From the Birth to The Ascension of Jesus.
The Four Gospels.
The Story of this Period. It is common to designate this period as the
"Life of Christ," meaning the time he spent on earth. There is,
however, no scripture life of Jesus. The gospels do not claim to
present such a life. They do, however, give us a vast amount of
material and though different in purpose and consequently in content,
they do present the same general picture of Jesus. The matter of
arranging the material in an orderly way presents much difficulty. If
a topographical outline is attempted it can only be approximately
correct because at some points the gospels leave us in uncertainty or
in ignorance. If a chronological outline is attempted there is no less
of uncertainty.
The following outline, however, may be accepted as a scheme of study
for the period. (1) The childhood and youth of Jesus. From the birth
of Jesus, B.C. 4 to the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist,
A.D. 26. (2) The beginning of Christ's ministry. From the beginning of
John's ministry to Christ's first public appearance in Jerusalem, A.D.
27. (3) The early Judean ministry. From his first public appearance in
Jerusalem to his return to Galilee, A.D. 27. (4) The Galilean
ministry. From the return to Galilee to the final departure for
Jerusalem, A.D., 29. (5) The Perean Ministry. From the departure from
Galilee to the final arrival in Jerusalem, A.D. 30. (6) From the final
arrival in Jerusalem to the resurrection, April, A.D. 30. (7) The
forty days. From the resurrection to the ascension. May, A.D. 30.
The Childhood and Youth of Jesus. (1) _The long preparation for his
coming_. The prophets had most emphatically proclaimed his coming and
all things had from the beginning been divinely directed so that
preparation might be made for his advent. His human ancestry had been
selected and prepared. When the time drew near for him to appear, the
coming of John the Baptist his forerunner, was announced to Zacharias
his father (Lu. 1:5-25). This was quickly followed by the announcement
of the birth of Jesus to Mary his mother (Lu. 1:26-38) and soon
thereafter to Joseph, the espoused husband of Mary (Matt. 1:18-25).
The beautiful story of his birth is told in the second chapter of
Luke.
(2) _The infancy_. Of Jesus infancy we have several facts and
incidents, (a) The appearance of the angels to the shepherds and the
shepherds' visit to the babe, Lu. 2:8-20. (b) The circumcision at
eight days old, Lu. 2:21. (c) The presentation in the temple where he
was recognized by Simeon, Lu. 2:22-32. (d) The visit of the wise men
(Matt. 2:1-12) and (e) The flight into Egypt, Matt. 2:13-23.
(3) _His boyhood and youth_. This is commonly called the years of
silence: (a) We have the record of his parents' settlement in the city
of Nazareth, Matt. 2:23; (b) We know that he had a normal growth, Lu.
2:40; (c) At twelve years old he was remarkably developed and from his
reply to his mother we may infer that he was conscious of his mission,
Lu. 2:41-50; (d) From Luke 2:50 we may infer something of the spirit
which possessed him during the rest of his private life; (e) We also
know his occupation (Mk.6:3).
_The Beginning of Christ's Ministry_. Here are several matters of
importance. (1) _The ministry of John the Baptist_ (Matt 3:1-12; Mk.
1:2-8; Lu. 3:1-18; John 1:6-33) who announced Christ's coming and
prepared a people for him. This he did by preaching repentance and by
baptising them as a profession of repentance and as a sign that they
were forgiven. (2) _The Baptism of Jesus_. (Mt. 3:13-17; Mk. 1:9-11;
Lu. 3:21-23; John 1:29-34.) At this time he put off the life of
seclusion and entered upon his public career. He also received the
Father's attestation to his sonship and the special equipment of the
Holy Spirit for his work by which also John knew him to be the
Messiah, John 1:33. By this act he also set the stamp of approval on
John's work and showed that he was not in competition with John. (3)
_The temptation of Jesus_ (Mt. 4:1-11; Mk, 1:12-13; Lu. 4:1-13). We
are given the place and length of time of this temptation, also three
of the temptations and how they were met. In Heb. 2:18 and 5:18 we
have some light on the purpose of this trial. It is probable, however,
that all the import of it cannot be fully understood. (4) _The work of
Jesus begun_. Here it is necessary to study two things: (a) The
winning of his first six disciples (John 1:35-51); (b) _His first
miracle_ (John 2:1-11). At this point it will also be of help to call
to mind that the method of Jesus was to preach, teach and heal (Mt.
