Introduction to section 12

Jesus commissioned his followers to preach the Kingdom and make disciples

Comment 1:
This introduction makes it clear that the Kingdom was a central theme in the teaching of Jesus. He came not only to give good advice or to work miracles, but to proclaim the government of Jehovah and to show that this Kingdom will bring a real and definitive solution for humanity.

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

Comment 3:
Making disciples implies much more than transmitting biblical information. It requires sincere interest in people, patience, empathy and desire to see how others come to love Jehovah and put their teachings into practice in daily life.

Comment 4:
The miracles of Jesus reinforced that message from the Kingdom. When healed sick, fed hungry or rose dead, he was giving a visible sample of what the Kingdom of God will do on a world scale when he ruled over the whole Earth.

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

We must pray first for matters related to Jehovah and then for personal matters

Comment 1:
Jesus taught a very nice order in prayer. First he put the name of Jehovah, his kingdom, and his will, and then the personal needs. That helps us to remember that true worship does not revolve around us, but around Jehovah.

Comment 2:
When we give priority in our prayers to the affairs of Jehovah, we demonstrate that their honor and purpose occupy the first place in our hearts. That way of praying helps us to think less selfishly and more in harmony with what matters to him.

Comment 3:
Jesus was not saying that our concerns were not important. Of course we can speak to Jehovah of our burdens, fears and needs, but after we show that we value above all that his name is sanctified and his will fulfilled.

Comment 4:
Praying like this also gives us emotional balance. Instead of getting stuck in our problems, we remember that Jehovah has a much greater purpose and that his Kingdom will bring the definitive solution to everything that concerns us today.

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

Let us forgive each other from the heart whenever necessary and treat others as we would like to be treated to us

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

Comment 2:
Forgiveness is not always easy, especially when you have really suffered. But Jesus made it clear that the grudge does not fit with true worship. A heart that does not forgiveness hardens, while forgiveness retains peace and unity.

Comment 3:
The rule of treating others as we would like to be treated is very practical and very profound. If you really apply it, it changes the way you speak, react, judging and even solving problems with others.

Comment 4:
When a congregation applies these teachings, it is noticed right away. There is more patience, less harshness, more ability to listen and more genuine interest in the well-being of the other. That creates an atmosphere very similar to the one Jesus wanted among his disciples.

Comment 5:
Forgiving and treating others well is no sign of weakness. Rather, it demonstrates spiritual maturity, self-control, and a real desire to imitate Jehovah and Jesus, who have always treated people with goodness, righteousness, and mercy.

Lesson 74: Now Jesus is the Messiah

Why was Jesus baptized?

Comment 1:
Jesus was not baptized because he needed to repent of sins, for he was perfect. He was baptized to present himself to Jehovah in a public way and prove that he was fully willing to do his will at all times.

Comment 2:
His baptism marked a turning point in his life. Until then he had lived faithfully and obediently, but from that moment on he officially began the special work that Jehovah had commissioned to perform here on Earth.

Comment 3:
When John tried to stop him, Jesus did not argue for pride or insist on taste. He calmly explained to him that baptism was the right thing to do, because that would fulfill the will of Jehovah and everything would be in harmony with his purpose.

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

Comment 5:
The baptism of Jesus reminds us that serving Jehovah implies dedication and total dedication. It’s not a superficial thing or an empty habit. It is a serious decision to live for Jehovah and put his will above any other goal.

Comment 6:
After he came out of the water, Jesus began to pray. That detail helps to see that his baptism was not just a ceremony, but a very spiritual, very profound moment, that expressed his close and sincere relationship with his Father.

Comment 7:
Jehovah answered in an impressive way: the sky opened, the holy spirit came down upon Jesus and his voice was heard. Thus he made it clear to everyone that he fully approved of his Son and that he was supporting him at that new stage.

Comment 8:
At that time Jesus was anointed with a holy spirit, and that is why since then he was the Christ, that is, the Messiah. He was officially appointed to fulfill the mission that Jehovah had long been preparing for him.

Comment 9:
In addition, that moment publicly confirmed who Jesus was. He was no longer alone the faithful son of Joseph and Mary in the sight of the people; Jehovah Himself presented him as his beloved Son and as he that had his approval.

