Look, Listen & Live 7: Jesus - Lord and saviour

Introduction

Is the man called Jesus really the one sent from God and can He give people eternal life? The birth of Jesus, the miracles He did, his life, his resurrection from the dead and his words show that He really is sent from God. While you listen to this, look at the pictures in the pink book. When you hear this music (MUSIC), turn to the next picture.

Picture 1 the Birth of Jesus

John 1:1-14; Luke 2:1-11

Look at the picture. It shows a newborn baby and a woman, the baby’s mother and her husband. The three other men are shepherds. They are all looking at the baby. His name is Jesus. One man kneels before Jesus. Why would he do that? The reason is that Jesus was the most important baby boy ever born. Before Jesus was born, He was already with God in a place called heaven. All things were created by God. God is Spirit, but He has shown himself in Jesus, who was born while his mother was still a virgin. The Spirit of God made this possible. The same Spirit lived in Jesus Christ. All this means that Jesus is God. Jesus came from heaven to set us free from sin and shame and to show us how we can become children of God. (MUSIC)

Picture 2 Jesus Turned Water Into Wine

John 2:1-11

When Jesus had grown up, He once went to a wedding feast. His disciples and his mother, Mary, went with Him. Mary knew that Jesus came from God, so when the wine ran out, she told Him about it. Then she said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” There were six large water jars nearby. Jesus said to the servant, “Fill the jars with water.” They did. Then He said, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” The water had turned into the very best wine! The disciples of Jesus began to see that He had great power from God and they believed in Him. (MUSIC)

Picture 3 Jesus Speaks to Nicodemus

John 3:1-36

One night a man named Nicodemus came to speak to Jesus about the miracles He had done and about God. Nicodemus was an important ruler and teacher in Israel. He had heard that Jesus could work miracles. He knew that Jesus must be from God. Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Nicodemus asked, “How can a man be born when he is old?” Jesus answered him, “When a baby is born from its mother, it has physical life. In the same way a man must be born from the Spirit of God to have spiritual life.” Jesus meant that it is not enough to be born in the usual way. A person also needs to be born again through the work of God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit shows people their sin and helps them to turn away from their old way of life and from Satan’s lies. Then they will know that Jesus saves all who believe in Him. They will start to live to please God. They become new people and belong to a new family – God’s family. Believers live forever, because the Spirit of God lives in them. But everyone who does not believe in Jesus, will perish. They will never enter heaven. (MUSIC)

Picture 4 a Ruler Kneels Before Jesus

John 4:46-54

What would you do if your son was very sick? The man in this picture travelled a long way to find Jesus. He was a very important ruler. His son was close to death, so he begged Jesus saying, “Sir, come with me to my house before my child dies.” Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man believed Jesus and went home. While he was still on his way, his servants met him with the news that his son was alive. The fever had left the child at the very moment when Jesus had said, “Your son will live.” So, that man and his whole household believed in Jesus. (MUSIC)

Picture 5 the Sick Man at the Pool

John 5:1-47

In the city of Jerusalem there was a pool. The people believed that at certain times, the first person to enter the pool after the water was stirred, would be healed. One man had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him beside the pool and said, “Do you want to get well?” The man replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.” Then Jesus said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was healed. Some people were angry with Jesus because He healed the sick man on the Sabbath, God’s special and holy day. This was the day when the Jews rested from their daily tasks to worship God. This act of healing showed that Jesus had the right and the power of God to heal on any day, also on the Sabbath day. When the Jewish leaders saw the man carrying his mat, they said to him, “This is the Sabbath! No one is allowed to carry a mat on the Sabbath.” When they found out it was Jesus who healed the man, they started to persecute him. (MUSIC)

