This is the second installment in this series on the Life of Christ. The first was The Intertestamental Period. If you have not taken that introductory course you may catch up on it by browsing its pages and printing the lectures. Without this essential understanding of what historically led up to the life of Christ you may miss some poignant meanings of New Testament events. It is not necessary to take the Intertestamental Period first, but it is helpful.

We arrive now on the New Testament scene. The fullness of time has come for Christ, the Messiah, to be born. The stage is set, the props are in place, the actors willing and unwilling on on stage, every detail has been choriographed by its Divine author as the curtain rises on the New Testament era. There is a hush as the lights come up. The great cloud of witnesses, that audience of heaven and earth, spectators of heavenly and earthly origin, lean forward over the balcony of heaven intently listening as the story begins to unfold. The apostle Paul called it "the mystery of the ages, which form the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things, according to His eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:9-12)

One may ask, "Is it necessary to study the life of Christ?" Our response is with a few questions: Is it necessary to study medicine to be physician? Is it necessary to study philosophy to be a philosopher? Or is it necessary to study science to be a scientist? Of course! Then would it not follow that it is necessary to study the life of Christ to truely be a Christian? But of course. Jesus said "Without me you can do nothing. I am the vine you are the branches. We cannot be "IN HIM" without knowing him. We cannot walk with him unless we know how he walked. There is an old song that says, "I walked today where Jesus walked, and felt his presence there." We invite you to begin a deeper walk with Jesus Christ through the careful study of his life and ministry. Our prayer is that you may see Jesus in all the fullness of his glory, and know him as you have never known him before through these studies.

The life of Christ is the foundation for all that follows in the New Testament. Without it you cannot grasp the meaning of the events contained in the book of Acts. Without the gospels and the book of Acts you cannot comprehend the meaning of the epistles. Paul said, our faith "is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." (Ephesians 2:20) Though Paul knew Christ more intimately that most of us could ever hope he still longed to know him more and prayed for the church that "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of his glory in his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power." (Ephesians 1:18-19) Jesus wants to be known. He longs to reveal himself to each of us. That will not happen in the marketplace of ideas, or in the ivy halls theological institutions, nor in the solitude or frenzy of a church service. Jesus always reveals himself IN HIS WORD. His word is the sword, or tool of the Holy Spirit to pierce our hearts and reveal the deep things of God.

This course is an effort to know Christ and make him known. If you will study these lessons diligently you will learn, grow, mature, and be able to teach others also. REMINDER: This is not a Sunday School class. It is designed to be challenging to your intellect. Study the lecture material, read the outside readings, discuss the topics, write a thought provoking essay, and take the exams so that you may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.