What Does the Bible Say About the Life of Jesus?

Jesus has always existed as the Son of God but was miraculously born as a human being by the Virgin Mary some 2000 years ago in dramatic circumstances. The first years of Jesus’ life were spent as a refugee in Egypt, but after his return to Israel, Jesus grew up in a carpenter’s family in Nazareth with his father Joseph, mother Mary and brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas, as well as some sisters. Jesus was very knowledgeable about Scripture from an early age but did not begin his ministry until he was about 30 years old when he was baptized in the Jordan River. Thereafter, Jesus wandered around Israel with his disciples preaching the Gospel, offering salvation to all who believe in him, urging repentance, healing the sick and casting out demons. After 3 and a half years of ministry, Jesus was crucified and died for the sins of mankind, then resurrected after 3 days. After commissioning his disciples to continue his work and preach the gospel to all peoples of the earth, Jesus returned to heaven and is currently sitting at the right hand of God. At the end of time, Jesus will return to judge the world and complete his work of salvation.

Bible Verses

“⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” (Jn 17:5)

“⁵⁴and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? ⁵⁵Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”” (Mt 13:54–56)

“²¹Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, ²²and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” ²³Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,” (Lk 3:21–23)

“²³And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” (Mt 4:23)

“¹⁸“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death ¹⁹and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”” (Mt 20:18–19)

“⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”” (Ac 1:6–11)

“¹⁵Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”” (Re 11:15)

Study Questions

1. What did Jesus do before he began his ministry at the age of 30?
2. How would you have reacted if you had met Jesus during his time on earth?
3. Is it hard to believe everything the Bible says about Jesus?
4. Why was Jesus born a man?

Additional Bible Verses

John 17:24, Matt 2:13-15, Luke 2:41-52, Mark 16:19