The Ministry of Jesus Christ, the Messiah
A Compilation of the Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. A Bible Study + Explanations and Commentary
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The Ministry of Jesus Christ Birth of Jesus (Matt 1:18 – 2:23; Luke 1:5 – 2:52; John 1:1-5, 14) And it came to pass that Caesar Augustus ordered that a census be taken of the whole world.[1] This census first took place when Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to the town of their ancestral line. Joseph, a descendent of Israel’s King David, lived in the town of Nazareth in the province of Galilee. He went to be registered in the town of Bethlehem[2] in the province of Judea along with his betrothed wife, Mary. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. She gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. There were in the same country shepherds, living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks at night. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the Lord’s glory shone round about them. They were terrified! The angel said, “Do not be afraid, I have good news of great joy for all people. Unto you is born this day in the city of David (Bethlehem) a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This shall be a sign to you. You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace[3], good will toward men (mankind).” When the angels left them, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. When they had seen the baby, they spread the news abroad telling others what they had been told about the child. And everyone who heard about it marveled at what they were told. And Mary remembered and pondered all these things in her heart. And the shepherds returned to their fields, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told to them. (Luke 2:1-20) {And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.} (John 1:14) When the child was eight days old, the child was circumcised[4] and his name was given as Jesus, the name that the angel had given them before he was conceived in the womb. When the time of Mary’s purification[5], according to the law of Moses, were over, Joseph and Mary took the child to the Jewish temple in Jerusalem to present the child to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”), and to offer a sacrifice[6] according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” There was in Jerusalem a man named Simeon. He was a just and devout man. The Holy Spirit was with him, as he waited for the day of the coming of the Consolation[7] of Israel (the Messiah). The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Moved by the Holy Spirit, he went into the temple. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to be presented to the Lord, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God saying, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your Word, for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people to see; a light to the Gentiles[8], and the glory of your people Israel.” Joseph and Mary marveled at what Simeon said. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “This child will be established as a sign.[9] Many in Israel will fall, and many will rise again because of him; and he will be a sign that many will talk against, revealing what is in their hearts. And pain, like a sword, will go through your own soul too.” [1] The entire civilized world was under Roman rule at this time. [2] Bethlehem was the hometown of King David. [3] Peace between God and mankind. [4] One of the Jewish laws established by God as a sign of his covenant with the Jewish nation that the Messiah would come from their nation. These Old Testament laws/customs also served to set the people of Israel apart from the rest of the sinful world until the Messiah was born. Mary was considered ceremonially “unclean” for seven days following childbirth. [5] 33 days following circumcision (40 days from childbirth) (see Leviticus, Chapter 12) [6] One of the Jewish customs established by God to remind them of his saving their firstborn in Egypt. This refers to the last of ten punishments inflicted on the Egyptians that forced them to free the nation of Israel. The Lord sent an angel of death to strike all the firstborn of Egypt, but the firstborn of Israel were saved because the Lord directed they put the blood of a sacrificed lamb on their doorposts and lintels so the Angel of Death passed over them. [7] One who brings comfort, solace. [8] Non-Jewish people. [9] Those who look to Him, Jesus Christ, for their salvation shall be saved. Those who reject Him and his Word will be damned.
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About the Book
The Ministry of Jesus Christ, the Messiah is an abridged compilation of the four gospels—one continuous writing containing the words of Christ so the reader can read and study the entire ministry of Jesus Christ in one continuous fluid document. Also included in appendices are biblical presentations of Creation and the Flood and other important Christian statements of belief, such as the Apostolic and Nicene Creeds. The following four Bible study topics are included:
1. The Lord’s Prayer
2. “Messiah” by George Frideric Handel
3. Precepts of the Christian faith
4. Joy, peace, and contentment
Modern day English translations of the four Gospels were used or referenced by the author.
When the Apostles spoke of the same event, their words were blended into one account. The author worked to ensure thought or meaning from Scripture containing a description of an event was not lost. If not absolutely clear that the same event was being written about, or if the event could not logically be taken out of context of the particular book, then no blending of text was done.
Footnotes help explain key thoughts presented in Scripture because translation from the original Greek does not often lend itself to the modern English language nor common grammatical form, hence the many different translations available today. Regardless of whether a translation uses a very literal translation of Greek or a simpler paraphrase, the original meaning or thought the Lord intended can be unclear without reference to other Scripture.
About the Author
Raised in a Christian family, he is a life-long member of an orthodox evangelical Lutheran synod (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod). He is married with a family of his own and served over 34 years in the U.S. Navy. During this time his faith guided him through both professional and personal family trials. Now retired, he has been able to spend more time serving his church and actively studying the Holy Scriptures. His Bible Study of the four Gospels provides readers the opportunity to study the words of Christ as one continuous fluid commentary with a layman's simple explanations based on Scripture alone, without theological dissertations and theories of interpretation.