The Story of Jesus

Gain a better understanding of the life of Jesus through the 8-lesson series conducted by evangelist Matt Trent on The Story of Jesus.

Lesson 1: The Beginning

Learn about the beginning of Jesus' life from when he was born. Listen to the audio lesson below or read the lesson transcript of Evangelist Matt Trent's study on the start of Jesus' life.

Lesson 1: The Beginning - Read The Transcript

Good morning. I'd like to welcome you each and everyone to our assembly this morning. We're happy to be here and happy to have this time of worship together and thankful to have each and every one of you present here with us this morning as has been announced this morning, we're going to begin a series of studies this morning about the story of Jesus and just to provide a little bit of context for this and everything normally, there goes.

Normally. In the fall of every year, I like to try to pick out a series and kind of Go through, and In a more in-depth way, maybe try to survey some particular subject. And so over the years, we've done a lot of there's several different things as we've kind of done that in the fall, or I've done that in the fall.

And so last year, did a series on an overview of the Bible, kind of providing a general view of the story of the Bible. And as part of that series, I ended up giving the longest sermon I've ever given. In Norman, when I tried to talk about the life of Jesus in one sermon and so that was a long sermon but it was also my favorite sermon of that whole series.

And so as I was doing that and working on that, it kind of gave me an appetite to maybe try to work on this a little bit more. And so there's our idea for this fall is to try to work through and talk about the story of Jesus. I want to begin this morning by reading with you a passage of scripture that's written after Jesus is already returned to heaven.

And so this is John's view of things as they have concluded. As Jesus is raining in heaven, and as John kind of reflects back upon what happened in the benefits that came from it. Here's what he says that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon in our hands of handled concerning the word of life.

The life was manifested and we have seen and bear witness and declared to you that eternal life, which was with the father and was manifest to us that which we have seen and heard we be clear to you. The you also may have fellowship with us and truly. Our fellowship is with the father and with his son, Jesus Christ.

And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full. That, which was seen and heard by these witnesses, certainly is that, which provides the fullness of joy for us in our relationship with God? And it's all possible because of Jesus life. And so we want to just come to try to understand throughout the course of this series, the story of Jesus Another words.

What happened when When he preached this sermon on the mouth. Why did he do that at that time? And then he made this change in his ministry instead of teaching like he did in the ceremony started teaching. Terrible is why that happened. And who were the opponents of Jesus and why did they oppose him?

And how did that develop? And where did he go? Where was Jesus? Over the course of his ministry. So these are the sorts of things we want to try to get a bit of a handle on us. We go over the course of our study. We're going to do it at eight parts, just like we did last year.

Here's the Schedule. We always, of course, work these things out and pencil so to speak because sometimes we have to edit a little bit. But we're going to talk this morning about the beginning about how everything sort of started. And then we'll work on the ministry of Jesus. Jesus ministry takes place across a little more than three here.

The first year is often referred to as a year of the These years. By the way, you can find different titles in different authors, but this is the ones that we're going to kind of go with. A second year is the year of popularity which includes a lot of information about his ministry and Galilee.

And then, the third year is the year of opposition. And then we'll focus on the final week. And then, of course, the resurrection and the appearance is in all of that. I'll talk a little bit more next time about the way. We're going to kind of track these years in the part that the Passover will play in all of this, our focus this morning though is to talk about the beginning.

About the beginning of the story of Jesus Christ. And so as we do that, we're going to kind of focus on four different periods. So to speak and the beginning of the story of Jesus, the first that we want to talk about is a period of preparation, and we'll talk about this time of peer review.

All of the different people around Jesus, in the beginning. And then his development and his ultimate maturation in other words, as he steps toward being ready to begin his ministry at the age of 30. And so the morning I want to focus first of all on this period of preparation.

As we begin, looking at this particular subject, it's important to remember that they the perspective we have of Jesus. As we begin, looking at him and About how this all came about and how this all developed the story of Jesus itself is told By eye witnesses. Or told by those who were in contact with eyewitnesses.

Here's the way Luke writes about it. And so, this is kind of how we're going to be able to see the ministry of Jesus. Luke says, in as much as many have taken in hand to set an order in narrative of those things, which have been the field among us, just as those who were from the beginning where I witnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us.

And see good to me. Also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write to you and orderly account. Most excellent theophilus. You may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. And so Luke himself is not necessarily an eyewitness, but he is going to have a perspective and talking with those who are eyewitnesses.

Of course, the gospels are written by those who are inspired by the Holy Spirit, that's true. But they're speaking with witnesses, they're speaking, when people who were there is or sometimes they themselves were they So John says in John 20 verses 30 and 31, truly Jesus. Did many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book.

But these are written that, you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing him may have life. In his name, the very end of John, John 21, verse 24 says, this is the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true.

That's a disciple that was right there. That's John himself, having a conversation with Jesus and Peter. So these I witnesses that write about the ministry of Jesus Christ. How do they see the beginning of the ministry of Jesus? The ministry of Jesus and the work of Jesus, the life of Jesus is not just an isolated event.

In fact, the way that the story is presented is it is the central event of God's plan. When Jesus doesn't come along in it randomly or some isolated event. Rather Jesus comes and fulfillment of a plan that God has made So, that period of preparation begins a long time before Luke, and Mark, and Matthew and John sit down to write a story of Jesus.

The period of preparation begins way way before that. We studied last time in our story of the Bible about the fact that the book of Genesis begins with humanity rebelling against God. And so, Adam and Eve were bail against God. And the days of Noah, they rebell against God and in the Tower of Babel, they rebell against God, and it becomes clear.

At that time that God has to intervene. And so here's what God does interview, he calls to Abraham and he says in Genesis 12 to the Abram, get out of your country from your family, from your father's house to a land, I will show you I will make you a great nation.

I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you. I will curse him who curses you and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. So it's a Abram God says humanity's got a problem and it's sinned.

And I want to fix that problem through your family. And he makes him a promise to do three things. These three things include the promises that are going to be fulfilled through Avery. I'm going to give you a family. I'm going to give that family land. And then through this family, I'm going to give them the world that will be a blessing to ever.

Three promises to Abraham. The Old Testament is really about how God keeps these promise. The family in the land, all of that put together. They're going to produce this descendant of Abraham. We learn a lot more about this decision, who's known as the Messiah. This descendant is ultimately going to be a descendant of King David, as well.

And second Samuel 7 which takes place around 1200 years after Abraham's time. God tells David that you're going to have a son right on the throne forever. So God builds this nation, this family, internation of Israel, He gives them the promised land. And now there's the Old Testament in.

You have the promise of this descendant, who's going to rain over the world and save the world and all of that. And how is that going to work? Well, here's how John explains it to John, chapter 1. He says in the beginning was the word. That means any beginning, this plan already existed, by the way, In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God.

