<p>In this chapter we follow Jesus as He calls His first disciples and as they call their friends to follow too. “As He healed and taught them, there was great rejoicing. Heaven seemed to come down to the earth, and they feasted upon the grace of a merciful Savior.” </p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

Starting with Jesus

Ruthie Reeves

The Story of Jesus

Chapter 1: The Birth of Jesus

Chapter 2: Jesus Presented in the Temple

Chapter 3: The Visit of the Wisemen

Chapter 4: The Flight into Egypt

Chapter 5: Child Life of Jesus

Chapter 6: Days of Conflict

Chapter 7: The Baptism

Chapter 8: The Temptation

Chapter 9: Early Ministry

Chapter 10: Teachings of Christ

Chapter 11: SabbathKeeping

Chapter 12: The Good Shepherd

Chapter 13: Riding into Jerusalem

Chapter 14: Take These Things Hence

Chapter 15: At The Passover Supper

Chapter 16: In Gethsemane

Chapter 17: The Betrayal and Arrest

Chapter 18: Before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin

Chapter 19: Judas

Chapter 20: Before Pilot

Chapter 21: Before Herod

Chapter 22: Condemned by Pilot

Chapter 23: Calvary

Chapter 24: Death of Christ

Chapter 25: In Joseph’s Tomb

Chapter 26: He Is Risen

Chapter 27: Tell My Disciples

Chapter 28: Witnesses

Chapter 29: The Ascension

Chapter 30: Coming Again

Chapter 31: A Day of Judgment

Chapter 32: The Home of the Saved

Hello, boys and girls. Welcome to the story of Jesus. I'm so glad you joined us again today. Now, yesterday we learned about how Jesus resisted temptation. Today we are going to learn about how Jesus called his disciples and how they called others. So grab a fuzzy blanket and your favorite stuffed animal because it's time to follow Jesus. This is the story of Jesus by Ellen White. Chapter nine, early ministry from the wilderness. Christ returned to the Jordan where John the Baptist was preaching. At that time, men sent by the rulers at Jerusalem were questioning John as to his authority for teaching and baptizing the people. They asked if he was the Messiah or Elijah or that prophet meaning Moses to all this. He answered, I am not. Then they asked, who are you that we may give an answer to them that sent us, he said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord as said the prophet Isaiah, in old times when a king had to travel from one part of his country to another, men were sent ahead of his chariot. To prepare the roads, they had to cut down trees, gather out the stones and fill up the hollows so that the way would be clear for the king. So when Jesus, the heavenly king was coming, John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way by telling the people and calling on them to repent of their sins. As John answered the messengers from Jerusalem, he saw Jesus standing on the riverbank. His face lighted up and stretching out his hands. He said, there stands one among you whom you do not know. He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe latch I am not worthy to unloose the people were greatly moved. The Messiah was among them. They looked about eagerly to find the one of whom John had spoken, but Jesus had mingled with the multitude and was lost to sight. The next day, John again saw Jesus and pointing to him, cried, behold the lamb of God, which take the way the sins of the world. Then John told of the sign that had been seen at Christ's baptism, I saw and bear record. He added that this is the son of God with awe and wonder. The heroes looked upon Jesus. They question with themselves, is this the Christ? They saw that Jesus boreno tokens of worldly wealth or greatness. His clothing was plain and simple, such as poor people wore. But on his pale, worn face was something that moved their hearts in that face. They read dignity and power and every glance of the eye, every feature of the countenance spoke of divine compassion and unutterable love. But the messengers from Jerusalem were not drawn to the savior. John had not said that which they desired to hear. They expected the Messiah to come as a great conqueror. They saw that this was not the mission of Jesus and in disappointment, they turned from him. The next day, John again saw Jesus and again he cried. Behold the lamb of God, two of John's disciples were standing near and they followed Jesus. They listened to his teaching and became his disciples. One of the two was Andrew, the other John. Andrew soon brought to Jesus his own brother, Simon, whom Christ named Peter. The next day on the way to Galilee, Christ called another disciple Philip. As soon as Philip found the savior, he brought his friend Nathaniel. In this way, Christ's great work on earth was begun. One by one, he called his disciples and one brought his brother, another his friend. This is what every follower of Christ is to do. As soon as he himself knows Jesus, he is to tell others what a precious friend he has found. This is a work that all can do whether they are young or old. At Cana in Galilee, Christ with his disciples attended a marriage feast for the happiness of this household gathering. His wonderful power was put forth. It was the custom in that country to use wine. On such occasions before the feast was ended, the supply of wine had failed. The lack of wine at a feast would be thought to show a want of hospitality, and this was regarded as a great disgrace. Christ was told of what had happened and he bathed the servant, fill six large stone jars with water. Then he said, draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast. Instead of water, there came forth wine. This wine was much better than that, which had been served before and there was enough for all. After working the miracle, Jesus quietly went away, not till he had gone. Did the guests know of the work he had done? Christ's gift to the marriage feast was a symbol. The water represented baptism and the wine, his blood that was to be shed for the world. The wine, which Jesus made was not fermented. Liquor such wine is a cause of drunkenness and many great evils, and God had forbidden its use. He says, wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived by it is not wise. It bite it like a serpent and sting it like an adder. The wine used at the feast was the pure sweet juice of the grape. It was like that, which the prophet Isaiah calls the new wine in the cluster and he says a blessing is in it. By going to the marriage feast, Christ showed that it is right to meet together in this pleasant way. He