9221 Bible Knowledge notes GASt.L Part 1

If you are taking the 9221 Bible Knowledge for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia 2010. These 'guides' may be rather useful. These are not "spotted" questions but rather major topics that may come out after doing the analysis for a period of 16 years (from 1993 to 2009). We'll start off with the Gospel According to St. Luke.

Birth of Jesus announced (Lk 2:1-7)

• Emperor Augustus' reign*
• Ordered a census to be carried out
• Quirinius was the governor of Syria
• Everyone went to register themselves at their hometown
• Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem (Birthplace of Kind David)*
• He went to register with Mary- who was promised in marriage to him*
• She was pregnant*
• It was time for her to give birth while they were in Bethlehem*
• She gave first to her first born son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger*
• There was no room for them to stay in the inn*

The Shepherds and Angels (Lk 2: 8- 20)

• Shepherds in their fields that night taking care of their flocks
• An angel appeared to them- They were afraid
• The angel said to them: Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Saviour was born- Christ the Lord! And this will prove it to you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
• Great army of heaven's angels appeared, singing praises to God
• "Glory to God in the Highest heaven, and peace to on earth to those whom he is pleased"
• When the angels went back, the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem
• They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby in the manger
• The shepherds told them what the Angels had said
• Mary remembered all these things and thought deeply about them
• The shepherds went back singing praises to God for what they had seen and heard just as the angels has said.

The Temptations of Jesus (Lk 4:1- 13)

• Jesus returned from River Jordan full of the Holy Spirit
• Led by the Spirit into the dessert
• He was tempted by the Devil for 40 days.
• During that time he ate nothing, so after that he was very hungry when it was over
• The first temptation: The Devil tempted Jesus if He is God's son he can turn some stones into bread.
• Jesus' rebuttal: Human beings cannot live on Bread alone
• The second temptation: Took Him to a high place and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. He tempted Jesus that all these have been handed over to him an all the wealth and power will be Jesus' if He worshiped him (the Devil).
• Jesus said: Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him
• The third temptation: Taking Jesus to the highest point on the Jerusalem Temple. and said to him if Jesus is the son of God, he should throw himself down and God will order the angels of heaven to take good care of Jesus that not even is feet shall be hurt by the stones.
• Jesus answered: Do not put your God to the test
• after this the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left Him

Jesus Calls the First Disciples (Lk 5:1-11)

• Jesus was standing at the shore of Gennesaret
• The people pushed through to listen to the word of God
• He saw two boats and the fishermen were washing their nets
• Jesus got into Simon's boat and asked him to push off a little from the shore
• Jesus sat in the boat and started preaching
• When he was done, he said to Simon to push his boat further into deep water and with his partners let down their nets.
• Simon said that they had worked hard all night long and had caught nothing. But if He says so they will do it.
• They caught such a large number of fish
• The nets were about to break
• They motioned to their partners to help them
• They filled the boats with the fishes that now the boat was about to sink.
• Simon Peter saw what had happened and fell on his knees before Jesus
• He told Jesus to go away from him for he is a sinful man!
• Simon Peter and the others were amazed at the large number of fish that they had just caught
• The same happened to James and John the sons of Zebedee.
• Jesus said to Simon: Don't be afraid; from now on you will be catching people
• They left everything and followed Jesus.

Jesus heals a Man (Lk 5: 12 -16)

The first miracle as recorded by the Gospel of St. Luke*

• In a town
• A man suffering from a dreaded skin disease
• He threw himself down before Jesus
• "Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean!"
• Jesus touched him
• "Be clean!"
• Jesus then said to the man not to tell anyone about this but rather go the priest and let him examine you. Then to prove that you are cured offer up sacrifices as Moses has ordered.
• The news of Jesus spread fast
• More wildly people came to get healed from their disease and to listen to him.
• He went to lonely places to pray.

Jesus Raises a Widow's Son (Lk 7: 11-17)

• After healing the Roman Officer's Servant at Capernaum, Jesus went to a town called Nain
• He was accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd.
• As he arrived at the town's gate, a funeral was coming out.
• The dead man was a widow's son and a large crowd from the town followed her.
• When Jesus saw her, his heart was full of pity.
• He told her not to cry
• He walked over to the coffin and touched it.
• He said "Young man! Get up, I tell you!"
  
• The dead man sat up and began to talk.
• All the people were afraid and praised God.
• They said a great prophet has appeared among them and God has come to save them
• The news about Jesus went through all the country and surrounding territory.