Up, skip to verse 14. Yes. And dwelt among us. And we beheld, his glory, the glory, as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth, God's plan is to give the world a savior. And he works on that plan for thousands of years through his people.

And how is he going to give the world a savior? How will he do that? The word because flesh, that's how he does that. As we begin to think about this period of preparation, it's vital to understand that the Old Testament, all of your testament. Is preparing for the arrival of the Messiah.

It all leads up to that. And the life of Jesus is the centerpiece of the Bible. It is what the Bible is all about. So, the period of preparation is pointing us for thousands of years towards God's plan, to give us on the side. So, the period of preparation, all the sudden, It comes to an abroad.

Is now begins time to start rolling out God's plan. And God's plan includes a whole bunch of people. It wasn't just Jesus himself. There's a whole cast of characters involved. This cast of characters begins in the spirit of preparation, of course, with the genealogy, The genealogy leads up, of course, to the time of Jesus' birth, this phase physical family that Jesus would descend from.

And it's a genealogy to Jesus can trace all the way back, of course to Adam. But now comes time for the birth of Jesus, the story of Jesus birth is actually told in both Matthew and Luke. And in Luke, it's kind of interesting the way it's told, it's paired with the story of another bird.

The birth of the four renter of Jesus. The one that was to prepare the way for the Messiah. So the first two chapters of Luke, really tell the story that we're going to be focused on for the rest of our studies this morning. The story begins of course, with this priest name, Zacharias and Luke chapter 1.

These married to this lady named Elizabeth. And sacrificed Elizabeth there priestly family. They're both from a priestly tribe of Me. And it married a little while. They've been together for a long time, but they do not have children. Because of bearings. So as they age and as they go along, all the seven, now, the message comes to Zacharias, your wife is going to have a child.

You can't hardly believe. And the angel is he explains it. He's still can't hardly believe that becomes a problem for Zachariah. So he struck you. For the course of Elizabeth's pregnancy. Sure enough she gets pregnant. And as she's expecting this baby, it kind of gathers all sorts of attention from the family.

And here comes one of Elizabeth's relatives. Lady by the name of Mary. And Mary has had her own experience. It's an interesting thing, this pairing by the way, When you look at John and Jesus is greatest, John is Jesus is always better. And as great as the story of John's birthday is the story of Jesus birth this morning.

And that's kind of the way these first little bit of Luke here. That's the way it works. Anyway, Mary, she's had her own experience with an angel by the name of Gabriel. Who approached her and told her Mary. You are highly favored from God. You're a chosen vessel of the Lord.

You are an important person to God. So here's what's going to happen. You're going to have a side. That's not the first time that God has miraculously intervened to bring about the birth of a child, but this is a unique intervention is Mary says, how can that be seen?

As I do not know, am I? She's not married. She's never been with a man. So, how in the world? Could she bear a child?

In the angel explains that God will take care of that.

And she says, let it be done to me. According to the will of the Lord, let God do what he wants. So, this pregnant Mary Goes to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. And you can read the story in Luke of course of when Mary enters of the leaping, baby. There's greatness forecast in that little inner exchange.

Six months difference between these two cousins, The birth of John takes place. Mary goes home. The man who would be seen as the father of Jesus was a man named Joseph Mary. And Joseph are engaged. In an angel approaches him to and a dream. And explains to him his role.

This is told in Matthew chapter 1, verses 18 to 25 And that place, the angel tells Joseph that this Mary, you should marry her. He was considering putting her away can perhaps believing that she had somehow been immoral and she did. Now, the angel says you, this is God's work.

You marry her and then you name this baby Jesus. And Joseph does what she commands These godly parents. This is Joseph and very they are obedient. And over and over and over again. As you read about these two people in both mathematics, it emphasizes their And it's something for us to think about and we have families were raising families.

What does God really need from parents? What does it take to really be a good parent? Well, there's maybe a lot of different things we want to think about. A lot of things you want to do. With the greatest characteristic of the parents of Jesus is they were obedient to God.

They were trusting of God, they were faithful to his words. And in every part of the plan, there is it's laid out. They do what God says, they are causally parents So, Joseph and Mary. Now they're expecting this baby, they're married. In the Bible explains in Luke chapter 2 that it's There are obligation as citizens now, kind of introduce the scenario.

And so, their obligation as citizens means, they've got to to register for taxes and all of that. They've got to head back to the city of Joseph's. Father, the city of David, which is the city of Bethlehem In Judea. And so the last thing they want to do, I'm sure is take a big old, long road trip.

Is coming close to the time from here. You can deliver. But also go. And they make their way of course, down to Bethlehem. In just to show you about these family here. Jesus They are novice. How do we know that when they get to Bethlehem? No one has made plans for them?

Nobody's ready for them. Nobody opens their hope to them. And they end up in this manger, a place where they could have kept some animals. There weren't animals there apparently. And so there they put the family of Jesus in there. And that's where they're going to have their baby.

With a frightful thing that must have all been for them to think about that as young parents. First child born in a manger with no one else there to help you. But it went great. And here comes the baby Jesus. And his healthy. He's taken care of. And the hosts of heaven, the angels they want to arrange kind of a wealthy party.

And God allows that. So they go out and they find these shepherds out of the field. And they tell these shepherds where to find Jesus. And the Bible says, they kind of follow these directions and they find Jesus just like they study with me. And they're able to rejoice and celebrate with these parents.

You notice a lot of the activity around Jesus. There's a good people, God placed him in a place where he's got. Good people around him, great parents. Good extended family like the family of Zacharias and Elizabeth but even these shepherds God has these humble men who listen to the direction of the angel, come and celebrate the arrival of the Messiah?

These obedient parents then eight days in. They begin to have the responsibility of circumcising Jesus. And then of offering a particular sacrifice to redeem the firstborn. And the rules about all of that are in Leviticus chapter 12 and it's a different rule for if you have a boy, and if you have a girl, when you go to the temple and when you offer these sacrifices and all of that, But they go to the temple, and they do just this God says, and they offer the sacrifices that are supposed to be offered for their firstborn son, Their obedient.

It has their obedient. Now they meet these faithful, I'm going to put greeters instead of welcome or same thing. But anyway, they're these greeters, they are the temple. And the first one they made is a man named Simeon. And Simeon. He had received information from God. And before he died, he would have the privilege.

You know, holding this amazing child. Being with this child. And so CB and season Jesus, the fulfillment of all of that. And then, here comes Anna. And as a widow, she's known the sting of loss in her life. And having experience the sting of loss. Her decision was to deepen, her devotion, to God.

That's the way she dealt with her laws. So by the time it gets to the day that Jesus is going to meet her. She's pretty much at the temple all the time just where she wants to be. And yes, life. It hasn't necessarily turned out for this and I like, maybe she had dreamed.

