The ministry of John the Baptist 1 study
From the second to the third Passover festival 2 studies
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week 4 studies
Contradictions 2 studies
Peter's ministry 1 study
Miracles 1 study
The ministry of John the Baptist
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PER029
The ministry of John the Baptist
The article examines John the Baptist's role in preparing for Jesus' coming. Appearing in Matthew, Mark and Luke, John baptises and preaches in the Judean wilderness. Regarded as Christ's forerunner, he never claimed to be the Messiah. His teachings prepared the people to welcome Jesus, the royal Messiah.
Luke 3.1-18 (King James Version) :Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
From the second to the third Passover festival
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PER114
The praise of John the Baptist
Jesus pays tribute to John the Baptist in Capernaum (May–June AD31), according to Matthew 11.7-19 and Luke 7.24-35. Without seeking to recruit his disciples, he affirms John’s prophetic greatness, identifies him as the Elijah foretold by Malachi and signals the end of the old covenant. He contrasts the Kingdom of God with the kingdom built by the Pharisees according to their own rules.
Luke 7.24-35 (King James Version) :And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!But wisdom is justified of all her children.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER163
Death of John the Baptist
Pericope 163 analyzes Herod Antipas's reaction to the fame of Jesus, whom he identifies with John the Baptist risen from the dead. Through a synoptic comparison of Matthew 14.1-2, Mark 6.14-16 and Luke 9.7-9, the article explores the convergences and differences between the three accounts, the political context in Galilee in March AD 32, and the weight of Herod's guilt after the murder of John the Baptist.
Mark 6.14-16 (King James Version) :And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week
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PER193
The transfiguration
The article explores the transfiguration of Jesus, in which he shines with divine light alongside Moses and Elijah on Mount Hermon. Peter, James and John are witnesses of it. This event reveals the divinity of Jesus.
Matthew 17.1-13 (King James Version) :And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER195
The disciples’ question about the prophet Elijah
After the transfiguration, the disciples ask Jesus about the prophecy concerning Elijah. Jesus reveals that John the Baptist fulfills this prophecy, a connection that the Gospels develop progressively.
Mark 9.11-13 (King James Version) :And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER210
The reaction of James and John
During Jesus’ journey through Samaria, James and John, the “sons of thunder,” propose calling down fire from heaven on a hostile Samaritan village. Jesus sternly rebukes them, reminding them that he came to save people, not to destroy them. This episode, reported only by Luke (Lk 9.54-56), illustrates the Jewish-Samaritan tensions and the gradual formation of the disciples toward a spirit of mercy.
Luke 9.54-56 (King James Version) :And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER211
The men who want to follow the Messiah Jesus
Luke 9.57-62 presents three men who wish to follow the Messiah Jesus, each with a condition or a hesitation. Jesus responds by calling for renunciation of material comfort, for the primacy of the Kingdom over family duties, and for a determination with no turning back. This passage, unique to Luke, takes place during the journey through Samaria toward Jerusalem and is a radical call to total, uncompromising commitment to the Messiah.
Luke 5.27 (King James Version) :And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Contradictions
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CTD009
Was John the Baptist the Elijah who was to come?
Jesus regards John the Baptist as the prophesied Elijah, indicating a symbolic mission, but John denies this identity literally, according to John 1:19-21. This distinction between mission and personal identity clarifies an apparent biblical contradiction.
Matthew 17.10-13 (King James Version) :And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
CTD046
Has anyone ascended to heaven apart from Jesus?
The article examines the apparent contradiction between Jesus' statements in John 3.13 and the account of Elijah being taken up in 2 Kings 2.11. It explains that Jesus is speaking of a unique divine authority and heavenly revelation that he alone possesses, whereas Elijah is miraculously transported by God. The term “heaven” has various meanings, and definitive access to the divine presence is linked solely to Jesus.
John 3.13 (King James Version) :And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Peter's ministry
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ADA031
The persecution
Article ADA031 examines the great persecution of the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 8.1-3), around AD 34-35. After Stephen’s martyrdom, the repression extends to all believers, women included. Saul of Tarsus is its chief architect, driven by a sincere but misdirected zeal for the Jewish traditions. This text illustrates the fulfillment of Jesus’ warnings about persecution and foreshadows Paul’s future conversion.
Galatians 1.13-14 (King James Version) :For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Miracles
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MIR029
The transfiguration
The Transfiguration, recounted in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, reveals Jesus' divinity. He is transfigured before Peter, James, and John on a mountain. Moses and Elijah appear, and a heavenly voice declares Jesus to be the beloved Son. These accounts emphasize the importance of Jesus and his teaching.
Mark 9.2-13 (King James Version) :And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org