4:23). At the close of the marriage feast, which usually lasted six or
seven days, Jesus went down to Capernaum (John 2:12).
The Early Judean Ministry. The records of this period are very brief
and may be studied under three heads, (1) _The incidents at Jerusalem
during the first Passover of Christ's public ministry_. The two
principal incidents were the cleansing of the temple (John 2:13-22)
and the conversation with Nicodemus, Jno. 3:1-31. (2) _The work out in
Judea_, where he won and baptized many disciples, whereupon John was
led to make testimony to Jesus at Aenon, John 3:22-36. (3) _His
successful work in Samaria_, concerning which there is given the story
of his message to the woman at the well and of his two days' stay at
Sychar. The period is made notable by two of the greatest discourses
of all his ministry: (a) that to Nicodemus; (b) that to the woman at
Jacob's well.
The Gallilean Ministry. This is by far the longest and most important
period of Christ's work. It is not wholly confined to Galilee. For
during this time he certainly attends the feast at Jerusalem and also
makes some excursions into the north country. If the study of the last
period was embarrassed because of the scarcity of material, this one
is all the more so because of the amount and variety of it. The
following outline will, however, simplify the study. (1) _The
beginning of his work in Galilee_. (Matt 4:12-25; 8:2-4, 14-17;
14:3-5. Mk. 1:14-45; 6:17-18; Lu. 4:14-3; 16; John 4:43-54). In this
section we have the account of (a) John's imprisonment and of Christ's
arrival in Galilee; (b) of the healing of the nobleman's son, and his
settlement at Capernaum; (c) of the call of four fishermen and many
miracles wrought at Capernaum; (d) of his first brief tour of Galilee.
(2) _The antagonism of the scribes and Pharisees_. (Matt 9:1-17,
12:1-14; Mk. 2:1-3:6; Lu. 5:17-6:11; John ch. 5). The more important
matters of this record are: (a) The healing of the paralytic; (b)
Matthew's call and feast; (c) the healing of the man at the pool of
Bethsaida; (d) the story of the disciples in the grain fields and (e)
the healing of the withered hand. In all these there is indicated the
rising hostility to Jesus and his method, especially as regards his
claim of power to forgive sins and in his attitude toward the despised
classes and toward the Sabbath.
(3) _The organization of his kingdom_. (Matt. 12:15-21, 10:2-4;
chs. 5-7; Mk. 3:7-19; Lu. 6:2-49.) The fame of Jesus began to spread
and it became necessary for him to create an organization to carry
forward his work. This was done by calling out his twelve apostles and
outlining to them the principles of his kingdom. This he did in the
sermon on the mount.
(4) _The second tour of Galilee_. (Matt. 8:5-13; 11:2-30;
Lu. 7:1-8:3.) The narration here gives the stories (a) of the
Centurion's servant and the widow's son of Nain, (b) of John's last
message and (c) of Jesus anointed by the sinful woman.
(5) _His teachings and miracles by the Sea of Galilee_.
(Matt. 12:22-13:53, 8:23-34, 9:18-34; Mk. 3:19-5:43; Lu. 8:4-56.) In
this section we have a large group of parables with their varied
teachings and four very interesting miracles: (a) The stilling of the
tempest; (b) The healing of the Gadarene demoniacs; (c) The story of
Jainus' daughter; (d) Two dumb and a blind man.
(6) _The third tour of Galilee_. (Matt. 13:34-15:20, 9:35-11:1;
Mk. 6:1-7:23; Lu. 9:1-17; John ch. 6.) Leaving Capernaum Jesus again
came to his own city, Nazareth, where the people acknowledged the
marvel of his wisdom and of his power but again rejected him-this time
because of their knowledge of his lowly birth and unpretentious youth.