But her relationship with God is stellar, it's just great. And there she sees this baby. And she celebrates the arrival of this job, and it's important. Is faithful greeters there in the temple, obedient parents, we get to introduce our children. So wonderful. People. And our children when we are faithful like Joseph and Mary were faithful, there are obedient our children gets into wonderful people in church.

And they get to know great folks, who can be good mentors and encourage us to them. Who can provide them sometimes with encouragement that maybe doesn't come as easily from the parents. Sometimes, you can have this tribe around you helping you as you're trying to be a positive. What's on your child?

That's what Jesus finds. Jesus parents find when they show up here in the technique. Here are these, fantastic people seeming and Anna. Exactly. The kind of people, you would want to celebrate the birth of your child and they find them because they obediently went to the temple. Then time goes along the next part of the story about the Gentile travelers in the hateful rulers.

That's told in Matthew chapter 2. And so, if you read the beginning of Matthew chapter 2, you find this story, Of the visit of these wise men from the east. It's interesting. This is not necessarily in the same period of time. This could be sometimes labor. There's a couple of different reasons we believe that one of them is in Matthew chapter 2, is you read it these travelers when they come to Greek his family.

They greet them in a house so they're not in a barn anymore. They're going to house. Also as Herod goes through here, all the boys that are two years old and under he views them as potentially being Jesus. So how much time has gone by? I don't know, but sometimes it's gone by And maybe this is the way it worked, maybe after the circumcision of Jesus and the visits at the temple and all that, maybe they returned to Galilee got other stuff and relocate to Judea that sort of is what it seems like as happened.

Anyway, there they are, they've kind of set up shop. Now they're there in a house. And then here companies come in, they're from the east. What does that mean? That's the east is big? Oh, They're the east. And these men from the east have followed this star. What did that star look like?

I don't know. I'm spend time trying to think about that trying to learn about that. I don't know. It was a amazing. That's what I do know. This start appeared up in the sky and then it gave them direction. How does that work? It's amazing. Here they come and do are these guys and how do they know to look for them to decide?

We don't know that either. Most likely these are guys who were acquainted. Maybe was some of the prophecies of Daniel or something seems likely. But anyway, whoever they argue, they come, they make all this journey. And sometimes you hear stories about three wise men and all that, it doesn't give a number.

Know how many there are in this traveling band? But here, they show up to greet the family of the Messiah. And we've read gifts, there's three different kinds of gifts. They bring doesn't mean there are three different people. But as they show up with these gifts, Interested in being generous to the family, the Messiah.

They go. When they meet with Harriet. It's incredible. These guys have made this your thing they knew them. As I was coming, they're looking for them and they followed directions to come and find them here. It has no idea that's even going on. He's right there. He is no clue.

And then just to embarrass himself further, he says, by the way, where's the Messiah's supposed to be born? That's the kind of question it's embarrassing to ask if you're a leader who's ought to know about the Bible. Well, that's easy one. They say we is gonna be born in Batman.

So here we go. He's interested in better animals, seven. And all these other folks who have been such positive influences around Jesus Herod is an evil man. And he said, evil influ. Even throw them aside, he came to a wicked world, a world with real life. Reds, And our children are born into that too.

It's not new for us. We feel like our world is more threatening and it's ever been I don't know, I never ever had someone try to kill one of my children. To pretty wicked world Jesus. There's a lot of good there. That's true. The look at the wickedness around it, too.

So when Herod figures out, these wise men have gone. Now, they visited Jesus, and they went back. They didn't go visit with Harry again, like more. Here it makes a decision and he's going to kill all the little boys in that region. So every little boy, two years old and under it's going to be killed because of her.

So, the family of Jesus off to go to Egypt. And they spend an extended period of time in Egypt. And during that particular time, they're protected from this evil rule of Herod. Now. There's the folks that are around Jesus. Following this particular time these early days, Jesus family, finally does come back and they make their way to Galilee.

The world Jesus is born into is a world, that's ruled by Rome. So, the government is Roman And, Sees are Augustus. He's the emperor when Jesus born Tiberius becomes the emperor and 14 AD. So when Jesus very young man, a change of emperor. There's a little enrollment, they're very, very powerful.

They've got Roman governors over these different regions and they've got these local tetra's. That's the errors. So there's the rule. The culture, the Jesus is born into is a culture that includes kind of some interesting dynamics. It's a culture that he grows up in where they speak, primarily Aramaic, And they are really very protective against influences from the outside.

But there is an the influence of Helenism or the Greek influence is growing even into this particular region. It's very likely the people around Jesus. They they were very likely by lingual. They spoke Aramaic as their first language but Greek is making its way all over the world. This powerful and wealthy empire, the Roman Empire, Has built this incredible infrastructure, a sort of made this world.

Feel a little bit smaller. You can travel all over the world during the days of the Roman Empire, the way you could not before. And so it puts a unique pressure then on the world. Jesus grows up in. And the spiritual authorities, the Pharisees in the Sadducees. Are trying to navigate this time, I'm not going to go through all the history of them or whatever.

But if you think about their, the politics of Jesus day being on something of a continuum, You kind of have, I don't know who to put on the left and who to put on the right necessarily. But they are opposed to each other the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Sadducees are going to kind of accept the rulers and work with them.

They're the politicians, the Pharisees are the separatists. So is this region is wrestling with this growing Greek influence. You can recognize the tension that was growing between these two. Which the statuses were like, fine, let them come in, we're fine with that and the Pharisees are willing to fight it with everything they've got.

There's attention that's in this world that Jesus grows up in. He is those sheltered perhaps from this tension because he grows up in a little place called Nazareth. Nazareth, is not really a place known. For being a prestigious place at all. It's very humble place. In John 1 and 46 Nathaniel utters.

That famous question. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? It's a small little place and it has no significance in God's mission plan can Nazareth, really be an important place. But when Jesus family returns, that's where they settle, they settle in Nazareth. And they grow up in Nazareth. And just outside of Nazareth.

Is this heel? I want to just read this little quote to you. I've shared this with some of you before some of you have not, I just want to share it with you this morning, describing the view from Nazareth, it wasn't an important place but from Nazareth you could see a lot of important places.

Here's the way, JT Shepard describes Nazareth. He says, on the hill 500 feet above the town, almost wonderful. Panorama opens to view of the beauties and historic scenes of the land. To the north one, sees the plateaus of Zebulon and afterly and mountains of Lebanon with snow covered Herman towering above them all.

To the west the coast of Tire in the blue waters of the Mediterranean, With Mount Carmel, historic scene of the struggle of Elijah with the prophets of Baal jutting out into the plain of Ezra Long. To the south across the historic plane. Seen of many of the most memorable battles of Israel.

Rise, the hills of Gilboa were saul and Jonathan lost their lives with Mount Ebol and the land of Shechem in the background and the east across the sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley, the headlands of Gilead and Jalen with the conical shape mount tablear, figuring prominently in the landscape.

