FOR THE LAST SEVERAL BIBLE SERIES WE HAVE BEEN COVERING THE LIFE OF CHRIST AS SEEN BY SAINT MATTHEW. I SUSPECT MANY THINGS ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE LIFE OF JESUS IS CLEARER THAN EVER FOR YOU.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO FURTHER CLARIFY THE FORMAT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT SYNOPTIC GOSPELS. THERE ARE 4 SYNOPTIC (OR BIRD’S EYE VIEW) TEXTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT; THEY ARE MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN.
I SELECTED TO DO INTENSIVE COVERAGE OF MATTHEW BECAUSE THE OVERALL DETAIL FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE WAS THE BEST.
MARK’S RECORD IS HISTORICALLY SCANT IN COMPARISON, AND SOMEWHAT SIMPLISTIC FOR DETAIL. MOST OF THE DETAILS IN MARK ARE BETTER EXPRESSED IN MATTHEW. LUKE’S RECORD IS FROM THE LOFTY VIEWPOINT OF AN EDUCATED PHYSICIAN. HOWEVER, LUKE HAS A FEW EXCLUSIVELY IMPORTANT STORIES AND TEACHINGS FROM CHRIST, WHICH ARE REMARKABLE. JOHN’S RECORD IS WRITTEN FROM A MUCH MORE SPIRITUAL ESOTERIC POINT OF VIEW. NEVERTHELESS, THE RECORD OF JOHN IS FULL OF PIVOTAL DETAILS NOT FOUND IN THE OTHER GOSPELS.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL QUICKLY COVER SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MARK, LUKE AND JOHN THAT WILL SHED FURTHER IMPORTANT LIGHT ON THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF CHRIST.
EXCLUSIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF SAINT MARK
SAINT MARK CHAPTER 7:6-7
CHRIST REBUKES THE PHARISEES ~
“WELL HAS ISAIAH PROPHESIED OF YOU HYPOCRITES, AS IT IS WRITTEN, THIS PEOPLE HONOURS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. HOWBEIT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.”
SAINT MARK CHAPTER 8:36
JESUS SAID,”FOR WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN, IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?”
SAINT MARK CHAPTER 16:17-18
AFTER HIS RESURRECTION JESUS SAID TO THE APOSTLES ~
“AND THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE; IN MY NAME SHALL THEY CAST OUT DEVILS; THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES; THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS; AND IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING, IT SHALL NOT HURT THEM: AND THEY SHALL RECOVER.”
EXCLUSIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF SAINT LUKE
SAINT LUKE CHAPTER 2:40 – 50
HEREIN WE FIND THE ONLY NEW TESTAMENT DETAILS ABOUT JESUS WHEN HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD. PLEASE READ FOR YOURSELF.
SAINT LUKE CHAPTER 8:2
THIS IS THE MENTION OF MARY MAGDALENE HEALED BY CHRIST FROM DEMONIC POSSESSION. PLEASE READ FOR YOURSELF.
SAINT LUKE CHAPTER 10: 25 – 37
THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN ~
A LAWYER STOOD UP TO TEMPT CHRIST AND ASKS, “MASTER, WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?”
JESUS SAID, “WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW? HOW DO YOU READ IT?”
THE LAWYER REPLIES,”YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
JESUS SAID, “YOU HAVE ANSWERED RIGHT: THIS DO, AND YOU SHALL LIVE.”
BUT THE LAWYER TRYING TO JUSTIFY HIMSELF SAID, “WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?”
AND JESUS ANSWERED,
“A CERTAIN MAN WENT DOWN FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO, AND FELL AMONG THIEVES, WHICH STRIPPED HIM OF HIS RAIMENT (CLOTHES), AND WOUNDED HIM, AND DEPARTED, LEAVING HIM HALF DEAD. AND BY CHANCE THERE CAME DOWN A CERTAIN PRIEST THAT WAY: AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. AND LIKEWISE A LEVITE, WHEN HE WAS AT THE PLACE, CAME AND LOOKED ON HIM, AND PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
BUT A CERTAIN SAMARITAN, AS HE JOURNEYED, CAME WHERE HE WAS:AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE HAD COMPASSION ON HIM. AND WENT TO HIM, AND BOUND UP HIS WOUNDS, POURING IN OIL AND WINE, AND SET HIM ON HIS OWN BEAST, AND BROUGHT HIM TO AN INN, AND TOOK CARE OF HIM. AND ON THE MORROW WHEN HE DEPARTED, HE TOOK OUT TWO PENCE, AND GAVE THEM TO THE HOST, AND SAID UNTO HIM, TAKE CARE OF HIM; AND WHATSOEVER YOU SPEND MORE, WHEN I COME AGAIN, I WILL REPAY YOU.”
“WHICH NOW OF THESE THREE, THINK YOU, WAS NEIGHBOR TO HIM THAT FELL AMONG THIEVES?”