Comment 10:
Together, the baptism of Jesus teaches obedience, humility and absolute dedication. It shows us that he did not do his own will, but presented himself unreservedly to fulfill what Jehovah wanted, and that made him the perfect model for us.

Why did John say 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 much greater function than that of a simple teacher or prophet.

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

Comment 3:
In saying that he takes away the sin of the world, John showed that the work of Jesus would have universal reach. It was not only to help a few people, not only one nation, but all who worshipped in it and obeyed Jehovah.

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

Comment 5:
The image of the lamb conveys innocence, meekness and sacrifice. It fits very well with Jesus, for he would live perfectly and then give up his life willingly, without resistance, to fulfill the purpose of Jehovah.

Comment 6:
That name also makes it clear that Jesus’ sacrifice was not born of a human idea. It was Jehovah who provided it. That is why John said not only a lamb, but the Lamb of God, highlighting the divine origin of that gift.

Comment 7:
John was helping people understand a deep aspect of the Messiah. Many expected only a mighty deliverer, but John showed that before reigning, Jesus had to play an essential role related to sin and salvation.

Comment 8:
In this way, John continued to prepare people’s hearts. Not only did he tell them that the Messiah had come, but he taught them how to see it and why their coming was an immense sign of the love of Jehovah.

Comment 9:
Calling Him the Lamb of God also highlights how costly the rescue would be. Jehovah gave not something small or easy, but his own beloved Son. That should greatly increase our gratitude for all that was achieved through Jesus.

Comment 10:
In short, 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 significance.

Lesson 75: The Devil Tests Jesus

What were the three temptations?

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

Comment 2:
It wasn’t just a food-related test. The Devil wanted Jesus to use his power for his own benefit and on the margins of his Father’s direction. It was a way of pushing him to independence from Jehovah.

Comment 3:
The second temptation was to ask him to launch from the top of the temple. Satan even misquoted the meaning of the Scriptures to make that action seem reasonable, as if it were a demonstration of faith.

Comment 4:
But in reality what he wanted was for Jesus to put Jehovah to the test, forcing him to intervene spectacularly. That temptation appealed to pride, the desire to impress and the idea of seeking striking validation.

Comment 5:
The third temptation was the most brazen: to show him all the kingdoms of the world and to offer him his 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 rule, but at a terrible price. I was basically telling Jesus that he could have authority without going through suffering or staying loyal to his Father.

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

Comment 8:
It is also noticed that the Devil was insistent. He did not settle for a single test, but tried different methods, as if he were looking for any crack by which he could cause Jesus to fall.

Comment 9:
These temptations were not absurd or superficial. They were designed to appear reasonable at a time of physical weakness and loneliness. That shows how cunning Satan is when he tries to turn someone away from Jehovah.

Comment 10:
Together, these three trials reveal how the Devil acts: try to ensure that one satisfies legitimate desires incorrectly, lets himself be carried away by pride or seeks advantages by sacrificing loyalty to Jehovah.

How did Jesus answer to the Devil?

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

Comment 2:
Faced with the temptation to turn stones into bread, Jesus said that man does not live alone with food. With this he showed that obedience to Jehovah is above even a necessity as strong and legitimate as hunger.

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

Comment 4:
When Satan suggested casting himself from the temple, Jesus replied that Jehovah should not be tested. In other words, true faith is not about demanding miraculous evidence or acting with presumption.

Comment 5:
That teaches a lot, because sometimes a person can disguise what is actually recklessness in faith. Jesus did not confuse confidence with daring, and therefore rejected that temptation clearly.

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

Comment 7:
Jesus did not negotiate, did not prove how far he could approach or entertained himself with the proposal. He cut the root temptation. That firmness shows that the best way to face temptation is to reject it right away.

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

Comment 9:
Jesus won because he not only knew the Word of God; he loved it and lived according to it. His answers were not empty formulas, but the expression of deep loyalty and a heart completely given to Jehovah.

Comment 10:
In short, Jesus responded with Scripture, calmly, with firmness and absolute loyalty. Thus he left a perfect example of how to face any proof: clinging to the truth of Jehovah and rejecting immediately everything that compromises our fidelity.