The Time Between

There were 400 years between the last writings in the Old Testament and the events depicted in the New Testament.  In modern terms, this is about the same amount of time between the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock and today.  Even though there were no scriptures written during these years, God was busy preparing the world for the coming of His Son.  He was also busy fulfilling the prophecies of Daniel and other prophets.

As prophesied by Daniel in his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the Babylonian empire (the golden head) had been replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire (the silver chest and arms).  The Medo-Persian Empire facilitated the reestablishment of Israel , thus providing a homeland for the Messiah.  By the end of the Old Testament, this dual empire (Daniels ram with two horns) was losing its world dominance.

In 334 B.C., the Grecian empire under Alexander the Great (the belly and thighs of bronze in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s goat with one horn) defeated the Medo-Persian Empire.  Upon Alexander’s death, the empire was divided among his four generals (Daniel’s leopard with four wings and four heads that was given dominion over the entire world).  The Grecian empire would rule for almost 200 years, during which time it would spread a common language and philosophy that would be critical to the writing of the New Testament and the spread of Christianity in the first century A.D.  During these years, two distinct groups gained influence in Israel , the Pharisees who followed traditional Jewish teachings and the Sadducees who embraced intellectualism and rejected spiritual teachings.  Jesus would have to confront both of these groups during His ministry.

As Greek culture permeated the world, a new, mighty military power arose out of the city of Rome that would soon begin the annexation of Grecian territories.  The mighty Roman army (the feet of iron in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s dreadful beast with iron teeth) defeated Greece in 150 B.C. and rolled through the civilized world, creating an empire ruled by the Caesars.  By the time of Christ, this empire would have united the Mediterranean world under a single government which provided world-wide peace (“Pax Romana”) and uninhibited communication and travel essential to the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the church in the first century.

Thus in 6 B.C. (Reese’s date), when the decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the entire world should be taxed, God had fully prepared the world for the birth of His only begotten son.  The Jewish family was in place with its essential traditions of law and sacrifice and repentance.  The Greek culture and language were in place so the written words of the New Testament authors could be universally understood.  And the common Roman government was in place to provide the infrastructure for the spreading of the word throughout the world.

Since the call of Abraham two thousand years earlier, God had been preparing the world.  Now, “when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son.” (Galatians 4:4)

Note that the secular “History Between the Testaments” can be found in more detail on pages 1248 and 1249 of the Reese Chronological Bible.

Week 42

October 15         Pages 1251-1256

XVI  The Life of Our Lord – 5 B.C. – A.D. 29

*Note:  Jesus’ discourses are noted and numbered with a D, while his miracles are noted and numbered with an M.

