Truth you can trace
The life of Jesus
The events of Jesus' life placed in order and in their setting.
Miracles
- Miracle
Cleansing of the Leper
Early Galilean ministry, a leper begs 'if you are willing, you can make me clean'; Jesus touches him, cleanses him, and sends him to the priest as the Law commands
Matthew 8:1 · Mark 1:40 · Luke 5:12
Read - Miracle
Feeding of the Four Thousand
Galilean/Decapolis ministry, Jesus feeds 4,000 from seven loaves and a few fish, with seven hamper-baskets left over; a second feeding, likely in Gentile territory
Matthew 15:32 · Mark 8:1
Read - Miracle
Feeding of the Five Thousand
Galilean ministry, eastern shore of Lake Galilee after withdrawal upon hearing of John the Baptist's death
Matthew 14:13 · Mark 6:30 · Luke 9:10
Read - Miracle
Healing at the Pool of Bethesda
A feast in Jerusalem, Jesus heals a man disabled 38 years at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, igniting the first major Sabbath conflict in John's gospel
John 5:1 · John 5:17
Read - Miracle
Healing of Blind Bartimaeus at Jericho
Final journey to Jerusalem, at Jericho, blind Bartimaeus cries 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'; Jesus restores his sight and he follows on the way
Matthew 20:29 · Mark 10:46 · Luke 18:35
Read - Miracle
Healing the Boy with an Unclean Spirit
Just after the Transfiguration, Jesus delivers a convulsing boy the disciples could not heal; 'I believe; help my unbelief!' and 'this kind comes out only by prayer'
Matthew 17:14 · Mark 9:14 · Luke 9:37
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Healing of the Man Born Blind
Late ministry, at Jerusalem, near the pool of Siloam
John 9:1
Read - Miracle
Healing the Official's Son (the Second Sign)
Back at Cana in Galilee, Jesus heals a royal official's dying son at Capernaum by his word alone, from a distance; John's 'second sign'
John 4:46
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Healing the Paralytic Let Down Through the Roof
Galilean ministry at Capernaum, a paralytic is lowered through the roof; Jesus forgives his sins and heals him, claiming the Son of Man's 'authority on earth to forgive sins'
Matthew 9:1 · Mark 2:1 · Luke 5:17
Read - Miracle
Demoniac of Gadara/Gerasa (Legion)
After crossing Lake Galilee from west to east, Gentile territory
Matthew 8:28 · Mark 5:1 · Luke 8:26
Read - Miracle
Raising of Jairus's Daughter
Galilean ministry, at Capernaum (or nearby); interleaved with the healing of the woman with the issue of blood
Matthew 9:18 · Mark 5:22 · Luke 8:41
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Raising of Lazarus
Late Peraean ministry, at Bethany ~2 miles from Jerusalem; trigger for the conspiracy that leads to crucifixion
John 11:1
Read - Miracle
Raising of the Widow's Son at Nain
Galilean ministry at the town of Nain, Jesus, moved with compassion, raises a widow's only son from his funeral bier; the crowd cries, 'A great prophet has arisen among us!'
