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Introduction to Section 12

Jesus commanded his followers to preach the Kingdom and make disciples

Comment 1:
This introduction makes it clear that the Kingdom was a central theme in Jesus’ teaching. He did not come merely to give good advice or perform miracles, but to announce Jehovah’s government and show that this Kingdom will bring a real and permanent solution for mankind.

Comment 2:
Jesus also taught that his followers should not keep that truth to themselves. He commanded them to preach and make disciples, that is, to help others draw close to Jehovah, learn from Christ, and begin a life centered on true worship.

Comment 3:
Making disciples involves much more than passing on Bible information. It requires sincere interest in people, patience, empathy, and the desire to see others come to love Jehovah and put his teachings into practice in everyday life.

Comment 4:
Jesus’ miracles reinforced that Kingdom message. When he healed the sick, fed the hungry, or raised the dead, he was giving a visible preview of what God’s Kingdom will do on a worldwide scale when it rules over the whole earth.

Comment 5:
That is why preaching the Kingdom is not a secondary task or a mere routine. It is a tremendous privilege, because it allows us to work together with Jehovah in a work that gives hope, strengthens the faith of others, and prepares people for the future he promises.

We should pray first about matters related to Jehovah and then about personal matters

Comment 1:
Jesus taught a beautiful order in prayer. First he put Jehovah’s name, his Kingdom, and his will, and then personal needs. That helps us remember that true worship does not revolve around us, but around Jehovah.

Comment 2:
When in our prayers we give priority to Jehovah’s matters, we show that his honor and purpose hold first place in our heart. That way of praying helps us think less selfishly and more in harmony with what matters to him.

Comment 3:
Jesus was not saying that our concerns are unimportant. Of course we can speak to Jehovah about our burdens, fears, and needs, but only after showing that above all else we value the sanctification of his name and the doing of his will.

Comment 4:
Praying this way also gives us emotional balance. Instead of remaining trapped in our problems, we remember that Jehovah has a far greater purpose and that his Kingdom will bring the final solution to everything that worries us today.

Comment 5:
This model prayer educates the heart. Little by little it teaches us to think the way Jesus thought: first about his Father’s honor, first about what benefits true worship, and then about what we personally need.

Let us forgive one another from the heart whenever needed and treat others as we would like to be treated

Comment 1:
Jesus taught that forgiveness had to come from the heart. It was not a cold or forced forgiveness, but a sincere willingness to leave the offense behind, just as Jehovah shows genuine mercy when he forgives those who repent.

Comment 2:
Forgiving is not always easy, especially when someone has truly suffered. But Jesus made it clear that resentment does not fit with true worship. A heart that does not forgive becomes hard, whereas forgiveness preserves peace and unity.

Comment 3:
The rule of treating others as we would like them to treat us is very practical and very deep. If a person truly applies it, it changes the way he speaks, reacts, judges, and even solves problems with others.

Comment 4:
When a congregation applies these teachings, it shows right away. There is more patience, less harshness, more willingness to listen, and more genuine concern for the other person’s well-being. That creates an atmosphere very much like the one Jesus wanted among his disciples.

Comment 5:
Forgiving and treating others well is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it shows spiritual maturity, self-control, and a real desire to imitate Jehovah and Jesus, who have always treated people with kindness, justice, and mercy.

Lesson 74: Jesus Is Now the Messiah

Why was Jesus baptized?

Comment 1:
Jesus was not baptized because he needed to repent of sins, since he was perfect. He was baptized to present himself publicly before Jehovah and show that he was completely willing to do His will at all times.

Comment 2:
His baptism marked a decisive moment in his life. Until then he had lived faithfully and obediently, but from that point on he would officially begin the special work Jehovah had assigned him to do here on earth.

Comment 3:
When John tried to stop him, Jesus did not argue out of pride or insist just because he wanted to. Calmly he explained that this baptism was the right thing, because that way Jehovah’s will would be carried out and everything would remain in harmony with His purpose.

Comment 4:
It is also beautiful to see Jesus’ humility in that scene. Although he was superior to John, he did not act important. He simply accepted Jehovah’s arrangement and submitted with complete simplicity to what his Father had appointed.

Comment 5:
Jesus’ baptism reminds us that serving Jehovah involves dedication and total self-giving. It is not something superficial or an empty custom. It is a serious decision to live for Jehovah and put his will ahead of any other goal.

Comment 6:
After coming up out of the water, Jesus began praying. That detail helps us see that his baptism was not merely a ceremony, but a very spiritual, very profound moment that expressed his close and sincere relationship with his Father.

Comment 7:
Jehovah responded in an impressive way: the heaven was opened, holy spirit came down upon Jesus, and His voice was heard. In that way He made it clear before everyone that He fully approved of his Son and was supporting him in this new stage.

Comment 8:
At that moment Jesus was anointed with holy spirit, and from then on he was the Christ, that is, the Messiah. He was officially designated to carry out the mission Jehovah had long been preparing for him.

Comment 9:
In addition, that moment publicly confirmed who Jesus was. He was no longer just the faithful son of Joseph and Mary in people’s eyes; Jehovah himself presented him as his beloved Son and as the one who had His approval.

Comment 10:
Overall, Jesus’ baptism teaches obedience, humility, and absolute self-surrender. It shows us that he did not do his own will, but presented himself without reservation to carry out what Jehovah wanted, and that made him the perfect model for us.

Why did John say that Jesus was the Lamb of God?

Comment 1:
John called Jesus “the Lamb of God” because he understood that Jehovah would use him as a sacrifice to take away sin. With those words he was pointing out that Jesus would have a role far greater than that of a mere teacher or prophet.

