Bible Curious

DAY 13 (Genesis 1-4): The Book of Genesis is the first of five books credited to the prophet Moses which comprise the Torah, or 'Law' of the Hebrew Bible. Genesis describes the origins of the Israelites from the Creation until their settlement in Egypt, and covers about two thousand years of history. The first chapter of Genesis describes how God created the Heavens and the Earth over a span of six days. Obviously, this contradicts other, more naturalistic explanations, and that's on purpose. But before we get into that discussion, I invite you to simply follow along with your mind's eye, and allow the word of God to paint the universe into existence, the way an artist might use colored pigments to create a landscape.

DAY 12 (Matt 27-28): Betrayed by Judas, captured by hostile Jewish authorities, abandoned by his disciples, denied by Simon Peter, Jesus had finally set the scene for his greatest miracle yet: the salvation of all mankind.

DAY 11 (Matt 25-26): Jesus gathers his disciples at the Mountain of Olives to teach them about the end times, and the Second Coming of Christ. He then brings his destiny swiftly into fulfillment at the Passover supper, an ancient Jewish rite which lay at the very core of Jewish culture.

DAY 10 (Matt 23-24): While teaching publicly in the Jerusalem Temple, Jesus delivers a series of stern warnings to the keepers of Jewish law: two groups known as "scribes", those who wrote and copied scrolls, and "Pharisees", a sect of Jewish teachers who emerged as a result of the Babylonian exile which happened in the 6th century BC. Jesus then utters a prophecy predicting the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. This prophecy would be fulfilled forty years later in the year 70 AD.

DAY 9 (Matt 21-22): Jesus and his disciples approach the holy city of Jerusalem during the final days of Jesus' ministry on earth, and we can see the excitement of his followers reach a fever pitch. Jesus spends a day overturning tables in the Temple, healing the sick, and confounding Jewish authorities.

DAY 8 (Matt 18-20): Jesus shifts the focus of his ministry to preparation for his climactic return to Jerusalem which would happen in the near future. As Jesus challenges his disciples to live as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, the mother of two of his apostles approaches with a bold request.

DAY 7 (Matt 14-17): Jesus' fame escalates to where he cannot find any time alone. The Pharisees continue to criticize the lowly status of Jesus and his followers, and Jesus takes three of his most trusted disciples up a mountain, where He reveals startling truths.

DAY 6 (Matt 12-13): Having established his divine authority through his teaching and performance of miraculous healings, Jesus attracts the attention of the Pharisees, a Jewish sect of teachers and professors of Torah. Jesus teaches in parables, which confuses the Pharisees while at the same time enlightening his disciples in spiritual truth.

DAY 5 (Matt 10-11): As Jesus' popularity grew and masses of desperate and needy people came to him for help, Jesus sees the need to start delegating authority to his most trusted disciples. He is then contacted by another prophet, John the Baptist, who wants to know definitively whether or not Jesus is the promised Messiah.

DAY 4 (Matt 7-9): Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by teaching the difference between genuine and superficial followers of God, then leads his followers on a march around the Sea of Galilee, performing many miracles along the way.