Luke 7:11
Read - Miracle
Stilling the Storm on Lake Galilee
Galilean ministry, evening crossing after a day of parable-teaching
Matthew 8:23 · Mark 4:35 · Luke 8:22
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The Syro-Phoenician Woman's Daughter
Withdrawal to the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile woman's bold, persistent faith wins her demon-oppressed daughter's deliverance at a distance
Matthew 15:21 · Mark 7:24
Read - Miracle
Healing the Ten Lepers
On the way to Jerusalem, between Samaria and Galilee, Jesus cleanses ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks
Luke 17:11
Read - Miracle
The Transfiguration
Late Galilean ministry, about a week after Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi
Matthew 17:1 · Mark 9:2 · Luke 9:28
Read - Miracle
Walking on the Water
Late Galilean ministry, night after feeding of the 5,000
Matthew 14:22 · Mark 6:45 · John 6:15
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Water Turned to Wine at Cana
Early Galilean ministry, wedding at Cana, Jesus's first sign in John
John 2:1
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Healing the Woman with the Issue of Blood
Galilean ministry, interleaved with Jairus's daughter; a woman bleeding twelve years touches Jesus' garment-fringe and is healed: 'Daughter, your faith has made you well'
Matthew 9:20 · Mark 5:25 · Luke 8:43
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Parables
- Parable
Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Peraean ministry, parable of patience-with-a-deadline following Jesus' call 'unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way'; a fruitless tree given one more year
Luke 13:6 · Luke 13:1
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Parables of Counting the Cost
On the way to Jerusalem, twin parables (the tower-builder and the king going to war) on weighing the cost of discipleship; 'whoever does not renounce all he has cannot be my disciple'
Luke 14:28 · Luke 14:27
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Parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant
Readiness teaching, the servant set over the household: faithful if found working when the master returns, condemned if he presumes 'my master delays' and abuses the others
Matthew 24:45 · Luke 12:41
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Parable of the Friend at Midnight
Galilean/Peraean teaching on prayer, told immediately after the Lord's Prayer; 'ask, and it will be given you,' climaxing in the Father's gift of the Holy Spirit
Luke 11:5 · Luke 11:1
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Parable of the Good Samaritan
Peraean ministry, answer to a lawyer's 'Who is my neighbor?' question
Luke 10:25 · Deuteronomy 6:5 · Leviticus 19:18
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Parable of the Growing Seed
Galilean lakeside teaching, a kingdom parable unique to Mark: the scattered seed grows secretly, the farmer 'knows not how,' until the harvest comes
Mark 4:26 · Mark 4:1
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Parable of the Lamp under a Basket
Galilean teaching, a lamp is meant for the stand, not hidden under a basket or bed; 'there is nothing hidden that will not be made known'
Mark 4:21 · Luke 8:16 · Matthew 5:14
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Parable of the Lost Coin
Peraean ministry, Luke 15 middle parable
Luke 15:8
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Parable of the Lost Sheep
Luke version: Peraean ministry, opening Luke 15 trio. Matthew version: Galilean ministry, Mat.18 community discourse.
Matthew 18:10 · Luke 15:3
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Parable of the Mustard Seed
Galilean ministry, Mat.13 Kingdom parables cluster
Matthew 13:31 · Mark 4:30 · Luke 13:18
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Parable of the Persistent Widow
Final journey to Jerusalem, parable that disciples 'ought always to pray, and not to give up,' closing with 'when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?'
Luke 18:1 · Luke 17:22
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Parable of the Prodigal Son
Peraean ministry, answer to Pharisees murmuring at Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners
Luke 15:11 · Luke 15:1
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Parable of the Rich Fool
Galilean teaching, answer to a man asking Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute; a warning against covetousness and storing up wealth while 'not rich toward God'
Luke 12:13 · Luke 12:15
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Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Peraean ministry, Luke 16 follow-on to unjust-steward parable; teaches Pharisees who love money
Luke 16:19
Read - Parable
The Sheep and the Goats
Olivet Discourse, passion week, the Son of Man's final judgment of 'all the nations,' separating sheep from goats by the mercy they showed to 'the least of these'
Matthew 25:31
Read - Parable
Parable of the Sower
Galilean ministry, beside Lake Galilee