Comment 2:
That title called to mind the animal sacrifices offered under the Law. But here it was not about a literal animal, but about the perfect sacrifice that Jehovah would provide through his Son for the benefit of all mankind.

Comment 3:
By saying “who takes away the sin of the world,” John showed that Jesus’ work would have universal scope. He was not going to help only a few people or only one nation, but all those who would exercise faith in him and obey Jehovah.

Comment 4:
It was also a way of directing people’s attention in the right direction. John did not want them to keep looking at him or exaggerating his role, but to recognize who the Messiah really was and why he was so important.

Comment 5:
The image of the lamb conveys innocence, mildness, and sacrifice. It fits Jesus very well, because he would live perfectly and then willingly give his life, without resistance, in order to fulfill Jehovah’s purpose.

Comment 6:
That name also makes clear that Jesus’ sacrifice did not arise from a human idea. Jehovah was the One who provided it. That is why John did not say just “a lamb,” but “the Lamb of God,” highlighting the divine origin of that gift.

Comment 7:
John was helping people understand a profound aspect of the Messiah. Many were expecting only a powerful deliverer, but John showed that before ruling, Jesus had to fulfill an essential role related to sin and salvation.

Comment 8:
In that way, John kept preparing people’s hearts. He was not only telling them that the Messiah had arrived, but teaching them how they should view him and why his coming was an immense expression of Jehovah’s love.

Comment 9:
Calling him the Lamb of God also highlights how costly the ransom would be. Jehovah did not give something small or easy, but his own beloved Son. That should greatly deepen our gratitude for all that was accomplished through Jesus.

Comment 10:
In summary, John used that expression to show that Jesus would be the perfect sacrifice sent by Jehovah to take away sin and open the way to reconciliation with God. It was a simple title, but loaded with spiritual meaning.

Lesson 75: The Devil Tests Jesus

What were the three temptations?

Comment 1:
The first temptation was for Jesus to turn the stones into loaves of bread. After 40 days without eating, he was extremely hungry, so Satan attacked a real physical need, trying to get Jesus to act outside Jehovah’s will.

Comment 2:
It was not just a test involving food. The Devil wanted Jesus to use his power for his own benefit and apart from his Father’s direction. It was a way of pushing him to become independent from Jehovah.

Comment 3:
The second temptation consisted of asking him to throw himself down from the top of the temple. Satan even misapplied the sense of the Scriptures to make that action seem reasonable, as if it were a demonstration of faith.

Comment 4:
But what he really wanted was for Jesus to put Jehovah to the test, forcing Him to intervene in a spectacular way. That temptation appealed to pride, to the desire to impress, and to the idea of seeking a dramatic validation.

Comment 5:
The third temptation was the most shameless: showing him all the kingdoms of the world and offering him their glory in exchange for a single act of worship. It was a direct proposal for him to betray Jehovah.

Comment 6:
There Satan was offering power, influence, and a shortcut to rulership, but at a terrible price. Basically he was telling Jesus that he could have authority without going through suffering or remaining loyal to his Father.

Comment 7:
It is interesting that the three temptations touched very sensitive points: bodily needs, personal pride, and the ambition for power. Satan knows how to attack where he thinks a person may be most vulnerable.

Comment 8:
It is also evident that the Devil was persistent. He was not satisfied with a single test, but tried different methods, as if looking for any crack through which he could make Jesus fall.

Comment 9:
These temptations were not absurd or superficial. They were designed to appear reasonable in a moment of physical weakness and solitude. That shows how crafty Satan is when he tries to draw someone away from Jehovah.

Comment 10:
Overall, these three tests reveal how the Devil works: he tries to get a person to satisfy legitimate desires in the wrong way, be carried away by pride, or seek advantages by sacrificing loyalty to Jehovah.

How did Jesus answer the Devil?

Comment 1:
Jesus always answered with the Holy Scriptures. He did not enter into human arguments or his own reasoning, but relied completely on God’s Word, showing that he knew Jehovah’s way of thinking very well.

Comment 2:
When faced with the temptation to turn stones into bread, Jesus said that man does not live on bread alone. In that way he showed that obedience to Jehovah is above even a need as strong and legitimate as hunger.

Comment 3:
His answer was very balanced. He did not deny that food was necessary, but made it clear that the most important thing is to keep listening to and obeying Jehovah. In that way he put the spiritual above the material.

Comment 4:
When Satan suggested that he throw himself down from the temple, Jesus answered that Jehovah must not be put to the test. That is, true faith does not consist of demanding miraculous proofs or acting presumptuously.

Comment 5:
That teaches us a lot, because sometimes a person can disguise as faith what is really recklessness. Jesus did not confuse trust with presumption, and that is why he rejected that temptation so clearly.

Comment 6:
When faced with the offer of the kingdoms of the world, Jesus was even more forceful. He said: “Go away, Satan!” and reminded him that only Jehovah must be worshipped. There he made it clear that his loyalty was not for sale.

Comment 7:
Jesus did not negotiate, did not test how close he could get, and did not linger over the proposal. He cut off the temptation at its root. That firmness shows that the best way to face temptation is to reject it right away.

Comment 8:
It is also striking that Jesus used the Scriptures correctly, in contrast with Satan, who tried to twist them. That highlights the importance of knowing the Bible well so as not to be deceived by false reasoning or half-truths.

Comment 9:
Jesus conquered because he not only knew God’s Word; he loved it and lived in harmony with it. His answers were not empty formulas, but the expression of deep loyalty and of a heart completely devoted to Jehovah.

Comment 10:
In summary, Jesus answered with Scripture, with calmness, with firmness, and with absolute loyalty. In that way he left a perfect example of how to face any test: by holding fast to Jehovah’s truth and immediately rejecting everything that would compromise our faithfulness.