9. His Conversation with Nicodemus

In our last study on the life of Jesus, we saw how he cast out the vendors and moneychangers who had set themselves up, with the complicity of the religious leaders, in the court of the temple. When the leaders asked Jesus what miracle he would perform to prove he had the authority to act this way, he did not perform a miracle on the spot. Instead he spoke to them, in a veiled way, of his resurrection from the dead. But the following verse in the Bible, John 2:23, informs us that Jesus did, nevertheless, many miracles during his stay in Jerusalem. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.”

One man who was struck by seeing these miracles was Nicodemus. “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him’” (John 3:1,2).

When we consider the two details given concerning this man, it is a little surprising that he came to talk to Jesus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish sect that was dedicated to observing the law and traditions in the smallest details. He is also called a “leader” of the Jews. This may mean that he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of the Jewish nation, which had the last word in all religious matters. Now, in reading the gospels, we see that most Pharisees were very hostile toward Jesus, and the Sanhedrin would eventually sentence him to death.

People often emphasize the fact that Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night. Some have suggested that he was afraid of the reactions of his peers and did not want them to see him. Others think that he was looking for a moment to talk to Jesus in peace, without the interruptions and noise of people who followed Jesus or came to be healed. The Bible does not tell the reason.

One Must Be Born Again

So what would Jesus say to this very religious man who was so respected by the people? What he said was surprising. “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’” (John 3:3). As we have seen, Nicodemus began this interview by talking about the miracles Jesus had done. Jesus quickly turned his attention away from the miracles and toward the need for a new birth in order to enter the kingdom of God.

The conversation follows the same stages as several others recorded in the Gospel of John: the questioner says something and Jesus responds in a way that is difficult to understand. The questioner does, in fact, misunderstand the answer. Jesus would then often make a statement that could be even more difficult to grasp, and after which came a speech or explanation. Thus we see that the person who received the teaching had to struggle to discover and face the truth which Jesus was revealing.

So Jesus says that a man must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God. It is perhaps a question of seeing it “from the inside”, because two verses later, he will say that this birth is necessary to “enter” the kingdom. The Greek expression that is translated “born again” could be translated equally well “born from above.” The new birth is actually a transformation in which man must cooperate with God. He must submit himself so that God may make a new creature of him. But Nicodemus got stuck on the idea of being born again, taking it to be in the physical sense. “Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’” (John 3:4).

Nicodemus should have been able to understand what Jesus said in a spiritual sense, because the idea of a new birth was not unknown to the Jews. They spoke of it, however, only in regard to non-Jews who converted to Judaism. Since Nicodemus wanted to take the expression literally, Jesus specified that this birth had nothing to do with the womb of a woman. One must be born of water and the Spirit.

Water and the Spirit

These two elements are associated with the new birth, or “regeneration,” in Titus 3:5,6, where the apostle Paul says that God “saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” This new birth or regeneration is by the Word of God, more specifically by the Injeel. “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures” (James 1:18). “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23). “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).

No one can be born again without having heard the true gospel, the word that is used by the Spirit to lead us to faith. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). When a person hears the Word of God, the Spirit convinces him of his sin and the true identity of Jesus (John 16:8-11). The person repents of his sins and makes a commitment to the Lord in baptism.

Having been washed of all sin, all the evil he has done in his life is erased, and he receives a new life. This life has an entirely new quality because the person also receives the gift of the Holy Spirit to help him walk in holiness. Being in Christ, we are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus was speaking here of a spiritual birth, a process that is of the Spirit, since it begins when we hear and believe the gospel of Christ, and of water, since it is completed when we are immersed in water in the image of the death and resurrection of Jesus—that is, baptism.

The Kingdom of God

Jesus says that this new birth is necessary for whoever wants to see or enter the kingdom of God. So what is this kingdom? Here again we are dealing with an expression that all Jews would have known but would not necessarily understand in its true sense. The Old Testament predicted in many passages the coming of the kingdom of God by a descendant of King David. Most Jews thought of this as a physical kingdom, where the nation of Israel would recover its independence… a kingdom where power, peace and material prosperity would be guaranteed to them.

Jesus spent a lot of time in his teaching clarifying the idea of a heavenly kingdom, which would actually be of a spiritual nature. Those who would share the benefits brought by the reign of the Messiah, the son of David, those who would be recognized as its citizens and would have the favor of the King, are those who would be born again. It is necessary to be “born” a citizen of the heavenly kingdom.

One who is a Christian is actually in the kingdom. Colossians 1:13 says, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” According to Daniel 2:44 and many other passages in the Old Testament, this kingdom would be established during the time of the Roman Empire. Jesus preached throughout his ministry that the kingdom was near. And he said in Mark 9:1 that his disciples would see the establishment of the kingdom during their lives. This happened on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 when the church had its beginning. Since Jesus returned to heaven, he reigns over the whole world. But only members of the church, Christians, will be citizens of his kingdom. This is why Paul said in Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

If you hope one day to be with the King in heaven, you must become a citizen of the kingdom while here on earth. And one obtains that citizenship by birth, the new birth.

Conclusion

Nicodemus had difficulty accepting what Jesus was saying because he already believed himself to be just before God. He was one of the chosen people. As a Pharisee, he followed his religion rigorously. He was a leader of his people, a respected man. But Jesus told him that all this was not enough. He would have to be born again, just like any heathen the Jews might try to convert. Today, some of you who are reading these lines are in the same situation as Nicodemus. You lead a good moral life. You are religious and respected by others. Maybe you’ve gone to church or the mosque since you were very young. But you haven’t obeyed what Jesus said to do to be born again. You are not in the kingdom of God and you will not be with him in heaven.

Were you born into a religious family, living a good moral life? This is a great advantage. But it is necessary to be born of the Spirit. It is necessary to hear and believe the Injeel for yourself. You believe in Jesus? That’s excellent! But it is necessary to be born of water. You must be immersed—baptized for the remission of your sins. If you have not been born of water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. Do not let yourself be held back by tradition, pride, what others think or anything else. Let God transport you today into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

8. Jesus Casts the Moneychangers out of the Temple

Our last lesson focused on the first miracle of Jesus. He was invited to a wedding feast but the provisions were insufficient. As we have seen, Jesus changed water into wine, or juice of the grape, to prevent embarrassment to the bride and groom. But he did this in a discreet manner so that only his disciples and the servants who had drawn the water knew about the miracle.

Now let’s consider a much more public act that Jesus did, not in Galilee in the north of Palestine, but in Jerusalem of Judea. It was an act that astonished the Jewish leaders and which surprises many people even today who have false ideas concerning the character of Jesus of Nazareth.