So, you can just really hear the quiets of Nazareth. The calmness of the world Jesus grew up in this little humbled town. In the middle of an agricultural area. We're not much happened. But he could go out and he could climb this hill, just outside of town and he could look and he could see where the whole history of Israel had happened.

Jesus grew up right in the middle of that history. And what was his youth like it really don't know very much about it. Generally speaking, here's what the Bible says in. Luke 2, verses 39 and 40 when they have performed all these things, according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own city Nazareth.

And the child grew and became strong and spirit filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. So, Jesus went through the normal stages of development. He grew physically, he grew in wisdom, he developed throughout his youth. Much. Like we wouldn't say exactly the same in much, like we normally do One of the things around Jesus during these days of development.

Is a family that travels together. Luke chapter 2 tells us this story about the Passover, And so during these days in Jerusalem, you've got these daily sacrifices, the more you need these sacrifice, you've got these weekly sacrifice that happen on the Sabbath. But then you have these yearly sacrifices.

And they would have happened three times a year in the past over to Pentecost and of course, the day of the Feast of Tabernacles and October. So, pass over is like the Jewish New Year. Happens in the spring of the year. And it is. During this particular time, when Jesus family takes a trip from Luke chapter 2, And it's during this time when he stays behind in Jerusalem, figuring he should be about his father's business.

His parents look for him, and finally find him in the temple, having discussions with the Jewish leaders, Jesus is obviously mature for his age. He shocked everyone in the temple, with his ability to have that discussion in to But his parents say, it's it's time to go home. And so Jesus goes with them, here's the way, Luke describes it in Luke 2, verses 51 and 52.

He went down with him came to Nazareth and was subject to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased and wisdom and stature in favor with God and men. And so the period of development for Jesus is a period of simple obedience. He was the best son ever.

Never ever. Did he commit a sin? Not one time. Can you imagine raising a son, who never committed a sin? Sin is such a horrible thing, isn't it? It brings such havoc into the lives of our children to the all of our lives. Jesus never experienced that. And his parents never experienced that.

He was a wonderful son. During this period of development. Jesus, not only was a good son, he was a good friend. He was a good brother. He was a good member of his community. And so he grows in favor with God and men. From the period of these 12 years old until he is 30.

We know basically nothing. There's one little passage in the book of Mark that shows us the perspective of the people of Nazareth of Jesus. And here's what they knew about Jesus is he visits Nazareth at the beginning of his ministry? Here's what they say about him is not this, the carpenter the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph.

Judas and Simon. And they're not his sisters here with us. So they were offended at him. Jesus says, in verse 4, a prophet is not without honor except in his own country among his own relatives, and then his own house. Says, the period of maturation occurs, Jesus is surrounded by his family.

He has his own country, he has this area where he belonged, And when he grows up there, the Bible says he becomes a carpenter. It's also noteworthy. That Joseph's name is not mentioned in Mark 6. In fact, Joseph is mentioned, very rarely even in the ministry of Jesus at all.

It is extremely likely. It's been long. Believed that Joseph must have died. When Jesus was you. It seems to be a reasonable conclusion. Especially since when Jesus does die, he commits the care of his mother to the apostle. John's father is not there to take care of her apparently If that is true, which it appears to be true, that means as the firstborn, whenever his father died, Jesus would have had taken on responsibility for this family.

Working, as a carpenter didn't work, just to take care of himself. He would have worked to take care of his family. Committing the care of his mother and John 19. That's because the care of his mother was his responsibility. And until that time, It's an interesting fact, really, to think about this period of development for Jesus Christ.

That he would have known the burden of daily responsibility. Of getting up early every day and going to work. Of putting other people before yourself of providing for people. And if even having the experience of having Maybe you could say just awkward family dynamics. After all to his brothers.

What was he? He was there big brother. But with the father absent, he had kind of a different role in just a big brother. He was their provider, And maybe that introduced some awkwardness into his family as well. But Jesus, managed, all of those different things that all of his time growing up, he managed all of them perfectly Until he is 30 years old.

Jesus, quietly and perfectly. Develops in the city of Nazareth. Leaves you hungry, for more dozen, That's the rest of the story. Of course, that's what we plan to talk about the next several weeks. Because when Jesus does turn 30 all the sudden, the ministry begins, and at 30 years of age, everything will change the quiet life.

Jesus is known in Nazareth of quietly and dutifully taking care of his family, quietly in dutifully obeying God. And every way All of that life, all of that normal will change when he turns. This is our study for the this morning, about the beginning of the life and the story of Jesus Christ.

As we consider this story, of course, we already know the end of the story. We know the Jesus Christ is the reason this morning that we can ultimately offer the plan of salvation. And God's plan of salvation made possible. By Jesus Christ, is that we would hear the good news of Jesus.

The good news about his life, his death and his resurrection and salvation at results from this good. Good news. We would believe this good news. Repent of our sins confess our faith and be immersed in water. This is God's plan of salvation. If you've taken these steps but faltered and wish to make a correction this morning of a public nature, we hope you'll do that.

One of the case, please come while we stand and while we sing

Lesson 2: The Year of Obscurity

Learn about a year in Jesus' life marked by obscurity. Listen to the audio lesson below or read the lesson transcript of Evangelist Matt Trent's study on the events in Jesus' life.

Lesson 2: The Year of Obscurity

Good morning. It's good to be here this morning and we're happy to have each and every one present here with us. This morning We're thankful for this time to be able to worship together and thankful for the presence of everyone of you. We're going to be continuing this morning in our study in the life of Jesus Christ.

And we're we have as our gold as we work through this particular study to be able to understand the story of Jesus. As we do. So we're not going to be able to talk about each individual event in great detail just to do a little bit of math with you.

This morning there are approximately depending on how you count it. 275 events that make up the life of Jesus. And so if I do eight lessons on the story of Jesus, you can see the number of events that we have to try to cover each and every time. And so that's not really the goal instead.

Our goal is really to try to understand how one thing leads to another and you ultimately walk through this story of Jesus highlighting. Kind of those significant factors of the develop over the course of his short life want to begin our study this morning. As we begin to look at this year of obscurity by reading with you from the gospel of Mark.

If you'll open your Bibles we'll read together from Mark chapter 1. They'd like to read here together versus one through eight mark chapter one verses one through eight, here's the way Mark opens his gospel. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as it is written in the prophets behold.

I sin my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea.

And those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River confessing their sins, the John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist and he a locusts and wild honey. And he preached saying there comes one after me.

Who is mightier than I who sandal strap? I'm not worthy to stoop down and lose. I indeed baptized you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. So opens the gospel of Mark. In fact all four gospels mentioned John the immerser may be more commonly known as John.

The Baptist they all mention him in the very early portions of their messages about Jesus. And the significance of the role he plays is difficult to overstate. Because as the old testament can concludes, it includes with a prophecy about the coming of Elijah, This prophecy is from in verses 2 and 3.

