Pearls from the New Testament

Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3           Lesson 4 This lesson focuses on the accounts of John the Baptist’s ministry.   It is one of the few points of convergence between the four evangelists. His ministry is interpreted in its historical setting as forming the beginning of Jesus’ mortal ministry. Matthew 3 It is interesting in verse 2 the word repent means more than forsaking sin.   The Greek word metanoia , which is translated as repent in this verse means “to effect a change of heart or mind.”   When John the Baptist is talking to the Pharisees, he is telling them to do those things that will make you worthy of the Lord.   Our own prophet has told us repentance is the Lord’s regimen for spiritual growth.   It is essentially conversion.   We are basically given a New Year’s resolution that is do-able.   We are being asked to turn our heart more fully to the Lord and deepen our conversion to Him. The Gr...

John 1   We may think of John as writing the fourth section of the gospel.   However, it is really the fourth section of a four-fold gospel in the sense that there are four voices giving a different perspective on Jesus’ life.   It is believed the gospel of John was the likely the last of the four written.   It is written in view of what the other writers had already said and is therefore, different from the other three.   John leaves out some of the significant events that Matthew, Mark and Luke included in their writings.   These include the following: ·          The birth story ·          Jesus’ baptism and temptation in the wilderness ·          His confrontations with demons ·          Teaching of parables ·          The Last Supper · ...