A. Introduction

     1.  Prefaces to Synoptic Gospels – Matthew 1:1, Mark 1:1, Luke 1:1-4

     2.  Preface to John’s Gospel – John 1:4-5

     3.  Two Genealogies of Jesus Christ – Matthew 1:2-17, Luke 3:23-38

     4.  Caesar Augustus Rules Roman Empire – 27 B.C. - A.D. 14

B. Announcements

     1.  Annunciation to Zacharias about John the Baptist – October 10, 7 B.C., Luke 1:5-25

     2.  Annunciation to Mary About Jesus Christ – June, 6 B.C., Luke 1:26-38

     3.  Song of Elisabeth to Mary – Luke 1:39-45

     4.  The Magnificat of Mary – Luke 1:46-56

     5.  Birth and Childhood of John the Baptist – October 1, 6 B.C., Luke 1:57-80

     6.  Annunciation to Joseph of Coming Messiah by Angel – Matthew 1:18-24

October 16         Pages 1256-1259

C. Birth and Childhood of Jesus

     1.   Birth of Jesus – Luke 2:1-6, April 1, 5 B.C., Luke 2:7, Mathew 1:25

     2.   Praise of Angels and Homage of Shepherds to Babe in Manger – Luke 2:8-20

     3.   Circumcision of Jesus – April 8, 5 B.C., Luke 2:21

     4.   Presentation in the Temple – May 11, 5 B.C., Luke 2:22-38

     5.   Visit of Wise Men – 4 B.C., Mathew 2:1-12

     6.   Flight to Egypt (and Death of Herod the Great) – 4 B.C. (R), March 4 B.C. (K),

           Matthew 2:13-18, March 13, 4 B.C., Matthew 2:19-20

October 17        Pages 1259-1264

     7.   From Egypt to Nazareth – Matthew 2:21-22, 3 B.C., Matthew 2:23, Luke 2:39

     8.   Childhood at Nazareth – Luke 2:40

     9.   Jesus to Jerusalem at Age Twelve – April A.D. 8, Luke 2:41-50

     10. Eighteen Years Spent at Nazareth – A.D. 8-25*, Luke 2:51-52

     11. Birth of Paul – C A.D. 10-15*

     12. Caesar Augustus Dies, Tiberius Now Reigns – August 19, A.D. 14

D. John the Baptist Introduces Christ

     1.  His Appearance – C April (R), October 1 (K) A.D. 25, Matthew 3:1-6, Mark 1:2-6,

          Luke 3:1-6, John 1:6-18

     2.  His Message – October A.D. 25, Matthew 3:7-10, Luke 3:7-14

     3.  His Introduction of Christ – Matthew 3:11-12, Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:15-18, John 1:19-28

     4.  Baptism of Jesus – January (R), October 1 (K), A.D. 25, Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11,

          Luke 3:21-22

     5.  John Declares Him to be the Messiah – John 1:29-34

     6.  Temptations in the Wilderness – February (R), November 10 (K) A.D. 25,

          Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13

October 18        Pages 1264-1269

     7.  The First Three Disciples – John 1:35-42

     8.   Phillip and Nathanael – John 1:43-51

     9.   Turning the Water into Wine (M-1) – March (R), November (K), A.D. 25, John 2:1-11

     10. Sojourned in Capernaum – John 2:12

E.  Early Judean Ministry

     1.   Temple Cleansing, Jesus’ First Passover – April 14, A.D. 26, John 2:13-22

     2.   Jesus and Nicodemus Discuss the New Birth (D-1) – A.D. May, 26*, John 2:23-25,

            John 3:1-21

     3.   Christ Baptizing in Judea – John 3:22-24

     4.   John’s Testimony About Christ at Aenon – John 3:25-36

     5.   Imprisonment of John the Baptist – A.D. 26 (R), A.D. 27 (K), Luke 3:19-20

     6.   From Judea to Galilee – Matthew 4:12, John 4:1-3

     7.   Discourse with Woman of Samaria About the Water of Life (D-2) – John 4:4-26

     8.   Gospel in Sychar – John 4:27-42

October 19        Pages 1269-1274

F.  Galilean Ministry

     1.  Early Days

          a. Jesus Arrives in Galilee – Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:14-15, John 4:43-45

          b. Healing of the Nobleman’s Son (M-2) – John 4:46-54

          c. First Rejection at Nazareth – Luke 4:16-30

          d. Removal to Capernaum – Matthew 4:13-16

     2.  First Circuit

          a. Call of Four Fishermen, Draught of Fishes (M-3) – Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20,

              Luke 5:1-11

          b. Teaching in Capernaum Synagogue – Mark 1:21-22, Luke 4:31-32

          c. Healing Man with Unclean Spirit (M-4) – Mark 1:23-28, Luke 4:33-37

          d. Day of Miracles in Capernaum (M-5) – Matthew 8:14-17, Mark 1:29-34,

              Luke 4:38-41

          e. Tour of Galilee with Four Disciples – Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44

          f.  Preaching and Cleansing of Leper (M-6) – Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45,

              Luke 5:12-16

October 20        Pages 1274-1279

      3.  Emnity of Scribes and Pharisee

          a. The Paralytic, Borne of Four Healed (M-7) – Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12,  

                Luke 5:17-26

          b. The Call of Matthew – Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-32

          c. The Question of Fasting Answered – Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:18-22, Luke 5:33-39

          d. Jesus Heals Impotent Man (M-8) and Attends Second Passover – April 14-21, A.D. 27,

              John 5:1-18

          e. His Discourse on Eternal Life and The Father (D-3) – John 5:19-47

October 21        Pages 1279-1282

          f. Disciples Pluck Grain – Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5

         g. Man with Withered Hand is Healed (M-9) – Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6,

             Luke 6:6-11

    4.  Organizing the Kingdom

          a. Multitudes Healed – Matthew 12:15-21, Mark 3:7-12

          b. Jesus Selects Twelve Apostles – Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16

          c. Gathering for the Sermon on Mount – Luke 6:17-19