THE GOSPELS
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to SERVE , and to give his life as a
RANSOM FOR MANY.
MARK 10:45
INTRODUCTION
The good news of Jesus is the most important story ever told. But the gospel accounts themselves contain strange conversations, cryptic stories, unusual miracles and confusing teaching. Encountering Jesus can be hard when so many of the gospel pages baffle us.
Yet these precious Bible books are full of life and hope. Every moment captured within them has a purpose and a relevance for each one of us. Through Jesus’ teaching and miracles, He still reaches out to comfort and guide His people today.
This handy guide to the gospels offers little launchpads into their stories, characters and key moments. They’ll help you understand what’s going on and why, so you can meet Jesus in a very real and relevant way for your life today.
Your friends at Our Daily Bread Ministries
Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised Copyright ©️ 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica UK trademark number 1448790. ©️ 2024 by Our Daily Bread Ministries®. All rights reserved. Printed in Europe. For information on our resources, visit odb.org
THE MESSIAH
The “Chosen One” who lived up to the title
The world has had no shortage of crackpots claiming to be either God or some sort of keeper of truth and salvation. Such people are generally carted off to specialist facilities. But if they ever manage to gather followers, it inevitably leads to disaster.
So, what makes Jesus different from all the cranks and cult leaders throughout the ages? His claims were more astounding than any of them; but the effects of His life were altogether different.
The Old Testament includes over 300 prophecies about God’s promised Messiah. Many were written thousands of years before Jesus was born; the most recent was still 400 years before His birth. They included specific details such as: the Messiah would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, He would go to Egypt, His ministry would begin in Galilee, He would perform specific miracles, He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver . . . and on and on and on.
Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection are the furthest thing from random. He fulfilled every ancient prophecy perfectly and even embodied the many types of foreshadowing throughout the Old Testament (characters and events that alluded to the coming salvation in an array of different ways).
God had been preparing humanity for the Messiah since the very beginning. Only Jesus has the credentials and life to truly back up the claim, “I am He.”
Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 11:12-13; Matthew 2:4-6, 14-15; Luke 4:17-21; John 4:25-26
THE VIRGIN BIRTH
The strange way Jesus entered our world
Think of the power of a seed. This tiny speck of life contains complex and unique coding to grow one specific plant. A sunflower seed will grow a sunflower; a carrot seed will grow a carrot; an acorn will grow into an oak tree. None of these seeds will ever grow anything other than the plant encoded within them.
While every human is totally unique, we all have certain coding running through us too. We need to eat and breathe. We’re built for love and friendship. We all get tired as we work. And, crucially, ever since Adam and Eve rejected God, we are all contaminated by sin—the selfish ambition that prefers to put ‘me’ first, rather than God or anyone else.
That’s why the virgin birth is so significant. The virgin birth is not just a miracle, demonstrating Jesus’ specialness, but it made a way for Jesus to be fully human without being imprinted with the seed of a human father. Jesus was born of Mary, so fully human; and He was born of the Spirit, so fully God and without sin.
Jesus was born as the Man who could finally do what the rest of us couldn’t: live a life 100% committed to the Father in every single detail. He was not tainted by sin, so He could grow up and live just as humanity was meant to.
As we read of the virgin birth and consider Jesus’ life and deeds, we see the image of God as humanity was always meant to display it. And we see Jesus doing this in our place so that He might become our righteousness—something sin’s coding stops us from ever achieving for ourselves.
TWEEN JESUS The ‘growing up’ years
It’s not impossible to imagine Jesus during His ministry, teaching the crowds and caring for the sick. After all, most of the gospels are all about those key years in His life. But there is one moment in Luke’s gospel where we get a glimpse of a young Jesus.
At twelve years old, Jesus is not quite a man, but He’s not really a child anymore either. After the Passover festival in Jerusalem, this pre-teen Jesus chose to stay at the temple to talk with the teachers and religious leaders. But he hadn’t told His parents.
Travelling home in a large company, Joseph and Mary didn’t realise He was missing until later. When they finally caught up with Him, everyone was amazed at His understanding of Scripture. He was clearly in the place He was meant to be— opening up Scripture with others. Yet His (understandably) stressed-out parents took Him back home and told Him not to go off like that again.
We read, “he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.” Jesus, the One with authority over God’s Word, chose to submit Himself to His earthly parents—who had far less spiritual wisdom and understanding.
All of us have to submit—to a boss at work, parents at home, local government authorities and plenty of others. Jesus shows us that submission doesn’t denote worth, ability or importance. Just as Jesus’ submission didn’t devalue who He was, neither does yours.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
The man who marked a new beginning
Have you ever wished you could press the ‘reset’ button? You could go back to the beginning and start over. Erase your failures, compromises and regrets. Rewrite your history and make a fresh start of everything.
That’s what God was offering Israel through John the Baptist—pressing the reset button for His people. After generations of catastrophic failures and rebellion against God, John the Baptist was heralding a fresh start.
That’s partly why his ministry happened way out in the wilderness. He brought the people out into the desert where their ancestors had travelled thousands of years before after God rescued them from slavery in Egypt. And then John baptised them in the Jordan river; the same river the Israelites had once crossed to enter the Promised Land.
The message was clear; God’s people were being offered a fresh start with Him. But what if they got it wrong, like their ancestors had? What proof was there that this new start would turn out any differently?
“After me comes one more powerful than I,” John explained. “He will put His Spirit in you. He will take away your sin.”
When we read of John the Baptist, we’re not just considering a slightly eccentric prophet, but the promise of God that still holds true today: Jesus is always the fresh start we need.
