Finals_Week-4

• Before the public ministry of Jesus, the son of Zechariah, John the Baptist prepared the way of the messiah.
• Among the Jews, there were many priestly families called Aaron's descendants.
• Zachariah's son was called Nazirite, a person consecrated to God.
• John the Baptist's life was a model for Austerity, he would neither cut his hair nor drink wine.
• John the Baptist performed ritual cleansing, called baptism, in Greek "Baptizein" meaning to immerse.
• John the Baptist's ritual cleansing involved immersing the person in the Jordan River.
• The baptism of Jesus marked the beginning of his public ministry.
• In the baptism of Jesus, the spirit of God descended on Jesus like a dove.
• In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus said that his baptism was purposed for "fulfilling all righteousness”
• Jesus began his ministry by undergoing a very hard test: Forty days of isolation and fasting.
• The first temptation of the Devil to Jesus was turning stones into bread.
• The second temptation of the devil to Jesus was jumping from the temple top.
• The third temptation of the devil to Jesus was worshipping him as king.
• Jesus' public ministry is classified into three: The Galilean Ministry, The Journey to Jerusalem, and The Final Events of His Life.
• John's Gospel tell that Jesus started his ministry in Judea and the adjacent Transjordan region of Perea.
• Disciple: Pupil; Mathetes: A learner of a doctrine
• The Greek word "parabole" translates from the Hebrew word "Mashal" denoting Proverb, Riddle, or an Oracle.
• Mashal from the root meaning "to be like," often used as a conjuction.
• Every Parable of Jesus is a challenge for the audience to find the truth behind the story.
• The parable of the Lost Son shows a father welcoming back his younger son who returns and encourages his older son to celebrate: God, through Jesus, joyfully welcomes sinners and invites everyone to rejoice.
• The parable of the Sower indicates the sower meets many obstacles but produces a harvest: Jesus, in His work of ushering in the Kingdom of God, meets obstacles but will ultimately achieve success.
• The parable of the sower highlights the Word of God produce different results, according to their dispositions.