Jesus comes to be baptized by John at the Jordan River. Why does Jesus, who is sinless, come to John for a baptism of repentance?
John prepares the way for the Lord (Matthew 3:1-12)
John the Baptist came as a messenger to tell about the coming of the Lord. In those days, before a king came, roads would be fixed and cleaned and the people would be ready to welcome the king. John the Baptist would also prepare the way but he wouldn’t be fixing or cleaning cities or roads, he came to prepare hearts. We’ll see what this means.
Israelites have disobedient hearts (Nehemiah 7:73b-13:31)
God helps Nehemiah build Jerusalem’s wall (Nehemiah 1:1-7:73a)
God keeps his promise to his people (Ezra 1:1-6:22)
It had been almost 70 years since Nebuchadnezzar had forced the Jews from their own country. The Jews remembered Jeremiah’s prophecy that they would return to Jerusalem after 70 years, and they long for that day to happen. Would God keep his promise to bring His people back to their land and to their God?
God protects Daniel (Daniel 6:1-30)
God judges Belshazzar for his pride (Daniel 5:1-31)
God humbles Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:1-37)
God protects Daniel's friends (Daniel 3:1-30)
God uses Daniel to interpret the king's dream (Daniel 2:1-49)
God keeps His people safe (Esther 1:1-10:3)
God shows mercy to Jonah and Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-4:11)
God brings His wrath against Judah (2 Kings 21:1-21:18, 24:1-25:30)
God is glorified by protecting Judah (2 Kings 18:1–19:37)
We jump to another part of Israel’s history where Hezekiah becomes king over Judah. Hezekiah is a king like no other because he clung to the LORD. During his reign, a new king of Assyria rises with great power, blasphemes God, and threatens Judah. Will Hezekiah trust God against this powerful king with a mighty army or will he surrender?
Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 16:29–17:1; 18:1–2, 17–46)
Jesus is Resurrected (Luke 23:50-24:53)
Jesus died as a righteous man in the place of sinners (Luke 22: 47–53, 23: 26–49)
Jesus was righteous to the very end. He died as a righteous man in the place of the unrighteous, bearing God’s wrath against sin. God accepted Christ’s perfect sacrifice for sin as sufficient and restored peace between God and man. Now any sinner who trusts in the sinless Savior can be clothed with His righteousness and enter God’s holy presence.
The Son of Man anticipates His death (Luke 22: 7–20, 39–46)
Each year Jesus had watched the Passover lamb be slaughtered; the Passover lamb was pointing to Him. He also taught His disciples that He was the final Passover lamb. Now, the time had come for him to be the final Passover lamb. Going to the cross is a very hard mission for Jesus, will He stay committed to His Father’s work and stayed true to His mission?