3:1-12; 27:11-20; Mark 1:1-8; 15:1-15; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:19-28
JESUS’ BAPTISM
The new start we all need
“You must be born again.” Imagine being Nicodemus who first heard Jesus make this puzzling statement. He was a welleducated, highly esteemed Pharisee who admired Jesus. Now he was baffled. How can anyone be born when they are old? Thankfully, Jesus gave us a wonderful visual aid right at the beginning of His public ministry—when He was baptised in the Jordan river. Jesus walked up to John the Baptist as his cousin and friend. Jesus’ life up to that point had seemed ordinary; a face in the crowd. A carpenter. When Jesus was baptised, the carpenter went into the water. But that is not who emerged. As Jesus came up from the water, the Spirit descended on Him and the Father said, “This is my Son, who I love.” His ministry began at that moment.
Jesus had always been God’s Son, the Messiah; He didn’t need to repent or be spiritually reborn. But baptism marked the second part of His life; He was now a public figure making His way to the cross. His old life as a simple carpenter had ended; He would never go back to it.
This is what it means to be born again; to start over. When we put our trust in Jesus, we are baptised with Him. Our old life is left buried in the water; we can’t ever go back to it. Instead we begin a new life in and with Him as we emerge. Now our hands are His to use; our feet go where He leads; our mouths bring Him praise and share His love.
3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 3:1-21
THE TEMPTATIONS Jesus’ face-off with the devil
If only my circumstances were different, I wouldn’t keep sinning so much. If I had more money, if I was married, if I had a different job . . . I wouldn’t keep falling for the same temptations.
It’s true that we are at our weakest when we feel dissatisfied. This makes the temptations Jesus resisted even more remarkable. He didn’t reject the devil with a full belly, good company and exciting opportunities on the horizon.
Jesus was alone, in the wilderness, hungry and surrounded by wild animals.
What’s even more significant is that this scenario is the complete opposite of the scene in Genesis 3, when the first temptations occurred. Adam and Eve had everything: a lush, bountiful garden, the perfect hand-made soul mate, God’s company and a paradise to explore every day. What more could they want? Yet the devil convinced them to forsake God.
Jesus, in dire circumstances, was offered the same: “Forsake God and take whatever you fancy.” Yet He found strength, truth and a shield in God’s Word.
Jesus’ victory over the devil in the wilderness is the promise of the victory He brings into each of our lives. Sin is not appealing to Him; He sees the brokenness and destruction it hides. With Him beside us and His power within us, we can see the truth of it too and finally learn to say “No” to temptation, even in the worst of circumstances.
NAZARETH
The place from which “nothing good” could come
There are some places we tend to look down upon. Certain accents, manners or social backgrounds have become almost essential characteristics of villains, thugs or other lost souls in popular culture. In ancient Israel, Nazareth—a town 55 miles north of Jerusalem—was just such a place.
For the people of Jesus’ day, a Nazarene claiming to be the Messiah was bewildering. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” was one revealing response. Throughout Jesus’ ministry He was frequently called, “Jesus the Nazarene” by crowds, accusers and demons. It was not meant to be a mark of respect; just the opposite. Yet when the mob came to arrest Him, asking for “Jesus of Nazareth”, Jesus responded, “I am He.”
The distance from heaven’s throne to Nazareth could not have been further. It was a rejected backwater that drew sneers. It was the home of nobodies.
It was the place that Jesus identified with, even as He was nailed to the cross.
Do you ever feel like a Nazarene? Out of place and overlooked in a world that celebrates the ‘right people’ from the ‘right places’? Jesus didn’t come for those who feel at home in the world. He came to be a friend and Saviour to the Nazarenes.
Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 4:33-35; 18:35-38; John 18:1-6; 19:19
THE WEDDING AT CANA
Jesus’ strange ‘announcement’miracle
At just the right moment in human history, Jesus Christ emerged onto the world’s stage and began his threeyear ministry. But how would it begin? What would be His memorable first miracle to set the tone? Perhaps healing a desperately ill child? Walking on water? A resurrection? The truth is genuinely strange; it almost seems wantonly indulgent. He turned water into wine.
The bridegroom had failed; his wedding party had run out of wine. This was deeply shameful and the guests were horrified. Jesus’ mother turned to Him, desperately hoping He might intervene. “My time has not yet come,” was Jesus’ cryptic reply.
It was a strange thing to say before almost immediately doing His miracle; but Jesus was making an important statement. He wasn’t just here to do miracles; He had come to take a bride. By transforming water into wine, Jesus removed the disgrace of the bridegroom. And He, in effect, took on the bridegroom’s role. That’s the image Jesus used to announce Himself to His disciples.
The bridegroom is a perfect picture of who Jesus is and what He had come to do. He was creating a special people for Himself—a church the Bible would later call “the bride”. One day all who trust Him will enjoy heaven’s wedding feast, living in the perfect presence of our Saviour forever.
THE DISCIPLES The team of individuals
Do you get on great with everyone, or are there some people in your life who you find a bit . . . difficult? You’d think church would be the easiest place in the world to make friends; but often it’s just as tricky as anywhere else. It was the same for Jesus’ very first followers.
The team Jesus assembled included a mix of ages, fishermen, two hot-headed brothers nicknamed the “Sons of Thunder”, a zealot and a hated tax collector. Can you imagine that social dynamic? The zealot on his political soapbox; the young men making barbed jokes; the hot-heads arguing and talking over the others; and the tax collector skulking in the corner with his money box (rattling to the tune of everyone else’s coins!).
Understandably, the disciples didn’t always get on. They would approach Jesus secretly to try and ‘get ahead’. And they argued among themselves about who was the greatest.
They are an honest picture of the church; a community of people who couldn’t be more different. We struggle with each other, forget to be patient and too often fail to focus on Jesus, the One who has brought us together.
But Jesus had a very clear message for them, and for us: “Love each other like I have loved you. Then everyone will know you’re mine.”
When we read about the disciples in the gospels, we see our struggles with other Christians played out. But we also see the patient, transforming love of our Saviour. That is where we’re inspired to keep trusting His promise: rag-tag churches change the world when they are full of His love.
Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:13-19; 10:35-45; Luke 9:46-48; John 13:34-35
THE FRIEND OF SINNERS
Jesus’ unlikely social group
Who would sit round the table at your dream party? Famous faces, departed loved ones or noted people from the history books?
The people we gather around us can say a lot about who we are. It certainly did for Jesus. He taught the Scriptures with authority, yet He didn’t hang out with the scribes. He spoke with wisdom, yet He didn’t spend His time with the philosophers. He was a Saviour, so His priority was those who knew they needed to be saved.
As the “tax collectors and sinners” ate and drank with Jesus, they discovered His love and welcome. They were the outcasts, the unloved, the despairing. Yet because they knew they were lost and needed help, they found welcome and hope in Jesus’ presence. In fact, Jesus said their openness to Him meant they were much closer to entering the kingdom of heaven than the self-righteous religious leaders.
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners,” Jesus said, explaining His choice of social group. He had come like a “doctor” for those who knew they were “ill”.
If it seems like you are sitting at the “table of sinners”, feeling hopeless in any way, be assured that this is the table where Jesus pulls up His chair. It is to those who know they are lost that Jesus says, “Follow me”.
9:9-12; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 7:31-35; 15:1-7; 19:1-10
JESUS’ TEACHING The heart of Jesus’ ministry
When John the Baptist announced the coming of God’s kingdom, people were pretty sure what that meant. The Messiah would come, overthrow the Romans and lead Israel to establish a worldwide utopian kingdom with themselves at its glorious centre. But when Jesus began to teach about God’s kingdom, He blew their ideas out of the water.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who endure persecution for the sake of righteousness; to them belongs the kingdom of heaven. This was not the revolution the people were expecting. The kingdom Jesus proclaimed was one that began in the heart. It was an overthrow of “self” with its tyrannical demands for pleasure, money and power. And God Himself would reign in our lives instead. In this kingdom, love reigns over judgement, humility over arrogance, and sharing over hoarding. Others are prioritised over ourselves.
Jesus’ teaching is explosive. It has the power to reveal the ugliness in our hearts and forces us to either repent or to attempt to stamp His message out. And that is what eventually led to His crucifixion. People flocked to Jesus for His miracles, but His teaching is what divided them. It can be tempting to focus on the miraculous in the gospels. Whilst the signs and wonders are powerful and helpful, Jesus invites us to listen to what He has to say first. It’s His words that bring change to our hearts.
HEALING The proof of God’s kingdom
Imagine a world with no illness, disease or physical afflictions. No cancer, no kidney failure, not even a common cold. There would be no doctors, no chemists and no need for hospitals. What a different world! In fact, the Bible tells us that such a world exists—heaven!
But how could people know that heaven is real? Well, what if somebody came and brought a bit of heaven here? In a way, that’s what Jesus’ healing miracles were all about. He was touching our broken world with the wholeness and beauty of the kingdom of heaven.
As wonderful as these healings were, Jesus had a bigger perspective. After all, a person healed of leprosy or blindness still needed saving from sin and death. People’s bodies weren’t Jesus’ primary concern, but their hearts.
When a paralysed man was laid at Jesus’ feet, He made this very clear. “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The crowd gasped. The religious leaders spluttered in indignation. Only God could forgive. And anyway, this man was here because he needed to walk!
“To prove I have authority to forgive,” Jesus continued, “get up and walk.” As the man rose, so did the hearts of the onlookers. Jesus’ physical healings were proof that the healer of souls had come.
We may look at our bodies and limits with frustration. God looks even deeper, offering healing and salvation from sin that transforms the very heart of who we are.
4:23-24; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 10:8-9; John 9:1-7
MIRACLES
The signs and wonders that were never enough
“If I saw a miracle, I would definitely believe.” This oftenrepeated line seems reasonable enough, doesn’t it? If God were to fill the earth with undeniable signs and wonders, surely everyone would trust Him.
Except the stories in the gospel accounts don’t back this up. Jesus performed all manner of miracles. He healed the sick, fed impossibly large crowds and even raised the dead. His power and authority were clear. Jesus’ signs and wonders drew huge crowds and got everyone talking about Him.
But they were never enough for the religious leaders or the curious (rather than committed) crowd. “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly. Give us a sign so we can believe!” After all Jesus had said and done, it still wasn’t enough. The problem wasn’t the lack of miracles; it was the hardness of the people’s hearts. They didn’t want to believe.
“You are only following me because you want a free lunch,” Jesus challenged the crowds. As we read of Jesus’ miracles in the gospels, we must wrestle with this challenge ourselves. Do we want Jesus for what we can get from Him? If so, no amount of miracles will satisfy or transform us.
Or do we genuinely want Jesus Himself? In which case, we will begin to see His hand at work in every detail of our lives.
Mattew 11:20-24; Mark 6:1-6; Luke 19:37-40; John 6:26-31; 10:24-26
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
The perfect people Jesus rejected
One of the strangest features of the gospels must be the heated conflicts we often see between Jesus and the religious leaders, particularly the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees.
The Scribes were the academics of Scripture. Unfortunately, they became so focused on the ‘letter of the law’ that they lost God’s heart behind it—and ended up adding mountains of religious tradition to God’s Word.
Then there were Pharisees. These guys prided themselves on their strict observance of all the traditions of the law. They saw themselves as the ultimate examples that everyone else should imitate.
Finally, we have the Sadducees. These leaders included the chief priest and high priest. They didn’t believe in anything supernatural; their whole focus was living their best life now.
Together, they were the pinnacle of society, enjoying the wealth of the temple and the respect of the people. And they were proud—they had earned their place before God.
