Matthew 4:18-22 - Walking beside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus sees Simon and Andrew, who were fishermen. He calls them to follow him and says that he will send them out to fish for people. They immediately drop their nets and follow him. Jesus then sees James and John, who were also fishermen. When he called them, they too dropped their nets and followed him.

John 20:1-18 - Early in the morning, on the Sunday after Jesus’ death, Mary Magdalene came to visit his tomb but found that it was empty. She thought that someone must have stolen Jesus’ body and so she went to Peter and another one of the disciples to tell them what had happened. They ran to the tomb to see for themselves and found it empty as Mary had said and left. Mary was standing by the tomb weeping when she saw two angels who asked her why she was crying, and she told them that Jesus’ body had been taken away. She then saw a man who she thought was the gardener, and asked him if he saw where they had taken Jesus. When the man said her name, she realized that it was Jesus and that he had risen from the dead, so she ran to tell the rest of the disciples the news.

John 19:17-24 - After Jesus’ arrest and questioning, he is sentenced to death on the cross. He carries his own cross on which Pilate had fastened a sign that said “The King of the Jews.” Some objected to this sign, saying that it should instead say “This man claimed to be king of the Jews.” After Jesus was crucified, the soldiers divided his clothes amongst themselves, which was in fulfillment of a prophesy from the Scriptures.

John 18:28-40 - Jesus is arrested and brought to the palace of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. He is questioned by Pilate about whether or not he is the King of the Jews. Jesus claims that his kingdom is not of this world, but comes from another place. Pilate does not believe that Jesus is guilty of any wrongdoing, and asks the people if they would like him to be pardoned, but they refuse, and ask to have a criminal named Barabbas pardoned instead.

Matthew 21:12-17 - Jesus and his followers go to the temple in Jerusalem where he turns over the tables of the moneychangers and sellers, incensed that they were turning God’s “house of prayer” into a “den of robbers.” He then heals all the blind and lame who come to him, and the children start shouting praises. When the religious leaders get indignant by this, he reminds them the Scriptures which says that from the lips of children and infants, God has called forth praise.

Matthew 21:1-11 - Jesus arrives in Jerusalem with his followers and requests for a donkey to be brought to him, so he can ride into the city on it. This was in fulfillment of the prophesy that the Messiah (promised king and saviour) of Israel would come to them riding on a donkey. A large crowd had gathered at the city gates and were spreading cloaks and palm leaves on the ground in front of Jesus, shouting praises to him as he passed.

Matthew 26:1-13 - A few days before the Passover, Jesus explained to his disciples what was to come - that he would be handed over to be crucified. The religious leaders had been scheming to have Jesus arrested and killed. Meanwhile, when Jesus was in Bethany, he was at the home of a man named Simon, when a woman took a jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head. The disciples were indignant, feeling that this was a waste, that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. But Jesus defended the woman, telling them that she had done a beautiful thing for him, preparing his body for burial.

Matthew 12:38-42 - Some of the religious leaders came to Jesus demanding a sign from him, but Jesus refused to give them any sign except for the sign of Jonah. He said that just as Jonah spent three days in the belly of the whale, so would he spend three days buried in the ground before coming back again. He also said that the people of Jonah’s day would come back in judgement because they listened and repented at Jonah’s teaching, but now someone even greater than Jonah was here.Big Idea: Keeping Our Hearts Open To Jesus

Matthew 13:53-58 - Once Jesus went to teach in the synagogue of his hometown, and the people were shocked and offended at what he was saying. They whispered amongst themselves, asking where he could have gotten his wisdom and miraculous powers, since they’ve seen him growing up and knew his whole family. Jesus told them that a prophet is honoured everywhere except in their own hometown, and he went away and didn’t do many miracles due to their lack of faith.

Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus goes into the wilderness to fast and is tested three times by the Villain. First, he is tempted to turn stones into bread; second, he is tempted to test God’s protection of him by jumping off a high cliff; and third, he is tempted to worship the Villain in order to receive all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus overcomes each one of these temptations by leaning on Scripture and trusting in God.

Luke 8:19-21 - Once when Jesus was teaching, his mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t reach him due to the large crowd surrounding him. Someone informed him that his mother and brothers were looking for him, and he took the opportunity to teach the crowd that anyone who listens to and obeys God’s word are his mother and brothers.

Matthew 11:28-30 - Jesus encourages his followers to come to him when they are tired and weary, and he will give them rest for their souls. The “yoke” or “burden” of Jesus’ teachings is light because he gives us strength in our weakness and helps us to carry them.

Matthew 8:18-22 - Once a religious leader came to Jesus, wanting to follow him wherever he went. Jesus warned him that the path would not be comfortable - "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Then another man came and told Jesus that he would follow him, but to let him wait and bury his father first (ie. to wait until his father died). Jesus encouraged him to take the step and follow him now, rather than waiting for the right time. 

John 8:12 - Jesus teaches his followers that he is the light of the world, and that anyone who follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

Matthew 19:13-15 - Once when Jesus was teaching a large crowd, some people were bringing their children to Jesus so that he could pray for them. However, the disciples rebuked them and tried to keep the children away. Jesus responded by telling his disciples to let the children come to him and not to hinder them, because the kingdom of God is for them too. Then he blessed them and went on his way.

Matthew 2:19-23 - After King Herod died, the angel appeared to Joseph again in a dream to tell him that it was safe to return to Israel with Mary and Jesus. However, Herod's son had become the king of Judea in his place and they were afraid to return there. Instead, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus went to Nazareth in Galilee. This fulfilled the prophesy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.