Matthew 13:3 · Mark 4:3 · Luke 8:5
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Parable of the Ten Virgins (Wise and Foolish)
Passion week, Olivet Discourse / parables of readiness
Matthew 25:1
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Parable of the Two Sons
Passion week in the Temple, first of three judgment parables answering the chief priests' challenge to Jesus' authority; tax collectors and prostitutes enter the Kingdom ahead of the religious leaders
Matthew 21:28 · Matthew 21:23 · Matthew 22:1
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Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
'), a servant forgiven an unpayable debt who then throttles a fellow servant over a trifle is handed to the tormentors: 'so shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not from the heart'
Matthew 18:21 · Matthew 18:15
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Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (Tenants)
Passion week, Tuesday teaching in temple after triumphal entry + temple cleansing
Matthew 21:33 · Mark 12:1 · Luke 20:9
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Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Final journey to Jerusalem, kingdom parable answering Peter's 'what then will we have?'; the landowner's generosity overturns merit-reckoning, so 'the last will be first, and the first last'
Matthew 20:1 · Matthew 19:30 · Matthew 19:27
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Encounters
- Encounter
Encounter: Calling of Matthew the Tax Collector
Galilean ministry at Capernaum, Jesus calls Matthew (Levi) the tax collector from his booth; at the feast that follows he declares, 'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance'
Matthew 9:9 · Mark 2:13 · Luke 5:27
Read - Encounter
Encounter: Calling of the First Disciples
Early ministry, Jesus calls his first disciples (Andrew, Peter, James, John, Philip, Nathanael) from fishing and from John the Baptist to be 'fishers of men'
Matthew 4:18 · Mark 1:16 · John 1:35
Read - Encounter
Encounter: Centurion's Servant (Jesus Marvels at Faith)
Citations: Matthew 8:5-13 || Luke 7:1-10 A Roman centurion (Gentile, military officer commanding ~100 soldiers) sends to Jesus on behalf of his sick servant.
Matthew 8:5 · Luke 7:1
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Encounter: Emmaus Road (Cleopas + Companion)
Citation: Luke 24:13-35, extended (23 verses), unique to Luke. Brief reference at Mark 16:12-13. ## The narrative Setup. Two disciples (Cleopas + an unnamed companion, debated: companion's wife?
Luke 24:13 · Mark 16:12
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Encounter: The Great Commission
Post-resurrection on a mountain in Galilee, the risen Jesus, given 'all authority,' sends the eleven to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching; 'I am with you always'
Matthew 28:16
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Encounter: Mary and Martha at Bethany
Three encounters across three gospels in three phases of Jesus's ministry. All at the same Bethany household, Mary, Martha, Lazarus (siblings).
Luke 10:38 · John 11:1 · John 12:1
Read - Encounter
Encounter: Mary Magdalene
Mary of Magdala (a town on the western shore of Lake Galilee). Distinct from Mary mother of Jesus, Mary of Bethany (Lazarus's sister), Mary mother of James + Joses, Mary mother of John Mark, and Mary of Rome.
Luke 8:2 · Matthew 27:55 · Mark 15:40
Read - Encounter
Encounter: Nicodemus, Born Again Teaching
Citation: John 3:1-21 ## Who Nicodemus was A Pharisee + member of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council); a "teacher of Israel" (John 3:10, Jesus's address), likely a recognized rabbinic authority.
John 3:1 · John 7:50 · John 19:39
Read - Encounter
Encounter: Peter's Confession at Caesarea Philippi
Citations: Matthew 16:13-20 || Mark 8:27-30 || Luke 9:18-21 Setting: Caesarea Philippi, far north, near Mount Hermon, ~25 miles north of Lake Galilee. A pagan religious center (cave shrine to Pan + temple to Augustus).
Matthew 16:13 · Mark 8:27 · Luke 9:18
Read - Encounter
Encounter: Peter's Restoration by the Sea
Post-resurrection by the Sea of Galilee, the risen Jesus restores Peter after his threefold denial with a threefold 'Do you love me?' and 'Feed my sheep'
John 21:15 · John 21:1
Read - Encounter
Encounter: Rich Young Ruler
Citations: Matthew 19:16-30 || Mark 10:17-31 || Luke 18:18-30 Composite name: "young" comes from Matthew; "ruler" (ἄρχων archōn) from Luke; "rich" from all three.
Matthew 19:16 · Mark 10:17 · Luke 18:18
Read - Encounter
Encounter: The Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus
Galilean ministry, at Simon the Pharisee's table a 'sinful' woman wets Jesus' feet with tears and anoints them; 'her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much'
Luke 7:36
Read - Encounter
Encounter: Thomas after the Resurrection
" ## The narrative Thomas (called Didymus, Greek for "twin") was absent at Jesus's first post-resurrection appearance to the disciples (John 20:19-23).
