Throughout the Old Testament God promised that in the fullness of time He would send His Son, Jesus Christ, as the Saviour to redeem His people. Between the Old Testament and the New Testament there was a period of more than four hundred years about which the Bible is silent, but also during this time the Lord directed events to prepare for the coming of Christ and the spread of His kingdom.

As we study about the birth of John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ we need to focus on several remarkable circumstances. His birth to the aged Zacharias and Elizabeth was announced by the angel Gabriel.

In the fulness of time it pleased God to send His Son upon this earth. As the Saviour he would need to be very man and truly God. To fulfill the prophecies he would be born of a virgin and be conceived of the Holy Ghost. Therefore He is also called Immanuel, which means God with us.

There is not very much recorded in the Bible about the early years of Jesus life. In this lesson we will study three main events.

God had prepared John the Baptist, while he lived in the wilderness, to appear as a preacher announcing the coming of God’s kingdom. Many came to hear him preach about the need for repentance at the river Jordan and were baptized.

By His baptism Jesus had entered upon His work as the mediator between God and man. Immediately following this He was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, since it was necessary for Him to defeat His enemy, Satan, but also as a comfort for His church in their temptations.

After the wedding of Cana Jesus travels to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. Besides cleansing the temple of those who had made it a house of merchandise He also performed more miracles and revealed Himself as the Son of God.

After the Passover was over Jesus and His disciples travelled back to Galilee, but they went through Samaria. Here Jesus would reveal Himself as the Messiah to a Samaritan woman.

Although Jesus had already called some of the disciples they did not yet follow Him in His ministry. At this time Jesus will call the twelve disciples to become His “apostles”. They will follow Jesus during the years of His ministry in order to become acquainted with Him and to receive His instructions.

Although Jesus began with performing miracles He was first a teacher come from God. The Sermon on the Mount is the longest sermon recorded in the Gospels and the greatest sermon ever spoken.