Bible Reading Plan

Israel was great and was feared by Moab. Balak sent messengers to Balaam (believed to be a prophet) to bring him to Moab to curse Israel. God told Balaam to return with the messengers and only do as He commanded. God became angry and had an angel stand in the way of Balaam as he rode his donkey. The donkey turned three times when seeing the angel, and Balaam struck her each time. The donkey rebuked Balaam for striking her, then Balaam saw the angel. The angel told Balaam to go forward and to do only as the Lord commanded. Balak took Balaam to see Israel from two distant locations to curse Israel, but God affirmed His message of blessings toward Israel. God reaffirmed His word and His promise to Israel.

The first five books of the Old Testament are called the Pentateuch (five books), the Torah (instruction), or the Books of The Law. The first book is Genesis which means beginning. Genesis tells the story of creation. God existed in the beginning, set time in motion, and created the world and everything in it. God rested on the seventh day and made it holy. He created man in His own image, male and female, and provided his plan for them to become one. God breathed life into man and put him in a garden in Eden. He told the man and woman to multiply the earth. Man was given rule over all living creatures of the earth and given fruit of the tree for food. But man was commanded not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Jesus sought to save the lost without neglecting those who are saved. Believers were safe in the open field or already in their master’s home. The wise man manages what God gives him with integrity and is trusted with much. The foolish man puts his trust in riches that are temporary and may be taken away. The gospel is truth and will not be changed based on man’s desires or preferences. Jesus taught that some would not believe the gospel no matter what signs or miracles they might witness.

John preached the coming of the Messiah, a fulfillment of prophecies in Isaiah. Jesus would soon baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, a sign of power. Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. A voice was heard stating God’s pleasure in Jesus. The bloodline of Jesus was outlined. Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days and was tempted by the devil. Jesus referred to scripture each time He was tempted and refused to sin. The people in His own town rejected Him. He went about healing and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Luke was a physician who also wrote the book of Acts. He was a Gentile. He wrote from the knowledge of those who witnessed the life of Jesus. Luke details the announcement of the births of John and Jesus through the angel Gabriel. Zechariah was unable to speak because of his unbelief. Mary and Elizabeth believed what they were told and celebrated the news together. John leaped in his mother’s womb when Mary visited Elizabeth, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. John and Jesus were born, and Jesus was presented in the Temple.

The chief priests delivered Jesus to Pilot to be crucified. Pilot found no fault in Jesus, but the chief priests stirred the crowd and insisted on Him being crucified. Jesus was mocked, beaten, and crucified. His body was placed in a tomb with a stone rolled in front of its entrance. On the third day, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome went to anoint the body of Jesus and found that He had risen from the dead. Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene and to the disciples. He commanded the disciples to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.

Prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 (about 500 years before the birth of Christ) was fulfilled in part by the triumphal entry of Jesus. Jesus cleansed the temple and proclaimed His house as a house of prayer. The Pharisees and scribes continued testing Jesus and attempted to trap Him by questioning Him. Jesus taught us to honor God by properly managing everything He provides. We may be considered tenants, or stewards of those gifts. Jesus warned the disciples of the scribes who misused their religious positions for personal gain. He gave the great commandment and commended a widow for giving everything because of her faith in God.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John on a mountain and He was transfigured (appearance changed) in front of them. A voice came from the clouds proclaiming Jesus as God’s Son. Jesus healed a boy with an unclean spirit and a blind man named Bartimaeus. The stories of healing focused on faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus told the disciples about His future death and resurrection a second and third time. He taught the disciples and the crowds the importance of total surrender to God.

Jesus was accused by the religious crowd of breaking the Law by healing the sick on the Sabbath. The religious leaders were not concerned with the Law. They were interested in their customs and the enforcement of their interpretation of the Law. Mark recorded the gathering of the twelve, the unforgivable sin, and the teachings of Jesus concerning His true family. Jesus told and explained the parable of the sower. He explained the importance of the light (The Word, Jesus Himself) being shared and not hidden. Jesus used a parable and a storm to confront the disciples’ lack of faith.

Jesus was delivered to the governor to be charged and tried. According to their custom, the governor allowed the people to choose a man to be released. The crowd chose Barabbas. Jesus was handed over to be crucified. The soldiers mocked Jesus. At His death, the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. The end of the old covenant and the beginning of the new covenant in Christ began. The body was placed in a tomb and guarded, but the tomb was found to be empty after the Sabbath. The guards were told to say the body was taken while they were asleep. The eleven remaining disciples went to Galilee and saw that Jesus had risen. He gave them the Great Commission, a call to make disciples of all nations.