liked to see people happy. Often he visited them in their homes and tried to have them forget their cares and their troubles and think of God's goodness and his love wherever he might be. Christ was always trying to do this. Wherever a heart was open to receive the divine message, he unfolded the truth of the way of salvation. One day as he was passing through the country of Samaria, he sat down by a well to rest. When a woman came to draw water, he asked her for a Jin. The woman wondered at this for she knew how the Jews hated the Samaritans, but Christ told her that if she would ask of him, he would give her living water at this. She wondered the more. Then Jesus said to her, whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst. But the water that I will give him will be in him. A well of water springing up into everlasting life by the living water is meant. The Holy Spirit as a thirsty traveler needs water to drink. So do we need God's spirit in our hearts. He who drinks of this water shall never thirst. The Holy Spirit brings God's love into our hearts. It satisfies our longings so that the riches and honors and pleasures of this world do not attract us, and it fills us with such joy that we want others to have it too. It will be in us like a spring of water that flows out in blessing to all around and everyone in whom God's spirit dwells will live forever with Christ in his kingdom received into the heart. By faith, it is the beginning of the life eternal. This precious blessing Christ told the woman he would give her if she asked for it so he will give it to us. This woman had broken God's commandments and Christ showed her that he knew the sins of her life, but he showed too that he was her friend, that he loved and pitied her, and that if she was was willing to forsake her sins, God would receive her as his child. How glad she was to know this. In her joy, she hurried away to the town nearby and called the people to come and see Jesus. So they came to the well and asked him to stay with them. He remained two days and taught them and many listened to his words. They repented of their sins and believed on him as their savior during his ministry. Jesus twice visited his old home in Nazareth. At the first visit, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Here he read from my Isaiahs prophecy about the work of the Messiah, how he was to preach good tidings to the poor, to comfort the sorrow wing, to give sight to the blind and to heal those that were bruised. Then he told the people that all this was fulfilled that day. This was the work that he himself was doing. At these words, the hearers were filled with joy. They believed that Jesus was the promise savior. Their hearts were moved upon by the Holy Spirit, and they responded with fervent amens and praises to the Lord. Then they remembered how Jesus had lived among them as a carpenter. Often they had seen him working in the shop with Joseph. Though in his whole life there had been only deeds of love and mercy. They would not believe that he was the Messiah by such thoughts as ths. They opened the wave for Satan to control their minds. Then they were filled with wrath against the savior. They cried out against him and determined to take his life. They hurried him away, meaning to throw him over the steep side of the hill. But all the angels were near to protect him. He passed safely through the crowd and was not to be found the next time he came to Nazareth. The people were no more ready to receive him. He went away never to return. Christ worked for those who wanted his help. And all through the country, the people flocked about him. As he healed and taught them, there was great rejoicing. Heaven seemed to come down to the earth and they feasted upon the grace of a merciful savior to be continued. I love those last few words. They feasted upon the grace of a merciful savior. Aren't you glad that we have a merciful savior? It's time now for our questions. Are you ready for question one? Question one. Who was Peter's brother in our story today? Peter's brother brought him to Jesus. So who was that? Question number two? What is a work that we all can do, whether we're young or old? And our last question, question number three, at what event did Jesus first use his power in our story, his wonderful power? There was a special event that Jesus was at where he used his power. So you can send your answers to us at a place to do something@gmail.com, and we love to see you answering your questions and seeing how you have been listening to this story. Thank you so much for listening. Don't forget to check out the activity today at a place to do something.com/the story. And if you want to show us what you've been doing with the activity, I know each day you're supposed to draw a picture from the story. You can send that to us at a place to do something@gmail.com or tag us on Instagram and Facebook at a place to do something. We would love to see what you've been doing. Thank you so much for listening and make sure to come back tomorrow for our next chapter in the story of Jesus. This audio program was brought to you by a place to do something and narrated by Ruthie Reeves. You can find more programs like this at www.aplacetodosomething.com.

Ellen G. White

Book

The Story of Jesus

Chapter 9: Early Ministry

Read by Ruthie Reeves

Description

Parent Series

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Other Teachings in Series

Chapter 1: The Birth of Jesus

Chapter 2: Jesus Presented in the Temple

Chapter 3: The Visit of the Wisemen

Chapter 4: The Flight into Egypt

Chapter 5: Child Life of Jesus

Chapter 6: Days of Conflict

Chapter 7: The Baptism

Chapter 8: The Temptation

Chapter 9: Early Ministry

Chapter 10: Teachings of Christ

Chapter 11: SabbathKeeping

Chapter 12: The Good Shepherd

Chapter 13: Riding into Jerusalem

Chapter 14: Take These Things Hence

Chapter 15: At The Passover Supper

Chapter 16: In Gethsemane

Chapter 17: The Betrayal and Arrest

Chapter 18: Before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin

Chapter 19: Judas

Chapter 20: Before Pilot

Chapter 21: Before Herod

Chapter 22: Condemned by Pilot

Chapter 23: Calvary

Chapter 24: Death of Christ

Chapter 25: In Joseph’s Tomb

Chapter 26: He Is Risen

Chapter 27: Tell My Disciples

Chapter 28: Witnesses

Chapter 29: The Ascension

Chapter 30: Coming Again

Chapter 31: A Day of Judgment

Chapter 32: The Home of the Saved

Sound Doctrine