The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ.docx

1. The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ
Understanding Jesus Christ - who he is - and what he came to complete - is the foundation for
understanding everything involved with our Christian Faith.
Just once we paused and spent a second week considering the spot of the prophetic ministry, so
we have a slightly closer look at Jesus and his preaching and teaching - once we seek to sweep
through the Bible in ten weeks, and have an overview.
Reviewing living and ministry of Jesus may be inspiring - because it's Jesus who says, "Follow
me" ;.
This may also help us reveal to other people what we believe and why we believe it - and this
knowledge is probably the most precious knowledge we can have.
Whenever we see Jesus Christ, there must be that desire - that longing - that yearning - not just to
admire and follow - not just to obey Him - but to find to become like Jesus - and that is the task
each of us faces.
John Chapter 20 verses 19 to 29 - we have this responsibility to trust the biblical message.
Four Gospels - they certainly were written around 60 to 90 A.D. They complement each other.
Matthew speaks of Jesus as king - and the kingdom of heaven. Mark presents Jesus as a servant.
Luke centers around Jesus as Man - and John highlights Jesus as God. These are four pictures of
Jesus from different angles.
Jesus' name - Saviour - he shall save his individuals from their sins - Matthew 1 verses 21 and 23
- Immanuel - God with us.
John 1 verse 41 - Messiah - Christ. Jesus the Christ - or the Saviour, who's the anointed one - or
the anointed Saviour - and anointed of God. Messiah was a term for consecrated servants of high
position at that time. Future kings were anointed for his or her task - as was Jesus.
Jesus may be the Hebrew word Joshua - meaning - God saves - or God's salvation. (It is
interesting how the name "Jesus" arose - but that is for another day.)
Jesus came to be of Mary and the conception was miraculous and supernatural. The birth was
'normal' - although the setting was unusual.
God the Father used the Holy Spirit to bring in regards to the conception - and if anyone asks a
biological question, we cannot give a biological answer a course in miracles. There isn't one!

2. We know Jesus came to be in Bethlehem of Judea - not the West Bank!
Jesus grew up along with his mother - stepfather Joseph - and several younger siblings - the
natural children of Mary and Joseph.
Jesus was certainly a precocious child - able at 12 years of age to talk about Scripture with the
scholars and theologians at the Temple. Luke Chapter 2.
To be able to make the perfect sacrifice on the cross, Jesus never sinned. Hebrews Chapter 4
verse 15.
At the age of 30 Jesus began His ministry - Luke Chapter 3 verse 23.
Jesus was baptised by John in the River Jordan to fulfil all righteousness - and then went in to the
wilderness for 40 days fasting and praying, where he was tempted.
Interestingly, Saul of Tarsus fasted and prayed for 3 days - after the risen Jesus met him outside
Damascus - what a way to begin one's ministry. I have often believed that if we began our
Christian lives with prayer and fasting fewer people might fall away later on - the foundation we
lay is vital.
Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God - Jesus preached repentance - and called people to
trust the Gospel - Mark Chapter 1 verses 14 and 15.
Gospel means 'good news' - the kingdom where Jesus is king - forgiveness from sin - salvation -
eternal life.
Matthew Chapter 4 verse 23 - Jesus comes teaching - preaching - healing.
Matthew Chapter 9 verse 6 - Jesus had authority to forgive sin and heal us of our spiritual
problems.
Jesus is the chief corner stone of the Church - and the Head of the Church. Colossians 1 verse 18.
Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be arrested - tortured - crucified - killed. Jesus Christ laid
down his life - John 10 verses 11 and 15 and 17 and 18 - this is actually the amazing Saviour
Jesus Christ was and is - no man took his life - Jesus laid down his life - Jesus gave his life
willingly and sacrificially.
Three days later Jesus Christ rose from the dead - just like Jesus prophesied - or foretold -
Matthew Chapter 12 verses 38 to 40. No other leader has been doing this - Jesus Christ is unique.