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Seven Highlights of Jesus' Life

There are seven high points to the life of Jesus Christ as we see it in this space, and each one of them is very important to the mission He came to fulfill on earth. The seven major events of His life are these: 1) Jesus’ birth, 2) His baptism, 3) His 40-day temptation, 4) three and a half years of ministry, 5) His acquiescence to suffering in Gethsemane, 6) His crucifixion, and 7) His resurrection. Let’s review each of them here:

1. Christ’s Unprecedented Birth
“Jesus’ birth was vital to man’s salvation: without the birth there could have been no death, no resurrection and no hope at all for mankind. You know how God put His plan into action. It is undeniably “the greatest story ever told.” He planted a seed of greatness in the womb of a virgin named Mary. It was totally impossible. Not only did a virgin conceive, but the Holy Spirit (to whom Jesus referred as “My Father”!) impregnated her. (Mat. 1.20; Luke 1.35) There was no human factor in the planning or implementing of the act itself. Joseph her husband did not contribute a sperm cell – she was a virgin – nor did Mary supply an egg cell. How could there be a seed of greatness, how could there be a sinless infant born if sinful humans had a part in its conception? Mary was only a willing donor of her body for the divine implantation of the fertilized egg cell and her subsequent nourishing of the embryo that was not only begotten but created by God alone.”

- From “Thoughts of a Layman” archives: “The Impossible Story of Christ,” 12/24/03

2. Baptism ‘to Fulfill All Righteousness’
Water baptism is a symbol. When the baptismal candidate is immersed in the water it is a symbol that the old carnal nature, which is dead by faith in Christ, is now being buried. Then, when the candidate comes up out of the water, it is a symbol of his arising to walk in a new life. It is plain that Jesus needed no baptism, but, as He told John, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” John’s baptism was one of repentance and, of course, Jesus needed no repentance. He knew no sin. Yet, as a man—a Jewish man—Jesus’ life agreed in all aspects with that of a righteous Jew. The righteous Jew assented to the baptism of John because John was the herald of the Christ. In consenting to baptism by John, who needed to be baptized with the Spirit by Him, Jesus was fulfilling His role as a man, albeit a unique man, one without sin.

3. Forty Days of Grueling Temptations
"And immediately [after His baptism] the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness." (Mark 1:12) This is an interesting statement. Is it possible that Jesus did not want to go through the 40-day ordeal lying ahead of Him? It is not only possible; it is likely. As a mortal man, Jesus certainly did not relish suffering, but as a man wholly dedicated to the Father and what the Father wanted, Jesus was driven to do what the natural side of Him had no desire to do. There was a compulsion from within Himself to deny Himself the easy path and to take the way of the cross before ever He hanged thereon.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Heb 4:15) In the 40-day long siege of grueling temptations Jesus encountered every inducement to sin that we can know, and He came through it all victorious. If He had not, 1) He could not have known the human experience, and 2) we would yet be in our sins and unalterably destined for hell.

Have You Grown Weary of Your Walk?


“Why should I be lonely when I’ve Jesus only
To be my Companion and unfailing Guide?
Why should I be weary and my path seem dreary,
When He’s walking by my side?”

It’s a simple song, but full of significance. Let’s break the words down into meaningful bites that we can digest:

Why should I be lonely when I’ve Jesus only
To be my Companion and unfailing Guide?

The two disciples who were walking to the village of Emmaus the Sunday after Jesus’ crucifixion (Luke 24.13-32) had to be in deep sorrow and they were more than a little confused by the rumors of Jesus’ body having disappeared. (I can imagine their sorrow and I am very much acquainted with being confused.) Then a stranger catches up to them and begins talking to them.

As they said afterwards, their hearts burned within them, and I can visualize the gentle healing they found in His words even though he reproved them for their lack of belief. They had Jesus with them as they walked and were so sad! This stranger – Jesus – explained the situation to them and lifted their spirits. As the babe leaped within the womb of Elisabeth when she heard Mary’s greeting, so the incipient Jesus in them stirred when the words of Jesus pierced through to their hearts so “slow to believe.”

The same Jesus is MY Steadfast Companion. It is the same Jesus who leads me every step of the way through the jungle of life. Only Jesus is my Deliverer. He alone directs my every step. There are many mazes in this life; there are many perplexing situations. There are wild beasts lying in wait for me, most of which I don’t see because He knows they would scare me to death. There are hidden pits, cleverly disguised, most of which I am unaware because the sheer number of them would overwhelm me and send me into a panic, making me afraid to take another step. He leads me around or through them all. He reminds me in my most stressful moments that He is surely “God with us” – that is, with ME.

Have You Grown Weary of Your Walk?

Why should I be weary and my path seem dreary…

There is no child of God who doesn’t tire in his journey. There is no faith so strong that it makes the pathway always a cheerful one. The indomitable Apostle Paul said that on one occasion he was with the saints at Corinth “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” (1 Cor. 2:3.) When I essay to go in my own strength and my so-called steely will, hacking out a trail that was not meant for me at the time, I invariably get into trouble. Setting my own timetable of hoped-for events is also a definite no-no. God wants me to learn – and He will break my will and hardness of heart in the learning – that I am totally inadequate for the journey without Him. Unbelievers may do some things on their own, they may forge their own destiny, but even they will at last come to a desperate dead end. God is the answer to the pathway fraught with danger. God is the answer to the warrior who is tired and ready to surrender to the enemy. Don’t give in! Don’t go down without the fight of your life! God is your victory. He is the complete answer to the person who has lost direction and insists on slashing her way through the jungle in endless, utterly frustrating circles.

In His grace and mercy God does not forsake us when we go off on such futile tangents; He simply is not with us in the futile effort. But all the while His Spirit is still within us, even though His will is not with us on our errant bypath. Despite our temporary lapse of wisdom, He will always call us back to the path where His will wants us – if we will but hear Him.

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” (Isa. 58:8 - NIV)

When He’s walking by my side.

The conclusion is this: Jesus walks with me. He is sufficient in any contingency; He holds my hand; He abides in my heart; He is my everything. With Him I can perform the most daunting tasks. With Him I can safely leap over the widest and deepest gorges. With Him I can defeat a thousand foes. Why then should I be weary or my path seem dreary? I have Almighty God on my side.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121)

God takes my trembling, weak hands in His firm, strong clasp – and suddenly I am INVINCIBLE.