AND THE LAWYER SAID, “HE THAT SHOWED MERCY ON HIM.”
THEN JESUS SAID TO HIM, “GO, AND DO YOU LIKEWISE.”
SAINT LUKE CHAPTER 12:13 – 21
JESUS SPEAKS ON COVETING MATERIAL POSSESSIONS
(EVERYONE NEED TO READ THIS PASSAGE ENTIRELY.)
THE ESSENCE OF CHRIST’S TEACHING ~
“TAKE HEED, AND BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS: FOR A MAN’S LIFE CONSISTS NOT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE THINGS WHICH HE POSSESSES.”
SAINT LUKE CHAPTER 22:51
WHEN JESUS WAS ARRESTED TO BE CRUCIFIED, PETER CUT OFF THE EAR OF THE HIGH PRIEST IN DEFENSE OF THE LORD. ONLY IN THE RECORD OF LUKE ARE WE TOLD THAT JESUS HEALED THE HIGH PRIEST’S EAR.
WE NOW MOVE TO THE EXCLUSIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF SAINT JOHN
SAINT JOHN CHAPTER 3:3
CHRIST SAYS, “VERILY, VERILY, I SAY TO YOU, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”
(COMMENTARY: WHAT CHRIST MEANS IS UNLESS YOU HAVE UNDERGONE A SPIRITUAL REBIRTH IN YOUR LIFE, AND ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS, YOU WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BE A PART OF HIS CHURCH.
WHAT IS CHURCH? THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH: A NECESSARY PRECURSOR TO THE EXPERIENCE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, WHICH FOLLOWS A RIGHTEOUS DEATH. THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF BELIEVERS WHO HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED IN CHRIST NO MATTER WHERE IN THE WORLD THEY ARE.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT ABOUT A BUILDING!
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THE WONDERFUL SPIRITUAL REBIRTH TO CHRIST IN YOUR LIFE I RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING:
FIND A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO GET BAPTIZED IN. WHY NON-DENOMINATIONAL? BECAUSE CHRIST NEVER INTENDED FOR THERE TO BE TITLES OR SEPARATIONS IN THE BODY OF HIS TRUE BELIEVERS. IF YOU FIND YOU DON’T LIKE HOW A PARTICULAR CHURCH DOESN’T TEACH THE WHOLE BIBLE, YOU CAN ALWAYS GO HOME AND READ AND PRAY ON YOUR OWN UNTIL YOU DO FIND ONE.
ALSO IF ANY OF YOU FEEL YOU ARE BEING CALLED OF GOD TO THE MINISTRY AFTER YOUR BAPTISM, GO TO SCHOOL OR SEMINARY AND/OR START YOUR OWN HOME CHURCH (A RISING POPULAR TREND). ON THE OTHER HAND, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED TO START YOUR OWN HOME CHURCH. THE BEST CHRISTIAN TEACHERS ARE CALLED OF GOD AS WAS AARON.)
HIGHLIGHTS OF SAINT JOHN (CONTINUED)
SAINT JOHN CHAPTER 3:5
CHRIST STATES,
“VERILY, VERILY, I SAY TO YOU, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”
(COMMENTARY: WHAT JESUS MEANS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO GET BAPTIZED (BY TOTAL IMMERSION) IN A CHRISTIAN CHURCH, AND FOLLOWING THAT ORDINANCE RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.
THOSE ARE THE FACTS.THESE ARE THE ORDINANCES AND RITES OF TRUE COMMITMENT TO HIM. AGAIN YOU CAN FIND A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN MINISTER TO PERFORM THIS FOR YOU. THIS MINISTER NEEDS TO BE MALE AND A MAN OF GOD.
CHRIST NEVER SANCTIONED THE USE OF WOMEN AS MINISTERS, UNTIL HE SAYS OTHERWISE, THESE ARE THE RULES OF PURITY IN HIS PRIESTHOOD.)
SAINT JOHN 3:20
“FOR EVERY ONE THAT DOES EVIL HATES THE LIGHT, NEITHER COMES TO THE LIGHT, LEST HIM HIS DEEDS BE REPROVED.”
SAINT JOHN 5:39
“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES; FOR IN THEM YOU THINK YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE: AND THEY ARE THEY, WHICH TESTIFY OF ME.”
(COMMENTARY: WE SHOULD ALL BE READING THE BIBLE FOR THE HOPE IT OFFERS. PLUS, IT IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT YOU CAN LEARN OF CHRIST. IF YOU DON’T OWN A BIBLE, GO BUY ONE TODAY.)
SAINT JOHN 8:44-45
JESUS TELLS THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES —
“YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, AND THE LUSTS OF YOUR FATHER YOU WILL DO. HE WAS MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, AND ABODE NOT IN THE TRUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. WHEN HE SPEAKS A LIE, HE SPEAKS OF HIS OWN: FOR HE IS A LIAR, AND THE FATHER OF IT. AND BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, YOU BELIEVE ME NOT.”