And they all hated Jesus. He taught the heart of God, not the traditions of the leaders. To those who were humble, He gave grace and welcome. But to the self-righteous leaders, He presented them the law—as it really is. They had failed to follow it, because they had completely missed God’s heart. They loved religion, but they didn’t love Him or His people.
Whilst Jesus’ harsh words to the religious leaders are not comfortable to read, they reveal how God feels about people who think they don’t need Him. He cannot show grace to those who believe they are already perfect.
CLEANSING LEPERS A
special healing with special meaning
Most of us know the feeling of being unclean. And not just needing a shower after a hot day or muddy walk. But feeling unclean in our hearts; like we just can’t ever wash off the sin, mistakes and regrets that haunt us.
The Bible has a vivid picture for sin and its effects: leprosy. Leprosy was the worst disease. Disfigured and highly contagious, sufferers were kept away from everyone else. It was a lifetime of lockdown; shut off from loved ones and friends. They lived by scavenging or begging. If they ever approached the public, they were required to cover their mouth and loudly announce, “Unclean!” They only knew shame, poverty and despair.
Imagine the horror of the crowd as a leprous man approached Jesus. Yet Jesus allowed him to make his request, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” The leper knew that Jesus had the power to heal his affliction, but he didn’t know whether Jesus was actually willing to help someone like him.
The crowd drew its breath. The leper looked up in wonder. Then Jesus spoke the words that would change the world forever. “I am willing. Be clean.”
Does guilt, shame or fear isolate you? Do you feel unworthy before God? Come again to this special story of healing; to the One who draws close enough to touch you and say, “I am willing. Be clean.”
Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-14; 17:11-19
THE FATHER
The unity that rewrote our relationship with God
In the very beginning, God made people to bear His image, spreading it throughout the world. But soon, Adam and Eve decided, “Not Your will, God, but ours be done.”
Later God called a nation out of slavery to be His people and represent the Lord to the world by living in the Promised Land with Him as their King. But it didn’t take long before the people of Israel also said, “Not Your will, but ours be done.”
Thousands of years later, Jesus knelt to pray in a garden. The night was dark and His executioners approached. “Not my will,” Jesus prayed, “but Your will be done.”
Throughout the gospels Jesus taught, “I and the Father are One.” So when we look at Jesus, we can be sure that we are seeing the full picture of who God is: His kindness, patience and love. Jesus was the perfect Adam and the perfect Israel, a true image bearer of His Father. And He did this by total obedience.
Obedience to the Father was costly for Jesus: it lost Him followers and led to His death. It meant that every word He spoke and action He took was from the Father, not Himself. Jesus never reacted according to what He may have felt; never spoke in rage or frustration; never just took what He may have fancied.
In Jesus’ costly obedience, we see the pure heart and infinite love of God on full display.
Mattew 11:25-30; 26:36-42; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:1-18; 5:18; 6:35-42; 8:42-59; 10:22-39; 14:6-11
THE SABBATH The hardest day of rest
How good are you at resting—really resting?
It might sound odd, but rest is an important theme in the Bible. It was a big deal in the Old Testament Law. God had instructed His people set aside a day—the Sabbath—each week to stop all work and simply rest.
The religious leaders took this very seriously. In a bizarre irony, resting became like an extreme sport. Don’t carry your mat. Don’t pick up a tool. Don’t untie your animals. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. In fact, if you move too much, you might well break the Sabbath!
It’s fair to say they missed the point. The Sabbath wasn’t about rule-keeping; it was about stepping off the wearisome treadmill of ‘doing’. Jesus took every opportunity to reclaim God’s purpose for the Sabbath; showing us how to enjoy this precious gift from God.
More important still, Jesus came to be our Sabbath. Through faith in Him, we are free from the endless treadmill of working to be good enough for God. It is in Christ that we find our ultimate rest.
Matthew 12:1-14; Mark 1:35-37; 2:23-28; Luke 10:38-42; 13:10-17; John 5:1-15
THE PARABLES Cryptic stories worth exploring
Do you remember writing essays analysing poems or stories at school? The idea was to find the not-so-obvious themes and lessons the author had in mind.
For many of us such an exercise is totally baffling. How are we meant to climb inside the mind of the author?
Many who listened to Jesus’ parables wondered that as well. Partway into Jesus’ ministry, He began to teach almost exclusively in this story-telling style. But instead of making His teaching clearer, they often left the hearers more confused. To the watching crowd, the parables were a veil over treasures— they promised much, but the listeners couldn’t quite grasp what. But to those who chose to follow Him and become His disciples, Jesus explained the parables and spoke clearly. Because of their relatable everyday imagery, Jesus’ parables are a way of applying the truths of God’s kingdom to all different cultures throughout the generations. Like for His early disciples, Jesus is more than willing to reveal truth to anyone who will humbly ask. As we prayerfully read the parables, Jesus actually invites us into the mind and heart of their Author.
Matthew 13:31-35; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 8:4-15; John 10:22-30
FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND The impossible lunch
If there’s one thing worse than a totally impossible situation, it’s somebody expecting you to sort it out. That’s what happened to Jesus’ disciples late one dusty afternoon.
It had been a long day of watching Jesus teach the vast crowds who had streamed out to the wilderness to listen. The disciples became concerned that these weary people really needed a good meal before heading back to civilization. But where could they find food way out here? “You give them something to eat,” was Jesus’ bewildering reply. Was He serious? Even if there was a shop—which there wasn’t—it would cost half a year’s wages to feed this lot! Impossible.
But that was the point. The impossible is Jesus’ speciality. The maker of heaven and earth was stood before the disciples. He had put stars in space; all cattle and flocks were His. Could anything ever be too hard for Him? All they had to do was ask.
“This lad has five loaves and a couple of fish,” another disciple noticed. Would that feed everyone? Impossible. Yet Jesus kept breaking off piece after piece after piece. Until every person was full and the leftovers were piled up.