After the miracle in Cana, according to John 2:12,13, Jesus went with his mother, his disciples and his brothers to Capernaum, about 32 kilometers from Cana. (Yes, contrary to what some people say, Jesus did have brothers—or rather, half-brothers. These were the other sons of Mary, and Joseph was their father.) After a brief visit, they returned to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. This was one of the three most important Jewish feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). At the time of the New Testament, the expression indicated not only the Feast of the Passover commemorating the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt at the time of Moses, but also the seven days of unleavened bread that directly followed the day of Passover.

“Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’ Then His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.’” (John 2:13-17)

John tells here how Jesus chased the moneychangers from the temple in Jerusalem. While John places this event near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke write of a purification of the temple that took place during a visit by Jesus to Jerusalem just prior to his death (the only visit to Jerusalem described by all three of these gospels.

The simplest explanation is that John is writing here of a first purification that the other three did not mention, just like other visits to Jerusalem that John described but which the other gospel writers did not mention. The religious leaders, not agreeing with Jesus’ action, allowed the vendors to reinstall themselves. Three years later, Jesus chased them out again.

Why Was Jesus Angry?

But why did Jesus become angry and chase out the venders and moneychangers? Actually, the Bible doesn’t say he was angry, but we assume he was because he threw over the tables, chased the animals out with a whip and ordered the vendors to leave the premises.

If he were angry, would this have been a sin? The Bible doesn’t teach that feeling the emotion of anger constitutes a sin. In Ephesians 4:26, anger and sin are associated, but they are not the same thing: “Be angry, but do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” If I do not master it, anger can lead me to act badly. James 1:20 says, “The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Anger itself becomes sin when it takes the form of a bitterness and resentment of which we are not willing to let go—which is why the apostle Paul told us not to let the sun go down on our anger.

Anger can also be a sin when it is not justified—when we become angry quickly though no insult was intended and no act of injustice occurred. It is in this sense that James 1:19 says that we must be “slow to wrath,” and Jesus said in Matthew 5:22 that “whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.”

Why was it necessary to record Jesus’ reaction to the venders in the temple? First, he did not react without reflection; he was not carried away by his emotion. In Mark 11:11, we read, “And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.” Verses 12 and 15 tell us that it was the next day when Jesus returned to Jerusalem and began chasing out the people and animals from the temple.

Was he right to be angry? What wrong was actually being committed? First, this business which took place in the court of the Gentiles—the only part of the temple to which non-Jews had access—created an atmosphere in which respect, meditation and prayer would have been practically impossible. As the Gospel of Mark specifies, Jesus quoted the words of the Lord in Isaiah 56:7. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The activity of these vendors was an obstacle to men who sincerely wanted to worship God.

Besides this, Jesus accused these people of having turned the temple into a den of thieves. The activities of the vendors and moneychangers would have been useful and acceptable outside the temple court if they had not been exploiting other people. Jews came to Jerusalem from all over the world, traveling great distances. It would have been very difficult for them to bring animals for sacrifice on those journeys. So they sold their animals before traveling or acquired cash in other ways in order to buy animals for sacrifice in Jerusalem. Now the animals sold at the temple were sometimes sold for twenty times the normal price. Imagine that you have sold your animal at home for $20 and when you arrive in Jerusalem, you have to spend $400 to buy another!

Even the people who lived in the region around Jerusalem fell into the trap of these dishonest merchants. The law demanded that the animals offered to God be “without blemish.” They must not offer an animal that was sick or blind or lame. So inspectors were set up in the temple to approve or reject the animals that were brought. But the merchants worked with the inspectors. Even if one came with appropriate animals to sacrifice, the inspectors would automatically disqualify them. The worshipper was then required to pay the inflated prices to the approved sellers.

In regard to the moneychangers, the situation was similar. Each year, each Jewish man was to pay a coin called a half-shekel to finance the daily activities of the temple. Those who came from other places had foreign money, for example Roman coins which had the image of the emperor. These currencies were acceptable in Palestine for normal business, but they were considered polluted or unacceptable for the treasury of the Lord. The moneychangers set up in the temple swindled the worshippers and made them pay outrageous fees to purchase shekels accepted by the religious authorities.

In view of this corruption practiced in the name of religion and defiling the temple of God Almighty, we can understand Jesus’ reaction. This was a gross injustice, a case of wicked godlessness, and Jesus had every reason to be disgusted. He was not personally a victim, but he did not tolerate seeing this mockery of God and exploitation of His worshippers. After reflection, motivated by his love for God and the honor of God’s house, Jesus, on his own, purified the temple.

His Right to Act

As you can imagine, the Jewish leaders were astonished at the audacity of Jesus. Who did he think he was? They wanted proofs (implying super-natural ones) that Jesus had the authority to act in this way. In their eyes, he was nothing more than a mere carpenter who had become a wandering preacher. It was up to them to supervise the temple.

“So the Jews answered and said to Him, ‘What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.” (John 2:18-22)

In similar circumstances, Jesus had told other questioners that only the “sign of Jonah” would be given to them (Matthew 12:38-40, 16:1-4). He was talking about his resurrection. The prophet Jonah was swallowed by a large fish and spent three days in its belly before being vomited onto the beach. Jesus spent three days in the tomb before coming out, a victor over death. In saying “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” Jesus gave essentially the same response.

He was not talking about the impressive edifice that King Herod had begun to renovate and enlarge 46 years earlier. He was speaking of his body. The Jews destroyed his body by causing him to be killed on the cross. But Jesus returned to life, his body resurrected and glorified. His resurrection was the definitive and incontrovertible proof of his identity and his authority to act as he did in the temple court on this day.

Conclusion

Jesus once said that he was gentle and humble in heart. In many Gospel passages, we can see his great compassion for those who suffered. He taught and demonstrated mercy. He was very patient with the disciples, although they were often slow to understand. But let’s not think that Jesus was only sweetness. He felt anger in the presence of sin, especially hardness of heart. His anger was justified. And he had a right to act on this justified anger. In regard to the vendors in the temple and the moneychangers, he chased them out but he did not really punish them.

One day Jesus will return. We will see one more time both his goodness and his anger, the richness of his love and the severity of his judgment. According to 2 Thessalonians 1:7,8, he will give to those who are his “rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Will you have rest on that day? Have you obeyed the Gospel by faith in Christ, repentance from sin, confession of your faith before men, and immersion in water (baptism) in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins? Or, on that day, will you know his anger? It all depends on you.

7. The Miracle at the Wedding in Cana

Today we will examine an episode in the life of Jesus that took place at the beginning of his ministry, after his baptism and temptation in the wilderness. This passage in the Bible is certainly important. But, at the same time, it is often misunderstood, because there is a tendency to see in the text what is not there. We may go well beyond what is written, and this is always dangerous. It is the story of a miracle that Jesus did at a wedding in Cana of Galilee which is preserved for us in the gospel of John 2:1-11. Listen to the word of God:

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ Now there were set there six water pots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the water pots with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.’ And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, ‘Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!’ This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”

The lessons We Can Take from this Event:

Many lessons can be taken from this story. For example, the fact that Jesus accepted an invitation to a marriage feast suggests that the Lord approved of marriage. He saw nothing to condemn in getting married. Remaining single is not necessarily more holy than being married.

