Table of Contents
Foreword Bishop Kevin W. Vann 9
Introduction 10
Chapter 1 The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:1-17) 13
1 John the Baptist and Jesus 14
2 Jesus' Journey to the Jordan 18
3 John's Confusion 22
4 Fulfilling All Righteousness 25
5 Jesus Is Baptized 29
6 The Manifestation of the Blessed Trinity 32
Chapter 2 Temptations in the Wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) 37
1 The Wilderness 39
2 Led by the Spirit 42
3 Why Was Jesus Tempted by the Devil? 45
4 Who Is the Devil? 49
5 The First Temptation 53
6 The Second Temptation 57
7 The Third Temptation 62
8 Aftermath 66
Chapter 3 Between Baptism and Capernaum (Luke 4:14-30) 71
1 In the Power of the Spirit 72
2 In the Synagogue in Nazareth 76
3 Jesus Reads Isaiah 80
4 A Superficial Familiarity with Jesus 84
5 The People React 87
Chapter 4 The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1-11) 91
1 Jesus the Bridegroom 92
2 Jesus' Mother Presents Him with a Problem 97
3 Jesus Responds to His Mother 100
4 Jesus Acts to Resolve the Problem 105
Chapter 5 Jesus Inaugurates His Public Ministry (Matthew 4:12-25) 111
1 Darkness and the Shadow of Death 112
2 The Call to Repent 116
3 Jesus Calls the First Four Disciples 120
4 Preaching, Teaching, and Healing 123
Chapter 6 The First Exorcism and Manifestation of Jesus' Authority (Mark 1:21-34) 127
1 Teaching on His Own Authority 128
2 An Unclean Spirit Is Cast Out 132
3 The Congregation Reacts to the Exorcism 136
4 Jesus Heals Simon Peter's Mother-in-Law 139
5 Jesus Heals and Exorcizes After the Sabbath Is Over 142
Chapter 7 The Transition from Capernaum to the Galilean Mission (Mark 1:35-39 147
1 Jesus Sets Out Alone to Pray 148
2 What Does Jesus Seek in His Prayer? 152
3 The Next Stage of Jesus' Ministry 156
Chapter 8 Put Out into the Deep (Luke 5:1-11) 159
1 Jesus Teaches a Crowd from Simon's Boat 160
2 Jesus Rewards Simon with a Catch of Fish 164
3 The Decisive Exchange between Simon Peter and Jesus 167
4 The First Disciples Leave Everything and Follow Jesus 171
Appendix of Prayers 174