There is from the book of Isaiah, a couple of prophecies talking about the coming of the one to prepare the way. And then God is silent. For 400 years more than 400 years. He doesn't send anyone to Israel. And during this period of silence, of course from God, the world develops into the world, that would welcome.

Jesus. As his ministry though is about to be begin to begins with this individual who happens to be also his cousin by the way. Who comes to prepare the way of the Lord. How would he do that? It's the most unconventional method. He goes out to the middle of the Judean wilderness and starts preaching.

To strange plan in a way, isn't it to go out to nowhere and expect to reach the masses? I think if we had that plan, we would probably not be super successful. The John is a brilliant success. His sermons empty the cities. It's kind of funny when you study about like where he was and where he's baptizing you finally scholars.

Who seem to be able to track down everything struggling with finding, where was John. What's because he was in the middle of nowhere and we think it was around this area, maybe, but it was where nobody was and they came out to him. And what does he preach? He preaches a message of repentance.

The way to prepare for the coming of the Messiah is repentance. And thousands of people, it's hard to quantify the result. They repent. And as their confessing their sins, Johnny merceses them in water for the forgiveness of their sins. And he tells him, as he's doing all of this, greater things are coming.

Greater things are coming you're getting ready, but greater things are coming. And so Jesus has grown up. Having been born in Bethlehem having spent time with his young family in Egypt to protect him. They then come back to this humble little village in Galilee called Nazareth. And that's where Jesus grows up.

Somewhere as a young man, he learns the trade of a carpenter it appears. He loses his earthly, father Joseph, and perhaps he adopts the responsibility then is the leader of that family. Until the age of 30. Jesus lives a very quiet life in those years. We get one little picture that we talk about of Jesus at 12 years old and Luke chapter 2, that shows the promise, the brilliant promise of something great.

Something extraordinary. But it wasn't time yet. And so Jesus humbly waits and he responsibly develops under the guidance of his godly parents. The ministry of John begins to change the world. Jesus grew up in As people who have perhaps long been called toward God and long been formulaic, Maybe they've had something like we talked about sometimes.

A checklist version of religion. And it wasn't necessarily in their heart, but here comes John. And with his preaching, he begins to turn the world back toward God. And the middle of his brilliant ministry. Here comes his cousin Jesus Christ. As we talk about the ministry of Jesus Christ, we of course are working through the this morning, the year of obscurity.

This is the first year of his ministry. It's how it all starts and as we do that, we're going to talk about these firsts. And so, I want to begin this morning talking about these first steps that he takes these kind of steps that he takes out into public.

So, to speak this, quiet life in Nazareth, is going to quickly go away as Jesus takes on this more public stand. His first steps into the public realm happened on the banks of the river. And there on the banks of the river. In the Judean wilderness, Jesus approaches his cousin John.

He's traveled from Galilee and here's the story. Matthew tells in Matthew chapter 3, the Bible says that 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 said to him permit, it to be. So now for those, it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness and he allowed him When he had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and behold. The heavens were open to him. And he saw the spirit of God, the sending, like a dove and a lighting upon him.

And suddenly, a voice came from heaven saying, this is my beloved son, and whom I am. Well, pleased. As John was sent out to his responsibility and begins working. He's kind of God. A couple of different jobs. John number one for the masses. Preach repentance and baptize them for the remission of their scene.

For this job. Number two, Is watching for the Messiah. And God has told him what to watch for. And so as John is baptizing. And preaching is watching. And here comes Jesus. And he knows who Jesus is their cousins, their familiar with each other. But he doesn't know who the most site is.

He doesn't know for sure. Who, that is yet. When Jesus approaches him. John and those this is a good man. I've known him. I we are family. And so, here is humble towards Jesus immediately. And Jesus is, I need to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. In other words to perfectly conformed to God's will God said everybody's supposed to be baptized.

That includes me. I'm going to go eat a bathtub. To forgive San for Jesus, of course. Let's go back up. And so there is baptized and as he comes about of the water here, develops this incredible scene. We're, you know, government said over their years, all of a sudden there's his voice.

There it is. Here comes this dove like image. It comes down and settles on Jesus. One of the significance of all that. John was later explained in John chapter 1 that that's exactly the sign he was watching for. That God told him, that the war. You see the spirit of lighting on the one, you see that happened to?

That's the missile. So, beginning at that moment, John knows for sure. Jesus is the massage As Jesus comes about of the water there he stands on the dusty banks of the Jordan River. And his life is God's, He is going to do whatever God wants. You know, it's an incredible thing, right?

We go through life and we kind of make our choices And we get to be kind of our own person and we get to choose where we live. We get to choose what we do for a living and who we hearing all that sort of stuff. Jesus doesn't have freedom to decide any of that.

All of that is decided already. And there is a plan for his life. A plan includes detailed instructions, and his job is to live up to that plan. You talk about pressure and it's not just, you know, like we might think our parents had these expectations of us or our family friends or whatever.

No, like everybody who's ever lived meets here just successfully complete. This plan. So we begin to recognize as we look upon the story, the burden many bears is because of what And in order to bear that burden, what does they need to do? The Bible says, in Matthew 4, that then the spirit leads him off into the wilderness.

Now, he's already in the middle of nowhere with John that was gonna go off in the middle of nowhere alone. Alone and why? Because it's time for a fight. That's why It's time to reply. Think incredible. God leads him there. God doesn't keep him from this. God doesn't make sure that God leads him.

He goes off into the middle of wilderness, there he is by himself. But who's in the audience? You ever think about maybe? Who was watching that temptation as it happens, There's God the Father watching it. You think angels were interested in what happened? You think any of the devils assistance?

Maybe they're interested? I don't know. And we read three temptations but it's actually happens continually over this 40-day period of time. Devil Thursday. Is 30 year old man who has never committed a sin. And here comes the devil. Jesus is now, been fastened forty days. And he says, here's some rocks.

Why don't you turn those into bread? Each of these temptations. By the way, has kind of a common theme to it. I'm allowed to machine and draw a little bit up here this morning. And here we are, here's Jesus. And then we are in the same position by the way.

And you've got this, God approved route to kill our design. So here's kind of lovely want These desires, they're not necessarily wrong Things are just things we want. God's got a route. Here's how you get there. The devil comes along and he says Here it is right here. Wait a minute.

No, here it is. Right here, no here is right here. That's the way temptation works, isn't it? And the longer you go the further the devil leads you away from God and from the fulfillment of your desire. So is it wrong for Jesus to be hungry after 40 days?

Of course, not? And he wanted to eat, was that wrong? Of course not. But is there a correct way for Jesus to satisfy that desire? Their definitely is With the devil, he provides the opportunity to shortcut. Hey. Here's some rocks. You've got miraculous ability. Jesus never performed miracle, yet devil knows that.