In this story, we also see the compassion of Jesus. The couple who were married surely counted on the success of the feast. It was the kind of celebration one has once in a lifetime. Running out of provisions before the event ended would have caused the couple great embarrassment in front of their friends. Their joy would have been changed to desolation. Jesus felt sorry for their situation. By supplying the wine, he saved them from the contempt of the people of the village and its surroundings.

We can also point out that when Jesus did this, he did it very well. The wine that was made miraculously was the best wine they had drunk. As the crowd witnessed at another miracle, in Mark 10:37: “He has done all things well.”

Two Lessons We Cannot Draw from this Event:

A conclusion we cannot draw from this story is that Jesus approved of drinking alcohol. The story does not teach that.

1. When we use the word “wine” today, we think of a drink that contains alcohol. But in our New Testament, which was written in Greek, the word “wine” is used to translate a Greek word (oinos) which has a broader meaning. It indicates the juice of the grape, regardless of its form. That is the word used to speak of juice when it is still in the fruit, when it has just been pressed, when it is fermented, or when it is boiled so it doesn’t ferment.

2. We often think that in ancient times, they didn’t have the same technical ability to conserve the juice without allowing it to ferment. Thus they would have no way to drink non-fermented grape juice except at the time of harvest. In reality, the literature from the time of Jesus shows clearly that they did have the methods to save grape juice without fermentation, a very sweet drink. This was true for the Jews and the non-Jews. To speak of sweet drinks, one used the same word, oinos, or wine.

3. These unfermented non-alcoholic wines were well-liked in those days. It was thought that their flavor and quality exceeded those of fermented wines.

4. The rabbi S. M. Isaacs, of New York, said this:

“The Jews do not, in their feasts for sacred purposes, including the marriage feast, ever use any kind of fermented drinks. In their oblations and libations, both private and public, they employ the fruit of the vine—that is, fresh grapes—unfermented grape-juice, and raisins, as the symbol of benediction.”

So I ask you to let go of this false idea that by this miracle, Jesus gave his approval to drinking alcohol. The Bible does not say that Jesus made alcohol. The men of that time knew about non-alcoholic wine. They respected it, and it is probably what would have been used on the occasion of a marriage—the unfermented juice of the grape.

Another lesson that we must not take from this story is that men can come to Mary to obtain favors from Jesus. Some point out that, in this story, the couple being married had a problem and that it was Mary who took that problem to her son, who could not refuse her what she asked. They think that, even today, Mary will serve as a mediator. If we tell Mary what we need, she will tell it to her son, Jesus. Because she is his mother, he is sure to grant her the favor.

But before deciding what this passage teaches, we need to study it. One of the first things that strike us in this text is the manner in which Jesus addresses Mary. Instead of calling her “my mother,” he says, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with me?” (John 2:4). In English it would probably seem disrespectful, especially in speaking to one’s own mother. The expression in Greek was not impolite, and the Greek literature apart from the Bible contains several examples where it was used by people to address women whom they liked. Nevertheless, it was still not a term usually used in addressing one’s mother.

Jesus used it generally when he spoke to other women, too. In Matthew 15:28, he spoke to a Canaanite woman who asked for healing for her daughter. “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” In John 8:10-11, we see him speaking with a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. “He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’”

In addressing his own mother in this way, Jesus may be indicating that he wants to eliminate the mother-son aspect of their relationship in respect to his public ministry. In calling his own mother “woman,” Jesus did not treat her contemptuously, but he did not grant more honor to her than to other women. We have the clear impression that, instead of emphasizing the mother-son relationship, Jesus minimized it.

The same remark can be made about two other passages. In Mark 3:31-35, we read:

“Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.’ But He answered them, saying, ‘Who is My mother, or My brothers?’ And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.’”

The relationship that every believer can have with Jesus by virtue of his or her obedience to the Word of God is more important than the relationship that the mother and biological brothers of Jesus could claim by virtue of their blood connection to him. They did not have any particular privileges. They were not the priority when it came to Jesus’ attention.

The only passage in the Bible where we see Mary exalted in this manner is found in Luke 11:27,28. Notice Jesus’ reaction:

“And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!’ But He said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'”

Now let’s return to the story of the miracle in Cana of Galilee where Jesus changed the water to wine. In this passage, we are also struck by the phrase that Jesus addresses to Mary: “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” In fact, the sentence “what does your concern have to do with me” generally served to repel an unwanted intervention. We see in the rest of the story that Mary did not interpret this as a categorical refusal to help in this situation, but we can consider that Jesus is telling Mary that she is not to dictate to him when or how he will exercise his ministry or use his miraculous power.

Far from justifying the belief that some have that by speaking to Mary, they can obtain what they want from Jesus, we see that Jesus put a certain distance between himself and the one who brought him into the world physically. Jesus intervened to solve the problem as Mary had apparently hoped he would, but it seems she also understood the gentle reproach Jesus had given her. We have no indication that she tried again to guide Jesus or to suggest what works he should carry out during his time on earth. Other women would be with him and would use their possessions to help him (Luke 8:2,3), but we do not see any more of Mary except at the foot of the cross.

Having said that the hour had not come to show his identity, Jesus performed this miracle in a way that only his disciples and the servants knew about it.

Let’s remember other people who also obtained miracles by their prayers. Don’t forget, for example, the request of the pagan woman, Syrophoenician by birth, who received the miraculous healing of her little girl, even though Jesus had told her that he was sent only to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).

Nevertheless, these people did not become mediators of grace for us. What they obtained one time cannot constitute a rule for everyone throughout time. What they did personally while they were alive is not a proof of what they could do after their deaths. On the contrary, the Bible shows us clearly that God does not want people to speak to those who are already dead. “And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people” (Leviticus 20:6). “And when they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:19,20).

Nowhere in the Bible are we taught that Christians can (or need to) go to Mary to obtain favors from Jesus. He himself is ready to assist us. The Bible says:

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Jesus is very compassionate and always ready to help his followers. Instead of fixing our attention on Mary, we would do better to follow what Mary said about Jesus to the servants that day in Cana: “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5).

6. The Temptation

Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was tempted. It seems many Christians have the same experience. A short time after they’ve committed themselves, through baptism, to serving God, they find themselves confronted by difficult situations which quickly put to the test their good resolution. This can involve a failure, an illness, a chance to get rich dishonestly, being mocked, a feeling of laziness about the things we should do for God… whatever the exact nature of the situation, we are tempted. Satan has often managed to divert men from the will of God before they get very far in His service. But he was not able to do this with Jesus.

What Was the Temptation?

