll remove him." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" Mary turned around and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (This word means "teacher.") 17 Jesus told her, "Don't hold on to me. I have not yet gone to the Father. But go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" 18 Mary from Magdala went to the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord." She also told them what he had said to her.



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #43 Jesus’ Followers See Him Again

John 20:19-31

19 That Sunday evening, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you!" 20 When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were glad to see the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." 22 After he had said this, he breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 Whenever you forgive sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you don't forgive them, they are not forgiven." 

24 Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, who was called Didymus, wasn't with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, "We've seen the Lord." Thomas told them, "I refuse to believe this unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my fingers into them, and put my hand into his side." 

26 A week later Jesus' disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it into my side. Stop doubting, and believe." 28 Thomas responded to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to Thomas, "You believe because you've seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me but believe." 

30 Jesus performed many other miracles that his disciples saw. Those miracles are not written in this book. 31 But these miracles have been written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that you will have life by believing in him. 



THE LIFE OF JESUS:  #45 Jesus Returns to Heaven

Luke 24:44-53

44 Then he said to them, "These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. I told you that everything written about me in Moses' Teachings, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He said to them, "Scripture says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day. 47 Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses to these things. 49 "I'm sending you what my Father promised. Wait here in the city until you receive power from heaven." 

50 Then Jesus took them to a place near Bethany. There he raised his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken to heaven. 52 The disciples worshiped him and were overjoyed as they went back to Jerusalem. 53 They were always in the temple, where they praised God. 



GOD'S WORD is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.