Why don't you turn these rocks into bread? Let that be your first miracle. Jesus responds by quoting from Deuteronomy all three times. By the way, he quotes from Deuteronomy, And he says man doesn't live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from now with God. So even though a lot of hungry, I'm gonna do what God says.

So the devil says next. Okay, let's try this. Let's go to the pinnacle of the temple. So they're all the sudden. Being in a new one with nowhere, surrounded by wild animals and all kinds of things, according to Mark's record of this account. There they are. Now in Jerusalem standing on the pinnacle.

He says, cast yourself down. There's a prophecy about the Messiah. The prophecy says, God is going to take care of you. In the angels are going to you. They're not going to let you get hurt. Why don't you write here in the middle of Jerusalem in front of everyone, jump off this temple in the whole entire world.

Watch angels, rescue you and they'll note immediately, you're the Messiah. My goals, are your whole ministry. Why not get to the finish line immediately, do it right now. And Jesus says, you don't put God to the test. We don't create scenarios and God's made this promise. Let me create this scenario and see if you'll keep it.

That's not what we do. That's what Jesus said. And so, then the devil says, fine. Let me show you the kingdoms of the world. It was right for Jesus to be hungry. It was right for Jesus, by the way, to desire to be recognized as the Messiah. It is also right for him to desire.

The rule of the world, it was right for him because he's the Messiah. So the devil says, hey, here's all these kingdoms all. All you've got to do is worship me. Just worship me and you're there. Jesus remembers a symbol. When we worship God. He is the only correct object of our worship.

To. Jesus is successfully. First person ever to be able to withstand all these temptations from the devil, Jesus Christ with stands them. And it looks like, you know, he leaves then he's kind of watching. The devil watches from that point on looking for an opportunity to come back and to regain his opportunity to take Jesus down.

He fails. Having succeeded in opposing the devil Jesus. Now having made these kind of steps out of the public begins. Now to experience some of these first results when he makes his return from the Judean from that wilderness way out in the middle of nowhere. He comes back to where John And where he has been baptized.

And there's John with some disciples. And the rest of our time, by the way, talking about this year of obscurity comes from the gospel of John, John is the only one who talks about this year. And as John talks about this year, you kind of informs us about all these first things that happen and all these new things, that Jesus promises.

So among the first things that happened is Jesus comes back and it just so happens. John himself has been withstanding a little bit of an onslaught. If you read right back in John 1, verses 19 to 28. He was approached by the Jewish leaders and they came at him.

Guess how many times three times? Just like Jesus temptation, and he was stood them, just like Jesus was stood the devil anyway, when Jesus comes back, they've both succeeded, both of them have now, this seal of approval from God in that success. John says there. There's the one. You know, we saw that Does come on me and now he knows.

So what is he say, behold? He says the lamb of God, it takes away the sin of the world. This is the one that I said was preferred to for me because he was the forming. He's the one. The next day. He said that again. John's got these disciples around him and a couple of them.

Think hey. Who is this guy? And so they are they go off and they follow them and it's Andrew and probably the apostle John, although John in the whole entire gospel never says it don't think. But it's John. No likely. And they're following Jesus and Jesus is. What are you guys want?

Let's see what we want to learn about you. Jesus, it likes to come and see and they spend a day with the Messiah. And at the end of that day and they know for sure we found them. We have found it. We imagine what that must have felt like.

And the first thing they wanna do is they wanna go tell people, so mentions Andrew in particular. He goes, he finds his brother Simon And he breathes silence in. As we go through this section, just pay attention in one little thing here. Pay attention to how many individual conversations are part of this year.

You don't plan servants to multitudes in the year of obscurity. You find individual conversation? That's how Jesus ministry began. That's how momentum begins to be built. That's still true today. It's the best way to tell people about Jesus in a way, or in individual conversation. So here comes Simon, and he has his conversation with Jesus, and Jesus tells him your Simon, but someday you're gonna be called In other words, he's forecasting the kind of character development that's going to happen in his life.

Then here comes these, other guys, Philip and Nathaniel. And all the sudden by the end of John, chapter 1, you've got some disciples around Jesus. Now, these disciples are going to take a little bit of a trip with Jesus as the now begins and chapter 2. Makes this way back toward Galilee to attend a wedding.

And in this particular time of this wedding, they have run out of wine. And so we don't have time to walk through a lot of the details about this miracle or whatever. But one thing I want to just mention is we go through this. Next section here, chapter two, always to check it for in the gospel of John is about things that are new.

New wine and a temple, new birth, and new worship. It's all new new New line is not intoxicating. That's what they would have had at this wedding. Anyway, they run out of it. And so Jesus, miraculously supplies they supplies it by the way in abundance. And there's a picture here.

Isn't there of the futility of the Jewish system? And the The abundant blessing of the Messianic play the Messianic kingdom. More than we can ever use. Use. That's the picture of this miracle. The Bible says, at the end of this particular miracle in John chapter 2, as Jesus kind of has this little crowd around him.

It says, in verse 11, the beginning this beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him. And this, after this, he went down to Coperna. He his mother's brothers and his disciples and they did not stay there very many days.

So now, Jesus makes his way back up to Capernaum after this miracle and he's got these folks around now that believe any The word belief in John always a verb. It happens almost a hundred times in the gospel. It just gets deeper and deeper as you read through it, they believe in more and more and more and they want to do more and more for him.

So now it comes time at the end of chapter 2 for Passover. As we begin to look at the end of chapter 2, you're the way we know that Jesus ministry is as long as it is three years is because of the gospel of John. When you read this synopting gospels, it looks much shorter when you read the gospel of John, we know it's longer.

And the reason is because of the number of times that the Passover is this guy. And so that's how we know. It's three and a half years, the ministry of Jesus. So here's the first passover during his mission. And as the Passover time comes, he's going to go from Galilee south to Jerusalem.

And as he makes this trip, he comes down into Jerusalem and he comes to the temple. The temple of course is a huge area. And part of the temple, you have these courts. And in this particular section, this is most likely the court of the Gentiles where Jesus is A court that should have allowed those that were distant from GABA.

Seeking God should have allowed them entry, should have allowed them an opportunity to learn. Instead the Jewish leaders have this deal set up and here's the way of works. They've got people coming from all over the country. And they're coming there in Passover to offer these sacrifices. To you and your family, you need to offer heal a land, maybe there's other things to that you want to do of your own free will.

If you can't bring those with you all the way from Galilee. So maybe So, you're not going to drag this lamb all the way from Deloast down to Jerusalem. So you buy it when you get there. All right, guess what? The Jewish leaders were in charge of all of that merchandise so they of charge every Then there's another deal.

You can't pay for these holy things with this filthy currency of Rome. And so, yeah, you're using that every single day, but you've got to change your filthy currency into the godly currency that we want to use so that you can pay these up charges for all this merchandise, And having to see what they turn to pimple into.