What impossible situations are you facing? Like the disciples, you don’t need the answers or the means. Just give the little you have to Jesus—and trust His power in your life.
THE SON OF MAN
The title with many meanings
We live in a world full of prestigious titles. Whether workplace CEOs, peerage Viscounts and Duchesses, or authoritative presidents and prime ministers . . . big labels come with big respect.
So, it’s surprising that Jesus’ favourite way of referring to Himself was with the fairly uninspiring title, “Son of Man”. Of all the things He could have called Himself, why that?
Jesus was the “Son of Man” because, whilst still being God, He had become fully human. He lived on earth exactly as we do. He knew the trials of growing up, the pain of betrayal, the exhaustion of hunger and weariness. Having become one of us, He was able to redeem us—living the life we can’t and dying in our place.
This title comes with an echo too. “Son of Man” is Old Testament language. It harks back to a vision received by the prophet Daniel who saw, “the son of man. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power.”
“Son of Man” encapsulates the wonderous breadth of all that Jesus is: the humble Saviour and unpretentious King of God’s eternal kingdom!
Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 10:42-45; Luke 17:20-30; John 5:24-27
THE TRANSFIGURATION A glimpse of Jesus’ glory
Think about someone you know really well. Have they ever said or done something that suddenly revealed them to you in a new light? Was it like you were suddenly seeing them for the first time again?
That’s probably a fraction of how Peter, James and John felt as they saw Jesus transfigure on top of a mountain. He went up looking completely normal; ordinary. Then all of a sudden His face shone like the sun and His clothes were like white lightning. It must have been truly awesome.
Two other people appeared on the mountain too: Moses and Elijah. Both were big names from the Old Testament. And, perhaps carried away by the moment, Peter blurted out: “Let’s build three monuments! For Jesus, Moses and Elijah.”
Then the voice of God cut through: “This is my Son . . .”
Peter was tempted to elevate Moses (the one who gave the law) and Elijah (one of the greatest prophets). But Jesus’ transfiguration and the Father’s words were clear: Listen to Jesus! Nothing else compares.
When other things threaten to compete with Jesus’ status in our lives, the transfiguration is a breath-taking reminder of just who He is. All other greatness and glory pales compared to Him.
CLEARING THE TEMPLE
The time Jesus got really angry
Anger is bad, right? Or maybe it’s only sinful if we express it? There is certainly no doubt that many horrible actions are fuelled by anger. So, it can be very shocking and confusing to read about Jesus causing a chaotic scene at the temple. How can good, loving Jesus unleash a frenzy of table-turning anger on seemingly harmless merchants?
Jesus’ anger wasn’t bitterness or rage; it was the angry pain of seeing exploitation and greed in the name of religion.
The temple represented God’s presence; it was where people could go to meet with Him. That’s why Jesus’ heart broke when He saw people’s access to the temple—to God— being blocked. The Sadducees had turned the temple courts into a marketplace—they were exchanging money and selling over-priced sacrificial animals. All to turn over a nice profit.
But Jesus didn’t lose His rag. His anger wasn’t uncontrolled. He took the time to make a whip so he could drive the animals out and flip over the tables. “This is a place of prayer, not a den of robbers.”
Jesus’ anger was based in grief, not bitterness; it was an example of righteous anger. Righteous anger grieves the injustice, abuse and sinfulness that rejects God and harms His creation. It is based in love, not hate. And it results in a better, truer, more beautiful view of God.
THE WOMEN
The open invite to God’s kingdom
“Christianity is just another way to oppress women.” We’ve probably all heard this sort of rhetoric. And despite the fact that many people have tried to use the Bible to justify subjugation of women, it is actually the Bible that teaches that all people—including women, children and anyone else society might look down on—are all of equal value. Jesus’ ministry embodied this truth in a powerful way.
In ancient Israel, women were seen as a lower, insignificant rung on society’s ladder. But Jesus did not treat them that way. In one story, we read of Martha’s frustration as she dutifully fulfilled the typical womanly role of housekeeping and hosting while her sister Mary sat listening to Jesus. When Martha complained to Jesus, He plainly stated that Mary had chosen better. He elevated women to the role of disciple.
In fact, the women were given the most important job of all. They were the first witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. When they shared the good news, they became the first ripple on the sea that would spread all the way around the world.
The way Jesus interacts with women in the gospels reminds us that no matter who we are or how marginalised we might feel, in God’s kingdom we are elevated. In God’s kingdom we are vitally important and truly special. We are Jesus’ own disciples.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Any place where God is King
The people of Israel knew all about kingdoms. They knew that kingdoms don’t just stay in one place . . . they exist wherever they are enforced. So, for the Israelites, every time they saw a Roman soldier on a street corner, they were reminded that even though they lived in Israel, they were really in the ever-expanding kingdom of Rome.
That’s why Jesus’ statement, “The kingdom of God has come among you!” was so remarkable. He was saying, like the Roman Empire, the kingdom of God was already here. For God’s kingdom exists wherever God is King.
And, Jesus explained, “My kingdom is not of this world.” If it had been, Jesus’ armies would have overthrown the Roman Empire. But His spiritual kingdom needs no physical basecamp—it lives and thrives in people’s hearts.
That’s why Jesus could claim some of His listeners were already entering the kingdom. It’s why Jesus announced His kingship by riding on a peaceful donkey into Jerusalem, rather than a warhorse. This king hadn’t come to conquer nations, but to conquer hearts. It’s why Jesus’ miracles so powerfully illustrated the touch of God’s kingdom bringing life to a dying world.
“The time is now,” Jesus said. “The kingdom of God has come.” The same is true today. You are a citizen of heaven the minute God becomes King in your heart. The kingdom is not just for the future; we can see it in the gospels, and we can live in it and enjoy it today.
