Volume 11: The Path to the Cross
God's story culminates with the intense devotion of his people in this 11th volume of the Faith Lessons series. Discover how their passionate faith prepares the way for Jesus and his ultimate act of obedience and sacrifice at the cross. Then, be challenged in your own life to live as they did-by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
01. The Way of the Essenes
At times, God chose to use the harsh reality of life in the desert near the Promised Land as a practical teaching tool to mold and shape His people. The Essenes went willingly into this wasteland to allow Him to do just that: to teach them His words and how to walk obediently in His ways. In this lesson, you will catch a glimpse of what it means to travel this path of obedience as you continue to "prepare the way" for the Lord.
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 8:1-20, Deuteronomy 18:15, Isaiah 40:1-4, Isaiah 40:4-5, Isaiah 40:6-8
Locations: Dead Sea, Judean Wilderness, Qumran, Israel
02. The Way of John the Baptist
John the Baptist focused his life entirely on preparing the Jewish people for the coming of Jesus. His ministry still holds enormous meaning for us today, and there is much we can learn from his understanding of how to prepare for the arrival of Messiah. In this lesson, you will consider what it means to live a life of wholehearted commitment to God, His word, and His kingdom.
Scripture References: 1 Kings 17:2-6, 2 Kings 1:1-18, 2 Kings 2:1-25, Exodus 6:9, Isaiah 42:1-25, Isaiah 64:1, Luke 1:1-80, Luke 1:17, Luke 3:1-37, Malachi 3:1-18, Mark 1:10, Matthew 3:2, Matthew 11:2, Matthew 11:14, Psalm 2:1-12, Zechariah 9:1-17
Locations: Aenon (Abel Mehola, Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Jesus Baptized by John, Jordan River, Judean Wilderness, Macherus, Jordan, Mount Carmel, Qumran, Israel
03. Into the Desert to Be Tested
During their forty years of testing in the desert, God continued to teach and shape the Israelite nation. By the time they entered the Promised Land, a new generation had formed, a people who obeyed and trusted God with all their heart, soul, and strength. Follow along as this lesson invites God to reveal what you are lacking, so you can learn to walk in His ways with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.
Scripture References: 1 John 2:6, Deuteronomy 6:1-25, Deuteronomy 7:1-26, Deuteronomy 8:1-20, Exodus 15:22, Hebrews 5:8, John 6:1-71, Luke 4:1-13, Luke 13:1-35, Mark 1:12, Matthew 12:48, Matthew 16:1-28, Psalm 91:1-16
Locations: Judean Wilderness, Rephidim, Wilderness of Sin
04. The Last Passover
In the story of God making Himself known to His people, Passover is a foundational element. As the continuation of this redemptive process, the Lord's Supper finds its most profound meaning when taken in the context of Passover imagery. In this lesson, you will unpack the full meaning of the Last Supper and learn how to engage it in deep celebration, commemorating Jesus' redemptive work on our behalf.
Scripture References: Exodus 6:6, Exodus 12:1-51, John 10:17, John 13:1-38, Luke 22:1-71
Locations: Jerusalem, Israel
05. The Fifth Cup: Our Way of Hope
The Passover Sedar employs four symbolic cups to help the Jews remember the miraculous ways that God delivered His people from the hand of Pharaoh. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked the Father to take away the cup placed before Him, a "fifth cup," in a sense, which signifies the complete deliverance of God's people from the wages of our own sin. In this lesson, you will consider the implications of Jesus accepting this cup of God's wrath so that we could be spared from it, once and for all.
Scripture References: Exodus 13:1-22, Jeremiah 25:15, John 18:1-2, John 19:1-42, Luke 22:39, Mark 14:32, Mark 14:33, Mark 14:51, Matthew 26:36, Proverbs 121:4, Psalm 22:1, Psalm 69:21, Psalm 79:6
Locations: Jerusalem, Israel, Kidron Valley, Jerusalem, Israel, Maresha, Israel