(COMMENTARY: YES PEOPLE, CHRIST SAYS THERE IS A DEVIL. DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE THAT ASSERTS THE CONTRARY!)
SAINT JOHN 10:34
JESUS TELLS THE JEWS —
“IS IT NOT WRITTEN IN YOUR LAW, I SAID, ‘YOU ARE GODS?”
(COMMENTARY: WHAT JESUS MEANT BY THIS WAS THAT MAN HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME LIKE GOD.
THE NEW AGE PHILOSOPHY USES THIS SCRIPTURE OUT OF CONTEXT TO JUSTIFY THEIR BELIEF THAT THEY “ARE” GODS. THESE CLAIMS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A DELUSIONAL FIT OF WISHFUL THINKING.
REMEMBER THAT YOU CANNOT BE SAVED FROM THIS SECULAR WORLD WHILE STILL EMBRACING ALL YOUR ODIOUS SINS. THERE HAS TO BE REPENTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST TO THE FORGIVING OF YOUR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.)
SAINT JOHN 11:1-53
LAZARUS OF BETHANY, BROTHER OF MARY AND MARTHA (CLOSE FRIENDS OF JESUS), WAS VERY SICK.
MARY AND MARTHA SENT WORD TO JESUS THAT LAZARUS’ CONDITION WAS NOT THAT BAD, BUT JESUS KNEW DIFFERENT, HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES,
“LET US GO INTO JUDAEA AGAIN.”
HIS DISCIPLES WERE AFRAID TO GO BECAUSE THE JEWS WANTED TO STONE HIM THERE. BUT JESUS WAS NOT AFRAID AND SAID,
” . . . I GO, THAT I MAY AWAKE HIM OUT OF SLEEP.”
(JESUS KNEW HE WAS ALREADY DEAD).
EVERYONE THOUGHT JESUS MEANT LAZARUS WAS IN “SLEEP.”
WHEN JESUS CAME, HE FOUND LAZARUS HAD LAIN IN THE GRAVE 4 DAYS ALREADY.
JESUS TOLD MARTHA, “I AM THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE: HE THAT BELIEVES IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE. WHOSOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?”
SHE SAID, “YES LORD, I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE CHRIST THE SON OF GOD, WHICH SHOULD COME INTO THE WORLD.”
MARTHA’S SISTER, MARY WAS ON THE WAY TO THE GRAVE OF LAZARUS TO WEEP WHEN SHE MET JESUS.
SHE FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET AND SAID, “LORD, IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, MY BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED.”
AND JESUS WEPT.
JESUS CAME TO THE CAVE WHERE LAZARUS LAY AND A STONE COVERED THE ENTRANCE. JESUS ORDERED THE STONE REMOVED.
MARTHA SAID, “LORD, BY THIS TIME HE STINKS. FOR HE HAS BEEN DEAD 4 DAYS.”
JESUS SAID,
“DIDN’T I TELL YOU, IF YOU WOULD BELIEVE, YOU SHOULD SEE THE GLORY OF GOD?”
THEY REMOVED THE STONE FROM THE CAVE.
JESUS LIFTED UP HIS EYES AND SAID,
“FATHER, I THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ME. I KNOW THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME: BUT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE, WHICH STAND BY I SAY IT, THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME.”
AND WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN, HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, “LAZARUS COME FORTH.”
AND LAZARUS, WHO WAS DEAD, CAME FORTH, BOUND HAND AND FOOT WITH GRAVECLOTHES: AND A NAPKIN BOUND HIS FACE.
JESUS SAID TO THEM,
“LOOSE HIM, AND LET HIM GO.”
THEN MANY OF THE JEWS, WHICH HAD SEEN THE THINGS JESUS DID, BELIEVED ON HIM.
BUT SOME OF THEM WENT THEIR WAY TO THE PHARISEES AND TOLD THEM WHAT JESUS HAD DONE.
(COMMENTARY: OK PEOPLE, LISTEN FOR YOUR SURVIVAL!
I PERSONALLY TESTIFY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THAT I TELL YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT THE FOLLOWING —
I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN RAISING THE DEAD AND THE DYING, WITH THE USE OF LAYING ON OF HANDS BY WAY OF COMMAND IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. BELIEVE ME OR NOT (OR LET US ARRANGE A POLYGRAPH THROUGH MY LOCAL ATTORNEY). I AM NOT PLAYING AROUND WITH YOU FOLKS HERE.