Picture 6 Jesus Feeds Over 5 000 People

John 6:1-15, 25-28, 35; Matthew 14:19; Mark 6:41

Many people had heard that Jesus could heal the sick and one day a great crowd followed Him to a remote place. Later that day Jesus asked his disciples, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” One disciple replied, “Here is a boy with five small loaves of bread and two small fish, but that’s not enough for so many people.” Jesus made the people sit down. He took the loaves and the fish and gave thanks to God. Then He broke the bread and fish into pieces and gave them to the people, and they ate as much as they wanted. It was enough for all of them. The next day the crowd still followed Jesus. Then He said to them, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you understood the miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not be concerned about food that spoils, but seek food that gives eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” Jesus was speaking about himself. He also said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (MUSIC)

Picture 7 Jesus Walks on the Water

John 6:16-21; Matthew 14:22-32

Soon after Jesus had fed the people, He sent them away. He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side. He then went to a mountain by himself, to pray to God. When evening came, he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it. As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. They said, “It's a ghost!” and began to scream because they were afraid. Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! It is me, Jesus.” He got into the boat with them and immediately the storm ceased. This again showed the disciples that the power of God worked through Jesus. (MUSIC)

Picture 8 Jesus Heals a Blind Man

John 9:1-41, 8:12; 1 John 1:7

There was a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Did he or his parents sin?” Jesus answered them, “It was not because of his sins or his parents sins. This man had been born blind so that God’s work could be demonstrated in his life.” He spat on the ground and made mud. He put the mud on the blind man’s eyes. Then Jesus said to him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.” Siloam means “sent”. So the man went, washed and came back seeing. Many of us are blind in our understanding of God’s ways. But Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (MUSIC)

Picture 9 Jesus Calls Lazarus from the Death

John 11:1-46

There was a man named Lazarus who was very sick. He and his two sisters, Mary and Martha were close friends of Jesus. Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus saying, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When Jesus heard the message He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Lazarus and his two sisters. But Jesus did not go to him at once. Only two days later He said to his disciples, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” When Jesus came, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. The sisters were grieved because Jesus had not come to heal him, but Jesus said Martha, “Your brother will rise again.” Then He prayed to God and told the people present to open the tomb. He called, “Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus came out, still wrapped up in the grave-clothes. Many of the people who were at the tomb and saw this believed in Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Do you believe this? (MUSIC)

Picture 10 Jesus Dies on the Cross

John 18:1 - 19:42

Jesus proved by the miracles He did, that He is the Son of God. The Jewish leaders were jealous of Him and wanted to kill Him. Jesus told his disciples that He must die for the sins of all people. That was the only way in which He could bring men, women and children back to God. Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrayed Him to the Jews for a sum of money. They came and arrested Jesus. Peter and the disciples fled in fear. The Jewish leaders then took Jesus to court. They could not prove that He had done anything wrong. But they cried out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Later Jesus was brought before the people. They also cried, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Then the perfect Son of God was taken away and killed. Two criminals died with Him. They were punished for their crimes, but Jesus who had never done anything wrong, died as a sacrifice for the sins and shame of all people, including yours and mine. Jesus was the only sacrifice God would accept for our sins. (MUSIC)

Picture 11 Mary and Jesus at the Tomb

John 19:38 - 20:18

One of Jesus’ followers named Joseph asked for Jesus’ body. It was given to him and Joseph laid the dead body in a new tomb. A great stone was rolled against the entrance. On the third day Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. She was the woman Jesus had set free from demon possession. The stone had been rolled away. Mary began to cry. She bent down and looked into the tomb. The body was gone. Two angels sat where the body of Jesus had been. The angels asked Mary, “Why are you crying?” She answered, “They have taken away my Lord's body! I don't know where they have put him.” When Mary turned around, she saw a man standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus asked Mary, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Mary thought He was the gardener, and she said to Him, ““Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.” Then Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She realised it was Jesus. He was alive! He said to her, “Go to my disciples and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” (MUSIC)

Picture 12 Jesus Appears to His Disciples

John 21:1-19

Before Jesus returned to heaven, He did another miracle. One night some of his disciples went fishing, but they caught nothing. Just as morning came, a man appeared on the shore of the lake. He told them to throw their nets out on the right-hand side of the boat and they would find some fish. They obeyed and caught a large number of fish. Then the disciples realised that the man who talked to them was Jesus. They brought all the fish to the shore. There Jesus had already prepared some food for them. After they had eaten, He spoke to them. Peter was also amongst them. Peter had run before, with the other disciples, when Jesus was arrested and later he denied Jesus. Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me!” He told Peter to teach God’s people, to take care of them and to teach them to share the good news of Jesus and of how He came to die for the sins of all people and overcame Satan when He rose from the dead. God wants all people to hear about Jesus and his miracles so that they can believe that He is God’s Son. Follow Him and you will also be saved and receive everlasting life.

