24 passages · Jesus and the church
Mary, engaged to Joseph, is found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph plans to end the engagement quietly, but an angel tells him in a dream to take Mary as his wife and name the child Jesus, who will save his people from their sins.
Matthew says these events fulfilled a prophecy that a virgin would bear a son called Immanuel, 'God with us.' Joseph obeys the angel, takes Mary as his wife, and names the child Jesus after he is born.
Gabriel tells the young virgin Mary she will conceive a son named Jesus, who will be called Son of the Most High and reign on David's throne forever. Mary asks how, is told the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and accepts.
A Roman census sends Joseph and the expectant Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David. There she gives birth to her firstborn son and lays Him in a manger.
At eight days Jesus is circumcised and named as the angel directed. Later His parents bring Him to Jerusalem to be presented and to offer the sacrifice the Law requires.
Luke says Jesus was about thirty when He began and traces His line through Joseph back through David, Abraham and Noah to Adam, the son of God.
John opens by describing the Word as existing in the beginning, with God and as God, the agent of creation, and the source of life and light that darkness has not overcome.
The Word takes on human life and lives among people, revealing glory, grace and truth. John the Baptist's testimony is recalled, and the Son is said to make the unseen God known.
Puzzled, Nicodemus asks how this can be. Jesus rebukes his lack of understanding, speaks of testifying to what He has seen, and says the Son of Man must be lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness.
The Jews object that they know Jesus' family. He says no one comes unless the Father draws them, and repeats that He is the living bread that came down from heaven, given for the world's life.
Jesus says He is the light of the world. The Pharisees say His self-testimony is invalid, and He replies that He and the Father testify together and that they know neither.
Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus replies that seeing him is seeing the Father, points to his words and works, and promises that believers will do great works and that prayer in his name will be answered.
Paul declares that there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. What the law could not do, God did by sending his Son, so that the law's requirement is fulfilled in those who live by the Spirit.
Paul compares the time before Christ to an heir under guardians. When the time was right, God sent his Son to redeem those under the law, so believers are adopted and God's Spirit cries 'Abba, Father' in their hearts.
Paul points to Christ, who was in the form of God but emptied Himself, took a servant's form and died on a cross. God then exalted Him so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord.
In an exalted passage, Paul describes the Son as the image of the invisible God, through whom all things were created and hold together. He is head of the church, first to rise from the dead, and through His cross God reconciles all things.
Paul urges them to keep living as they began, rooted in Christ, and not be captured by human philosophy. In Christ dwells the fullness of God and they share in His fullness, having been buried and raised with Him and forgiven, as Christ disarmed the powers at the cross.
Paul explains that he writes so Timothy will know how to behave in God's household, the church. He closes with what appears to be an early confession about Christ's appearance, vindication and glory.
Quoting a psalm about humanity's place, the author says everything is not yet visibly under human control. But Jesus, made briefly lower than the angels, is now crowned with glory because he suffered death for everyone.
The author says it was fitting to make Jesus perfect through suffering, and that he calls believers his brothers. He shared flesh and blood to defeat death's power and free people from fear, becoming a merciful and faithful high priest who can help those who are tempted.
The author says he and others heard, saw and touched the Word of life, the eternal life that was with the Father. They announce it so readers may share fellowship with them, the Father and Jesus, and so their joy is complete.
John tells readers to test spirits, since many false prophets have gone out. A spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and believers have overcome the false ones because greater is He who is in them.
Jesus came by water and blood, and the Spirit testifies to this, so the Spirit, the water and the blood agree. God's testimony is greater than human testimony, and it is that God gave eternal life in His Son.
Many deceivers have gone out who deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The readers are warned to remain in Christ's teaching and not to welcome or greet those who bring a different teaching.