Upon this rejection, Jesus and his disciples made another circuit
amongst the cities and towns of Galilee. This tour is made notable by
several incidents: (a) We have the sending out of the twelve on a tour
of preaching, healing and raising the dead; (b) The story of the death
of John the Baptist, who was the first New Testament person to suffer
martyrdom for his conviction; (c) Two great miracles, that of feeding
the five thousand and of walking on the sea; (d) Two great discourses
of Jesus, that on "The Bread of Life" and on "Eating with unwashed
hands."
(7) _His first retirement into the north and return to the sea of
Galilee_. (Matt. 15:21-16:12; Mk. 7:24-8:26). Jesus went up into the
coast of Tyre and Sidon where he healed the daughter of the
Syrophoenician woman. On the return trip he passed through Decapolis
where he healed a deaf and dumb man and performed many other miracles.
After his return we have the record of the feeding of the four
thousand, of his encountering the Pharisees about his authority and
the story of the blind man of Bethsaida.
(8) _The second retirement to the north and return to
Capernaum_. (Matt. 16:13-18 end; Mk. 8:27-9 end; Lu. 9:18-50). Jesus
again journeys into the north and came into the parts of Caesarea
Philippi where he drew from Peter the great confession, predicted his
coming death, was transfigured before the favored three and healed
the lunatic boy. On his return, as he neared Capernaum, he again
foretold his death and resurrection and after he arrived at Capernaum,
we have recorded the story of the coin in the fish's mouth and his
discourse on humility, offenses and forgiveness.
(9) _Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles_. (John chs. 7-8). By this time
the joyous season of the Feast of Tabernacles drew near and his
brothers, who though they did not believe in his deity, seemed to have
some pride in him and urged him to go up among the people and make a
display of his power. This he refused to do but went up secretly,
probably with the hope of escaping the antagonism that was now being
manifested toward him. There was, however, great excitement at
Jerusalem concerning him and he found it necessary to go into the
temple and boldly proclaim the teachings of his kingdom. These
teachings may be studied under four heads: (a) The teaching of the
first day and the division of the Jews concerning him; (b) The story
of the adulterous woman; (c) His teaching concerning himself as the
"Light of the World." He probably looked upon the great light over the
treasury of the Lord's house which burned each night in commemoration
of the cloud of fire that always guided and lighted Israel in the
wilderness and was reminded of his own service for humanity and was
prompted to this discourse; (d) His discourse on spiritual freedom and
true children of Abraham.
The Perean Ministry. At the close of the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus
returned to Galilee where he seems to have gathered around him a
little company of loyal followers and made ready for his final
departure to Jerusalem where he was to meat the death already
foretold. The incidents of this period occurred during the journey.
The material easily falls into three parts marking distinct sections
of time. (1) _From the departure from Jerusalem to the close of the
Feast of Dedication_. (Matt. 19:1-2, 8:18-22; Mk. 10:1; Lu. ch. 10;
John ch.s 9-10). This is one of the most interesting sections of all
and records several incidents of far-reaching importance: (a) The
story of the healing of the man born blind and the investigation of it
by the Sanhedrin; (b) The story of the sending out of the seventy and
their return is told. As the Lord's work drew near its close, he felt
hat others should be sent out to do a like work to his own; (c) The
story of the Good Samaritan and of his visit to Martha and Mary; (d)
The allegory of the Good Shepherd; (e) The report of his visit to the
Feast of Dedication.
(2) _From the Feast of Dedication to the withdrawal to Ephraim_. (Lu.
11:1-17:10; John 11:1-54). This section of the period is even more
crowded with activity than was the former one. It is very difficult,
therefore, to refer here to anything like all that is recorded of the
period. Among The subjects discussed the following are the most
important: (a) The true nature of prayer and the follies and
hypocrisies of the Pharisees, Lu. ch. 11; (b) The danger of hypocrisy,
of denying Christ, of covetousness and of the judgments of Christ, Lu.
ch. 12; (c) The need and nature of repentance, the proper use of the
Sabbath, the number that shall be saved and the fate of Jerusalem, Lu.
ch. 13; (d) The law of conduct in the matter of feasts and counting
the cost of discipleship, Lu. ch. 14; (e) Three parables of grace and
two parables of warning, Lu. chs. 15-16; (f) Forgiveness and faith,
Lu. 7:1-10; (g) The raising of Lazarus and withdrawal to Ephraim, John
ch. 11.