And that's Jesus house at his. So when it comes into that house and he sees all of that happening, what does he do? If fashions together a whip and he chases, all those animals out of the court, And the upsets their tables, he messes up the whole. Entire operation doesn't take any day from anybody doesn't injury.

Anybody doesn't injury anything. He just disrupts this graft that was happening in the temple. That's very public is here. As he does that, of course, he's gaining all of this attention. And at the end of John chapter 2, as you begin to recognize this, at the end of John chapter 2, the Bible says he was speaking there that they confront him about it and they asking what is going to do to prove that he has the right to do all of that.

And Jesus says in verse 19, destroy this temple and in three days, I'll rise it up. And so we know what that means when he says that, they think he's talking about the actual temple in Jerusalem. Please talking about his body. And what is the idea of the gift of his body?

He's going to give the world a new temple, new line, new temple. At the end of chapter two, you have in my opinion, some of the most important verses to understand John correctly. As we begin to look at John 2 verses 23 to 25 because after this first miracle, you have now been the beginning of the first analysis.

And the analysis doesn't really work like you might think it would. It's not really going to end up being these people's analysis of Jesus. It's going to every single time end up being the other way of round. Look at how this happens in John 2 verses 23 to 25.

Now, when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast may believed in his name, when they saw the signs, which he did But Jesus did not commit Himself to them because He knew all men. And had no need that. Anyone should testify at, man. For he knew what was in man.

And so, Jesus knows the hearts and men, people begin recognizing him. These signs are gathering this public attention and people are starting to look at him and think about him. And every single time as people are analyzing Jesus, Jesus and those who they are, He knows their hearts. And every single interaction that Jesus has in the gospel of John, proves that The very first interaction that happens after this is Nicodemus.

And Nicodemus is an important guy. Nicodemus is a Pharisee. Of the millions of people in and around this area. At this time, there were only six thousand men that were Pharisees. He's one of those, he's a select part of a select group. He's also a teacher. And a leader.

These are the kinds of words Jesus uses about him. He's an important man. And when he approaches Jesus, this important man approaches him at night. So, as you imagine this, by the way, this is the springtime. And you can imagine, maybe a cool. Springtime evening. As Nicodemus, this important man approaches Jesus Christ.

And this is at the very beginning of his ministry. And here's what he says, ravi in verse 2, 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. Now, signs doing these signs. You know a sign is, it's a miracle?

But it's always pointing to it deeper meaning. So Jesus miracles are pointing to something deeper than just a miracles himself. Nicodemus says, I know there's something more here. I don't know what it is. You're doing these things that you couldn't do a scholars with you. I don't get it.

You feel like Nicodemus, it doesn't make safer like that very often. Really from everything. You can tell reading is verse. This is a very respectful approach. And how does Jesus respond to Nicodemus? To amazing. He says absolutely nothing about what they could even says. He just says, in verse three, most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

And that's a strange statement to Nicodemus, because there were certain people that are kind of shoeing. And in his mind, he's one of them. I'm going to the kingdom. I'm having an important place in it. When app because people like me were what makes this kingdom happen. But Jesus doesn't.

Look at it that way. Look at the generic terms. Jesus, use it. The universal terms. Unless one is born again, it cannot see the kingdom. That is it absolutely, for everybody, everybody's exactly the same. That's true in particular for Nicodemus. You've got to be born again. Nicodemus says, how can a man be born when he's old?

How can that work? So Jesus says in verse five, here's how happens mostly, I say to you less one is blown of water and the spirit He cannot enter the kingdom of God. To be born of the water and born of the Spirit. That's an event that happens. By the way, concurrent, you're born of the water and one of the spirit at exactly the same moment.

It's all part of the exactly the same thing. What does it mean to be born of the water and born of the spirit? It means that as you are physically immersed in water. Having faith having repentance having confessed Jesus as a son of God. When you follow that plan, the final step, you're immersed in water, when that physical act happened.

Spiritual regeneration happens and exactly the same time. That's what that means. And when we come up out of the water spiritually, speaking me are brand new.

How many people have to do that to participate in a Messianic kingdom? All. Everybody. Who needs to be born again? Nicodemus needs to be. Why? Because Nicodemus is simple. That's why We're dead in our sin. We need this new life that the God gives to us in that moment of that business.

They could demons, can't see it. You can't see it. You see how naked Nicodemus came to analyze Jesus? What ended up happening as we analyze There's a danger in the story of Nicodemus and it is the danger of pride. Pride makes it hard to see what we need. In contrast, as that's next story.

Because now, Jesus having conducted all of these affairs here in In Jerusalem. Jesus is going to basically make his way back toward the more remote areas. And so in verse 22, they go back out into the land of Judea and they're out there, baptizing people. And so the ministries that John the Baptist and Jesus are kind of existing in parallel.

And Jesus himself isn't baptizing people, but it's disciples. Are And so, the disciples of John, They begin to have some problems in verse 22. They've got these Pharisees that approach him and they have this argument. They're watching Jesus and his crew. They're growing their baptizing more people. And they feel this onslaught, they feel like they're losing something.

And so they approached John, they say, John doesn't follow you. Wasn't bother you that this guy that you baptized is now baptizing more people than you are. Don't you feel like you're getting the jipped? I mean kind of the son of setting here for you, John. And John's responses, brilliant.

He says, first of all, no one has anything unless God gives it to him. So in other words, God is in charge of all of this, not me. I don't have to decide who has social status and who doesn't and all. I don't pick all that. Second, this is the guy was talking about.

It was preferred before me as him. And third to give you a little picture. I'm On the brighter on the kind of the best man at the wedding. He's the groom. This is his deal. Why does John see that? So, clear, because of his humility. You see the difference between John and he is And that Jesus shows both of their hearts.

And it's not that nicodemus is a bad man, but he's, he's clouding cloudy because it is And John he sees it when no one else does he sees it? Because he's humbled, He makes one of the most beautiful statements as he kind of makes his three little points. He then says, he must increase side, must decrease, What would the world be like, everyone lived?

That's our theme. What a beautiful verse. She must increase silence. This is the verdict. It says in John 3. Jesus comes he brings the light. Remember darkness rather than life. That's the verdict. So for us, we read John 3 and we think, where are we? Are we humble enough to come to the light and have our deeds exposed?

Like John. Are we proud? We kind of protecting our status. Are we worried about controlling all these things around us? Does that prevent us from humbly seeing Jesus for who he is? You want to be more like job. You want to be humble before Jesus. And let him see who we really are.

And let him help us become who we're supposed to be. This next story, that's what happens. John now begins to Jesus, excuse me. Begins to make his way back home. As he makes his way back home. I don't know if you can see this map real well, but there's the world Jesus lives in.

I'm gonna briefly stop these subtitles. Sorry about I'll resume them in just a second. I just want to be able to see this map for just one set. As you look at that map. You if you'll just remember Godly scenarios, you be a young people to follow Jesus through its travels for the most part.

