THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: THE STORY SO FAR

"The Light of the World" is the story of Jesus as told in the four gospels. So far, we have seen how an elderly priest called Zechariah went to worship in the great temple that the Jews had in Jerusalem. While he is alone in the sanctuary of the temple, an angel appears to him and tells him that his wife Elizabeth is to have a child, a son. They must give the child the name of John. Zechariah does not believe this prophecy, because both he and his wife are advanced in age. The angel tells him that this will happen but that, as a punishment for his unbelief, Zechariah will be unable to speak until the prophecy is fulfilled.

When his time in Jerusalem is over, Zechariah goes back to his home town. There, his wife Elizabeth does conceive a child.

The angel, who is called Gabriel, appears to a young woman called Mary, who is betrothed to a man named Joseph. Mary is a cousin of Elizabeth. The angel announces to her that she will conceive and bear a son, whom she must call Jesus. Her son will have no human father, because God Himself will bring the child into being. Unlike Zechariah, Mary believes the message.

Gabriel tells Mary that Elizabeth is expecting a child, and Mary goes to stay with her until the child is born. Zechariah is still dumb. When his relatives ask what name the child should have, Zechariah writes, "His name is John," on a writing tablet. Immediately, he regains the power of speech.

Mary returns to Joseph and explains to Joseph that she will have a child, and this will be brought about by God. Therefore Joseph will be the boy's foster-father. Joseph takes Mary into his home and they settle down to live together.

Their peace is disturbed by an order from the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar that a census must be taken. Everyone must be counted. For Joseph and Mary, this will mean traveling to Bethlehem. When they get there, however, there is nowhere for them to stay. They have to take refuge in a stable and it is here, at night, that Mary gives birth to Jesus.

Nearby there are shepherds watching over their sheep, and an angel appears to tell them about the birth of the child. Then a great host of angels appears, praising God. The shepherds set out to see the child.

Issue 12, October 24th: The shepherds find the baby in the stable, with Mary and Joseph. After adoring the child, they go back rejoicing.

November 14th: Wise men from the east appear in Jerusalem, saying that they are seeking a newborn king. When King Herod hears about them, he questions them. He tells them that the Messiah, who has been prophesied, is to be born in Bethlehem. The wise men go there, and the star shows them exactly where the child is.

January 9th, 2015: The Magi spend time visiting the holy family before returning to the East — without seeing King Herod. Herod is furious and he sends soldiers to kill any boy child under two years old in Bethlehem. Joseph is warned in a dream, and he flees with Mary and Jesus to Egypt, where they stay until Herod dies. Then, they return to their home country and settle in the town of Nazareth.

February 13th, 2015: Jesus grows into boyhood in Nazareth and when He is twelve years old his parents take Him to the temple in Jersualem. When they set out to return to Nazareth, Jesus is not with them and they have to return to the city to look for Him. On the third day they find Him in the temple, asking questions of the doctors of the law. They all return to Nazareth and Jesus continues to grow into manhood. When He is about thirty years old, He is baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, and then He goes into the wilderness where He is tempted by Satan.

March 20th, 2015: Jesus overcomes the temptations of Satan and returns to where John is baptizing. Two of John's disciples become disciples of Jesus, and others join Him also. Jesus goes with His disciples to a village in Galilee called Cana, where He has been invited to attend a wedding. To the embarrassment of the couple getting married, the wine runs out. Mary, the mother of Jesus, tells Him of the problem and Jesus quietly works His first miracle: he turns the water into wine. Meanwhile, John continues his own ministry of baptism, but he is interrupted when soldiers arrive from King Herod Antipas. The king has been annoyed by John's preaching, and he intends to put John into prison.

June 5th, 2015: John is imprisoned. Jesus continues with His own ministry. He teaches from Simon's boat and heals his mother-in-law. He heals the servant of a centurion, and praises the centurion's faith. Jesus is teaching inside a house one day when four men arrive, carrying a paralyzed man. They cannot get to Jesus, so they cut a hole in the roof and lower the sick man through the opening.

July 24th, 2015: Jesus heals the paralyzed man, and also forgives his sins. This upsets the Pharisees very much, for, who can forgive sins but God alone? Jesus answers the Pharisees, but from now on they are against Jesus, and always looking for some fault they can find in Him. Meantime John, in prison, wonders is Jesus really is the Messiah, and he sends messengers to find Jesus and ask him that very question. Also, Jesus' family grow worried about Him, and set out to meet Him also. Jesus cures many people, and one day he gives a blind man back his sight. The Pharisees say that Jesus is using the power of Satan to work His miracles. Jesus points out that Satan would be working against himself, if that were the case. He tells the Pharisees that they are guilty of a terrible sin, in thinking such evil of what is obviously good.

August 21st, 2015: Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee with his disciples in the boat of Simon the fisherman. There is a sudden and violent storm. The waves are so powerful that they are coming over the sides of the boat, and the disciples fear that they will alol be drowned. Jesus is sleeping, and He continues to sleep right through the storm. The disciples wake him in their panic, and he orders the wind and the waves to cease storming. At once there is a great calm. They make landfall at a place called Gadara, and there they are met by two demoniacs. These are men who are possessed by a multitude of evil spirits. Jesus casts out the spirits, restoring the unfortunate men to their right minds. The spirits, speaking to Jesus, make the strange request that He should send them into a herd of pigs that is nearby. Jesus grants their request and they enter into the pigs.

December, 2015: Jesus continues to teach and heal people in many towns and villages. This begins to make Him unpopular with the Scribes and Pharisees, who are the official religious leaders. They are jealous of Jesus, and begin to find every opportunity they can to find fault with Him.

February, 2016: Jesus continues to teach and heal, but the hostility of the Pharisees increases. One day, Jesus hears that his friend Lazarus is sick. Later, Jesus hears that Lazarus has died. He goes to Bethany, the village where Lazarus lived with his sisters Mary and Martha.

May, 2016: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, and this sets the Jewish leaders against Him even more. They look for a way to get rid of Jesus and Judas offers to help them, in exchange for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus is arrested, put through a couple of unfair "trials," and executed. However, as we all know, He rises from death on the third day. He appears to His disciples and friends.