Bible narratives — The Gospels in English

As Jesus returned from the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, there was a large crowd surrounding the rest of His disciples. Some scribes, who were religious leaders, were standing there arguing with them.

Story 109: Coming as a Child

An argument had started to rise up between the disciples. They were debating over which one of them would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God. In the Jewish culture, rank and status were very important. Everyone knew their place in society.

Story 113: The Cost of Discipleship

Jesus had spent many months out of the limelight, teaching His disciples and journeying around the countryside. But the time had come for the great festival, and the Jewish families all over Israel were preparing to go to Jerusalem.

Story 114: Choosing Sides

Jesus and His disciples made their way in secret to Jerusalem. The Jews at the Feast were all looking out for Him, awaiting His arrival. The people debated whether He was sent by God or was a deceiver bent on leading the people far from the Lord.

Story 116: Unexpected Grace: The Woman Caught in Adultery

The final day of the celebration was full of tension and confused wonder in the nation of Israel. Would they accept that Jesus had power and authority from God, as He claimed? Would they accept Him as the Messiah?

Story 117: The Light of the World

For hundreds of years, the Jewish people had been anticipating the coming of the Messiah, Now He was among them, preaching in the Temple courts, healing their sick, and proclaiming the Good News of God's plan to bring salvation to the world.

Story 118: Slavery and the Son Who Sets Us Free

Many were coming to believe in Jesus as He taught in the courts of the Temple in Jerusalem. He told them, “‘If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

Story 134: The Good Shepherd Part 2

Throughout time, there have been those who do not care about Truth. Instead of trying to make Truth more clear, they use it and twist it for their own power and purpose. As Jesus continued to teach and preach, this what He said about these people: “‘All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’”

Story 135: Unbreakable: The Son, His Love, and His Word

As Jesus told a story about a Good Shepherd (see lessons 133 and 134), His listeners understood that He was talking about Himself. They also knew He was claiming to be the Messiah.

Story 138: Status in the Kingdom

The Pharisees were looking for a way to accuse Jesus. If only He would do something that they could use against Him…if only they could get Him to break the Law.

Story 139: A Feast for the Broken

Jesus sat at the table of a powerful Pharisee. The influential, honored religious men of the region had joined them. Normally, an invitation to dinner is meant to be a sign of friendship, but in this case, it was quite the opposite.

Story 140: Counting the Cost

As Jesus went around Perea proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God, great crowds began to follow Him wherever He went. A great line of hostility had been drawn by the most powerful religious leaders in Jerusalem against Jesus, but He was still the most popular teacher in the nation.

Story 141: His Searching Love for the Lost

Sometimes when we read about the life and words of the Lord Jesus, He can seem wild and untamed. He is unpredictable. He does what we would never expect.

Story 158: On Becoming A Many-Mina'ed Servant of God

As the Lord Jesus moved from Jericho on the path to Jerusalem, the people wondered what would happen when He got there. Would He reveal Himself as the conquering Messiah? Would He usher in the Kingdom of God?

Story 160: The Triumphal Entry of a Weeping King

The Lord Jesus and His disciples began their one mile trek from Bethany to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. Jesus had raised His friend, Lazarus from the dead only a few days before. Multitudes of people who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast had gone out to Bethany to see Lazarus and Christ.

Story 167: Passion Week: Dirty on the Inside

As Jesus stood in a courtyard of the Temple, He had already begun to declare His indictment against the religious leaders of Israel. It was a mighty confrontation. Here was the Son of the living God, pronouncing God's rebuke against the leaders of His holy nation…His treasured possession.

Story 180: The Last Supper: Remaining in the Love of the Trinity

As Jesus sat with His disciples in the Upper Room, He continued to give them His last lessons before His journey to the cross. Over and over again, He showed the deep interconnectedness that they would have with Christ and His Father through the Holy Spirit.

Story 181: The Last Supper: Counselor of Hope

As Jesus spent His last evening before His arrest with His disciples, He promised that He would send a Counselor to them once He was gone. The Spirit of Christ would come into their hearts and give them guidance and power to continue on the work of the Kingdom.

Story 183: The Garden of Gethsemane: The Agony of Surrender

As Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover, the Lord revealed the mysteries of God’s plan to them in a much fuller way than they had ever understood before.

Story 184: The Arrest: When Everyone Falls Away

Jesus knelt in prayer in the darkness of the Garden of Gethsemane. In an agony of prayer, He asked His Father to remove the terrible trial before Him. The Father’s answer was no, and so He surrendered to His Father’s will.