(3) _From the withdrawal to Ephraim to the final arrival at
Jerusalem_. (Matt. chs. 13-20; 26:8-13; Mk. ch. 10; 14:3-9;
Lu. 17:11-19:28; John 11:55-12:11). This section is notable for the
preponderance of teaching over the miracles reported. There are two
miracles, that of healing ten lepers and the blind man of Jericho. The
following show how large a place is given to teaching: (a) Concerning
the coming of the kingdom; (b) concerning prayer, illustrated by the
importunate widow and the Pharisee and publican; (c) Concerning
divorce; (d) the blessing of little children; (e) the ambitions of
James and John; (g) the visit to Zachaeus; (h) the parable of the
pounds and the anointing of Jesus for burial.
The Final Ministry in Jerusalem. Of all the periods of the life of
Christ this is the most significant. The gospels put most stress upon
it and particularly upon his trial and death. The disciples soon
learned to triumph in the cross, the seeming defeat out of which
Jesus, through his resurrection, snatched victory. Everything recorded
of this period has a ring of the tragical and seemed a preparation for
the coming doom he was soon to meet. The material readily divides
itself into three sections or periods. (1) _From the final arrival in
Jerusalem to the last hours of private intercourse with his disciples_.
(Matt. 21:11-26:16; Mk. chs. 11-13; 14: 1, 2, 10, 11; Lu. 19:29-22:6;
John 12:12 end). Like every other section of his active ministry among
the people this has in it some teachings and some miracles. The
greatest act of all was, perhaps, the triumphal entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem as king of the Jews. In this act he openly accepted the
position of Messiah.
There is one important miracle, that of cursing and withering the fig
tree. Some consider that a miraculous power was also used in the
cleansing of the temple. The teachings may be grouped as follows: (a)
The question about Christ's authority and his reply by question and
the three parables of warning; (b) Three questions by the Jews and
Christ's unanswerable question; (c) Seven woes against the scribes and
Pharisees and the widow's mite; (d) The Gentiles seeking and the Jews
rejecting Jesus; (e) a discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem and
the end of the world; (f) the last prediction of his death and the
conspiracy of Judas and the chief priests.
(2) Christ's last hours with his disciples. (Matt. 26:17-35; Mk.
14:12-31; Lu. 22:7 end; John chs. 13-17). Jesus has now withdrawn from
the crowd and is alone with his disciples giving to them his final
words of instruction and comfort. The whole of the material of this
section seems to be surrounded by an atmosphere of sacredness that
almost forbids our looking in upon its little company. This last
evening that Jesus and the little group of disciples were together,
is, however, so important that it is reported by the apostles. All the
incidents of the evening seem to center around the institution of the
last or Paschal Supper. But for the sake of study and as an aid to
memory the events may be divided into three groups, (A) The supper.
The order of events in connection with it seem to be: (1) the strife
of the disciples for the place of honor; (2) the beginning of the
Passover meal; (3) the washing of the disciples' feet; (4) the
pointing out of the betrayer; (5) the departure of Jesus from the
table; (6) the institution of the Lord's upper.
(B) The final instructions to the disciples. It is difficult to
analyze these discourses. There are running through them one thread of
teaching and one of comfort. In some sections one element seems to
predominate and in other the other, To illustrate; chapters 13 and 15
of John seem to be more largely taken up with teaching, while chapters
14 and 16 have a larger element of words intended to comfort them. The
effort seems to be to convince them that it is better for them for him
to go away, that their spiritual fellowship with him would be more
complete and their understanding and power more perfect because of the
Comforter whom he would send.
