THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. The whole history of Jesus is a disclosure of God's Good News for the human family! JESUS is his personal name (given by the angel, Matthew 1:21). CHRIST [Messiah] is his title. It means: "the Lord's Anointed One." The kings and priests of Israel were anoint... [ Continue Reading ]
IT BEGAN AS THE PROPHET ISAIAH HAD WRITTEN. Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1. See notes on Matthew 3:3; Matthew 11:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JOHN APPEARED IN THE DESERT. Of Judea. See note on Matthew 3:1. TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINS AND BE BAPTIZED. He both preached and baptized. Note that his baptism was water only, for those who were _already_ God's people (_see notes on_ Acts 19:1-7). AND GOD WILL FORGIVE YOUR SINS. This is similar, b... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERYBODY... WENT OUT TO HEAR JOHN. See notes on Matthew 3:5-6.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN WORE CLOTHES MADE OF CAMEL'S HAIR. See note on Matthew 3:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAN WHO WILL COME AFTER ME. See note on Matthew 3:11. BUT HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. See note on Matthew 3:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT LONG AFTERWARD. John had been preaching and baptizing about six months. See Matthew 3:13-17 (and notes there) on the baptism of Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SOON AS JESUS CAME UP OUT OF THE WATER. "Out of' means "out from inside." Scholars agree that Jesus himself was immersed.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING TEMPTED BY SATAN. See Matthew 4:1-11 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER JOHN HAD BEEN PUT IN PRISON. Mark goes directly to Jesus' work in Galilee. [John records the events between Jesus' baptism and the ministry in Galilee (_John Chapter s_ 2-4).] See Matthew 4:12-25 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAW TWO FISHERMAN. See Matthew 4:18-22 for the call of the four apostles.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CAME TO THE TOWN OF CAPERNAUM. Capernaum: see Matthew 4:13. WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE. Synagogue: see note on Matthew 4:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE AMAZED AT THE WAY HE TAUGHT. See note on Matthew 7:28. TEACHERS OF THE LAW. See note on Matthew 3:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN WITH AN EVIL SPIRIT. See note on Matthew 4:24. Demon possession is clearly taught in the Scriptures [However, some think this ended at the time Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A. D.]... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH US? They knew Jesus had come to destroy the Devil's works (1 John 3:8). YOU ARE GOD'S HOLY MESSENGER! The demon made a better statement of belief than the Jewish leaders.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND came OUT of HIM. At Christ's command. This was not "make believe," but showed Jesus' authority.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE WERE ALL SO AMAZED. This happened in the synagogue.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO THE NEWS ABOUT JESUS SPREAD QUICKLY. For the fame of Jesus, see note on Matthew 4:25. For the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, see note on Matthew 8:14-15. Mark 1:34. See note on Matthew 8:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERY EARLY THE NEXT MORNING. Jesus made it a habit to take time from his busy schedule to pray.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SIMON. Simon Peter, also called Cephas.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE MUST GO ON. Jesus was making a tour, and could not stay too long in any one place.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HE TRAVELED ALL OVER GALILEE. Josephus, the Jewish Historian, says that at that time Galilee had 240 towns and villages, and was densely populated.... [ Continue Reading ]
A LEPER CAME TO JESUS. See notes on Matthew 8:2-4. This miracle took place after the Sermon on the Mount. Leprosy still exists in our own United States.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GO STRAIGHT TO THE PRIEST. At Jerusalem, the religious center. THEN OFFER THE SACRIFICE THAT MOSES ORDERED. See note on Matthew 8:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PEOPLE CAME TO HIM FROM EVERYWHERE. Both to hear his teaching, and to be healed.... [ Continue Reading ]