The angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will have a son, who she will call Jesus. He will be called 'the Son of the Most High.'
Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth to tell her the news. Elizabeth is pregnant herself; she will give birth to John the Baptist. She tells Mary that she is 'blessed among women.'
Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem. He was visited by shepherds from the fields and three wise men, who all bowed down and worshipped him.
Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to be presented to God. While there they met Simeon who was waiting to meet the Messiah. He saw Jesus and praised God, declaring 'my eyes have seen your salvation.'
At the age of 12, Jesus visited Jerusalem with his parents. He went missing, but after three days he was found in the temple listening to the teaching.
John the Baptist prophesied that the Messiah was coming. John baptised Jesus in the River Jordan. The Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven said, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Jesus attended the wedding at Cana. When they ran out of wine, he turned water into wine for them so that they could carry on celebrating. This is his first recorded miracle in the Bible.
Jesus travelled around Galilee declaring the 'Good News.' He said, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” He performed many miracles.
Jesus took Peter, James and John up a mountain. While there he was transfigured: his face and clothes shone brightly, and he was joined by Elijah and Moses. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
The final meal the disciples shared with Jesus is known as the Last Supper. Jesus told them to drink wine to remember the blood he would shed for them; to eat bread to remember his body that would be broken for them. This is known as The Eucharist or Communion today.
Jesus spent time praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew he was about to be arrested, which deeply saddened him. He threw himself to the ground praying, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus, captured by the Romans, is whipped.
Jesus was put on trial. Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman Governor of Judah at the time. Pilate tried to have Jesus released but the Jewish leaders insisted he be executed.
Jesus was made to carry his cross to Golgotha (the 'place of the Skull'), a site just outside of Jerusalem. Several gospels mention a man called Simon of Cyrene who the soldiers made help carry Jesus' cross.
Jesus was crucified, along with two criminals either side of him. Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." A darkness fell upon the land for three hours, then Jesus 'breathed his last.'
On the third day after his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead. Mary Magdelene alerted the disciples who ran to the tomb to see that it was empty. The disciples left, leaving Mary crying. Jesus then appeared to her and told her to tell people he had risen from the dead.
After appearing to the disciples, Jesus led them to a place called Bethany. There he blessed them before he was taken up into heaven.
The disciples, along with many others, had gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, the traditional celebration of the early weeks of harvest in Israel. The disciples heard the sound of a strong wind blowing through the house. Then they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that rested on each of them. This was the Holy Spirit, the 'helper' that Jesus had promised would come.
RE:QUEST recently visited Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary, on the Maltese island of Gozo. Here we found a number of spectacular mosaics that tell the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
TASK:
As you look through the images create a timeline of the key events of Jesus’ life.