Stories of the Master

Throughout history, many have faced death with courage. From the philosopher Socrates, calmly drinking the cup of hemlock… to the Jewish martyrs under Antiochus Epiphanes, enduring unimaginable suffering… to faithful Christians who sang and prayed as flames rose around them…. They all died with bravery. But no one died like Jesus. Why did the One who healed the sick, raised the dead, and commanded...

Step into the wilderness with the prophet John, the holy man chosen to prepare the way for the Messiah. For months, he preached repentance to crowds from every walk of life—but John's eyes were searching for one man, the one foretold to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

For four hundred years, heaven was silent. Then, in the wilderness of Israel, a voice thundered once more. This is the story of John the Baptist, the prophet who broke centuries of silence and announced that the kingdom of God was at hand. Far from the halls of power and the corruption of Rome, a man clothed in camel's hair proclaimed repentance, renewal, and the coming of the Messiah. Step into t...

Empires rose and fell — Babylon, Persia, Greece. God's people waited under the weight of silence, holding on to His promise. And when the time was right, the Voice returned … not in thunder, but in the cry of a child.

The story did not end with the prodigal son's return. The older son returned to his home to hear the noise of the joyous celebration at his brother's return. When he learns his brother is ruined and penniless, he refuses to join the party.

If the story of the lost lamb and the lost coin did not move the religious people, perhaps a story of a lost son would touch their hearts. In his most famous story, Jesus tells the story of a son who shames his family and ruins his life. But his sin is not as great as his father's love.

Jesus tells the parables about the shepherd who risked everything to find one lost lamb and a woman who searched diligently to find one lost coin. But would the religious leaders understand the meaning?

Jesus is eating with religious leaders on the Sabbath. After he heals a man in their presence, he chides them for their pride and tells them a story to warn them they must stop making excuses about following him.

Jesus is teaching on the Sabbath in the synagogue. Everyone is enjoying his message when a woman shows up with a deformity she has had for 18 years. Jesus calls her to the front of the synagogue. What will he do on this day of rest?

Tragedies have struck Israel. Pilate has murdered men who were offering sacrifices in the Temple. A tower in Siloam has fallen and killed many. Some want Jesus to take revenge. His story of the barren fig tree identifies the real problem.

Jesus teaches his people about faith that overcomes all fear and then tells stories to reinforce all they have heard and to prepare them for the mission that lies ahead of them.

A man comes to Jesus and asks him to intervene in a family dispute. But Jesus sees that the problem is in the man who came to him. He is filled with greed and the story that follows warns everyone to be on guard against greed.

Jesus has been teaching his followers about prayer. To reinforce the point that God hears and answers prayer, he tells a story about a man who unexpectedly arrives at midnight at his friend's house and the hospitality that is shown to the man.

It is a grand day! Jesus has come to the home of Martha, Mary, and their brother, Lazarus. Martha is excited to do her best for this great man, but when things go wrong in the kitchen she loses her composure and learns an important lesson about what matters most.

An expert in Jewish law challenges Jesus with a technical question. Jesus answers with a story about a man left for dead. Two religious men offer no help. But when a third man helps the victim, the crowd is shocked by the third man's identity.

Jesus is again in Jerusalem, this time for the Feast of Dedication which commemorated the great victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks. But what did it mean to lead the people and to be a true shepherd that would meet the needs of the people?

During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus comes upon a man blind since birth. Jesus says he will heal the man. But first, the man must wash the mud from his eyes in the Pool of Siloam

Shame, anger, and hopelessness fill the heart of a woman caught in sin. Yes, she had done wrong, but so had the man and he was nowhere to be seen. Paraded through the Temple courts she is thrown at the feet of Jesus – guilty of adultery. Her fate will hang upon the words and actions of Jesus.

It was a joyous time in Israel. The nation had gathered to celebrate God's abundant goodness seen in the fall harvest. At this festival, Jesus claims to be the light of the world and the giver of the water of life.

To teach the importance of forgiveness, Jesus tells the story of a king who forgave a servant a massive debt, but the same servant would not forgive others for the small amounts they owed him.

Jesus returns from the mount where he was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. They find the other disciples arguing with the religious leaders and unable to cast out a demon. It is a disappointing day of little faith.

Jesus climbs a mountain with Peter, James, and John. While they sleep, he prays until they are awakened by voices. Jesus is talking with Moses and Elijah and is transfigured before them.

Jesus and his disciples finally get some time away from the crowds. They travel to the foot of Mt. Hermon where Jesus asks the most important question that anyone could ask, "Who do people say that I am?"

A little girl was possessed by an evil spirit who brought untold suffering to her and her family. When her mother heard Jesus was nearby, she sought him for help only to discover he was not there to heal. Then she said something that moved Jesus' heart to fulfill her bold request.

Jesus continues to be surrounded by religious authorities who watch his every move. On this day, they notice that his disciples do not ceremonially wash before the meal and reprimand him. But Jesus is not the one needing the rebuke.