LESSON 2

DAY 4
 EVIDENCE FOR JESUS OF
NAZARETH AS THE MESSIAH AND
KING
 SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 2:13 - 23
13 WHEN THEY HAD GONE, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED
TO JOSEPH IN A DREAM. GET UP, HE SAID, TAKE THE CHILD AND
HIS MOTHER AND ESCAPE TO EGYPT. STAY THERE UNTIL I TELL YOU,
FOR HEROD IS GOING TO SEARCH FOR THE CHILD TO KILL HIM.
14 SO HE GOT UP, TOOK THE CHILD AND HIS MOTHER DURING THE
NIGHT AND LEFT FOR EGYPT,
15 WHERE HE STAYED UNTIL THE DEATH OF HEROD. AND SO WAS
FULFILLED(N) WHAT THE LORD HAD SAID THROUGH THE PROPHET:
OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.
 SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 2:13 - 23
16 WHEN HEROD REALIZED THAT HE HAD BEEN OUTWITTED BY THE MAGI, HE
WAS FURIOUS, AND HE GAVE ORDERS TO KILL ALL THE BOYS IN BETHLEHEM
AND ITS VICINITY WHO WERE TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER, IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE TIME HE HAD LEARNED FROM THE MAGI. 17 THEN WHAT WAS SAID
THROUGH THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WAS FULFILLED:
18 A
VOICE IS HEARD IN RAMAH,
WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING,
RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN
AND REFUSING TO BE COMFORTED,
BECAUSE THEY ARE NO MORE.
 SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 2:13 - 23
19 AFTERHEROD DIED, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED IN A DREAM TO JOSEPH IN
EGYPT 20 AND SAID, GET UP, TAKE THE CHILD AND HIS MOTHER AND GO TO THE
LAND OF ISRAEL, FOR THOSE WHO WERE TRYING TO TAKE THE CHILDS LIFE ARE
DEAD.
21 SOHE GOT UP, TOOK THE CHILD AND HIS MOTHER AND WENT TO THE LAND OF
ISRAEL. 22 BUT WHEN HE HEARD THAT ARCHELAUS WAS REIGNING IN JUDEA IN PLACE
OF HIS FATHER HEROD, HE WAS AFRAID TO GO THERE. HAVING BEEN WARNED IN A
DREAM, HE WITHDREW TO THE DISTRICT OF GALILEE,
23 AND HE WENT AND LIVED IN A TOWN CALLED NAZARETH. SO WAS
FULFILLED WHAT WAS SAID THROUGH THE PROPHETS, THAT HE WOULD BE CALLED A
NAZARENE.
 SALIENT POINTS:
NOTHING TAKES GOD BY SURPRISE (PARAGRAPH 1)
THE EARLY LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS IS A STORY OF DIVINE GUIDANCE
LUKE 24:44
HE SAID TO THEM, THIS IS WHAT I TOLD YOU WHILE I WAS STILL WITH YOU:EVERYTHING MUST
BE FULFILLED THAT IS WRITTEN ABOUT ME IN THE LAW OF MOSES, THE PROPHETS AND THE
PSALMS.
-THE PROMISES TO ABRAHAM

- THE KINGDOM UNDER DAVID

- THE TRAGIC EXILE

- ALL POINT FORWARD TO THE LORD JESUS (SPOKEN OF BY THE PROPHETS)

CHRIST-FOCUSED LENSES
 SALIENT POINTS:
MODERN DAY HERODS STILL SEEK TO DESTROY THOSE THEY SEE AS A
THREAT TO THEIR POWER. YET GOD IS ON THE THRONE AND NOTHING TAKES
HIM BY SURPRISE
HIS GUIDANCE AND TIMELY PROVISION ENABLE US TO COMPLETE THE WORK
HE HAS FOR US
 REFLECT
WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY THE OLD TESTAMENT POINTS FORWARD
TO THE LORD JESUS? HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK OF THE LORD JESUS WHEN
YOU READ THE OLD TESTAMENT?
HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK OF THE LORD JESUS WHEN YOU READ THE OLD
TESTAMENT?
THERE ARE OVER 50 MILLION REFUGEES IN THE WORLD TODAY. HOW CAN WE
APPRECIATE THIS CONTEMPORARY CRISIS CONSIDERING THAT THE LORD JESUS
HIMSELF SPENT HIS EARLY YEARS AS A POLITICAL REFUGEE?
 DAY 5
SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 3:1-12