21:31-32; Mark 1:15; 4:26-34; Luke 9:1-6; 10:8-12; John 18:28-40
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
The King who arrived like a servant
How people arrive at a destination can tell you a bit about them. Someone arriving in a limo probably has different plans compared to a person arriving in a tank; and someone on a bicycle is different again.
Although modes of transportation have changed, the same was true even in Bible times; especially when it came to royalty. In the ancient world, a visiting king would arrive with great pomp and ceremony. An attacking king would lead throngs of armies on horseback. But when Jesus, Israel’s long-prophesied King, made His entrance into the great city of Jerusalem, He arrived on the back of a little donkey; humble, peaceful and with a heavy heart.
There were no red carpets or blaring trumpets, but people with palm branches and shouts of “God saves!” As Jerusalem came into view, Jesus wept over the stubbornness of God’s people. They refused to believe in Him; to receive His peace. In fact, within a matter of days, a crowd in Jerusalem would stop praising and begin chanting: “Crucify Him!”
That’s why Jesus rode into Jerusalem. Not to sit upon a throne, but to die upon a cross. As we read of the King approaching on a lowly donkey, we remember that He didn’t come to be served, but to serve.
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19
JESUS’ SECOND COMING
The inevitable end of the world
“Jesus is Lord!” “Jesus is heaven’s champion who has defeated evil and death for all time!” Christians love to declare these victorious truths. But as we look around, is that truly what we see?
Nations continue to wage war without a thought for the resulting misery. Governments overflow with corruption and power-grabbing. People suffer and struggle. If anything, things seem to be getting worse, not better.
Is the idea of Jesus’ rule just wishful thinking?
One thing we all agree upon is the fragility of our world. The changing environment; ever-more dangerous weaponry and warfare; the dwindling of so many of our resources. The doomsday clock is ticking. This world can’t go on forever.
This is a source of great anxiety for the world. But it can bring hope to Christians. Jesus knew this world was going to end; and He knew it would end with His return—and that is good news!
It will end with destruction and a roar as Jesus forcibly removes sin, evil and all wickedness. And a new eternal heaven and earth will be ushered in. Finally there will be no need for weapons, warfare or human attempts at governments, for the King will win peace for His people as He always promised.
When the world is dark and uncomfortable, our certain hope is that Jesus really is on the throne—He will call time on the earth at exactly the right moment.
THE LAST SUPPER
The meal that forged a covenant
The last supper of Jesus and His disciples wasn’t just quality time amongst friends. By sharing the Passover meal together, they were remembering and celebrating when God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt through the blood of lambs. Eating such meals together was sacred. It signified a special bond—a covenant.
Jesus, as the host, was honour-bound to protect His guests; those who sat at His table were guaranteed His provision, and they owed Him their loyalty. This is partly why Judas’ betrayal was so horrendous; He broke a sacred covenant of fellowship. The disciples were now bound to Him and one another in unity. And yet another, even deeper covenant bond was being formed around that table. “The bread is my flesh,” Jesus said. “The wine is my blood. Take all this in remembrance of me.”
Moses had sprinkled the people with lamb’s blood after their escape from Egypt, claiming, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you.” Jesus was now bringing a new covenant between people and God, made in His own blood. This covenant meal reads like a solemn and powerful ceremony in John’s gospel. It starts with Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, centres around the food shared together and ends with Jesus’ promises and description of our new life with God by His Spirit. When we enact this special meal at communion, we remember that Jesus has forged a new, unbreakable bond between us and the Father. And we also take on the covenant of fellowship, binding ourselves to everyone else partaking of the bread and wine.
THE BETRAYAL
The disciple who turned out to be a devil
The name Judas is infamously linked with treachery and betrayal. Yet, despite his fame, he is mostly a blank face in Scripture. We know very little about him as a person. What we do know is that he was one of the twelve disciples, part of Jesus’ inner circle. He had responded to Jesus’ call, just like the others. He heard His teaching, saw His miracles and watched as the dead were raised to life.
From the outside Judas never looked like anything other than a devoted follower of Jesus. But hidden in his heart—yet clear to Jesus—was his greed. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas agreed to hand his friend over to the religious leaders.
Even when Judas identified Jesus to the soldiers, it was with an act of friendship—a kiss.
The story of Judas forces us to ask uncomfortable but necessary questions: Have I truly given my heart to Jesus? Or am I simply part of a Christian community? Do I know and love Jesus for myself, or does my heart secretly prefer something else?
The life of Judas warns us that it is entirely possible to be integrated into the Christian life, without actually having faith in Christ Himself. The good news is that, as the other disciples show us, no matter how far we fall or how badly we mess up, Jesus is waiting to receive us as soon as we turn to Him.
Matthew 26:14-30; 27:1-5; Mark 14:10-11, 17-22; Luke 22:1-23, 47-48; John 6:70-71; 13:1-3, 10-11, 18-30; 18:1-3
THE PRAYER IN THE GARDEN
Jesus’ unanswered prayer
If anyone should get their prayers answered with a “yes”, it’s Jesus, right? Except on the night of His betrayal and arrest, His Father answered “no”.
Unimaginable pain and anguish lay ahead. Jesus would be beaten, mocked, falsely accused and utterly shamed. Nails would shatter his hands and thorns would tear his head. He would slowly suffocate as He hung from a wooden cross under the burning sun. Worst of all, in his torture and death, He would take the sin of the world upon Himself. Jesus would take the blame, the guilt and the shame. The Son would be judged by His Father.
In the calm before the storm, Jesus knelt to pray. As we listen through Scripture, we hear a prayer of perfect balance. It’s an honest cry for rescue and an absolute surrender to the Father’s will, “Father, if there is any other way, please take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
But there was no other way to save us; He had to suffer and die. Jesus’ most testing moment gives us great hope. Not only did our Saviour commit to walking the costly road to save us, but He models what prayer looks like when we’re in anguish. It’s real, it’s raw and it’s honest—we really can pour it all out to our Father. And it keeps clinging to the Lord in faith; His will is always for our ultimate good.
