Jesus as a boy
Luke 2:41-52

We would like to know about the boyhood days of Jesus in detail. But the Bible gives only one incident of his boyhood.

The Jews from all places visited Jerusalem for the annual Passover festival. The Passover festival was celebrated to remind the Jews how God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Each family would kill a lamb and have a special meal on that occasion.

When Jesus was twelve years old, he went to Jerusalem with his parents for the Passover festival. After the feast was over, they set off with other people to go back to Nazareth but Jesus stayed back . Since a large number of people were travelling home together the absence of Jesus was not first noticed. Mary and Joseph thought that he might be with relatives and friends. Only at night they noticed that Jesus was missing. They were very much worried.

Next morning they hurried back to Jerusalem looking for their son. Only on the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the teachers of law, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and knowledge of the Scriptures. Mary anxiously went to him and said "Son, why i lave you treated us so? Your father and I have been searching for you so anxiously." But Jesus replied calmly "Why did you look for me? Did you not know that I would be in my Father's house?" His parents did not understand the real meaning of his words. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.

Then they went back to Nazareth. Jesus was obedient to his parents. He helped Joseph in his work. He grew in knowledge and wisdom and the favour of God.

Jesus is tempted by Satan
Matthew 4:1-11 Luke 4:1-13

Jesus went to the wilderness and spent forty days in prayer and penance. He did not take any food. At the end of forty days, he was very hungry. At that time Satan, the devil, came to Jesus. Satan began to tempt him to do something wrong against God's will. He said to Jesus "If you are the Son of God, you can turn this stone into bread and eat". Jesus could do it. But he knew that his powers were not to be used for his personal needs. So he said "It is written 'Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God". Satan failed in this attempt. But he did not leave Jesus. Then Satan took Jesus to the top of the tower in the Temple at Jerusalem and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. God will send his angels to bear you so that you may not be hurt". Jesus

replied "It is written "You shall not tempt the Lord, your God". Once again Satan failed. But he was not ready to give up. He took Jesus to the top of a high mountain. From there they could see the vast kingdoms of the world. Satan said, "All these kingdoms I will give you if only you fall down before ..:e and worship me". Jesus angrily said "Get away, Satan for it is written "you shall worship the Lord your God and him only you shall serve." Satan was disappointed. He failed in all his attempts. So he left. Then the angels of God came and served Jesus.

Jesus chooses his twelve Disciples
Matthew 4:11-22 John 1:40-57

Jesus chose twelve men to help him in his work. They were neither rich nor learned. They were simple folk. But they were ever ready to do whatever Jesus told them to do.

One day Jesus was walking by the lake of Galilee. He saw two brothers Andrew and Simon Peter at their work of fishing. Jesus said to them "Follow me, I will make you fishers of men". At once they left their nets and followed him. As they went on further, Jesus saw two other brothers, James and John. They were with their father Zebedee mending their nets. Jesus called them. At once they left their boat and their father and followed him.

One day Jesus on his way to Galilee saw Philip and told him to follow him. Philip brought Nathaneal to Jesus. He also became his disciple. Jesus also took as his disciple one Mathew who was a tax collector. In course of time, Jesus had twelve disciples. They were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew (Nathaneal), Mathew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon, Thaddaeus and Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus). The twelve men were called 'apostles' (meaning people who are sent with a message). These twelve disciples went with Jesus everywhere. Jesus was their teacher and master. He taught them many things and explained why God, his Father had sent him to this world.

Jesus at the wedding feast at Cana (The first miracle of Jesus)
John 2:1-11

Jesus and his disciples went to Cana to attend a wedding. His mother Mary was also there. According to their custom, wine was served at the wedding feast. Probably the guests were more than the host expected. The wine ran short before the feast was over. The hosts were very much worried. They did not know what to do. Mary wanted to help them. She knew that her son could come to their rescue. So she said to Jesus "Son, they have no wine". Jesus said to her "My hour has not come".

But Mary knew that her son would not refuse her anything. So Mary said to the servants "Do whatever he tells you".