(C) The final or intercessory prayer for them. With the close of this
prayer, in which he prayed for their preservation, their preparation
for service and their final union with him in his glory, and which he
prayed that they might have fullness of joy (John 17:13) his ministry
with them ended till after his death.
(3) _Christ's suffering for the sins of the world_. (Matt. 26:36-27
end: Mk. 14:32-15 end; Lu. 22:39-23 end; John chs. 18-19). From some
good text on the Life of Christ or from the critical commentaries, the
pupils can find a discussion of this section. The following outline
will, however, be sufficient for our purpose here: (A) The agony in
the garden and the betrayal and arrest. This picture of the suffering
of soul experienced by the Savior in which he also yielded himself to
the will of the Father stands out in blessed contrast against the
weakness of his sleeping friends and the unspeakable criminality of
the betrayer. Even in his arrest Jesus once more finds opportunity to
show himself merciful in healing the ear of Malchus thereby,
counteracting the injury caused by the folly or rashness of one of his
friends.
(B) The Jewish trial. The order of this trial seems to have been
somewhat as follows: (1) A preliminary trial before Annus; (2) A trial
before day with only part of the Sanhedrin present; (3) A trial before
the whole Sanhedrin at daybreak. Knowing his rights Jesus several
times refused to act. (1) He refused to bear testimony because no
legal charge had been made against him. (2) He refused to testify
against himself which was within his right. (3) He demanded that they
bring witnesses because that was just according to law. These last
three points at which Jesus claimed and acted upon his rights instead
of upon their request shows the tendencies of the trial to be unfair
and illegal. If one understands the Jewish law of trial it will be
easy to see how glaringly out of harmony with the law this trial was.
There are at least ten illegalities in it.
(C) The Roman trial. This whole story abounds in evidences of the
prejudice and moral degeneracy of the Jewish leaders. They hated Roman
rule past all words to tell and yet would pretend loyalty to Caesar to
carry out their wicked purpose. By this means they put Pilate in a
position that to release Jesus would make him appear to be untrue to
Caesar in releasing one announced to be Caesar's enemy. The trial may
be studied in the light of the different ones before whom he was
tried. (1) The public and private examination before Pilate. (2) The
examination before Herod. (3) The second examination before Pilate.
This also was partly private and partly public. Again, following he
outline of John, we may consider the events as they happened
alternately outside and inside of the praetorium.
(D) The crucifixion. It would be difficult to exaggerate the cruelty
and torture of crucifixion. "It was the most cruel and shameful of all
punishments." The disciples, however, dwell most of all upon the shame
of it. Such a death in the eyes of a Jew was the sign of the curse of
God. Several things are of importance and should be remembered. (1)
The throng that saw it. A few were friends, some were bitter enemies
and many were curious on-lookers. Altogether there was a great crowd
and Jesus was derided and mocked in his death. (2) The story of the
two thieves who were crucified with Jesus and especially the
conversion of the one who repented. (3) The seven sayings of Jesus
while he is on the cross reveal his spirit and planning while
undergoing this human outrage. They are worthy of careful study. (4)
The miraculous occurrences of the day. There are three outstanding
events that should be thought of as divine manifestations. They are:
the darkness that covered the earth for three hours; the rending of
the veil of the temple and the earthquake. The people were deeply
moved by these marvelous signs. (5) The element of grace seen in it
all. This is seen in the punishment of the innocent Jesus, while the
guilty Barabbas went free; the saving of the guilty but penitent thief
and several of the sayings of the cross.
(E) The burial and tomb. The burial was very hurried, lest they should
break a Jewish law. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus together took
him from the cross and buried him and the officers made his grave as
secure as possible and placed a guard over it. All this they did
because of his saying that he would rise again in three days.
The Forty Days. (Matt. ch. 28; Mk. ch. 16; Lu. 23:56-24 end; John chs.