THE TRIAL The trial that put God in the dock
Have you ever tried to share your faith with someone who is angry at God? You try to give good answers to their questions, but they just ignore you and ask something else. No matter what you say, you don’t seem to get anywhere. Some people aren’t looking for truthful answers, but justification for what they already believe; that God is not who He says He is.
This is nothing new. After Jesus was arrested, He was put on trial. God was literally in the dock facing all sorts of accusations. But the whole thing was a sham.
The religious leaders had already decided Jesus should die. After arresting Him secretly at night to avoid a public scandal, the officials didn’t follow any legal rules. They even physically attacked Jesus during the trial and allowed the soldiers to beat and mock Him. None of the supposed eyewitnesses could get their stories straight about what Jesus had done wrong. And in the end, the leaders could only accuse Jesus of being exactly who He said He was: the Son of God.
The world’s view of God hasn’t changed. Many have decided He’s guilty before considering His Word. Conversations about Him are simply opportunities to put Him down rather than seek the truth. And this view of God leads some to treat His people with mockery, contempt and even violence.
In Jesus’ trial, we see that God truly knows what it is to be in the world’s crosshairs. We can entrust ourselves to Him in harsh and unjust circumstances. Because in the end, it’s not the world’s courtroom that makes the final decision about truth.
Matthew 26:57-68; 27:11-20; Mark 14:53-65; 15:1-15; Luke 22:66-23:25; John 18:19-40
THE HIGH PRIEST
The mediator between God and people
Imagine the grip of terror as you face a high court judge. But all at once, an imposing figure enters in long black robes, impeccably shiny shoes and a wig, “I’ve come to represent you.” What relief! An expert in the law—and one willing to stand up for you!
That’s essentially what the High Priest was for the people of Israel. He represented them before God; and represented God to the people. He was the mediator; the go-between.
His life, role and even his clothes were full of rich detail. He could bring sacrifices on behalf of the people, and even the nation, to atone for sins; but only after following strict procedures to ensure his own ceremonial ‘cleanness’.
Caiaphas was High Priest during the time of Jesus’ trial. He refused to enter a gentile court for fear of becoming ‘unclean’. Ritually ‘clean’ and dressed in his ceremonial robes, Caiaphas oversaw the unjust condemnation and execution of the Son of God—the true, eternal High Priest.
Fully human and fully God, Jesus truly does represent us both; He needs no ritual cleansing because He is sinless. And instead of continually sacrificing animals, He sacrificed Himself for sin once for all. And now, eternally alive on heaven’s throne, He is our mediator forevermore. Through Him, our true High Priest, we can confidently enter the Father’s presence.
THE CRUCIFIXION
The moment that changed the world
The world had always been heading towards this moment; but no one was prepared for the way it happened.
Jesus Christ—the King, the Messiah, the Son of God—was hung on a wooden cross to die.
The tragic details are rich with significance. A crown of thorns is placed on His head, representing the sin and brokenness of the world being transferred onto Him. Like the scapegoats of the Old Testament, He is taking the blame for it all.
As He hangs on the cross, people mock Him for saving others yet being unable to save Himself. Little do they realise how true their words are. He cannot save Himself if He is going to pay for our sin and save us.
The midday sky darkens, a sign of God’s anger and judgement being poured onto His Son. Jesus cries, “It is finished”, meaning, “Paid in full”. The cost of sin is removed from us, for good. And as He breathes His last, the temple curtain is torn in two, from top to bottom. The way into the Most Holy Place of God’s presence, sealed off since humanity first rejected God, is now open to all who choose to enter.
The watching centurion had only one response: “Surely this man was the Son of God.” What is your response to the centre point of history?
Matthew 27:32-56; Mark 15:21-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-37
THE BURIAL The darkest day in human history
We can all agree that funerals are desperately sad, but they are an important part of the grieving process. There’s nothing like a burial to reinforce the aching finality of death. And that’s the point. Burial makes it official; our departed friend is not coming back.
The darkest day in the story of Jesus was the day His friends watched in stunned silence as His body was laid in a tomb. The heavy stone was rolled over the entrance, burying their Lord, along with their hopes and dreams. Was this really the end, after everything Jesus had said and done?
Why did God subject His people to such a dark journey? If Jesus was going to come back to life, why not immediately spring out of the tomb within minutes? Why did they have to grieve for three days?
Although it doesn’t take up much of the gospels’ storytelling, Jesus’ burial is one of the most significant events described. When He was buried, so were sin and death, which He’d taken into His body. Those three agonising days become wonderful proof to us that Jesus really was dead—the penalty for sin really was paid by Him.
So, when Jesus was seen and heard afterwards, He really did rise from the dead. When we read of His burial and the heartache of His friends, we can be reminded that every dark season will come to an end. Nothing can hold back Jesus’ power and life in us—not even death.
Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42
THE RESURRECTION The proof of a new era
Have you ever needed to provide proof? Maybe showing a receipt as proof of payment? Or ID to prove your age? Important claims require proof to back them up.
“It is finished!” Jesus cried from the cross—literally “Paid in full.” Death is defeated; sin is paid for; my people are free. It’s a big statement. Where’s the proof?
Scripture teaches that the penalty for sin is death. Three days after He died in our place, Jesus rose again. If He had stayed dead, we would have to assume there was still more that needed to be paid. But when He walked out of that tomb, it proved that Jesus paid the full wages of sin to purchase us for Himself; His resurrection is the receipt.
Jesus follows up His resurrection with big statements. “My God is now your God. My Father is now your Father.” “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” “Peace be with you!”