In the hall there were six large empty jars for water. Jesus told the servants to fill up the jars with water. The jars were filled to the brim. Then Jesus told them to draw out some and take it to the steward of the feast to taste. The servants were struck with wonder when they found that the water had turned into wine. The steward tasted it and found it to be excellent wine.

This was the first time Jesus used the power that God, his Father had given him. It was his first miracle.

Jesus teaches (Sermon on the Mount)
Luke 6:20-49 Matthew 5-7

Jesus travelled all over Galilee, preaching the gospel of God's kingdom, healing every disease and infirmity and driving out demons. H'is fame spread quickly and great crowds followed him wherever he went.

One day as usual a large crowd of people followed him. Seeing the crowd, Jesus went up a hill and sat down. He began to speak to the people. He taught them many things. His long sermon is known as the 'Sermon on the Mount'.

When Jesus looked around him, he could see that most of the people were poor and depressed. Jesus told them not to be sad and comforted them saying that God would bless them. He said

"Blessed are the poor for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.
Blessed are those who suffer for my sake for their reward is great in heaven".

Jesus opens the eyes of a man born blind
John 9:1-11

One day Jesus and his disciples saw a man who was born blind. The disciples asked Jesus whose fault it was that the man was born blind - whether he had sinned or his parents? Jesus replied "It is due neither to his sin nor his parent's sin. It happened so that God may show his power in him". Then Jesus spat on the ground, made a paste of clay and anointed the man's eyes with the clay. He said to the man "Go and wash in the pool of Siloam". The man went to the pool, washed his eyes and he was able to see. Everyone who had seen him as a blind beggar wondered. They asked him how he got his sight. He told them what had happened. The Jews did not believe him. They questioned him. He said "It is a marvel. Ever since the world began, it has not been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. This man is from God. Otherwise he could not have done this". The Jews got angry and cast him out.

Jesus feeds the hungry - Feeding five thousand people
Matthew 14:13-21

Wherever Jesus went, a great crowd followed him. He had no rest. So Jesus and his disciples decided to go to a lonely place for rest. They crossed the lake of Galilee and went to an open place where no one lived. But the people who saw them going followed them. Jesus took pity on them. He preached to them and healed the sick. When it was evening the disciples said, "This is a lonely place. The day is over. There is nothing for the big crowd to eat. So send them away to the near by villages to buy food for themselves". Jesus saw that the people were tired and hungry. He asked the disciples to give them something to eat. They said they did not have food to feed such a crowd. Only a boy had five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus told the people to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish from the boy, looked upto heaven and blessed them. Then he gave them to his disciples and asked them to distribute. As they distributed the loaves of bread and fish multiplied. All the people ate and were satisfied. They collected twelve baskets full of broken pieces left over. Those who ate were about five thousand men besides women and children.

On another occasion Jesus fed four thousand people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish.

Jesus walks on water
Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus sent the people home. Then he told his disciples to get into a boat and go before him to the other side of the lake. Jesus went up the hill alone to pray. The boat in which the disciples travelled, was driven fast by a strong wind. Jesus came back at night after prayer and he saw that the boat' was quite far away. So Jesus walked on water to reach the boat. In the darkness the disciples saw some one walking on water. They were afraid and they cried "It is a ghost". Jesus said "Take heart. It is I. Have no fear". Peter said to him "Lord if it is you, bid me to come to you on the water." Jesus said "Come". Peter got out of the boat and walked on water to Jesus. But when he saw the force of wind, he cried "Lord, save me". Jesus reached out his hand and caught him saying "0 man of little faith, why did you doubt?" When both of them got into the boat, the wind stopped. Those who were in the boat said "Truly, you are the Son of God".

Jesus calms a storm
Matthew 8:23-27

Jesus and his disciples were on the shore of lake Galilee. Jesus was very tired. He got into a boat and asked his disciples to row the boat to the other side of the lake. When they were sailing, a great storm arose. The boat was tossed about by huge waves and was about to capsize. Jesus was sleeping in the boat. The disciples feared that they would be drowned. They woke up Jesus and said. "Save us, Lord. We are dying". Jesus woke up and said "Why are you afraid, men of little faith?". He ordered the wind and the waves to stop. At once the wind stopped and the sea became calm. All were surprised to see that even the wind and the sea obeyed him.