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LORD
JESUS CHRIST
About
2000 years ago God sent an angel to Israel, to a virgin
named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter. The
angel told Mary that by God's power, she would conceive
and bear a son. When Joseph learned that she was
pregnant, an angel instructed him to marry her. Joseph
took her to Bethlehem to register for a census. While
there, Mary gave birth to Jesus. She laid him in a
manger because there was no room at the inn. Shepherds
visited Jesus in Bethlehem. Later, wise men brought
gifts to Jesus. They told Herod the Great, a wicked
king, that Jesus would rule Israel. So Herod sent
soldiers to kill the children in Bethlehem. Warned by an
angel, Joseph took his family to Egypt. After Herod
died, they returned to Israel and raised Jesus in a town
called Nazareth.
Teachings
of Jesus
Jesus
taught people how to live godly lives. As he traveled
around Israel, Jesus taught with sermons and parables.
Sermon
on the Mount
Jesus
delivered his most famous sermon on a mountain. In it,
Jesus taught his listeners to:
Love your enemies.
Do not judge others.
Trust God.
Don't be anxious about tomorrow.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Parables
Jesus
often taught with parables. A parable is a short story
with a spiritual meaning. Jesus told a parable about two
builders. One was wise, and built his house upon a rock.
The other was foolish, and built his house on sand. When
a storm came, the wise man's house stood, but the
foolish man's house fell.Whoever obeys Jesus is like the
wise man. Whoever disobeys his words is like the foolish
man.
Miracles
of Jesus
Jesus
did many miracles to show others that he was God's son.
God gave Jesus power over nature, power over disease,
and even power over death!
Power
Over Nature
Jesus
and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a
small boat one evening. While Jesus was sleeping, a
fierce storm came, and began to sink the boat. The
disciples woke him. Jesus arose and rebuked the storm
saying, "Peace be still." It became calm, and Jesus said
to them "Where is your faith?" The disciples were
afraid, saying "Who is this, that even the wind and sea
obey him?" (Mark 4:35-41)
Power
over Disease
One
day a crowd was following Jesus on a road near Jericho.
Hearing the crowd, a blind beggar asked what was
happening. They told him Jesus was passing by. The blind
man cried out "Jesus, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped,
and asked what he wanted. "Lord, I want to regain my
sight," he replied. Jesus said, "Receive your sight;
your faith has made you well." Immediately the man could
see, and the crowd began glorifying God. (Mark 10:46-52)
Power
over Death
Jesus
had a friend named Lazarus, who lived in Bethany with
his sisters, Mary and Martha. When Jesus learned that
Lazarus died, he came to Bethany. Now Lazarus had been
dead for 4 days, and a boulder covered the cave where
his body was. Jesus asked them to remove the stone. He
then shouted "Lazarus, come forth!" And Lazarus came
out, restored to life!. After seeing this, many
witnesses believed that Jesus was the son of God. (John
11:1-45)
Trials
of Jesus
Jewish
leaders wanted to kill Jesus. They accused him of
blasphemy, and had Jesus arrested. A Roman governor
named Pilate tried Jesus. He wanted to release Jesus.
But when the Jews threatened to riot, Pilate condemned
Jesus to death on a cross.
Death
Jesus
was sentenced to death by crucifixion. He was beaten by
Roman soldiers, scourged, stripped, and nailed to a
cross. He was crucified between two robbers, and died.
Burial
His
body was placed in the new tomb of a rich man named
Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus had promised the disciples he
would come back after he died. His enemies knew this.
So, to prevent anyone from stealing the body, they had
soldiers guard the tomb of Jesus.
Resurrection
On
the third day after Jesus died, an angel descended, and
the soldiers fled. The disciples came and found an empty
tomb. Jesus had risen from the dead! He later appeared
to many believers, commanding them to teach and baptize
others
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