Some people have the false idea that just being tempted is already a sin. This cannot be true, because the Bible tells us that Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Temptation exists when we are attracted to something forbidden, when we want to do what we should not do AND when we have opportunity to do it. Both the desire and the opportunity must exist or we cannot talk of temptation. Opportunity plus desire constitutes temptation.

Then when temptation exists, a decision is required. Either you submit to the temptation—you take the opportunity and do the thing that you feel like doing—or you resist the temptation—you fight off the desire and refuse to use the opportunity to do wrong.

Where does temptation come from? In the case of Jesus, Matthew 4:1 tells us, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” We see here that God allowed the temptation. His Spirit can lead us into a situation where we are put to the test, but it is the devil who tempts us. The devil wants our fall; he tries to seduce us, to deceive us, to intimidate us. His goal is to lead us to sin against God.

God sometimes tests us to show the depth and sincerity of our faith. He may thus allow instances of suffering in our lives. What He desires is that we pass the test by doing what is good. God never seeks to harm us. He does not tempt us in the sense of leading us to do wrong, as the devil does. This is why James says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone” (James 1:13). Is God unjust because He sometimes allows the devil to tempt us? On the contrary, God places limits on the temptations that the devil can force upon us (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Of What Did the Temptation of Jesus Consist?

Let’s look again at the temptation of Jesus. How was he tempted after his baptism and how was he able to resist? Before understanding what took place here, we need to remind ourselves of Jesus’ mission, the will of God for him. You see, when we sin, it is because we are not doing the will of God. So what did God want Jesus to do?

He himself says clearly in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Also in Mark 10:33,34, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

After his resurrection, he explained to his disciples: “‘Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:26,27). Jesus knew in advance what would happen to him. He would offer himself as a sacrifice without blemish in the place of sinful men. The path to glory would necessarily take him through suffering and humiliation because he would have to suffer and be humiliated for you and me. This would not be easy at all.

As the hour approached, he was troubled. The Bible tells us that he was in agony and that sweat fell from him like drops of blood. But he said to God: “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). The will of God for Jesus was truly that he go to the cross before being exalted again.

Now let’s consider three temptations that the devil placed before him:

1. Jesus had fasted for 40 days and he was very, very hungry. The tempter approached him and told him to change stones into bread and eat. His argument was more or less like this: “You are not just anyone. You are the Messiah, the Christ. You were born of a virgin. You have miraculous powers. You should use your power to avoid suffering from hunger. Is it right for a servant of God—more than that, the Messiah—to be deprived of what is necessary for him? Why suffer unnecessarily? Use your power and eat.”

Now Jesus was fasting to prepare himself for the task that was before him. Fasting is often a sign of humbling one’s self before God. It accompanies a prayer in which one implores God’s help. Satan suggested to him that it was not fitting for him to fast.

“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4). Jesus became a man and he accepted living as a man with all the suffering and humiliation that might come with that condition. Also, Jesus recognized that there are things more important in life than physical nourishment. Man does not live by bread alone. Jesus was seeking what is spiritual, and he did not let Satan turn him aside from that.

2. Satan tried again. He transported Jesus to Jerusalem, placed him atop the temple and told him to throw himself off. He added, “For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone’” (Matthew 4:6). Satan again suggested that Jesus should not suffer, considering who he was. According to Satan, Jesus ought to make his importance known right from the beginning among the Jews, in their own capital city, so that he would already be acclaimed to be the Christ, the leader and liberator sent by God. If he performed a spectacular miracle in the middle of Jerusalem, the holy city, all would be led to accept him. No need to walk from village to village as a vagabond, no allowing himself to be insulted or going to the cross. To make his argument more convincing, Satan himself quoted scripture. And he quoted it correctly and without taking it out of context, because the passage actually was about Jesus.

“Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God”’” (Matthew 4:7). Many people misunderstand the expression “to tempt the Lord.” They think that it is a question of running risks, of counting on the protection and blessing of God instead of taking precautions. So if there is a risk of being persecuted if we go to take the gospel to certain groups of people, we don’t go there for fear of “tempting the Lord.” And yet, the Lord has warned us that we will be persecuted and he also promised, after giving orders to make disciples of all nations: “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). To obey him by evangelizing is not tempting the Lord.

Then what does the expression mean—”to tempt the Lord”? The idea is that, in putting to the test the patience of God, we provoke His anger by our rebellion. The passage Jesus quotes is found in Deuteronomy 6:16,17. Moses told the Israelites not to serve idols or the anger of God would be kindled against them. Then he added, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you.”

And what had happened at Massah? God had just brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, and He was leading them across the desert and toward Mount Sinai where He would give them his laws; then He wanted to lead them to Canaan that He had promised them. Arriving at a place where there wasn’t any water, the people began to complain. Instead of taking their need to God with respect and confidence, they acted badly. “Therefore the people contended with Moses… and the people complained against Moses, and said, ‘Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?’ So Moses said to them, ‘Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?'” (Exodus 17:2-3). This behavior characterized the Israelites all the time as they traveled through the wilderness.

Later, they tempted God further, as we read in Numbers 14:2-4: “And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword?… Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’ So they said to one another, ‘Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.'” So, tempting the Lord means rebelling against Him, refusing to follow the path that God has laid out for us.

The path that was laid out for Jesus was, as we have seen, a path of suffering and humiliation and death. Satan proposed a simpler way, quick and painless. But Jesus refused to tempt the Lord. He refused to leave the path that God wanted him to follow.

3. Then Satan tried a third time. “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’” (Matthew 4:8,9). Were these things not intended for the Christ? Didn’t he have the right to possess them? Why should he have to suffer poverty? Or die on a cross? What Satan proposed was so easy. Bow down before Satan and it would all be done. He would have the world at his feet.

But again Jesus used scripture to push the devil away: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve”’” (Matthew 4:10). No matter what advantage was offered to him, Jesus refused to disobey God. He remained faithful to the One who had sent him, and he had love for us who could be saved only by his obedience and his death.

Jesus vanquished the tempter but this was not his only battle. Luke 4:13 tells us, “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” There would be other times when Satan would try to lead Jesus into sin and to divert him from his mission. When we have managed to resist a temptation, we must not think that he will leave us in peace from then on. We must be vigilant, for he will look for other ways to have us.

Conclusion

Because he was tempted, Jesus knows what we feel when we are tempted. He understands us. Because he conquered the enemy, his example shows us that it is with the help of the Word of God, that we can also resist temptation. So we must always study the scripture to know what God asks of us and to strengthen us in times of testing. It is important not to neglect hearing and studying the Word, because, as we have seen, Satan can also quote it. False teachers and false prophets use scripture. It is necessary to take into account all that the Bible teaches on a subject and not limit ourselves to a single verse which seems to favor what we want to do.

Finally, because Jesus was tempted and because he overcame, he was able to complete his mission. He was able to offer us salvation from our sins. Thus he became our model. He is also our only Savior.

5. His Baptism

The life of Jesus of Nazareth is not a fairy tale, a story that begins “Once upon a time in a faraway land…” On the contrary, the gospel of Luke is very precise as he presents the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Like the three other gospel writers, he tells us about John the Baptist, who announced the coming of the Christ to the Jewish people. He said that John began to preach: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness” (John 3:1,2). All these persons are known to historians, even from sources other than the Bible.

Similarly, John the Baptist is mentioned by non-Christian writers of that time period. So let’s talk about this man, John the son of Zacharias, and the way in which he made Jesus known to all the Jewish people.

John Preaches and Baptizes

Just as the coming of Jesus had been predicted by the prophets of God centuries before his birth, the same prophets predicted the coming of John. For example, Matthew quoted the prophet Isaiah, who had lived seven centuries before the time of Jesus and John:

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.”’” (Matthew 3:1-3)

Of course, John did not prepare a physical road, but this language is used to make us think of a VIP, a “very important person.” Even today in many countries, when a president or government minister is scheduled to go somewhere, the custom may involve repairing and cleaning the road by which he will travel. Messengers are also sent to announce the coming of the chief of state and to get the population ready to receive him in an appropriate manner. Now, John came to prepare for the arrival of the greatest king that could ever be. But the manner of preparing for the coming of this king does not involve sweeping streets and painting houses. It is rather a question of calling on people to repent of their sins.

One act by which John emphasized his message of repentance was baptism. Luke said that John “went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:3). In being baptized, a person admitted his or her need to repent and intention to change. Being baptized—literally immersed in water—carried the idea of a bath of purification from sin. According to John 10:41, John did not perform any miracles, but by the force of his preaching, he convinced many of the Jews of their need to change their behavior and to ask forgiveness from God. Most of them came to John to submit to baptism.

The Jewish authorities sent men to John to inquire about this preacher who was drawing such big crowds. They wanted to know what he was saying and why he had come. Three possibilities occurred to them: John was pretending to be the Messiah himself, the one for whom Israel had been waiting; or Elijah who was supposed to return to prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5); or “the prophet” spoken of by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15 (and who was in fact the Messiah according to Acts 3:20-24). John, nevertheless, denied that he was any of these three. According to him, he was the voice who called men to prepare the way for the Lord, according to the words of Isaiah which we have heard. He wanted to say, in effect: “I am not anyone of importance. I am only a voice telling the people to prepare themselves, because the king is coming.”

It is true that Jesus later said that John was the one Elijah said would come (Matthew 11:14; 17:12,13). If John denied being Elijah, it may be that this was in the sense that he was not resurrected or reincarnated as Elijah. He was not Elijah in person, but rather this was the one who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17).

The Jewish leaders wondered why John baptized people, particularly Jewish people. “And they asked him, saying, ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’” (Luke 1:25). They understood the idea of a baptism of purification for those who were converting to Judaism. They were already used to imposing this on those people. But John’s actions suggested that the chosen people, the Jews, needed to be cleansed. These Jewish leaders considered themselves to already be more just than other people.

John did not directly answer their question. “John answered them, saying, ‘I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose’” (Luke 1:26,27). The one who would come after him was so much more important than John that he did not even deserve to serve him as a slave would. In other words, John was saying: “The king is coming. And for his coming, you need to be purified, as much as any non-Jew.”

Jesus Is Baptized

One day someone presented himself to John to be baptized, but John said that this person did not need this purification.

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him.” (Matthew 3:13-15)

It is interesting to know that in the Qur’an, the sins of Mohammad are not mentioned, but it is said of him in the Surah 40 – Ghafir, aya 55, “O Mohammad, the promises of God are the truth. Ask for forgiveness of your sins in the morning and in the evening and this will be granted to you.” In the 114 surahs of the Qur’an, no sin is attributed to Jesus, that is, to Issa.

Many passages in the Bible flatly declare that Jesus was without sin. First Peter 2:22, quoting Isaiah, describes him as one “who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” Being thus without sin, he had no need to be baptized for the remission of sins. He did not need to repent. John recognized this, but Jesus explained to him that he was doing it “to fulfill all righteousness.” In being baptized, Jesus validated John’s ministry—he recognized that it really was God who had sent him. In addition, Jesus submitted himself as a man to all of God’s commandments that concern men, and he gave a positive example that all must follow.

Jesus made a long journey by foot to be baptized, though he did not need it, as we do, for his personal salvation. Water is not always nearby for baptism. Because Jesus left Nazareth to go to the desert of Judea near the Jordan, that is near the place where the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea, we know that the distance he traveled to be baptized was about 105 kilometers one way. So if one had to travel 100 kilometers on foot to be baptized, this would not be more than Jesus did, he who had no sin. We must not try to make excuses for avoiding this duty because of distance or any other obstacle. We have no right to modify God’s command by substituting sprinkling for immersion in order to make it easier for ourselves. Jesus did not look for the easy way. He looked for what was right… what was according to the commandments of God.

In his baptism, Jesus gave us a good example of obedience to God. But in his baptism he was, at the same time shown to be the one that John the Baptist had announced. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16,17). So God himself gave testimony to the identity of Jesus by the voice from Heaven and by the Spirit in the form of a dove. John also bore witness of Jesus: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!… I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29,33,34)

John Decreases

John continued to preach for a few months after baptizing Jesus. Then he was arrested and put to death by King Herod Antipas, because John had condemned his sin. But before his arrest, the disciples of Jesus had become more numerous than those of John. Rather than being jealous, John rejoiced in this. He reminded his followers that he had always told them that he himself was not the Christ. Instead, he was like the friend of the bridegroom. He said, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29,30).

The shoshben, or friend of the bridegroom, had a special role in a Jewish wedding. He served as liaison between the bridegroom and the bride. He made preparations for the feast. He sent out the invitations. And he presided over the festivities. He also had the responsibility of guarding the bridal chamber and preventing any man except the bridegroom from entering it. He would not open the door until, in the darkness, he heard and recognized the voice of the bridegroom. Hearing this voice, he let him in and went away rejoicing because he had finished his task and the lovers were together.

John the Baptist had had the role of bringing together the husband, Christ, and the wife, Israel. It was not with regret that he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Conclusion

John was a great servant of God. Jesus said that he was more than a prophet (Matthew 11:9). But Jesus was infinitely greater. He is our king (the one whose path it was necessary to prepare), our savior (the lamb without blemish), and our example in all things. It is toward him that John directed the attention of Israel. It is toward him that we must direct the attention of all men today. So we invite you to continue to follow these lessons to know Jesus better and to better follow him.

4. Between the Ages of 12 and 30

In our last message, we saw what the Bible tells us about the childhood of Jesus, including his visit to the temple when he was 12 years old. But for the 18 years that followed that event, we have practically no details about his life. All the same, we can learn lessons from some details that are given.

After the visit to the temple, Luke 2:51 says, “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.” In this, Jesus serves as a model for us. He was an obedient son and respectful toward his parents. The law under which Jesus lived, the law that God gave to Musa (that is, Moses) said, “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). The law under which we live says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). If we want to resemble Jesus, we must respect our parents.

According to Mark 6:3, Jesus became a carpenter. Matthew 13:55 tells us that this was also the vocation of his adoptive father, Joseph. Some people have contempt for those who work physically, like carpenters or farmers. Some people do not respect work that is not done in an office. But Jesus’ example shows that there is nothing dishonorable in working with one’s hands as a worker or craftsman. On the contrary, the New Testament recommends to Christians:

“But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12)

Apart from these few points, the only information we have on the life of Jesus between the ages of 12 and 30 years is contained in this short verse in the gospel of Luke: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). Jesus grew physically, intellectually, spiritually and socially. He was a well-balanced person. But the Bible doesn’t tell us anything about his appearance, his pastimes, his friends or many other points that could interest us.

The Desire to Know More

Men have always been curious about the years in the life of Jesus about which the Bible is practically silent. They have always wanted to know more. This desire is particularly strong among those who find a great pleasure in all things miraculous. They often think of all the miracles that Jesus might have done but which are not mentioned in the Bible. But Jesus never encouraged interest in the miracles themselves. Matthew 12:38-40 says:

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'”

To see a miracle just to see a miracle… just to experience the astonishment… this has no value. The miracles were supposed to teach us something about God—His nature or His will, or confirm for us an important truth. The miracle that surpasses all others in importance is the resurrection of Jesus after three days in the tomb—a miracle that is fully attested by the Word of God and by history.

But as we have already stated, many people have always been thirsty for miracles—to see them and to read about them. Consider, for example, how many of the faithful follow with joy testimonies that tell of miracles and extraordinary things, but are quickly bored when it comes to Bible study. There are books filled with testimonies of people who claim to have been sorcerers, or who claim to have been to hell or heaven and returned from there, books which describe all the illnesses the authors claim to have had and from which they received miraculous healing. These books sell like hot cakes. But very few people buy books that could help them understand this or that part of the Bible. There have always been people who exploit this thirst for miraculous things. Some of these exploit people for their money, others to promote their own philosophies or doctrines.

The Apocrypha

This is what is at the origin of some of the books that began to circulate among Christians after the time of the apostles. These books, which contain so-called gospels, the acts of such and such apostle, and epistles, were called by the church “apocryphal” writings. That is to say, non-authentic, questionable or suspect. They were not recognized as inspired by God. They were not written by those to whom the authors wanted to attribute them. These books tried to fill the gap left by the four recognized versions of the gospel—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—by furnishing us with details of Jesus’ childhood and youth, and, of course, by telling us about the miracles that Jesus supposedly performed during this period of his life.

The so-called Gospel of Thomas is one example. In this book, the child Jesus was playing one Sabbath day, making pigeons of clay. When an adult came to scold him, he clapped his hands and the pigeons flew away, transformed into real birds. When another child who was running through the village accidentally bumped Jesus on the shoulder, he cried out, “You will not finish your errand.” And the other child fell over dead. When the parents of the child came to reason with Jesus about the wrong he had just done, they were struck blind. We see here an interest in miracles but no concern for morality or justice. Of course, Jesus never did such things.

In reality, we plainly see in the gospels that are in the Bible that Jesus did not perform miracles as a child. First, there is the fact that the gospel of John says about Jesus changing the water into wine at the wedding in Cana: “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11).

Next, we see the astonishment of the people of Nazareth at the miracles that Jesus was doing after beginning his public ministry. This shows that they did not associate such acts with Jesus while he lived among them.

“And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?’ So they were offended at Him.” (Mark 6:2-3)

Rosicrucianism

Nowadays, some groups such as the Rosicrucians claim to have information on the life of Jesus before the beginning of his ministry. It says, for example, that Jesus supposedly traveled to certain other countries where he acquired special knowledge and the powers that he used on his return to Palestine. Surely, the purpose of these claims is to attract followers by emphasizing hidden knowledge available only to the initiated—allowing them to prevail over their circumstances and to discover unknown powers.

But all of this is contradicted by the Bible, which shows us that the works and knowledge of Jesus came, not from studying with certain people in a faraway country, but rather from the Spirit of God within him. It was at the time of his baptism that the Spirit descended on him. Listen to the words of John the Baptist:

“And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God’” (John 1:32-34).

It was after this moment that Jesus began preaching and performing miracles. Later, he would clearly say in Matthew 12:28 that it was by the Spirit of God that he was casting out demons. The claims of those who speak of secret knowledge acquired abroad have no foundation.

Why this lack of details?

Why did God not reveal more about the life of Jesus before age 30? It is not because there was nothing to say: “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). But God has revealed what was necessary for us, and from what He did write we can find the origin of Jesus, his mission on earth and his role in our lives.

The emphasis is placed on the reason Jesus came. The Lord said in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” When we see the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are not surprised to see that a quarter of the gospel according to Matthew, a third of the gospel of Mark and half of the gospel of John are devoted to the last week of the life of Jesus. If these accounts seem to neglect the childhood of Jesus, it is to fix our attention on his ministry and especially the death he endured to save us.

Conclusion

What God revealed to us in His Word about the life of Jesus is sufficient for us to be saved. When it comes to the life of Jesus between ages 12 and 30, we don’t have many details, but this fact should not trouble us. The Lord, in His infinite intelligence, has told us what we need to know. Let us trust Him. Let us be humble enough to realize that He knows better than we do what is necessary.

3. His Childhood

Our last study concerned the birth of Jesus Christ. We showed his birth was miraculous. Jesus was born of a virgin. God did not have sexual intercourse with Mary, his mother, but caused her to become pregnant miraculously—she did not sleep with anyone.

We have also shown the fact that Jesus, who has existed eternally in the glory of Heaven, not only accepted becoming a simple man but also he was born into a very poor family. It was the beginning of a life where Jesus would be exposed to all the different kinds of tests that men can know—a difficult life. He accepted all this out of love for you and me.

So he knows the way we feel when we are hungry, when we have worked hard, when our bodies are ill, when others disappoint us, when we are tempted. He became one of us.

Now we are going to talk about the childhood of Jesus; what happened to him when he was a baby and how he grew up.

Honored

The arrival of Jesus on earth did not go completely unnoticed, and the king who had just been born was not completely without honors. According to Luke 2, it was to shepherds that God sent angels to announce the birth of Jesus.

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:8-14)

After the angels left them, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem where they found Mary and Joseph, with the baby lying in the manger. “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds” (Luke 2:17-18).

Forty days later, Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem to present their child to the Lord, conforming to the Torah, the Jewish law, which required a special sacrifice for the birth of a first-born son. As they entered the temple with Jesus, a man named Simeon came to meet them. He had been warned some time before that he would not die before having seen the Messiah, that is to say “the Christ.” When he saw the little baby Jesus, he took him in his arms and said to God, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32).

On that same occasion, an 84-year-old prophetess who lived in the temple also noticed the baby Jesus. The Bible said that she “gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).

According to the gospel of Matthew, there were other people who came a great distance to give homage to the baby Jesus. They are called magi of the Orient. Their country of origin is not specified, and the Bible does not tell how many magi came. The word “magi” could refer to a sort of priest in the ancient country of Persia, now known as Iran. The magi studied the stars, and these men discovered that a new king was born among the Jews.

So they went to Jerusalem, the Jewish capital, to offer homage to him. Having learned that, according to the prophet Micah, the king had to be born in Bethlehem, the magi were able to find the child, who was now 18 months to two years old. He was now no longer in the stable where he was born, but in a house. According to Matthew 2:11, “And when they [the magi] had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Persecuted

The honors given to Jesus by the shepherds, Simeon, Anna and the magi did not last. The old king Herod, in his fear of losing power, had already killed one of his wives and some of his own sons. He was very worried when the magi told him that one had been born who would become king of the Jews. Knowing that a future king had been born in Bethlehem, “he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men” (Matthew 2:16).

God warned Joseph in a dream that the life of the infant was in danger. Joseph, or Yusuf, the husband of Mary (Miryam), took his small family and fled to Egypt, which was outside the territory governed by Herod. Some time later, Herod died and an angel told Joseph to return to Israel. They settled in the north of the country in the region of Galilee.

Forgotten

After having been the object of so much attention at first, from pious people who praised God for his birth, and then from a jealous king, Herod the Great, who sought to kill him, Jesus seems to have been forgotten by the public for many years. His parents certainly kept the memory of all the special things that had happened at the time of his birth, but it seems that the people in the small village of Nazareth did not realize that Jesus was an exceptional person.

The Visit to the Temple at Age 12

We have a single glimpse of Jesus during his youth, before he began his ministry at 30 years of age. We find this story in Luke 2:41-51:

“His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.’

“And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.”

To sum up what we have just read, Jesus had accompanied his parents to Jerusalem to observe a Jewish feast. The pilgrims—that is, those who traveled from afar to participate in the event—traveled in large groups, and Jesus’ parents did not realize he was not in the group. They returned to Jerusalem and searched for him. After three days, they found him in the company of teachers of the law of God, asking them questions and talking with them about the scriptures. Although we can sympathize with the anxiety Joseph and Mary had felt, we can also understand the surprise of Jesus. Knowing him, his parents should have had the idea that they would find him where people were talking about God. He had to be dealing with the concerns of the One who had sent him. It was only natural.

Conclusion

Christians must take Jesus as their example in all things. This story shows us that, at a very tender age, Jesus was already giving us an example to follow. Although he was very young, he was already interested in the Word of God. Later, when he was an adult, he said to his disciples, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus knew why he was in the world, and this is shown by the things with which he occupied himself.

When one considers the things that fascinate most people, it seems most of them do not know the reason for their own existence. They think that the goal of life is to make money, play football, to indulge in as many pleasures as possible, to be admired by others or to simply live as long as possible. In reality, we exist to glorify our Creator, to seek to know Him, to obey His will, to accept the spiritual, eternal life He offers us.

The story of Jesus’ visit to the temple at the age of 12 years old shows us that we must not wait until a certain age, an age where the pleasures of the world do not interest us, before giving our lives to God. God wants us to give ourselves to His service, whether in the strength and energy of youth, the responsibility and influence of maturity or the experience and wisdom of old age. A young boy or girl of 12 years should already be interested in knowing the will of God and should continue to be interested until the end of their days.

2. His Birth

Each year in December (and for some, in January), nearly all the churches in the world observe the holiday called Christmas to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. In the churches of Christ, we do not do this for the simple reason that nowhere in the Word of God are we instructed to do so.

This does not mean that we do not speak of the event that other people celebrate at Christmas, that is, the birth of Jesus. The Bible speaks of it, the Qur’an speaks of it, and we are happy to speak of it also. After all, the entrance of the Messiah into the world is one of the most important events in all of history.

So let us recall some facts regarding his conception and his birth. As we have seen, Jesus existed before his birth. He said to the Jews that he had known Abraham the patriarch, who had lived 2,000 years before him. He said in a prayer that he had been with God in glory before the world existed.

How Jesus Was Born

When Jesus was to be born, his mother, according to the Bible, became pregnant by virtue of the Holy Spirit, without having sexual relations with a man. Here is what we read in the gospel of Luke:

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary… Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus’… And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.'” (Luke 1:26-67, 30-31, 35)

So Jesus was born miraculously; but he was also born poor and in humble conditions, not to say humiliating. In the providence of God, the time to deliver the child came while Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem in order to be counted in the census, according to the order of the emperor. Due to the great crowds who had come there because of the census, they could not find lodging at a hotel. So Jesus was born in a stable where animals were kept, and he was laid in a manger, the place where food was placed for the animals. And although he was the greatest king who ever came into the world, simple shepherds were the ones whom God invited to the celebration.

Forty days later, his parents presented him in the temple in accordance with Jewish law. They did not even have the means to purchase a lamb for the sacrifice as was prescribed by the law of Moses, the Torah. Rather, they offered two young pigeons, which was authorized by the law for those who were too poor. It is obvious that this child was not going to grow up in luxury.

What the Way He Was Born Does Not Prove

Jesus was born a little human child, a very poor child. He had taken the form of a creature, a mere man. What does all this prove? And what does it not prove?

Let us begin with what we must not say from this story: We must not think that God committed adultery or that He took Mary as His wife.

In the time of Muhammad, the heathen believed that God had daughters. And some Christians said that the virgin Mary was the mother of God. They also believed that Jesus was physically the Son of God, as if God had sexual intercourse with Mary, who was someone’s fiancée. This is probably the reason we find these verses in the Qur’an: “The Creator of the heavens and the earth! How can he have a child, if there does not exist for him a spouse? …And we believe that He—exalted is the glory of our Lord—took neither a spouse or a son.”

The Bible says in Luke 1:34-35, 37: Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God… For with God nothing will be impossible.” This passage does not describe sexual relations. It describes a miracle brought about by the power of God.

If doctors of our day are able, with their limited knowledge, to implant an embryo into the uterus of a woman and make her pregnant without her having sexual relations; how much mores so could God make Mary pregnant without having sexual relations with her.

Something else that we must not say on the basis of this Bible story is that Mary is more than a woman, that she is a mediator or the source of every grace. People base this idea on a paraphrase of the words of the angel Gabriel and of Elizabeth, the mother of John the baptizer: “Hail, Mary, full of grace (or overflowing with grace)! The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.” They believe that if Mary is full of or overflowing with grace, she must have a surplus. She can share some of it with us if we ask her to think about us, poor sinners that we are.

But scripture does not teach that Mary was a source of this grace; she was an object of the favor of God. Most translations of the Bible translate Gabriel’s words as “favored one” rather than “full of grace.” Certainly Mary was a good woman who feared God. But no woman can deserve to become the mother of Christ. A grace is a favor that one has not deserved. In choosing Mary, God gave her a favor of which she was not worthy. It was a grace.

What the Way He Was Born Proves

These are some things people sometimes say in regard to the birth of Jesus that are not true, things which Bible story does not prove. But what does it prove? Jesus left the glory of paradise to be born as a small child—and a poor child at that. What does this teach me?

First, it teaches me that he loves me, more than I could ever comprehend.

If we understand that before his birth as the child of Mary, Jesus had always existed with God, that he knew the glory and majesty of heaven, then we can better grasp the greatness of his sacrifice for us. His sacrifice was not only made in dying on the cross. It was also the fact that he left paradise and that he was born into poverty. He not only deprived himself of the comforts and glory of his heavenly home, but he deprived himself of the comforts, luxuries and glory that this world offers. He left it all for us because we were rebellious and he wanted to bring us near to God.

Secondly, the manner in which Jesus was born teaches me that Jesus is able to sympathize with all my problems, even the troubles of the most miserable person. Not only can he sympathize, he can help us.

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil… Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:14,17-18)

The same author goes further to say: “He can sympathize with all our weaknesses; he was tempted as we are in all things, without committing sin” (Hebrew 4:15).

Jesus did not come down from Heaven to go directly to the cross. He did not come only for the three years of his teaching ministry. He was born an infant and grew as we do. For 33 years, he felt all the things we can feel. He was tired. His feet hurt. He could feel attracted to a woman. He probably felt ill. He experienced mockery. He sweated. Jesus knew what it was like to be hungry. He knows what it’s like when an intimate friend turns his back on us. He was a big brother. He cried before the tomb of a friend. He led the life of a man from the cradle to the grave like one of us. He understands us. We can confide in him without fear.

Thirdly, the fact that Jesus left Heaven to become a man like us, teaches us that Jesus was not only given the teachings and the law, he was himself the model that we must follow.

“Love your neighbor” was said by the man whose neighbors tried to kill him. The exhortation to leave one’s family for the sake of the Gospel was given by one who had left his own mother for the sake of the same cause.

“Pray for those who persecute you” was taught by the one who would soon be asking forgiveness for those who put nails in his hands and feet. As I Peter 2:21 says, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…”

Conclusion

In the birth of Jesus, God himself gave the most precious gift that could exist. It can seem almost absurd to give someone so holy, so good and so pure in order for him to suffer in the place of unworthy sinners like us. Who can understand so such an amazing love?

But one thing would be even more absurd, more difficult to comprehend: to refuse such a magnificent gift. To say to God, “No, thank you. I don’t need Jesus. He can stay in heaven. I don’t need your forgiveness.” When men choose to stay in their sins instead of accepting the Gospel, when they prefer to continue to offend God who loves them so, this is what is absurd and incomprehensible.

1. His Preexistence

Adherents of certain religions believe that men exist somewhere before they are born on the earth. They wait somewhere, in a world of spirits, until the moment comes when each can be born in a physical body. Some think that the same person lives many times on the earth in a series of different bodies. This idea is called reincarnation. But it is an idea that does not appear anywhere in the Bible.

Christianity does not teach that a person exists in another world before being conceived in the body of his or her mother to be born nine months later. There is only one person that the Bible speaks of as having had such a previous existence, and that person is Jesus Christ.

Before John the Baptist

In the gospel of Luke, chapter 1, we read that the angel Gabriel informed the elderly priest, Zacharias, that his wife, Elizabeth, who was barren, would give birth to a son. Zacharias was to name him John. We know him better as John the Baptist. He is the one who was to preach to the people of Israel to prepare them for the coming of Christ.

According to verse 36 of the same chapter, Elizabeth was in the sixth month of her pregnancy when the same angel Gabriel presented himself to the virgin Mary to tell her that she would become pregnant by virtue of the Holy Spirit and would bring into the world a child who would be given the name Jesus, the one whose reign would have no end. When Mary received this news, she went to visit Elizabeth who was her relative. It is thus clear that John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus.

This is why certain words of John seem curious. In the gospel of John 1:29-30, we read, that John saw Jesus coming and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” Jesus was born before John the Baptist but God revealed to him that Jesus existed before him (Micah 5:2).

But John’s declaration would not be too surprising for the Jews who knew their scriptures. You see, about 700 years earlier, the prophet Micah had written this: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). The Jews knew that this passage spoke of the Christ who would come. When Jesus was born, men from the East arrived in Jerusalem. They asked:

 “’Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”’” (Matthew 2:2-6)

So the Jews knew that this passage spoke of the Christ, whom they called the Messiah. But this passage tells us more than the name of the city where Jesus would be born. John was right to say that Jesus preceded him.

Before leaving this passage in Micah, let’s point out a play on words. We know that the Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language, and in Hebrew this verse twice uses a form of the same word “going forth.” It says that Christ “goes forth” from Bethlehem, but adds that his “goings forth” date back to the days of eternity. The passage says nothing about a time when the Christ did not yet exist. It tells us that Jesus came out of Bethlehem to accomplish his mission, but that this was not his first time to “go forth.” He was active from eternity.

Jesus and Abraham

Either the Jews had not understood this passage, which speaks clearly of the preexistence of Christ, or they simply did not want to admit that Jesus was the Christ. But they seem to understand when Jesus tells them that he had seen their ancestor Abraham who had lived 2,000 years before their time. He said to them in John 8:56-59:

“‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.’ Then the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’ Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

In John 17, also, Jesus goes further than the simple fact of having known the patriarch Abraham personally. He said that he had been with God the Father before the world existed. Here is an excerpt from the prayer he offered the night he was arrested by his enemies: “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:5).

Jesus and the Creation of the World

Many passages in the Bible affirm that Jesus participated in the creation of all things. Colossians 1:16-17:

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

Jesus is the only man to have existed before his birth on the earth. Not only did Jesus exist before his birth down here, but he has always existed. But one day he became a man in order to save us. He glorified God in fulfilling his mission. After being humiliated, he was once more glorified.

Conclusion

In this series of lessons, we intend to talk more about Jesus, a person without equal. The Qur’an speaks often of Jesus (or Issa). He is called the Messiah, the son of Mary (or Miriam), the Apostle of God, the Spirit of God and the Word of God. But we draw mostly from the Gospel (or the Injeel), which contains more references to him than any other source. If you want to know more about his life, his teachings or his miracles, we encourage you to continue this study with us.