He lives in, he's from up there in gallery. Jerusalem is down there in Virginia. A lot of issues. They hate the Samaritans Samaritans, don't have time to walk through all those details this morning but they're kind of their distant cousins. Their descendants of the, the remnant of the 12 tribe that northern tribes of Israel.

It's a part of the family tree there embarrassed. That's in this American. They don't want people to even know about it. So there are a lot of Jews that would travel and they would cross over the Jordan River and go up to Korea and come back around in the Galilee if they had to go north, they hate the Samaritans.

Jesus doesn't care about any of that He goes right through scenario. And he's at her which you can see on that map. If you can see it clearly enough. Anyway, it's up there, kind of in a mountainous area. That's where Jesus go on, right up through those hills, going back up toward Galilee.

And as he gets up there and your soccer, I'm saying it correctly, there's a well there. And as well as Jacob's. Well, that's been there long time. And just a little bit of math. Jacob. That's about 2,000 years before Jesus, so that if that's really Jacob's. Well, and everything that's been there, a long time, it's been there issue.

And Jesus tired. If you're walking from Jerusalem, all back after through Galilee through a hilly country, maybe you'd be tired too, you get through the middle, the day he wants to sit down for a few minutes. So the disciples they go off into town to buy lunch. And Jesus sits there by the well.

And here comes this lady out in the middle of the day to the well And maybe she does that because she wasn't welcome earlier in the day when all the other women would have made that trip out to the well Anyway, as she approaches Jesus says, hey, I'm thirsty.

That's shut up. Shocking for a Jewish man to speak. To a woman is shocking for a Jewish man to speak to a Samaritan. And you're having a drink but he's gonna share with her. That's shocking.

And so it gets her attention. And he tells her here, he is thirsty. He tells him to have got water for you. If you drink, the only never be thirsty ever again. We know reading that he's speaking about spiritual things. She doesn't really understand.

And so she asking what do you mean by all of that? And Jesus says, we go get your husband and bring him back and we'll sit down and we'll talk about it.

Don't want to go there. I don't have a husband. Jesus says, no you don't. Here's your whole relationship history. Oh If there's somebody there, Wow. Wow.

So she says, you know, I you're somebody Let's talk about something different, and why she changes a subject? I don't know. Some people think she does that because she doesn't want to talk about a personal life. Because it's embarrassing.

Or maybe it's because this is a question she has and she has been looking for an answer to its house is that even answering it She actually wants to know, maybe that's the reason.

The truth is whatever are history is and however people might perceive our history. When we're with Jesus, we're in a safe place. And she's safe. Whatever she needs to do whatever she needs to work through there, she is with him and she can do it safely. And we want to follow his example, in the way we work with each other and one of these safe, Anyway.

She says, you know, there's this debate about worship. The Jeeps they say you got a worse than Jerusalem. Our fathers talk about Mount Garrison. And there's one of those little peaks right there. Is now Garrison if you can see it. That's what they think is. Holy, So, which one is it?

And so Jesus says, you should be worshiping at Jerusalem. He doesn't him hall around and he doesn't ride offense. He doesn't say something that sounds like, he's agreeing with both physicians, he texts aside. No, you should Jerusalem is right. That's the right thing to be doing. I'm going to tell you something.

He says in John 4 and 23. There's things are getting ready to change. Because here's what's happening, the hours coming and now is when the true worst person worship, the following spirit to truth With the Father's seeking such the worship Him. God of spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

So things are getting ready to change. We've had this debate a long time. There been right, wrong parts and all of it pretty soon. It's not gonna matter yet. Because it's imminent. Things are going to change. Here's what's going to look like. We're going to worship in spirit and a truth.

And spirit. What does that mean? God is spirit. Those worship must worship and spirit. That means the, your heart must connect to his It's about more than just attitude, attitude is important. That's correct. It is important that to worship in spirit, doesn't mean the worship with the right attitude.

That's not all that, it mean? The worship and spirit means to be worshiping God with your spirit and communion with him. That we are in fellowship with God. That we have had our sin washed away and that we are faithfully fighting the good fight as we go through life.

That is how we worship in spirit in communion with God. We also know how to worship the truth. Which means the form matters. The truth is what's revealed in scripture. We do what they did in the New Testament. And it matters because it mattered to God. And so we want our worship to be spirit and truth worship notice.

God is seeking such to worship. It's what he wants. He wants to be close to us. He wants to have this kind of communion with his people. Be seeking after that. Well, this woman says that's it, This is a best stuff I've ever heard. Jesus, I know the Messiah is coming.

Jesus says to her, it's shocking to read this but he says to her I who speak to you and me. It is potentially the most want statement. Jesus will ever make about his identity in the whole entire collection before us Then he says it in a one-on-one conversation to a Samaritan woman.

Does that show you something of what he thinks about their social strategician in the first century? He does not care about all that? Doesn't care about it today. Here's about helping us connect with God. And this woman goes off there and in town. And she begins telling people about this guy who told her everything she ever did.

And they began investigating him and for these couple of days here Jesus as an evangelist that campaign right there in the middle of Samaria. And they believe in him. After a short time, then it's ready for Jesus to go back. Further north, He's going to go back now. Up into Galilee.

And the next time I'm making presentation, I'll show you a little. Image of Galilee which I hope will be helpful so you can kind of see where it ends up being confirmed. That's where he goes back to. Let me just read with you. The way he's received is he comes back to Galilee, John chapter 4, verses 43 to 45.

Here's what it says, after two days. That's his two days in Samaria. He departed from there went to Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor to his own country. So when he came to Galilee the Galileans received him, having seen all the things he did in Jerusalem at the feast for.

They also had gone to the feast, so they saw those miracles. All the things talked about way back in chapter 2, they saw them and they're thrilled to have him come back to calendar. That I leave this, of course, now toward our next study which would be about the year of popularity in Galilee before the year of obscurity.

It begins with John's ministry, which predates Jesus ministry. Just a little bit and it opens the door. Finally for Jesus to step on out publicly when he's baptized And at the end of the devil has a dual. And he wins. And then he begins to build his ministry. We begin to see the disciples gathering around.

And we begin to see lives being changed. And that's just the start. And it develops something to the next section that year popularity and egality And that's what we'll talk about next time. Thank you for your attention this morning. As we endeavored to study this section of the Bible through together.

Lesson 3: The Year of Popularity - Part 1

Learn about a year in Jesus' life marked by the beginning of his growing visibility and popularity. Listen to the audio lesson below or read the lesson transcript of Evangelist Matt Trent's study on the events in Jesus' life.

Lesson 4: The Year of Popularity - Part 2

Coming Soon!

Lesson 5: The Year of Opposition - Part 1

Coming Soon!

Lesson 6: The Year of Opposition - Part 2

Coming Soon!

Lesson 7: The Final Week

Coming Soon!

Lesson 8: The Resurrection

Coming Soon!