Unit 7-9 New Testament Survey

Jesus Birth in Bethlehem -- virgin birth, humble setting, and prophecies fulfilled

1 CE

In the Old Testament, there was a prophecy that stated that there will be a great king who will be born in a stable (a humble setting) by a virgin. An angle appeared to the virgin Mary stating that a son would be born by her by God. Caesar Augustus issued a degree that everyone must go to their hometown to be registered to make sure everyone pays their taxes. Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem (where Joseph's ancestors were from) and found a stable to deliver Jesus. The prophecy was fulfilled.

Jesus’ Baptism by John the Baptist

2

John the Baptist was baptizing people who wanted to repent their sins an start a new renewed life. When Jesus came and requested John to baptize Him, John rejected because he knew that Jesus was God and that God was a lot higher than him. However, Jesus still insisted because He was humble. So when John baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus in a form of a dove and God the Father proclaimed that Jesus is His Son. This shows that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus must be part of a prophecy.

Jesus' Temptation

3

When Jesus was let by the Spirit to the desert, he was tempted by the devil for forty days. This is a replay of the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years. Now, temptation is resisted. Jesus was tempted by turning stone into bread, worshiping the devil so that he would rule the world with no one rejecting Him, and to jump down from a high places so that angels would same Him. Those temptations were actually an offer of shortcut of His mission as the Messiah and to be king of the world.

Jesus calls the 12 disciples

4

Jesus was going to start to preach about God's kingdom. So, He called 12 disciples to follow Him. So, they all left their families just to follow Him. The disciples Jesus chose were neither educated nor the rich. They were low status people and outsiders is a rebel. One of them is even a tax collector which were hated by the Jewish community. Such decision making would reveal the true nature of God.

Sermon on the Mount -- the message of a upside down world order/kingdom

5

Jesus's disciples and many other people came to the hillside of Galilee to listen to Jesus talk. Jesus proclaimed that God's kingdom was an upside down world order/kingdom is for the poor, the weak, and those poor in spirit. This actually surprised many people because they The Pharisees weren't happy about this Beatitude because of course, they were rich and had tried their best to appear good before God by following the Torah.

Jesus’ three years of public ministry -- Parables’ purpose

6

During Jesus's three years of public ministry, He told different kinds of parables. Parables are stories that shows what the kingdom of God is like. Such parables were The Unmerciful Servant, The Good Samaritan, The Wicked Tenants, and more. However, not everyone can understand the parable (parables mean "mashal" in Hebrew which means riddle), especially the Pharisees. The parables were also meant to conceal the meaning to those who opposed Him because Jesus didn't want them to know His plans.

Jesus’ three years of public ministry -- His miracles

7

During Jesus's public ministry, He also performed miracles which surpasses science. Those miracles were meant to show God's power and glory to the world, to reveal that God's kingdom is coming, and to also help and show the importance of people that are poor in spirit that are welcomed into God's upside down kingdom. He multiplied food, walked on water, resurrected Lazarus from the dead, chased on demons, and more.

Jesus and his last week on earth -- triumphal entry, last supper

8

Jesus rode into Jerusalem with on a donkey and many people were worshiping and praising Him with palm branches. However, Jesus knew that He would be betrayed soon and wept. The same night Jesus was betrayed, The Last Supper occurred. During the Last Supper, Jesus made that supper symbolize the New Covenant with God. The poured wine symbolizes Jesus's blood that would give them salvation. The broken bread represents that Jesus would get killed. He also predicted that Judas would betray Him.

Jesus is arrested, tried and crucified

9

In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to God bringing three disciples with Him. However, the disciples fell asleep and Jesus prayed alone. Soon, Roman soldiers and Pharisees led by Judas came to arrest Him. Jesus was tried by the Pharisees for trying to overthrow the Empire. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent but gave in to pressure. So, Jesus was crucified with two other criminals. Jesus would take the punishment of sin to forgive believers. This was one of the most inhumane executions in history today.

Jesus rises from the dead and appears to people as risen Lord

10

Three days after Jesus's death, Jesus resurrected from the dead as His last and greatest miracle. People especially His disciples did not believe His resurrected at first. At the end, His disciples believed and before Jesus ascends to heaven, He gave instructions for His disciples to preach the good news to the world. Christians today believes that Jesus has forgiven their sins and also believes that Jesus is the risen Lord and the King of the world.