20-21; Acts 1:3-12; 1 Cor. 15:5-7.) It is hard to divide this period
into sections in such a way as not to present many difficulties. The
several events may, however, be grouped under the following heads. (1)
The early morning. (2) The walk to Emmaus and appearance to Peter. (3)
The appearance to the ten when Thomas is absent. (4) The appearance to
the eleven, Thomas being present. (5) The appearance to seven
disciples by the sea of Galilee. (6) Several other appearances
mentioned by Paul. (7) The last appearance, when the commission was
given and he ascended. The order of events as outlined cannot be
assured with any certainty. Then, too, there are differences of detail
as to the occurrences here outlined. Each of them, therefore, presents
its own difficulties. The most perplexing of all these problems is the
arrangement of the events of the resurrection morning and especially
the movements of the various women mentioned.
Touching the whole resurrection problem all of the gospels agree upon
several important matters: (1) In giving no description of the
resurrection itself; (2) that the evidence of it began with the
women's visit to the sepulcher in the early morning; (3) that the
first sign was the removal of the stone; (4) that they saw angels
before they saw the Lord; (5) that manifestations were granted to none
but disciples; (6) that the disciples were not expecting such
manifestations; (7) that at first they received these manifestations
with hesitancy and doubt; (8) that these appearances were made to all
kinds of witnesses, male and female, individuals and companies; (9)
that they were so convinced of his resurrection and appearance to them
that nothing could cause them to doubt it.
The resurrection was necessary to show that we had not a dead and
suffering Christ but a living and triumphant one. "The ascension is
the necessary completion of the resurrection" and is presupposed in
all New Testament teaching. Jesus is everywhere thought of as having
all power and is expected to return again from the presence of the
Father with great glory.
Teachings of the Period. The most of the emphasis is put on the final
teachings in connection with his death and resurrection. It may be
well, however, to gather together a few truths touching his whole
career. (1) _Those concerning his humanity_: (a) He grew and developed
as any normal child; (b) His education and work was that of any normal
person; (c) But the whole of his childhood was set in divine
manifestations; (d) In life he showed all the effects of hunger,
sorrow, etc., found in any normal man. (2) Those concerning his
super-human power. He exercised power over: (a) Physical nature; (b)
sickness and physiological defects; (c) life and death; (d) demons and
all spiritual powers; (e) over sin to forgive it. (3) _Those found In
his general teachings_. There are many of these but the following are
important to remember: (a) The truthfulness of the Old Testament
scriptures; (b) The holiness and goodness and love of God; (c) The
sinfulness of man and his need of salvation; (d) The value of
repentance and faith as a means of bringing men into the favor of God;
(e) His own duty and oneness with the Father; (f) The work and power
of the Holy Spirit; (g) The purpose and work of his kingdom and
church; (h) The power and nature of prayer; (i) The value of spiritual
and the worthlessness of formal worship; (j) The true way to greatness
through service.
(4) _The teachings growing out of the crucifixion_: (a) It proves that
God will forgive; (b) It shows the great evil of sin; (c) It shows the
need of cleansing before we can enter heaven; (d) It shows God's value
of the soul; (e) It shows the value of salvation and the worth of
eternal life; (f) It furnishes a motive to turn from sin that so
offends God and endangers us; (g) It brings hope of forgiveness and
cleansing.
(5) _The teaching of the resurrection and ascension_: (a) that Jesus
is in truth God's son; (b) that there is another life; (c) that we
shall also be resurrected; (d) that we shall know in the next life our
loved ones of this life; (e) that our lives here have an influence and
meaning beyond the grave.
For Study and Discussion. (1) Master all the material as given in this
chapter, looking carefully into scripture references. (2) Study the
geography of the country. (3) List all the divine manifestations in
connection with the birth and childhood of Jesus. (4) Outline the
entire career of John the Baptist, beginning with the vision to
Zachariah before his birth. (5) Study in outline the sermon on the
mount. (6) Find examples showing Christ's power exerted in each of the
five directions suggested in "2" of "the teachings of the period"
given above. (7) Discuss any outstanding events in the life of Jesus
and his disciples that seem to members of the class to be epoch making
in their influence. (8) Read and discuss Jesus' farewell addresses to
his disciples. (9) Study carefully the scriptures covering the trial
and crucifixion of Jesus. (10) Study the scriptures covering the
period and outline further the events and teachings.