IN THOSE DAYS JOHN THE BAPTIST CAME, PREACHING IN THE

WILDERNESS OF JUDEA 2 AND SAYING, REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN HAS COME NEAR. 3 THIS IS HE WHO WAS SPOKEN OF
THROUGH THE PROPHET ISAIAH:
A VOICE OF ONE CALLING IN THE WILDERNESS,
PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD,
MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS FOR HIM.
 DAY 5
SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 3:1-12
4 JOHNS CLOTHES WERE MADE OF CAMELS HAIR, AND HE
HAD A LEATHER BELT AROUND HIS WAIST. HIS FOOD WAS
LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY.
5 PEOPLE WENT OUT TO HIM FROM JERUSALEM AND ALL
JUDEA AND THE WHOLE REGION OF THE JORDAN.
6 CONFESSING THEIR SINS, THEY WERE BAPTIZED BY HIM IN
THE JORDAN RIVER.
 DAY 5
SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 3:1-12
7 BUT WHEN HE SAW MANY OF THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES
COMING TO WHERE HE WAS BAPTIZING, HE SAID TO THEM: YOU
BROOD OF VIPERS! WHO WARNED YOU TO FLEE FROM THE
COMING WRATH?
8 PRODUCE FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE. 9 AND DO NOT
THINK YOU CAN SAY TO YOURSELVES, WE HAVE ABRAHAM AS
OUR FATHER. I TELL YOU THAT OUT OF THESE STONES GOD CAN
RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR ABRAHAM. 10 THE AXE IS ALREADY AT THE
ROOT OF THE TREES, AND EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT PRODUCE
GOOD FRUIT WILL BE CUT DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE.
 DAY 5
SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 3:1-12
11 I BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER FOR REPENTANCE. BUT AFTER ME
COMES ONE WHO IS MORE POWERFUL THAN I, WHOSE
SANDALS I AM NOT WORTHY TO CARRY. HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE.
12 HIS WINNOWING FORK IS IN HIS HAND, AND HE WILL CLEAR
HIS THRESHING FLOOR, GATHERING HIS WHEAT INTO THE BARN
AND BURNING UP THE CHAFF WITH UNQUENCHABLE FIRE.(Q)
 SALIENT POINTS:

GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OF CHANGE OF RENEWAL

 SALIENT POINTS:
AFTER 400 YEARS OF SILENCE
JESUS KINGDOM IS NOT GEOGRAPHICAL OR POLITICAL.
IT IS NOT ONLY SPIRITUAL BUT ALSO DYNAMIC
(POWERFUL)
 SALIENT POINTS:
JOHN ANNOUNCES TWO THINGS ABOUT THIS KING:
FIRST, HE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN I (V.11)
SECONDLY, HE WILL BAPTIZE WITH THE PURIFYING, REFINING SPIRIT
(V.11)
JESUS BOTH WILLS AND ENABLES RENEWAL. BY HIS SPIRIT, JESUS
BURNS AWAY ANGER, GREED, PRIDE AND BRINGS FORTH LOVE,
PEACE AND GENEROSITY
THE MESSAGE:
THE KING HAS COME, THE ONE WAY
TO RECEIVE HIM IS CONFESSION AND
REPENTANCE. THEN, HE WILL TURN
YOUR LIFE AROUND SO YOU CAN BE
THE PERSON GOD WANTS YOU TO BE
 REFLECT
WHY IS JOHN SO HARSH WITH THE JEWISH LEADERS (V. 7)? IN
WHAT RESPECTS ARE THEY LIKE THE SHEPHERDS OF ISRAEL IN THE
PAST?
FIRE BOTH PURIFIES AND CONSUMES. HOW DOES JESUS BAPTISM
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE EXPRESS BOTH OF THESE
FEATURES OF FIRE? WHAT COMFORT IS THERE IN WORDS FOR US?
WHAT WARNING CAN WE TAKE FROM THEM?
 DAY 6
SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 3:13-17
13 THEN JESUS CAME FROM GALILEE TO THE JORDAN TO BE BAPTIZED BY
JOHN.(B) 14 BUT JOHN TRIED TO DETER HIM, SAYING, I NEED TO BE BAPTIZED
BY YOU, AND DO YOU COME TO ME?
15 JESUS REPLIED, LET IT BE SO NOW; IT IS PROPER FOR US TO DO THIS TO
FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEN JOHN CONSENTED.
16 AS SOON AS JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, HE WENT UP OUT OF THE WATER. AT
THAT MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD
DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND ALIGHTING ON HIM. 17 AND A VOICE FROM
HEAVEN SAID, THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL
PLEASED.
 SALIENT POINTS
WHO IS JESUS? KING JESUS JOHN IS RELUCTANT TO BAPTIZE JESUS
(V.13-14).
HE WILL OBEDIENTLY FULFIL GODS ROLE FOR HIM (V.15)
BY JESUS BAPTISM, HIS MINISTRY IS LAUNCHED AND GOD
ANOINTS HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IT IS STRIKING THAT THE SPIRIT COMES IN THE FORM OF A DOVE
(V.16) NOT IN THE FORM OF AN EAGLE OR A HAWK. SYMBOL OF
INNOCENCE, PURITY, WEAKNESS, POVERTY AND GENTLENESS.
 SALIENT POINTS
GOD IS A ONE-SERMON PREACHER, WITH ONE SUPREME MESSAGE
TO THE WORLD: LOOK, LISTEN AND LOVE JESUS, MY SON.
CAN WE ENTRUST OUR LIVES TO HIM? COME TO ME, ALL WHO
ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.. FOR I AM
GENTLE AND KIND IN MY HEART (MATTHEW 11:28-30). ONLY
JESUS IS THE UNIQUE, ETERNAL, BELOVED SON OF GOD, HIM
ALONE WE WORSHIP, HIM ALONE WE PREACH
 REFLECT
WHO IS JESUS? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT ANSWERS PEOPLE GIVE
TO THIS QUESTION?
HOW CAN WE FAITHFULLY YET SENSITIVELY SPEAK OF CHRISTS
UNIQUENESS IN A MULTI-FAITH COUNTRY?
HOW SHOULD THIS FACT THAT THE SPIRIT COMES TO JESUS IN THE
FORM OF A DOVE INFORM AND SHAPE OUR MINISTRY TO THE
WORLD AND TO THE CHURCH?
 DAY 7
SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 4:4-11
4 THEN JESUS WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE
TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. 2 AFTER FASTING FORTY DAYS AND FORTY
NIGHTS, HE WAS HUNGRY. 3 THE TEMPTER CAME TO HIM AND SAID,
IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, TELL THESE STONES TO BECOME
BREAD.
4 JESUS ANSWERED, IT IS WRITTEN: MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON
BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE
MOUTH OF GOD.
 DAY 7
SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 4:4-11
5 THEN THE DEVIL TOOK HIM TO THE HOLY CITY AND HAD HIM
STAND ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE TEMPLE. 6 IF YOU ARE THE
SON OF GOD, HE SAID, THROW YOURSELF DOWN. FOR IT IS
WRITTEN:
HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU,
AND THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP IN THEIR HANDS,
SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.
7 JESUS ANSWERED HIM, IT IS ALSO WRITTEN: DO NOT PUT THE
LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.
 DAY 7
SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 4:4-11
8 AGAIN, THE DEVIL TOOK HIM TO A VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN AND
SHOWED HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD AND THEIR
SPLENDOR. 9 ALL THIS I WILL GIVE YOU, HE SAID, IF YOU WILL
BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP ME.
10 JESUS SAID TO HIM, AWAY FROM ME, SATAN! FOR IT IS
WRITTEN: WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.
11 THEN THE DEVIL LEFT HIM, AND ANGELS CAME AND ATTENDED
HIM.
 SALIENT POINTS
FIRST TEMPATATION = HUNGER MEANT HE COULD ONLY RELY ON
GODS WORD
SECOND TEMPTATION = TRUST AND OBEY GOD, NOT PUT GOD TO
TEST
THIRD, JESUS AFFIRMS HE WILL ONLY WORSHIP GOD
TEMPTATIONS, SATANS ULTIMATE PURPOSE IS TO KEEP US FROM
TRUSTING AND WORSHIPPING GOD
IF JESUS HAD FALLEN, WE WOULD STILL BE IN OUR SINS. A FAILED
MESSIAH COULD NOT BE THE WORLDS SAVIOUR. OUR ETERNAL
SECURITY RESTED ON HIS EARTHLY OBEDIENCE
 REFLECT
WHAT WAS SATANS PURPOSE IN TEMPTING JESUS?
JESUS TAUGHT US TO PRAY LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.
WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN ABOUT SUCH TIMES OF TRIAL
FROM THIS PASSAGE?