John 20:24
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Encounter: Samaritan Woman at Jacob's Well (Living Water)
Citation: John 4:1-42, the longest recorded conversation Jesus has with anyone in the gospels. ## Setting Jesus + disciples on journey from Judea back to Galilee.
John 4:1 · John 4:7 · John 4:27
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Encounter: Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
Citation: Luke 19:1-10 Theological pairing: Zacchaeus's encounter follows the rich young ruler's (Luke 18:18-30). Both are wealthy. Same Jesus + same wealth-issue + different outcome.
Luke 19:1 · Luke 18:18
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Names and titles of Jesus
- Name or title of Jesus
Alpha and Omega
Greek: Α καὶ Ω (Alpha kai Omega), first and last letters of the Greek alphabet OT background: Yahweh self-identifies as "the first and the last" at Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12.
Revelation 1:8 · Revelation 21:6 · Revelation 22:13
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Bread of Life
Greek: ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς (ho artos tēs zōēs) OT background: Manna in wilderness (Exodus 16; Numbers 11; Deuteronomy 8:3); shewbread / bread-of-Presence (Exodus 25:30; Leviticus 24:5-9).
John 6:22 · Deuteronomy 8:3 · Matthew 4:4
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Christ / Messiah
" LXX consistently renders Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ as Χριστός, making "Christ" and "Messiah" the same title in two languages. Scripture quotations here are from the World English Bible (WEB).
Psalms 2:2 · Matthew 1:1
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Good Shepherd
Greek: ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός (G4166 poimēn + G2570 kalos), "the shepherd, the good one" OT background: Psalm 23 "Yahweh is my shepherd"; Ezekiel 34, God against false shepherds, promising he himself will shepherd…
John 10:1 · Matthew 26:31 · Isaiah 40:11
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High Priest
Greek: ἀρχιερεύς (archiereus, G0749) "chief priest" OT background: Aaron + sons + descendants as Levitical high priests (Exodus 28-29; Leviticus 8-9; Leviticus 16 Day of Atonement); Melchizedek as alternate…
Genesis 14:18 · Psalms 110:4
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I AM (ἐγὼ εἰμί)
Greek: ἐγὼ εἰμί (egō eimi), literally "I am" or "I myself am" Hebrew/OT background: אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה (ehyeh asher ehyeh) "I AM WHO I AM" at Exodus 3:14, identifying YHWH (H3068) to Moses at the burning bush.
Exodus 3:14 · John 8:58 · John 8:59
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Immanuel
Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל (Immanu'el, H6005), literally "with us [is] God" or "God [is] with us" Greek: Ἐμμανουήλ (Emmanouēl, G1694), Greek transliteration of the Hebrew OT origin…
Isaiah 7:14 · Matthew 1:23
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King of Kings, Lord of Lords
Greek: βασιλεὺς βασιλέων καὶ κύριος κυρίων OT background: מֶלֶךְ מְלָכִים (melech malachim) "king of kings", title for Persian emperors (Ezra 7:12…
Revelation 19:16 · Ezra 7:12 · Daniel 2:37
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Lamb of God
" ## OT background, three lamb categories 1. Passover lamb, Exodus 12, slain lamb's blood applied to doorposts protects firstborn from death-angel. Type for Christ's death-deliverance. 2.
John 1:29
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Light of the World
Greek: τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου (to phōs tou kosmou) OT background: Genesis 1:3 "Let there be light"; Psalm 27:1 "Yahweh is my light"; Isaiah 9:2 "people walking in darkness have seen a great light"; Isaiah 42:6…
John 8:12 · Genesis 1:3 · Psalms 27:1
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Lord
Greek: κύριος (kurios, G2962), generic "master/sir" through to fully divine "Lord" Hebrew background: אֲדֹנָי (Adonai) "Lord" used as substitute for YHWH (H3068) in reverent Jewish reading practice.