We can trust these promises wholeheartedly because we’ve been given all the proof we need. The end of the story has already been written by the One who says, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18;
JESUS’ POST-RESURRECTION APPEARANCES
The strange ways Jesus ‘pops up’
Have you ever been caught out by someone turning up somewhere you weren’t expecting to see them? Jesus’ disciples must have been in a constant state of surprise in the days following His resurrection. He kept appearing out of nowhere—and then disappearing just as abruptly!
These encounters in the gospel accounts describe something of a transition phase for the disciples. Jesus is no longer in an earthly body, but a heavenly one. He is not limited to one place at one time. Now He can always be with His people; even if they don’t see Him.
Jesus was getting His disciples used to His invisible presence. And to the reality that they weren’t in control of when or how their interactions with Jesus were going to happen. They must trust the timing to Him.
Some of these stories are amusing, as Jesus convinces His disciples He’s not a ghost—and even walks a while with some of them before they realise who He is! But the truth these encounters reveal is of the power and authority Jesus has everywhere, all the time. He has overcome the world, just as He said He would. When we can’t ‘see’ or feel Him, He is still present with us. He signs off in Matthew’s gospel with a promise: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:13-49; John 20:19-29
THE ASCENSION The strange way Jesus left our world
Taking the scenic route is typically a pleasant alternative to taking the quickest route. Sometimes it’s a luxury that we simply don’t have time for. When Jesus ascended into heaven, rising up through the clouds, it seemed like He took the long way round. After all, He could just vanish from earth and appear in heaven.
Yet ascending up this way in front of His disciples served an important purpose. This very visual ‘disappearance’ marked a change: Jesus was clearly gone for good from earth. The disciples needed to live by faith now, not sight, until He returned again in the same way.
The ascension marks a specific window of time that we are all living in right now, bookended by Jesus rising into the clouds and then descending from them one day in the future. It is a window of mercy in which Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, mediating for us as our representative and Saviour. While He is gone, we are to look forward to His return, but not simply stare at the sky like the disciples did initially. We are to live as His witnesses “to the ends of the earth”, encouraging others to make the most of this window of mercy. And we can take heart that during this time, Jesus is seated on the throne from which He rules over the seen and unseen—even when it doesn’t feel like it. Life can be hard, and the valleys dark, but Jesus’ words and actions cannot be undone. He has ascended to heaven and He will return—just as He promised.
Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:20-23
THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT
Why Jesus isn’t still physically on earth
I wish I could see Jesus like the first disciples. They had it easy� Can you relate to that thought? Sometimes, believing in someone we can’t see feels impossibly hard.
It’s true, having Jesus physically in the room with us while we live on earth would be easier. But it wouldn’t necessarily be better.
Imagine Jesus sitting next to you throughout your day. How would it change what you say and do? Jesus’ physical presence would make the ‘right’ choices easy. But it wouldn’t really allow you to deepen your trust in Him.
Instead, Jesus promised, “The Father will send you the Spirit to be with you forever.”
Now, we live by faith not sight. Jesus is in the room with us by His Spirit. But because we cannot see Him, we truly have freedom to choose obedience or disobedience; to draw near or drift away. And as we choose to trust in Jesus’ presence and power, we experience a deepening relationship with Him.
Jesus’ first disciples were almost passengers in the story when Jesus was physically present. He did everything; they watched. But once Jesus returned to heaven and they received His Spirit, they became His hands and feet on earth doing the “greater things” He promised. And they grew in their trust of Him as they continually witnessed His faithfulness and power.
Jesus promises that His Spirit in us means He is right here while we live on earth. We can choose to draw close, any time. As we do, our faith is strengthened and our maturity grows.
Matthew 28:20; John 14; Ephesians 1:15-23
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Some of them were mad, most of them were bad and a handful were good. The kings in the Bible are an interesting mix, ranging from Godfearing to God-ignoring, wise to unbelievably stupid, murderous to murdered . . .
These short introductions to the kings in Scripture are like little launch pads into their stories. They’ll help you know where to find them in the Bible, what to expect, what to look for and why they are so important. With this handy guide, these kings will become more than ancient monarchs—they become living, breathing life-lessons.
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The prophets and prophetesses of God’s Word were a fascinating bunch of heroes, leaders, rebels, and oddballs. They made mistakes, drew close to God and shared amazing truths about the coming Saviour. Each one of them has a story to tell; a story that can resonate with our lives today. These short introductions to the prophets in Scripture are like little launchpads into their stories. They’ll help you get to know them as real people, so you can consider their relevance and have more understanding when you read the words they wrote in the Bible.
If you need to get in touch, please contact the office nearest to you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices. Germany: Our Daily Bread Ministries e.V., Schulstraße 42, 79540 Lörrach deutsch@odb.org
Ireland: Our Daily Bread Ministries, 64 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 XC62 ireland@odb.org ~ +3531 (0) 87 478 1445
UK & Europe: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 1, Millhead, Carnforth, LA5 9ES europe@odb.org ~ +44 (0) 15395 64149 Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.
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The good news of Jesus Christ is the most important story ever told. But the gospel accounts themselves contain strange conversations, cryptic stories, unusual miracles and confusing teaching. Encountering Jesus for ourselves can be hard when so many of the gospel pages baffle us.
If you need to get in touch, please contact the office nearest to you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices.
Germany: Our Daily Bread Ministries e.V., Schulstraße 42, 79540 Lörrach deutsch@odb.org
Ireland: Our Daily Bread Ministries, 29 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, D02 E726 ireland@odb.org ~ +353 (0) 87 478 1445
UK & Europe: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 1, Millhead, Carnforth, LA5 9ES europe@odb.org ~ +44 (0) 15395 64149
Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.
This handy guide to the gospels offers little launchpads into their stories, characters and key moments. They’ll help you understand what’s going on and why, so you can meet Jesus in a very real and relevant way for your life today. ourdailybread.org