Introduction

Jesus is the great Saviour. He saves us from shame, sin and evil, and He gives us everlasting life. Listen to more teachings about Jesus. Look at the next picture when you hear the music. (MUSIC)

Picture 13 Jesus Teaches Two Disciples

Luke 24:13-35

Many Jews hoped that Jesus would save them from their hated Roman rulers. But that is not why Jesus came to the earth. So later on these Jews asked the Roman rulers to kill Jesus. Do you remember how the Roman soldiers killed Jesus by nailing Him to a cross where He died? After He had risen from the dead, two of his disciples were walking home. Suddenly Jesus appeared to them. They did not recognize Him and thought He was a stranger. Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They said, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what was happening there these last few days?” So they told Him what had happened to Jesus, how He showed He was a prophet from God by the powerful miracles He did, and how their leaders arrested him and handed him over to be crucified.” Then Jesus explained to them what Moses and all the prophets of God had said about Him in the Scriptures many years before. The prophets had said that He would suffer and die. They had also said that He would rise from the dead to sit at his Father’s right hand from where He would rule in God’s kingdom forever. That evening Jesus sat down to eat with these two disciples. As He broke the bread and gave it to them, their eyes were opened and they recognised Him. Then He disappeared from their sight. They immediately went back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that they had seen Jesus and that He was alive. Let us hear what Jesus himself teaches us from the Scriptures. (MUSIC)

Picture 14 the Son Among the Pig

Luke 15:11-20

Before Jesus’ death, He once told a story about a man who had two sons. The younger son said to his father, “Give me my share of the family property.” So the father divided his property between the sons. The younger went away to a far country. He wasted his money in wild living. Then a great famine came to that land. The young man had nothing left. So he went to work for a man who sent him to feed his pigs. He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pigs’ food. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.” So he got up and went to his father. (MUSIC)

Picture 15 the Lost Son Comes Home

Luke 15:21-32

While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. The father ran to his son, embraced and kissed him. He told his servants to bring the best clothes and to prepare the best food. And he also said, “Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.” There was great joy. Jesus told us that God is like that father. All people are like the son who had sinned and lived shamefully. But God still loves us. He longs for us to come back to Him. He wants to forgive us and take our shame upon Himself so we can live in honour again. So He sent Jesus to seek and to save those who are separated from God. People whose lives are separated from God, are lost and live in disgrace. Jesus is the only way for lost people to come back to God, the Father and become part of his family again. (MUSIC)

Picture 16 the Wealth of a Rich Man

Luke 12:13-21

Jesus told the crowd another story about a rich man who had very good crops. So he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to myself, ‘You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!’ ” But God said, “You fool! This very night you will die. Then who will get all these things you have gathered together?” Jesus said, “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but does not have treasures that really count in God’s eyes. Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed because life is not measured by how much you own.” (MUSIC)

Picture 17 the Beggar and the Rich Man

Luke 16:19-31

The Pharisees prided themselves in being strict followers of the teachings of Moses and the Prophets. Yet they rejected Jesus. So Jesus told a parable about another rich man who had everything he wanted. He dressed in expensive clothes and ate the best food every day. At his gate lay a poor beggar, called Lazarus. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor beggar died and was carried by angels to heaven. There he sat at the side of Abraham. When the rich man died, he went to Hades, the place of the dead, where he was in torment. From there he looked up and saw Abraham and the beggar far away. He called to Abraham to send the beggar to give him some water, but Abraham said, “Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are suffering. And besides, between us and you there is a big gap, so that those who want to go from here to you, cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” Then the rich man said, “Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father's home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don't end up in this place of torment.” But Abraham said, “They can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.” The rich man replied, “No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.” But Abraham said, “If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.” The Pharisees thought they honoured God and the Scriptures, but they did not believe in Jesus even after He was raised from the dead. Whether we are rich or poor, we should love and honour God. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved from going to hell, and receive everlasting life from God. (MUSIC)

