The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–17; Luke 3:1–22; John 1:19–34)
This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1 1Jn 5:11-12Mat 3:17Mat 4:3Jhn 20:31Jhn 1:14Luk 1:2-3Mat 14:33Mat 17:5 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: 2 Mal 3:1Luk 1:76Mat 11:10Mat 3:1-11Luk 1:15-17Luk 7:27-28Luk 1:70Mat 26:31
“Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,
who will prepare Your way.” 3
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Isa 40:3-5Mat 3:3Luk 3:4-6Jhn 3:28-36Jhn 1:15Jhn 1:19-34
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for Him.’” 4
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Act 19:3-4Mat 3:6Act 13:24-25Jhn 3:23Act 22:16Luk 1:77Luk 3:2-3Mat 3:1-2 People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Act 19:18Lev 26:40-42Act 2:38Mat 3:5-61Jn 1:8-10Jhn 1:28Jhn 3:23Jos 7:19
John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 2Ki 1:8Lev 11:22Mat 3:4Zec 13:4 And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. Act 13:25Luk 3:16Jhn 1:27Mat 3:11Jhn 3:28-31Luk 7:6-7Mat 3:14 I baptize you with water, 5 but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. 6” Act 1:51Co 12:13Act 19:4-6Act 10:45Act 11:15-16Act 2:4Jol 2:28Ezk 36:25-27
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Mat 2:23Mat 3:13-17Luk 3:21-22 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw 7the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. Jhn 1:31-34Luk 3:22Isa 42:1Isa 64:1Mat 3:16 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” Isa 42:1Mrk 9:7Mat 3:17Psa 2:7Col 1:132Pe 1:17-18Jhn 12:28-30Jhn 3:16
The Temptation and Preaching of Jesus
(Matthew 4:1–17; Luke 4:1–15)
At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, Mat 4:1-11Luk 4:1-13 and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him. Heb 2:17-18Heb 4:15Exo 34:28Mat 26:531Ki 19:5-8Deu 9:11Deu 9:18Deu 9:25
After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. 8 Mat 4:23Mat 4:12Luk 8:1Mat 9:35Eph 2:17Isa 61:1-3Act 28:23Luk 4:17-19 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!” Mat 3:2Mat 4:17Act 2:36-38Act 20:21Eph 1:10Gal 4:4Mat 10:7Dan 2:44
The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Mat 4:18-22Jhn 1:40-42Jhn 6:8Luk 6:14Act 1:13Jhn 12:22Luk 5:1-11Mat 10:2 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Luk 5:10Mat 4:19-20Act 2:38-41Ezk 47:10 And at once they left their nets and followed Him. Luk 14:33Luk 18:28-30Luk 5:11Mat 19:27-30Mrk 10:28-31Php 3:8
Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets. Act 1:13Act 12:2Mat 4:21Mrk 10:35Mrk 14:33Mrk 3:17Mrk 5:37Mrk 9:2 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him. Luk 14:26Mat 10:37Mrk 10:291Ki 19:202Co 5:16Mat 4:21-22Mat 8:21-22Deu 33:9
Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit
(Luke 4:31–37)
Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. Mrk 6:2Mrk 1:39Mat 4:23Act 13:14-52Act 17:2Act 18:4Mat 4:13Luk 10:15 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. Mat 7:28-29Mat 13:54Luk 4:32Act 6:10Jer 23:29Jhn 7:46Luk 21:152Co 4:2
Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: Mrk 9:25Luk 4:33-37Mat 12:43Mrk 1:34Mrk 5:2Mrk 7:25 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” Jas 2:19Mat 8:29Act 3:14Luk 4:34Rev 3:7Act 2:27Luk 8:28Mrk 5:7
But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” Mrk 1:34Act 16:17Luk 4:41Mrk 3:11-12Mrk 9:25Luk 4:35Psa 50:16 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek. Mrk 9:26Mrk 9:20Luk 11:22Luk 9:39Luk 9:42
All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” Luk 9:1Mat 15:31Mrk 7:37Luk 4:36Mat 9:33Mat 12:22-23Mrk 10:24Mrk 10:32 And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee. Luk 4:37Mat 9:31Luk 4:17Mat 4:24Mic 5:4Mrk 1:45
Jesus Heals at Peter’s House
(Matthew 8:14–17; Luke 4:38–41)
As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Mat 8:14-15Luk 4:38-39Mrk 1:21Luk 9:58Mrk 1:23 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her. 1Co 9:5Jas 5:14-15Jhn 11:3Mrk 5:23 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them. Act 9:41Luk 8:2-3Mrk 5:41Psa 103:1-3Psa 116:12Mrk 15:41Mat 27:55
That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed, Mat 8:16Luk 4:40Mat 4:24Mrk 3:2Mrk 1:21 and the whole town gathered at the door. Act 13:44Mrk 1:5 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. Luk 4:41Mrk 3:12Act 16:16-18Mat 4:23Mrk 1:25
Jesus Prays and Preaches
(Luke 4:42–44)
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray. Luk 6:12Luk 5:16Luk 22:39-46Eph 6:18Psa 5:3Jhn 6:15Heb 5:7Mat 14:23 Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!” Jhn 12:19Jhn 11:48Jhn 3:26Mrk 1:5Zec 11:11
But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.” Luk 4:43Isa 61:1-3Jhn 17:8Jhn 16:28Jhn 17:4Luk 2:49Luk 4:18-21Jhn 9:4 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Mat 4:23Mrk 1:21Luk 4:41Luk 4:43-44Mrk 7:30
The Leper’s Prayer
(Leviticus 14:1–32; Matthew 8:1–4; Luke 5:12–16)
Then a leper 9came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Luk 5:12-14Mat 8:2-4Lev 13:1-142Sa 3:29Mat 17:14Mrk 9:22-23Deu 24:8-9Mrk 10:17
Moved with compassion, 10 Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” Mat 9:36Heb 2:17Heb 4:15Luk 7:12-13Mrk 5:41Mrk 6:34Gen 1:3Heb 1:3 And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed. Jhn 15:3Jhn 4:50-53Mat 15:28Mrk 1:31Mrk 5:29Psa 33:9
Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning: Mat 9:30Luk 8:56Mrk 3:12Mrk 5:43Mrk 7:36 “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 11 Lev 14:1-32Luk 17:14Mat 8:41Co 10:11Luk 5:14Rom 15:4Mat 23:2-3
But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Mat 9:31Mrk 2:13Jhn 6:2Luk 5:15-17Psa 77:11Mat 28:15Mrk 2:1-2Mrk 3:7
Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.