I TELL YOU ANY ONE OF YOU CAN DO THE SAME IN AN EMERGENCY IF YOU BELIEVE (IF THIS IS MEANT TO HAPPEN, I REPEAT, IF THIS IS MEANT TO HAPPEN), WHETHER YOU BE MAN, WOMAN OR CHILD, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. YOUR INDIVIDUAL FAITH IN CHRIST IS THAT DIFFERENCE I SPEAK OF.
GOD WANTED ME TO SEE THESE THINGS FOR HIS PURPOSE (A PURPOSE STILL IN PROGRESS).
YET CHRIST HAS WARNED US THAT A WICKED AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKS AFTER SIGNS SO THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE. I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT SEEING SUCH MIRACULOUS THINGS WHEN THEY DO OCCUR ARE NO GUARANTEES FOR CONTINUED FAITH.
NO, MIRACLES ARE A NOT A GUARANTEE.
THE WORLD WE LIVE IN IS THE PROBLEM FOR ALL OF US. LIVING IN A MAN MADE WORLD OF RELATIVE ABSOLUTES SEEMS TO CORRUPT ALL OF US. IT CAUSES US TO APPLY MORAL RELATIVITY TO VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING, SOMETIMES EVEN COMPROMISING THE ONLY ABSOLUTES THERE ARE: THE TRUTH AND POWER OF GOD THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY GHOST.
THIS IS WHY CHRIST TOLD US (IN PARAPHRASING) THE “CARE OF THIS WORLD WILL CHOKE THE WORD” OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.
THIS IS WHY PAUL THE APOSTLE SAID, “BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: BUT BE YOU TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS GOOD, ACCEPTABLE, PERFECT AND THE WILL OF GOD.”)
SAINT JOHN 13:31-35
AT THE “LAST SUPPER,” WHEN JESUS CONFRONTS JUDAS AS HIS BETRAYER, JUDAS LEAVES HURRIEDLY.
JESUS THEN TELLS HIS DISCIPLES, “A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.”
(COMMENTARY: CHRIST TELLS THEM THREE TIMES TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.)
SAINT JOHN 14:2-3
JESUS TELLS THE DISCIPLES —
“IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YOU MAY BE ALSO.”
(COMMENTARY: YES, THE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WILL LIVE FOR ETERNITY IN THEIR OWN MANSION.)
SAINT JOHN 14:6
JESUS TELLS A DISCIPLE —
“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.”
(COMMENTARY: THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO GOD BUT THROUGH CHRIST. CHRIST HAS SPOKEN.)
SAINT JOHN 14:26
JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES —
“THE COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, HE SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, AND BRING ALL THINGS TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID TO YOU.”
SAINT JOHN 15:18-19
JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES —
“IF THE WORLD HATES YOU, YOU KNOW IT HATED ME BEFORE IT HATED YOU. IF YOU WERE OF THE WORLD, THE WORLD WOULD LOVE HIS OWN: BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD, BUT (SINCE) I HAVE CHOSEN YOU OUT OF THE WORLD, THEREFORE THE WORLD HATES YOU.”
(COMMENTARY: REMEMBER WHEN YOU FOLLOW CHRIST EXPECT THE WORLD AND THOSE IN IT TO “GO SOUTH ON YOU.” EXPECT MANY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DO. THEY WILL NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE MISSING: THEY WILL BE ENVIOUS, JEALOUS, AND PERHAPS EVEN MALICIOUS.
THEY ARE THE WORLD, NEVER, EVER LET THEM HOLD YOU BACK!)
SAINT JOHN 15:23 & 25
JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES —
“HE THAT HATES ME, HATES MY FATHER ALSO . . . BUT THIS COMES TO PASS, THAT THE WORD MIGHT BE FULFILLED THAT IS WRITTEN IN THEIR LAW, “THEY HATED ME WITHOUT CAUSE.”
(COMMENTARY: JESUS MAKES IT VERY PLAIN THAT IF YOU HATE HIM, YOU HATE GOD. IF YOU HATE CHRIST YOU HAVE NO REASONING CAPABILITIES. IF YOU DO THINGS WITHOUT CAUSE YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF YOURSELF. WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL, DO I REALLY NEED TO TELL YOU WHO IS?)
SAINT JOHN 16:33
JESUS TELL HIS DISCIPLES —
“THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU, THAT IN ME YOU MIGHT HAVE PEACE IN THE WORLD.
YOU SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION: BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.”
SAINT JOHN 18:37
JESUS TELL PONTIUS PILATE —
“EVERY ONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARS MY VOICE.”
SAINT JOHN 21:25
JOHN FINISHES HIS TESTIMONY WITH —
“AND THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER THINGS WHICH JESUS DID, THE WHICH, IF THEY SHOULD BE WRITTEN EVERY ONE, I SUPPOSE THAT EVEN THE WORLD ITSELF COULD NOT CONTAIN THE BOOKS THAT SHOULD BE WRITTEN. AMEN.”
NEXT . . .THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES!