The Life of Jesus E-Book

Brian Simmons

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Serie: The Passion Translation
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 459

Beschreibung

The Life of Jesus is the biographical account of Jesus' supernatural birth, extraordinary life, unjust death, confirmed resurrection, and promised return to earth. The text from the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) in The Passion Translation® is harmonized into a singular narrative and presented chronologically. Special features include: - beautiful interior with the words of Jesus in red - reader's edition single-column format without verse numbers - contemporary, easy-to-read Bible text font - subject headings that introduce sections of the Bible text and its source in the Gospels - expanded text for the richest presentation of duplicate Gospel accountsJesus has affected this world like no other in history. His life and the work of his Spirit invites seekers, encourages saints, and challenges skeptics. Experience God's fiery heart of love through this heart-level translation and harmonization of the Gospels.

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BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC

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The Life of Jesus: Harmonized Gospels, Reader’s Edition, The Passion Translation®

Copyright © 2018 BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC

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CONTENTS

Introduction

What Is a Gospel Harmonization?

Why Harmonize the Gospel Accounts?

How Does The Life of Jesus Harmonize the Gospel Accounts?

Forty Days in the Gospels

Day 1

To the Lovers of God (Lk. 1:1–4)

The Living Expression (Jn. 1:1–14)

Angelic Prophecy of the Prophet John’s Birth (Lk. 1:5–25)

Angelic Prophecy of Jesus’ Birth (Lk. 1:26–38)

Elizabeth’s Prophecy to Mary (Lk. 1:39–45)

Mary’s Prophetic Song (Lk. 1:46–56)

An Angel Comes to Joseph (Matt. 1:18–25)

Day 2

The Birth of the Prophet John (Lk.1:57–66)

Zechariah’s Prophecy (Lk. 1:67–80)

From Abraham to Christ (Matt. 1:1–17)

The Ancestry of Jesus Christ (Lk. 3:23–38)

The Birth of Jesus (Lk. 2:1–7)

An Angelic Encounter (Lk. 2:8–20)

Baby Jesus Dedicated in the Temple (Lk. 2:21–38)

Day 3

The Wise Men Visit (Matt. 2:1–12)

They Escape to Egypt (Matt. 2:13–18)

They Return to Nazareth (Matt. 2:19–23)

Jesus Grows in Grace, Wisdom, and Favor (Lk. 2:39–40)

At Age Twelve Jesus Visits the Temple (Lk. 2:41–52)

The Wonderful News (Mk. 1:1–5)

John the Baptizer (Lk. 3:1–20)

Day 4

The Ministry of John the Baptizer (Jn. 1:19–28)

The Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29–31)

The Baptism of Jesus (Lk. 3:21–22)

Jesus Tested in the Wilderness (Lk. 4:1–13)

Jesus’ First Followers (Jn. 1:35–42)

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael (Jn. 1:43–51)

Jesus Comes to a Wedding (Jn. 2:1–11)

Day 5

Jesus at the Temple (Jn. 2:12–25)

Nicodemus (Jn. 3:1–13)

God’s Love for Everyone (Jn. 3:14–21)

John, Friend of the Bridegroom (Jn. 3:22–36)

Jesus Leaves Judea (Jn. 4:1–4)

A Thirsty Savior (Jn. 4:5–30)

Day 6

The Harvest Is Ready (Jn. 4:31–42)

Jesus Returns to Galilee (Lk. 4:14–30)

Jesus Moves to Capernaum (Matt. 4:13–17)

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him (Mk. 1:16–20)

The Miracle Catch of Fish (Lk. 5:1–11)

Day 7

Jesus Confronts a Demonized Man (Lk. 4:31–37)

Jesus Heals Many (Lk. 4:38–44)

Jesus, the Healer (Lk. 5:12–26)

Jesus Calls Matthew to Follow Him (Lk. 5:27–32)

A Question about Fasting (Lk. 5:33–39)

Day 8

The Healing at Bethesda (Jn. 5:1–16)

Jesus Responds to the Jewish Leaders (Jn. 5:17–24)

Two Resurrections (Jn. 5:25–32)

John the Baptizer (Jn. 5:33–47)

Jesus and Religious Traditions (Lk. 6:1–11)

Day 9

Jesus Chooses Twelve Apostles (Lk. 6:12–19)

Jesus’ Sermon on the Hillside on What Matters Most (Matt. 5:1–16)

Fulfillment of the Law (Matt. 5:17–20)

Anger (Matt. 5:21–26)

Adultery (Matt. 5:27–32)

Making Oaths (Matt. 5:33–42)

Love Your Enemies (Matt. 5:43–48)

Day 10

Giving with Pure Motives (Matt. 6:1–4)

Prayer (Matt. 6:5–15)

Fasting (Matt. 6:16–18)

Treasures in Heaven (Matt. 6:19–24)

Don’t Worry (Matt. 6:25–34)

Do Not Judge (Matt. 7:1–11)

The Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12)

The Narrow Gate (Matt. 7:13–14)

False Prophets (Matt. 7:15–20)

Jesus Warns of Pretenders (Matt. 7:21–29)

Day 11

Jesus Heals (Lk. 7:1–10)

Jesus Raises the Dead (Lk. 7:11–17)

The Prophet John’s Question (Lk. 7:18–35)

Jesus Criticizes Unrepentant Cities (Matt. 11:20–24)

Jesus Invites Everyone to Come (Matt. 11:25–30)

Extravagant Worship (Lk. 7:36–50)

Day 12

Jesus Ministers throughout the Land (Lk. 8:1–3)

Mysteries of God’s Kingdom Realm (Lk. 8:4–15)

The Revelation Light (Lk. 8:16–18)

Parable of the Growing Seed (Mk. 4:26–29)

The Parable of the Weeds (Matt. 13:24–30)

The Parable of the Tiny Mustard Seed (Matt. 13:31–32)

The Parable of the Yeast (Matt. 13:33)

Prophecy and Parables (Matt. 13:34–35)

Jesus Explains the Parables (Matt. 13:36–43)

Parables of Hidden Treasure and an Extraordinary Pearl (Matt. 13:44–46)

The Parable of the Fishing Net (Matt. 13:47–53)

Day 13

Jesus’ True Family (Lk. 8:19–20)

Peace in the Storm (Lk. 8:21–25)

A Demonized Man Set Free (Lk. 8:26–39)

More Miracles of Healing (Lk. 8:40–56)

Jesus Opens Blind Eyes (Matt. 9:27–31)

Jesus Heals the Mute (Matt. 9:32–34)

Day 14

Jesus Rejected in Nazareth (Mk. 6:1–6)

Workers for the Harvest (Matt. 9:35–38)

Jesus Sends Out His Apostles (Lk. 9:1–6)

Jesus Sends Out His Twelve Apostles (Matt. 10:5–16)

Jesus Warns His Apostles of Persecution (Matt. 10:17–42; 11:1)

Death of John the Baptizer (Mk. 6:14–29)

Day 15

Jesus Feeds Thousands (Lk. 9:10–17)

Jesus Walks on Water (Mk. 6:45–52)

Jesus the Healer (Mk. 6:53–56)

Jesus, the Living Bread (Jn. 6:22–59)

Many Disciples Became Offended (Jn. 6:60–68)

Day 16

Jesus Breaks Religious Traditions (Mk. 7:1–13)

Jesus Explains What Truly Defiles (Mk. 7:14–23)

Jesus and a Foreign Woman (Mk. 7:24–30)

Jesus Heals a Deaf Man (Mk. 7:31–37)

Jesus Multiplies Food Again (Mk. 8:1–10)

The Pharisees Demand a Sign (Mk. 8:11–13)

Jesus Warns of the Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod (Mk. 8:14–21)

Day 17

Jesus Heals Blind Eyes (Mk. 8:22–26)

Who Is Jesus? (Lk. 9:18–21)

Jesus Prophesies His Death and Resurrection (Matt. 16:21–28)

What it Means to Follow Jesus (Lk. 9:23–27)

The True Glory of Jesus (Lk. 9:28–36)

The Power of Faith (Lk. 9:37–45)

Day 18

The Miracle of a Coin in a Fish’s Mouth (Matt. 17:24–27)

Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom Realm? (Matt. 18:1–10)

A Parable of the Lost Lamb (Matt. 18:11–14)

Restoring Broken Relationships (Matt. 18:15–20)

Unlimited Forgiveness (Matt. 18:21–35)

The Name of Christ (Mk. 9:38–42)

Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles (Jn. 7:1–11)

Day 19

Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem (Mk. 9:51–56)

The Cost to Follow Jesus (Lk. 9:57–62)

Many Different Opinions about Jesus (Jn. 7:12–36)

Rivers of Living Water (Jn. 7:37–39)

Divided Opinions about Jesus (Jn. 7:40–44)

The Unbelief of Religious Leaders (Jn. 7:45–53)

An Adulteress Forgiven (Jn. 8:1–11)

Jesus, the Light of the World (Jn. 8:12–20)

Day 20

“I Am Not from This World” (Jn. 8:21–30)

The Son Gives Freedom (Jn. 8:31–59)

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind (Jn. 9:1–41)

Day 21

The Parable of the Kind Shepherd (Jn. 10:1–21)

Jesus at the Feast of Renewal (Jn. 10:22–42)

Labor Shortage (Lk. 10:1–12)

Jesus Condemns the Unrepentant Cities (Lk. 10:13–16)

The Seventy Return (Lk. 10:17–24)

Loving God, Loving Others (Lk. 10:25–37)

Day 22

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary (Lk. 10:38–42)

Jesus Teaches about Prayer (Lk. 11:1–13)

Jesus Responds to Controversy (Lk. 11:14–28)

Only Good Trees Bear Good Fruit (Matt. 12:33–37)

The Miracle Sign of Jonah the Prophet (Lk. 11:29–32)

Revelation Light (Lk. 11:33–36)

Day 23

Jesus Warns Hypocrites (Lk. 11:37–54)

Jesus Warns against Hypocrisy (Lk. 12:1–12)

Jesus Condemns Greed (Lk. 12:13–21)

Don’t Worry (Lk. 12:22–34)

Be Ready (Lk. 12:35–40)

The Faithful Servant (Lk. 12:41–48)

Day 24

Jesus Brings Fire to the Earth (Lk. 12:49–53)

Discerning the Time (Lk. 12:54–59)

The Need for True Repentance (Lk. 13:1–5)

The Parable of the Barren Tree (Lk. 13:6–9)

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day (Lk. 13:10–17)

Parables of Jesus (Lk. 13:18–21)

The Way of the Kingdom (Lk. 13:22–30)

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem (Lk. 13:31–35)

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath (Lk. 14:1–6)

Humility and Hospitality (Lk. 14:7–24)

Day 25

The Cost of Following Jesus (Lk. 14:25–34)

The Parable of the Lost Lamb (Lk. 15:1–7)

The Parable of the Lost Coin (Lk. 15:8–10)

The Loving Father (Lk. 15:11–32)

The Dishonest Manager (Lk. 16:1–18)

The Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19–31)

Day 26

Faith and Forgiveness (Lk. 17:1–10)

Lazarus Raised from the Dead (Jn. 11:1–54)

Jesus Heals Ten Lepers (Lk. 17:11–19)

God’s Kingdom Realm within You (Lk. 17:20–37)

Day 27

Jesus Gives a Parable about Prayer (Lk. 18:1–8)

Humility in Prayer (Lk. 18:9–14)

The Revolutionary Values of the Kingdom (Mk. 10:1–12)

Jesus Blesses Children (Lk. 18:15–17)

Jesus Speaks with a Young, Wealthy Official (Lk. 18:18–30)

A Parable of Workers in the Vineyard (Matt. 20:1–16)

Day 28

Jesus Again Prophesies His Death and Resurrection (Lk. 18:31–34)

Jacob (James) and John Ask a Favor of Jesus (Mk. 10:35–45)

Jesus Heals Blind Beggar Bar-Timai (Lk. 18:35–43)

Jesus and Zacchaeus (Lk. 19:1–10)

The Parable of a Prince and His Servants (Lk. 19:11–27)

Preparing for Passover (Jn. 11:55–57)

Mary Anoints Jesus (Jn. 12:1–11)

Day 29

King Jesus Comes to Jerusalem (Lk. 19:28–40)

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem (Lk. 19:41–44)

Jesus and a Fruitless Fig Tree (Mk. 11:12–14)

Jesus Drives Merchants Out of the Temple Courts (Mk. 11:15–19)

Lessons of Faith (Mk. 11:20–26)

True Seekers (Jn. 12:20–36)

The Unbelief of the Crowd (Jn. 12:37–43)

Jesus’ Last Public Teaching (Jn. 12:44–50)

Day 30

A Day of Controversy (Lk. 20:1–8)

The Parable of Two Sons (Matt. 21:28–32)

The Story of the Vine Growers (Lk. 20:9–19)

Paying Taxes (Lk. 20:20–26)

A Question about the Resurrection (Lk. 20:27–40)

The Greatest Commandment (Mk. 12:28–34)

Day 31

The Messiah, Both God and Man (Lk. 20:41–44)

Superficial Spirituality versus Genuine Humility (Matt. 23:1–12)

Jesus Pronounces Seven Woes (Matt. 23:13–36)

Jesus Prophesies Judgment Coming to Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37–39)

The Widow’s Offering (Lk. 21:1–4)

The Signs of the End of the Age (Lk. 21:5–19)

Persecution of Believers (Matt. 24:9–14)

Day 32

The Destruction of Jerusalem (Lk. 21:20–24)

The Detestable Idol That Brings Misery (Matt. 24:15–28)

The Coming of the Son of Man (Lk. 21:25–28)

The Lesson of the Fig Tree (Lk. 21:29–33)

Live Always Ready for His Appearing (Matt. 24: 36–44)

The Wise and Faithful Servant (Matt. 24:45–51)

A Parable of a Man Who Left on a Journey (Mk. 13:34–37)

Guard Your Hearts (Lk. 21:34–38)

A Parable about Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1–13)

A Parable about Financial Stewardship (Matt. 25:14–30)

Day 33

The Judgment of the Multitudes (Matt. 25:31–46)

Jesus Teaches, People Come to Listen (Lk. 21:37–38)

Jesus Prophesies His Crucifixion (Matt. 26:1–5)

Jesus Is Anointed for His Death and Burial (Mk. 14:3–9)

Satan Enters into Judas (Lk. 22:3–6)

Jesus Prophesies the Location of the Last Supper (Lk. 22:7–13)

Jesus and His Disciples Eat the Last Supper (Lk. 22:14–23)

Apostles Argue over Which of Them Will Be the Greatest (Lk. 22:24–30)

Day 34

Jesus Washes Feet (Jn. 13:1–17)

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal (Jn. 13:18–30)

Jesus Prophesies Peter’s Denial (Lk. 22:31–38)

Jesus Comforts His Disciples (Jn. 14:1–14)

Jesus Prophesies about the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:15–31)

Day 35

Jesus the Living Vine (Jn. 15:1–17)

True Disciples Can Expect Persecution (Jn. 15:18–27)

Jesus Warns His Disciples (Jn. 16:1–33)

Day 36

Jesus Finished the Father’s Work (Jn. 17:1–5)

Jesus Prays for His Disciples (Jn. 17:6–19)

Jesus Prays for You (Jn. 17:20–26)

The Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:39–46)

Judas Betrays Jesus (Lk. 22:47–53)

Jesus Is Taken before Annas and Interrogated (Jn. 18:12–14, 19–24)

Day 37

Jesus Condemned by the Religious Leaders (Mk. 14:53–65)

Peter Denies He Knew Jesus (Lk. 22:54–62)

Jesus Is Mocked and Severely Beaten (Lk. 22:63–65)

Jesus Condemned by the Jewish Council (Lk. 22:66–71)

Judas Commits Suicide (Matt. 27:3–10)

Jesus before Pilate (Lk. 23:1–5)

Jesus before Herod (Lk. 23:6–12)

Jesus Sentenced to Death (Lk. 23:13–25)

Day 38

Jesus Is Flogged and Condemned to Death (Jn. 19:1–16)

The Crucifixion of Jesus (Lk. 23:26–43)

The Death of the Savior (Lk. 23:44–49)

The Burial of Jesus (Lk. 24:50–56)

Day 39

The Resurrection of Jesus (Lk. 24:1–10)

The Guards Report What They Witnessed (Matt. 28:11–15)

The Empty Tomb (Jn. 20:1–18)

Jesus Walks to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13–35)

Day 40

Jesus Appears to the Disciples (Lk. 24:36–49)

Jesus Appears to Thomas (Jn. 20:24–31)

Jesus Appears at Lake Galilee (Jn. 21:1–14)

Jesus Restores Peter (Jn. 21:15–23)

The Great Commission (Matt. 28:16–20)

John’s Conclusion (Jn. 21:24–25)

The Ascension of Jesus (Lk. 24:50–53)

Introduction

This is a special book, for it contains the fullness of revelation insight into the complete life of Jesus—from his birth to his ministry to his ascension; it includes his miracle wonders and heaven’s-realm teachings; his suffering, justifying death and victorious, life-giving resurrection. It is a biography of Jesus of Nazareth—the Son of God, Savior of the world, Lord of hosts.

What makes this particular biography of Jesus Christ especially unique is that it doesn’t contain just one of the Gospel accounts, or even two; it is a harmony of all four Gospels. Merging the particular biographies of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, The Life of Jesus offers one seamless chronological narrative to present to you the fullness of God’s heart unveiled before humanity in the person and work of Jesus, the Messiah.

It is a Gospel harmonization, built on four separate perspectives on the life of Jesus that introduces his life and the work of his Spirit to invite seekers, encourage saints, and challenge skeptics alike.

WHAT IS A GOSPEL HARMONIZATION?

A Gospel harmony or harmonization merges together the biographical accounts of Jesus found in the four canonical Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—creating a single narrative account of his life and teachings, death and resurrection. The goal is to offer readers a single, complete biography of Jesus’ life-story, helping you intimately know who Jesus is and what he has done for you, while encountering the heart of God through him and his story.

Sometimes such harmonizations arrange the various Bible passages of Jesus’ life into parallel columns, highlighting places where the stories overlap or offer singular accounts of Jesus’ story. Others offer a single, merged narrative that blend the four stories into one story, expanding each account, and adding events unique to each Gospel account.

The unique portrait of the life of Jesus found in this book takes the second approach, bringing together the four perspectives of the Gospel writers into one seamless story, using the Gospel of Luke as a base text and the other three to expand and emphasize the details of Luke’s account. The result is readable and reliable—an exciting and engaging narrative of Jesus’ life that reads like a novel.

WHY HARMONIZE THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS?

There is a rich history of merging the four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life into one single account. The most prominent early harmony was from Tatian, the second-century Christian apologist. His Diatessaron offered an authentic account of the life of Jesus through the prism of all four Gospel accounts together—dia tessaron meaning “through [the] four” in Greek—and had lasting influence into the Middle Ages.

Augustine wrote extensively on the subject in Harmony of the Gospels, highlighting the variations of the Gospel narratives and revealing their different focuses: Matthew focused on Jesus’ royalty as king; Mark on Jesus’ humanity; Luke presented Jesus the priest; and John offered a portrait of Jesus’ divinity. The great Reformer John Calvin followed this same tradition by harmonizing what are called the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—in his commentary, perhaps illustrating why such harmonizations are necessary.

Many have tried to discredit the accounts of Jesus’ life presented in the Bible by pointing to the seemingly diverse and divergent ways the writers tell his story, particularly in the Synoptic Gospels. Yet this so-called “synoptic problem” isn’t really a problem, for just as four people who witness an event would tell the same story in different ways, resulting in four truthful retellings of the one story, the Gospel writers also retold the life of Jesus in different ways.

The differences among the Gospel narratives reflect the differences in theological emphasis for the Gospel writers. A Gospel

harmonization both highlights these differences and shows how the different points of view fit together like a puzzle to showcase the one narrative portrait of Jesus’ life, centered around the same message of God’s love. You will find this Gospel harmony to offer a refreshing perspective on the single story of Jesus and his love.

HOW DOESTHE LIFE OF JESUS HARMONIZE THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS?

Following in the tradition of Tatian, Augustine, and John Calvin, we have merged the four canonical Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life into a single, seamless narrative, offering readers a richly majestic, moving portrait of the Son of God. In order to tell this complete story well, we have chosen a single Gospel narrative to serve as the foundational account of Jesus’ life in The Life of Jesus: the Gospel of Luke. We have used Luke’s biography for a few reasons.

First, at the start of his narrative of Jesus’ life, Luke confesses to having set out to write “an orderly account of what Jesus, the Anointed One, accomplished and fulfilled,” compiling his “meticulous investigation” and “thorough research of the story of his life.” Luke’s style, then, is close to a true historical biography. On one hand, he includes stories of Jesus not shared in Matthew, Mark, and John. On the other hand, he shares much material across the Synoptic Gospels, so that adding the Matthew and Mark material expands what Luke wrote. Finally, Luke’s chronological retelling of Jesus’ story from before his birth with the announcement of his forerunner, John the Baptizer, to his ascension into the heavens to the right hand of God, offers a truly biographical narrative of Jesus’ life in a way the other Gospels do not.

Using Luke’s Gospel as a base text, we have expanded and amplified his telling of Jesus’ story using Matthew, Mark, and John. At times, we have inserted whole portions of these others with headers indicating their reference. These passage insertions are in keeping with the chronological retelling of the life of Jesus. Elsewhere, you will notice bracketed [ ] sentences or an entire paragraph or passage inserted into the Luke material. These portions indicate an expansion from Matthew, Mark, or John to Luke’s original account of Jesus’ life. Then, we often amplify this foundation or these expansions using brace { } indicators, which include one or a few words of descriptive content to enhance one’s understanding of the story.

These expansions and amplifications have not altered the original meaning or message of God’s Word in any way. The same trustworthy Passion Translation still sits at the heart of this Gospel harmony. Where we have changed or added a word from The Passion Translation original, it was to indicate the antecedent of a pronoun or add conjunctions for narrative flow.

FORTY DAYS IN THE GOSPELS

We have divided this harmonization of the Gospels into forty readings. Read at your own pace, or set aside just ten minutes each day for the next forty days to discover anew the life of Jesus. It—or rather he—will change your life, whether this is your first or fiftieth time you’ve read the Gospels.

We trust this unique portrait Jesus’ life from The Passion Translation—complete with the four unique perspectives of four eyewitnesses to that life—will give you greater revelation insight into not merely who the person of Jesus is, but who he is for you. He is the heart of God standing at the door of your heart, knocking and waiting for the invitation to enter. As Jesus himself said through John the Seer’s unveiling in his prophetic letter: “If your heart is open to hear my voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with me” (Revelation 3:20).

May this harmonized biography lead you to open your heart up in new ways to the One who sits at the center of its story. May this exciting, engaging novel-like experience help you intimately know the One who lived and bled for you. And may his life story become and transform your life story.

Day 1

TO THE LOVERS OF GOD (LK. 1:1–4)

Dear friend,

I am writing for you, mighty lover of God, an orderly account of what Jesus, the Anointed One, accomplished and fulfilled among us. Several eyewitness biographies have already been written, using as their source material the good news preached among us by his early disciples, who became loving servants of the Living Expression. But now I am passing on to you this accurate compilation of my own meticulous investigation based on numerous eyewitness interviews and thorough research of the story of his life. It is appropriate for me to write this, for he also appeared to me so that I would reassure you beyond any shadow of a doubt the reliability of all you have been taught of him.

THE LIVING EXPRESSION (JN. 1:1–14)

In the very beginning the Living Expression was already there.

And the Living Expression was with God, yet fully God.

They were together—face-to-face, in the very beginning.

And through his creative inspiration

this Living Expression made all things,

for nothing has existence apart from him!

Life came into being because of him,

for his life is light for all humanity.

And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom—

the Light that darkness could not diminish!

Then suddenly a man appeared who was sent from God,

a messenger named John.

For he came to be a witness, to point the way to the Light of Life,

and to help everyone believe.

John was not that Light but he came to show who is.

For he was merely a messenger to speak the truth about the Light.

For the Light of Truth was about to come into the world

and shine upon everyone.

He entered into the very world he created,

yet the world was unaware.

He came to the very people he created—

to those who should have recognized him,

but they did not receive him.

But those who embraced him and took hold of his name

were given authority to become

the children of God!

He was not born by the joining of human parents

or from natural means, or by a man’s desire,

but he was born of God.

And so the Living Expression

became a man and lived among us!

And we gazed upon the splendor of his glory,

the glory of the One and Only

who came from the Father overflowing

with tender mercy and truth!

ANGELIC PROPHECY OF THE PROPHET JOHN’S BIRTH (LK. 1:5–25)

During the reign of King Herod the Great over Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah who served in the temple as part of the priestly order of Abijah. His wife, Elizabeth, was also from a family of priests, being a direct descendant of Aaron. They were both lovers of God, living virtuously and following the commandments of the Lord fully. But they were childless since Elizabeth was barren, and now they both were quite old.

One day, while Zechariah’s priestly order was on duty and he was serving as priest, it happened by the casting of lots (according to the custom of the priesthood) that the honor fell upon Zechariah to enter into the Holy Place and burn incense before the Lord. A large crowd of worshipers had gathered to pray outside the temple at the hour when incense was being offered. All at once an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing just to the right of the altar of incense.

Zechariah was startled and overwhelmed with fear. But the angel reassured him, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God is showing grace to you. For I have come to tell you that your prayer for a child has been answered. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son and you are to name him John. His birth will bring you much joy and gladness. Many will rejoice because of him. He will be one of the great ones in the sight of God. He will drink no wine or strong drink, but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even while still in his mother’s womb. And he will persuade many in Israel to convert and turn back to the Lord their God. He will go before the Lord as a forerunner, with the same power and anointing as Elijah the prophet. He will be instrumental in turning the hearts of the fathers in tenderness back to their children and the hearts of the disobedient back to the wisdom of their righteous fathers. And he will prepare a united people who are ready for the Lord’s appearing.”

Zechariah asked the angel, “How do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is too old to give me a child. What sign can you give me to prove this will happen?”

Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel. I stand beside God himself. He has sent me to announce to you this good news. But now, since you did not believe my words, you will be stricken silent and unable to speak until the day my words have been fulfilled at their appointed time and a child is born to you. That will be your sign!”

Meanwhile, the crowds outside kept expecting him to come out. They were amazed over Zechariah’s delay, wondering what could have happened inside the sanctuary. When he finally did come out, he tried to talk, but he couldn’t speak a word, and they realized from his gestures that he had seen a vision while in the Holy Place. He remained mute as he finished his days of priestly ministry in the temple and then went back to his own home. Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for the next five months. She said with joy, “See how kind it is of God to gaze upon me and take away the disgrace of my barrenness!”

ANGELIC PROPHECY OF JESUS’ BIRTH (LK. 1:26–38)

During the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent from God’s presence to an unmarried girl named Mary, living in Nazareth, a village in Galilee. She was engaged to a man named Joseph, a true descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Grace to you, young woman, for the Lord is with you and so you are anointed with great favor.”

Mary was deeply troubled over the words of the angel and bewildered over what this may mean for her. But the angel reassured her, saying, “Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be supreme and will be known as the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will enthrone him as King on his ancestor David’s throne. He will reign as King of Israel forever, and his reign will have no limit.”

Mary said, “But how could this happen? I am still a virgin!” Gabriel answered, “The Spirit of Holiness will fall upon you and almighty God will spread his shadow of power over you in a cloud of glory! This is why the child born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your aged aunt, Elizabeth, has also become pregnant with a son. The ‘barren one’ is now in her sixth month. Not one promise from God is empty of power, for nothing is impossible with God!”

Then Mary responded, saying, “This is amazing! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.” And the angel left her.

ELIZABETH’S PROPHECY TO MARY (LK. 1:39–45)

Afterward, Mary arose and hurried off to the hill country of Judea, to the village where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived. Arriving at their home, Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the moment she heard Mary’s voice, the baby within Elizabeth’s womb jumped and kicked. And suddenly, Elizabeth was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit! With a loud voice she prophesied with power:

“Mary! You are a woman given the highest favor

and privilege above all others.

For your child is destined to bring God great delight.

How did I deserve such a remarkable honor

to have the mother of my Lord come and visit me?

The moment you came in the door and greeted me,

my baby danced inside me with ecstatic joy!

Great favor is upon you, for you have believed

every word spoken to you from the Lord.”

MARY’S PROPHETIC SONG (LK. 1:46–56)

And Mary sang this song:

“My soul is ecstatic, overflowing with praises to God!

My spirit bursts with joy over my life-giving God!

For he set his tender gaze upon me, his lowly servant girl.

And from here on, everyone will know

that I have been favored and blessed.

The Mighty One has worked a mighty miracle for me;

holy is his name!

Mercy kisses all his godly lovers,

from one generation to the next.

Mighty power flows from him

to scatter all those who walk in pride.

Powerful princes he tears from their thrones

and he lifts up the lowly to take their place.

Those who hunger for him will always be filled,

but the smug and self-satisfied he will send away empty.

Because he can never forget to show mercy,

he has helped his chosen servant, Israel,

Keeping his promises to Abraham

and to his descendants forever.”

Before going home, Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months.

AN ANGEL COMES TO JOSEPH (MATT. 1:18–25)

This was how Jesus, God’s Anointed One, was born.

His mother, Mary, had promised Joseph to be his wife, but while she was still a virgin she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Her fiancé, Joseph, was a righteous man full of integrity and he didn’t want to disgrace her, but when he learned of her pregnancy he secretly planned to break the engagement. While he was still debating with himself about what to do, he fell asleep and had a supernatural dream. An angel from the Lord appeared to him in clear light and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t hesitate to take Mary into your home as your wife, because the power of the Holy Spirit has conceived a child in her womb. She will give birth to a son and you are to name him ‘Savior,’ for he is destined to give his life to save his people from their sins.”

This happened so that what the Lord spoke through his prophet would come true:

Listen! A virgin will be pregnant,

she will give birth to a Son,

and he will be known as “Emmanuel,”

which means in Hebrew,

“God became one of us.”

When Joseph awoke from his dream, he did all that the angel of the Lord instructed him to do. He took Mary to be his wife, but they refrained from having sex until she gave birth to her son, whom they named “Jesus.”

Day 2

THE BIRTH OF THE PROPHET JOHN (LK.1:57–66)

When Elizabeth’s pregnancy was full term, she gave birth to a son. All her family, friends, and neighbors heard about it, and they too were overjoyed, for they realized that the Lord had showered such wonderful mercy upon her.

When the baby was eight days old, according to their custom, all the family and friends came together for the circumcision ceremony. Everyone was convinced that the parents would name the baby Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth spoke up and said, “No, he has to be named John!”

“What?” they exclaimed. “No one in your family line has that name!”

So they gestured to the baby’s father to ask what to name the child. After motioning for a writing tablet, in amazement of all, he wrote, “His name is John.”

Instantly Zechariah could speak again. And his first words were praises to the Lord.

The fear of God then fell on the people of their village, and the news of this astounding event traveled throughout the hill country of Judea. Everyone was in awe over it! All who heard this news were astonished and wondered, “If a miracle brought his birth, what on earth will this child become? Clearly, God’s presence is upon this child in a powerful way!”

ZECHARIAH’S PROPHECY (LK. 1:67–80)

Then Zechariah was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied, saying:

“Praise be to the exalted Lord God of Israel,

for he has seen us through eyes of grace,

and he comes as our Hero-God to set us free!

He appears to us as a mighty Savior,

a trumpet of redemption from the house of David, his servant,

Just as he promised long ago

by the words of his holy prophets.

They prophesied he would come one day and save us

from every one of our enemies

and from the power of those who hate us.

Now he has shown us the mercy promised to our ancestors,

for he has remembered his holy covenant.

He has rescued us from the power of our enemies!

This fulfills the sacred oath he made with our father Abraham.

Now we can boldly worship God with holy lives,

living in purity as priests in his presence every day!

And to you I prophesy, my little son,

you will be known as the prophet of the glorious God.

For you will be a forerunner,

going before the face of the Master, Yahweh,

to prepare hearts to embrace his ways.

You will preach to his people the revelation of salvation life,

the cancellation of all our sins, to bring us back to God.

The splendor light of heaven’s glorious sunrise

is about to break upon us in holy visitation,

all because the merciful heart of our God is so very tender.

The word from heaven will come to us

with dazzling light to shine upon those

who live in darkness, near death’s dark shadow.

And he will illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace.”

Afterward, their son grew up and was strengthened by the Holy Spirit and he grew in his love for God. John chose to live in the lonely wilderness until the day came when he was to be displayed publicly to Israel.

FROM ABRAHAM TO CHRIST (MATT. 1:1–17)

This is the scroll of the lineage and birth of Jesus, the Anointed One, the son of David and descendant of Abraham.

Abraham had a son named Isaac, who had a son named Jacob, who had a son named Judah (he and his brothers became the tribes of Israel).

Judah and Tamar had twin sons, Perez and Zerah. Perez had a son named Hezron, who had a son named Ram, who had a son named Amminadab, who had a son named Nashon, who had a son named Salmon, who, along with Rahab, had a son named Boaz. Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed, who was the father of Jesse, and Jesse had a son named David, who became the king.

Then David and Bathsheba had a son named Solomon, who had a son named Rehoboam, who had a son named Abijah, who had a son named Asa, who had a son named Jehoshaphat, who had a son named Joram, who had a son named Uzziah, who had a son named Jotham, who had a son named Ahaz, who had a son named Hezekiah, who had a son named Manasseh, who had a son named Amos, who had a son named Josiah, who was the father of Jeconiah.

It was during the days of Jeconiah and his brothers that Israel was taken captive and deported to Babylon. About the time of their captivity in Babylon, Jeconiah had a son named Shealtiel, who had a son named Zerubbabel, who had a son named Abiud, who had a son named Eliakim, who had a son named Azor, who had a son named Zadok, who had a son named Achim, who had a son named Eliud, who had a son named Eleazar, who had a son named Matthan, who had a son named Jacob, who was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus, who is called “the Anointed One.”

So from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the Babylonian captivity, fourteen generations, and from the Babylonian captivity to Christ, fourteen generations.

THE ANCESTRY OF JESUS CHRIST (LK. 3:23–38)

Jesus, assumed to be Joseph’s son, was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. Here are the names of Mary’s ancestors, from her father traced all the way back to Adam:

Eli, Matthat, Levi, Melki, Jannai, Joseph, Mattathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai, Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda, Joanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri, Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er, Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi, Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim, Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David, Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon, Amminadab, Admin, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah, Kenan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Cainan, Enos, Seth, and Adam, who was created by God.

THE BIRTH OF JESUS (LK. 2:1–7)

During those days, the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, ordered that the first census be taken throughout his empire. (Quirinius was the governor of Syria at that time.) Everyone had to travel to his or her hometown to complete the mandatory census. So Joseph and his fiancé, Mary, left Nazareth, a village in Galilee, and journeyed to their hometown in Judea, to the village of Bethlehem, King David’s ancient home. They were required to register there, since they were both direct descendants of David. Mary was pregnant and nearly ready to give birth.

When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary went into labor, and there she gave birth to her firstborn son. After wrapping the newborn baby in strips of cloth, they laid him in a feeding trough since there was no available space in any upper room in the village.

AN ANGELIC ENCOUNTER (LK. 2:8–20)

That night, in a field near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!”

Then all at once, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing:

“Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven!

For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.”

When the choir of angels disappeared back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word that is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.” So they ran into the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a feeding trough.

Upon seeing this miraculous sign, the shepherds recounted what had just happened. Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was astonished by what they were told.

But Mary treasured all these things in her heart and often pondered what they meant.

The shepherds returned to their flock, ecstatic over what had happened. They praised God and glorified him for all they had heard and seen for themselves, just like the angel had said.

BABY JESUS DEDICATED IN THE TEMPLE (LK. 2:21–38)

On the day of the baby’s circumcision ceremony, eight days after his birth, his parents gave him the name Jesus, the name prophesied by the angel before he was born. After Mary’s days of purification had ended, it was time for her to come to the temple with a sacrifice, according to the law of Moses after the birth of a son. So Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to Jerusalem to be dedicated before the Lord. For it is required in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be a set-apart one for God.” And, to offer a prescribed sacrifice, “either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

As they came to the temple to fulfill this requirement, an elderly man was there waiting—a resident of Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. He was a very good man, a lover of God who kept himself pure, and the Spirit of holiness rested upon him. Simeon believed in the imminent appearing of the one called “The Refreshing of Israel.” For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he saw the Messiah, the Anointed One of God. For this reason the Holy Spirit had moved him to be in the temple court at the very moment Jesus’ parents entered to fulfill the requirement of the sacrifice.

Simeon cradled the baby in his arms and praised God and prophesied, saying:

“Lord and Master, I am your loving servant,

and now I can die content,

for your promise to me has been fulfilled.

With my own eyes I have seen your Word,

the Savior you sent into the world.

He will be glory for your people Israel,

and the Revelation Light for all people everywhere!”

Mary and Joseph stood there, awestruck over what was being said about their baby.

Simeon then blessed them and prophesied over Mary, saying:

“A painful sword will one day pierce your inner being,

for your child will be rejected by many in Israel.

And the destiny of your child is this:

he will be laid down as a miracle sign

for the downfall and resurrection of many in Israel.

Many will oppose this sign, but it will expose to all

the innermost thoughts of their hearts before God.”

A prophetess named Anna was also in the temple court that day. She was from the Jewish tribe of Asher and the daughter of Phanuel. Anna was an aged widow who had been married only seven years before her husband passed away. After he died she chose to worship God in the temple continually. For the past eighty-four years she had been serving God with night- and- day prayer and fasting.

While Simeon was prophesying over Mary and Joseph and the baby, Anna walked up to them and burst forth with a great chorus of praise to God for the child. And from that day forward she told everyone in Jerusalem who was waiting for their redemption that the anticipated Messiah had come!

Day 3

THE WISE MEN VISIT (MATT. 2:1–12)

Jesus was born in Bethlehem near Jerusalem during the reign of King Herod. After Jesus’ birth a group of spiritual priests from the East came to Jerusalem and inquired of the people, “Where is the child who is born king of the Jewish people? We observed his star rising in the sky and we’ve come to bow before him in worship.”

King Herod was shaken to the core when he heard this, and not only him, but all of Jerusalem was disturbed when they heard this news. So he called a meeting of the Jewish ruling priests and religious scholars, demanding that they tell him where the promised Messiah was prophesied to be born.

“He will be born in Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,” they told him. “Because the prophecy states:

And you, little Bethlehem,

are not insignificant among the clans of Judah,

for out of you will emerge

the Shepherd-King of my people Israel!”

Then Herod secretly summoned the spiritual priests from the East to ascertain the exact time the star first appeared. And he told them, “Now go to Bethlehem and carefully look there for the child, and when you’ve found him, report to me so that I can go and bow down and worship him too.”

And so they left, and on their way to Bethlehem, suddenly the same star they had seen in the East reappeared! Amazed, they watched as it went ahead of them and stopped directly over the place where the child was. And when they saw the star, they were so ecstatic that they shouted and celebrated with unrestrained joy. When they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, they were overcome. Falling to the ground at his feet they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure boxes full of gifts and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Afterward they returned to their own country by another route because God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.

THEY ESCAPE TO EGYPT (MATT. 2:13–18)

After they had gone, Joseph had another dream. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Get up now and flee to Egypt. Take Mary and the little child and stay there until I tell you to leave, for Herod intends to search for the child to kill him.”

So that very night he got up and took Jesus and his mother and made their escape to Egypt and remained there until Herod died. All of this fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through his prophet:

I summon my Son out of Egypt.

When Herod realized that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated. So he sent soldiers with orders to slaughter every baby boy two years old and younger in Bethlehem and throughout the surrounding countryside, based on the time frame he was given from interrogating the wise men. This fulfilled the words of the prophet Jeremiah:

I hear the screams of anguish,

weeping, and wailing in Ramah.

Rachel is weeping uncontrollably for her children.

And she refuses to be comforted,

because they are dead and gone.

THEY RETURN TO NAZARETH (MATT. 2:19–23)

After Herod died, the angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph in a dream while he was still in Egypt, saying, “Go back to the land of Israel and take the child and his mother with you, for those who sought to kill the child are dead.”

So he awoke and took Jesus and Mary and returned to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus, Herod’s son, had succeeded him as ruler over all of the territory of Judah, he was afraid to go back. Then he had another dream from God, warning him to avoid that region and instructing him instead to go to the province of Galilee. So he settled his family in the village of Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy that he would be known as the “Branch.”

JESUS GROWS IN GRACE, WISDOM, AND FAVOR (LK. 2:39–40)

When Mary and Joseph had completed everything required of them by the law of Moses, they took Jesus and returned to their home in Nazareth in Galilee. The child grew more powerful in grace, for he was being filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

AT AGE TWELVE JESUS VISITS THE TEMPLE (LK. 2:41–52)

Every year Jesus’ parents went to worship at Jerusalem during the Passover festival. When Jesus turned twelve, his parents took him to Jerusalem to observe the Passover, as was their custom. A full day after they began their journey home, Joseph and Mary realized that Jesus was missing. They had assumed he was somewhere in their entourage, but he was nowhere to be found. After a frantic search among relatives and friends, Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

After being separated from him for three days, they finally found him in the temple, sitting among the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard Jesus speak were astounded at his intelligent understanding of all that was being discussed and at his wise answers to their questions.

His parents were shocked to find him there, and Mary scolded him, saying, “Son, your father and I have searched for you everywhere! We have been worried sick over not finding you. Why would you do this to us?”

Jesus said to them, “Why would you need to search for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be here in my Father’s house, consumed with him?”

Mary and Joseph didn’t fully understand what Jesus meant.

Jesus went with them back home to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured Jesus’ words deeply in her heart. As Jesus grew, so did his wisdom and maturity. The favor of men increased upon his life, for he was loved greatly by God.

THE WONDERFUL NEWS (MK. 1:1–5)

This is the beginning of the wonderful news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

It starts with Isaiah the prophet, who wrote:

Listen! I am sending my messenger ahead of you

and he will prepare your way!

He is a thunderous voice of one

who shouts in the wilderness:

“Prepare your hearts

for the coming of the Lord Yahweh,

and clear a straight path

inside your hearts for him!”

John the Baptizer was the messenger who appeared in an uninhabited region, preaching a baptism of repentance for the complete cancellation of sins. A steady stream of people came to be dipped in the Jordan River as they publicly confessed their sins. They came from all over southern Israel, including nearly all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

JOHN THE BAPTIZER (LK. 3:1–20)

A powerful message from God came to John, Zechariah’s son, when he was living out in the lonely wilderness. This prophetic commission came to John during the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, son of Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea at that time. Antipas, son of Herod, was governor over Galilee, Herod’s brother Philip was over the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was over Abilene. This happened during the days of two high priests, Annas and Caiaphas.

[John taught the truth about the Living Expression

when he announced to the people,

“He’s the One! Set your hearts on him!

I told you he would come after me,

even though he ranks far above me,

for he existed before I was even born.”

And now out of his fullness we are fulfilled!

And from him we receive grace heaped upon more grace!

Moses gave us the Law, but Jesus, the Anointed One,

unveils truth wrapped in tender mercy.

No one has ever gazed upon the fullness of God’s splendor

except the uniquely beloved Son,

who is cherished by the Father

and held close to his heart.

Now he has unfolded to us

the full explanation of who God truly is!]1

John went preaching and baptizing throughout the Jordan Valley. He persuaded people to turn away from their sins and turn to God for the freedom of forgiveness.

This was to fulfill what was written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:

“Listen! You will hear a thunderous voice in the lonely wilderness telling you to wake up and get your heart ready for the coming of the Lord Jehovah. Every twisted thing in your lives must be made straight. Every dark way must be brought to the light. Wrongs righted. Injustices removed. Every heart of pride will be humbled low before him. Every deception will be exposed and replaced by the truth so that everyone everywhere will be ready to see the Life of God!”

[Now, John wore {a rough garment}2 made from camel’s hair, tied at his waist with a leather strap, and his food consisted of dried locusts and wild honey. A steady stream of people from Jerusalem, all the surrounding countryside, and the region near the Jordan came out to the wilderness to be baptized by him. And while they were publicly confessing their sins, he would immerse them in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many coming from among the wealthy elite of Jewish society and many of the religious leaders known as Pharisees coming to witness the baptism, he began to denounce them.]3 John kept preaching to the many crowds who came out to be baptized, “You are nothing but the offspring of poisonous snakes, full of deception! Have you been warned to repent before the coming wrath of God? [Who warned you to slither away like snakes from the fire of God’s judgment?]4 Then turn away from your sins, turn to God, and prove it by a changed life. Don’t think for a moment that it’s enough to simply be the favored descendants of Abraham. That’s not enough to save you. I’m telling you, God could make more sons of Abraham out of stones if he chose to!

“Even now God’s axe of judgment is poised to chop down your barren tree right down to its roots! And every [rotten]5 tree that does not produce good fruit will be leveled and thrown into the fire.

[“Those who repent I baptize with water, but there is coming a Man after me who is {greater and a lot}6