Picture 18 the Friend at the Door

Luke 11:5-13

Once a man went to his friend and said, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to put before him.” The friend said, “Do not bother me. The door is already locked and my family and I are already in bed.” He did not want to get up. But the man at the door was not ashamed to keep on asking, so the friend got up and gave him what he wanted. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” God wants to be our good Father. He wants to give his Holy Spirit and wants to supply all our needs. All we have to do is to keep asking Him in prayer. (MUSIC)

Picture 19 Two Men in God’s Temple

Luke 18:9-14

In the picture we see two men praying in God’s temple. One man was very religious. He was also very proud. He only prayed about himself and said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” God was not pleased with this man and his prayer. The other man was a dishonest tax collector. He had stolen people’s money. He knew he had not pleased God. He was so sorry for what he had done that he beat his breast and bowed his head in shame. He prayed to God and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus said, “It was the tax collector whose relationship with God was made right. For everyone who puts himself above others will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be lifted up.” (MUSIC)

Picture 20 a Farmer Sows His Seed

Luke 8:4-9

One day Jesus taught many people and He said, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and gave a good harvest, a hundred times more than was sown.” Jesus said to the people, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (MUSIC)

Picture 21 the Seed Grows

Luke 8:9-15

Jesus explained the parable in this way, “The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the people who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but when troubles come they give up. The seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. And the seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart, who hear the word, keep it, and by persevering produce a good harvest.” How will you hear and receive the Good News about Jesus? And if you have believed it, will you persevere in your faith even when temptations, hardships and the business of life try to steal the message from your heart? If you hear the Word of God and you believe in it and not give up, you will be like a good soil, producing a great harvest. (MUSIC)

Picture 22 Help for an Injured Man

Luke 10:25-37

God's Word, the Bible, teaches us that we must love God and also love people. But who are the people we should love? Jesus told a story about a man who travelled down a lonely road. Some robbers attacked him. They stole all he had, beat him and left him almost dead. Later two very religious men came along. They saw the injured man, but they just passed him without helping him. Then a foreigner came down that road. He felt very sorry for the injured man. He bandaged the man’s wounds, put him on his donkey and took him to a place to stay there overnight and get further help. Jesus said that if we love God, we should also show this love by helping anyone who is in need. (MUSIC)

Picture 23 the House Owner Comes Home

Luke 12:35-48

Do you remember that after Jesus died, He rose from the dead? His disciples saw Him before He returned to heaven. Jesus told them that He would come back again. He said that all those who believe in Him, should be like servants who are waiting for their master to return from his wedding feast. Jesus said, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready.” We do not know when Jesus will come back. We should work for Him and be ready to receive and welcome Him as soon as He arrives. Then it will be a time of great joy and happiness. For those who do not believe in Jesus it will be a time of great sorrow. Jesus also said that those in charge of his servants must be ready for his return. If they run his household well and care for his servants they will receive a great reward. But if they mistreat the servants, and misbehave, their punishment will be severe. (MUSIC)

Picture 24 the Man in a Tree

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus can save anyone from sin. Listen to this: Zacchaeus was a rich tax collector. He was dishonest and he stole money from people. He heard that Jesus was coming his way and he wanted to see Jesus, but he was very short and Jesus was surrounded by a great crowd. So Zacchaeus climbed up a tree. As Jesus passed by, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” The people were surprised. Zacchaeus was not a good man. But Zacchaeus came down and welcomed Jesus gladly. He told Jesus that he would turn from evil and change his ways. He said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house. Zacchaeus is truly part of God’s people.” Jesus came to seek and to save anyone who is lost from God.