John 4:15 · Luke 16:13 · Revelation 11:15
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Savior
Greek: σωτήρ (sōtēr, G4990) "savior, deliverer, preserver" Hebrew background: יָשַׁע (yasha) "to save"; יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yehoshua) = "Yahweh is salvation", Old Hebrew form rendered "Joshua"…
Matthew 1:21
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Son of God
Greek: ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ (ho huios tou theou) Hebrew background: בֶּן־אֱלֹהִים (ben-Elohim), generic OT use for angels (Genesis 6:2; Job 1:6) + Davidic king (2 Samuel 7:14; Psalms 2:7) + Israel as nation (Exodus 4:22…
Matthew 3:17 · Genesis 6:2 · Job 1:6
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Son of Man
Greek: ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου (ho huios tou anthrōpou) Hebrew / Aramaic background: בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-adam) "son of man" used ~107× in Ezekiel + Daniel 8:17; בַּר אֱנָשׁ (bar enash, Aramaic) in Daniel 7:13.
Daniel 7:13 · Matthew 8:20 · Daniel 8:17
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Word / Logos
Greek: ὁ λόγος (ho logos, G3056) "the Word" Hebrew background: דְּבַר־יְהוָה (devar-Yahweh) "the word of Yahweh", used hundreds of times in the OT prophets as the agent of revelation and creation.
John 1:1
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Prophecies fulfilled
- Prophecy fulfilled
Prophecies Fulfilled: Ascension & Enthronement
Two OT passages anchor Jesus's ascension + sustained heavenly enthronement: Psalms 68:18 (ascended on high; received gifts) + Psalms 110:1 (sit at my right hand).
Psalms 68:18 · Psalms 110:1 · Ephesians 4:8
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Prophecies Fulfilled: Betrayal
Three OT passages applied to Judas Iscariot's betrayal: Psalms 41:9 (friend who eats my bread); Zechariah 11:12-13 (thirty pieces of silver + potter's field); Psalms 69:25 / Psalms 109:8 (his place to another).
Psalms 41:9 · Zechariah 11:12 · Psalms 69:25
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Prophecies Fulfilled: Birth & Early Life of Jesus
Six canonical Messianic prophecies applied to Jesus's birth + infancy in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. Scripture quotations here are from the World English Bible (WEB). ## 1.
Isaiah 7:14 · Matthew 1:23 · Micah 5:2
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Prophecies Fulfilled: Coming King & Universal Reign (Future)
The Messianic prophecies that the NT presents as still-to-be-fulfilled or as in-process-of-fulfillment.
Daniel 7:13 · Psalms 2:7
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Prophecies Fulfilled: Forerunner & Ministry Inauguration
Prophecies fulfilled by John the Baptist's preparatory ministry + Jesus's baptism / temptation / first Galilean preaching / Nazareth synagogue self-application. ## 1.
Isaiah 40:3 · Matthew 3:3 · Mark 1:3
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Prophecies Fulfilled: Passion & Crucifixion
The two heaviest concentrations of NT-quoted OT prophecy are Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. Together with Psalm 69 + Zechariah 12:10 + a half-dozen other passages, they form the densest prophecy-fulfillment cluster in the NT.
Zechariah 12:10
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Prophecies Fulfilled: Resurrection
Three OT anchor passages used by NT writers to argue Jesus's resurrection was prophesied: Psalms 16:10 (not see corruption); Psalms 110:1 (seated at right hand); Hosea 6:2 (third-day raising).
Psalms 16:10 · Psalms 110:1 · Hosea 6:2
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Prophecies Fulfilled: Triumphal Entry
The Sunday-before-Passion entry into Jerusalem fulfills two key OT prophecies. Recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 21:1-11 || Mark 11:1-11 || Luke 19:29-44 || John 12:12-19). ## 1.
Matthew 21:1 · Mark 11:1 · Luke 19:29
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