The Cast
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The center of the story

Jesus

The one every other story points to.

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The one every other story points to.

  • Savior
  • Lord
  • King

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

(ESV)
MaryJohn the BaptistMartha

Introduction

Jesus is not one character among many in this cast. He is the reason the cast exists. Every other story here is waiting for him, walking with him, or telling others about him.

He was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, and worked with his hands. He ate with sinners, touched the sick, wept at a friend's grave, and was tired enough to sleep through a storm. He is fully God and fully man, and he came to save his people from their sins.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

(ESV)
Name means
“The LORD saves” ·
Home
Nazareth, in Galilee
Role
Prophet, Priest, and King
Read him in
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

His life

The cross

  1. Born in Bethlehem

    Born to Mary and laid in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

  2. Baptized

    The Father speaks from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

  3. Tempted in the wilderness

    Where Israel failed in the wilderness, he stands firm, answering Satan with Scripture.

  4. Transfigured

    On a mountain his glory shines, and the Father says, “Listen to him.”

  5. The cross

    He is crucified outside Jerusalem. His last word in John's Gospel: “It is finished.”

  6. Risen

    On the third day the tomb is empty: “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.”

  7. Ascended

    He is taken up, and the angels promise he will come again the same way.

Where he walked

Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.

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HomeMinistryKey momentTraditional or uncertainPinch or use + to zoom. Tap a cluster to spread it out.

Who he is

We don't give Jesus a personality type. He is the one person in Scripture with no blind spot, and every kind of person finds their true shape in him.

The Word

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Immanuel

“God with us”

The Son of David

The promised King from David's line.

The Lamb of God

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Prophet, Priest, and King

He speaks God's word, offers himself as the sacrifice, and reigns over his people.

The “I am” sayings

  • “I am the bread of life.”
  • “I am the light of the world.”
  • “I am the door.”
  • “I am the good shepherd.”
  • “I am the resurrection and the life.”
  • “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
  • “I am the true vine.”

His character

Compassion

“he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” ()

Holiness

Tempted in every way, yet without sin. ()

Authority

“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” ()

Humility

He emptied himself and became obedient to the point of death. ()

His mission

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” ()

His people

The Twelve

PeterAndrewJamesJohnPhilipBartholomewMatthewThomasJames son of AlphaeusThaddaeusSimon the ZealotJudas Iscariot

Family

MaryHis mother, at the manger and at the crossJohn the BaptistHis relative, who prepared the way

Friends

MarthaSisters in Bethany whose home he lovedMary of BethanySisters in Bethany whose home he lovedLazarusThe friend he wept over and raised

Followers

Mary MagdaleneFirst to see him risenNicodemusCame by night, helped bury him

Opposed

The Pharisees and chief priestsPlotted his death
Pontius PilateFound no guilt in him and handed him over
Judas IscariotOne of the Twelve, who betrayed him

Family of Faith

See where Jesus fits

AbrahamJesus

c. 5 BC – AD 30. The center of the whole story.

Open the timeline

The center

Every story in The Cast points here.

After his resurrection, Jesus walked with two disciples and “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” ().

How the cast points to him

PeterPeter's story is not about trying harder. It's about a Savior who restores failures.AndrewAndrew's life points away from himself, which is exactly the point.JamesJames asked for a throne, and Jesus showed him the way of the cross.JohnJohn was changed by being loved. That's how Christ changes anyone.PhilipPhilip asked to see the Father, and Jesus told him he had been looking at him all along.BartholomewNathanael is promised what Jacob saw in a dream: heaven opened, with Jesus as the way between.MatthewMatthew's call is the gospel in miniature: a sinner summoned, not a good man rewarded.ThomasThomas's doubt meets a risen Savior who still bears the wounds.James son of AlphaeusJesus remembers the names that history forgets.ThaddaeusJesus answers sincere questions with himself.Simon the ZealotJesus gathers rivals into one body under his peace.Judas IscariotJesus kept faith with the one who broke faith with him.MaryMary carried the Savior she herself needed.Joseph of NazarethJoseph gave Jesus his name and his place in David's line. Jesus gave Joseph a Father to share.ElizabethElizabeth was the first person to call Jesus Lord, before he was born.Zechariah the priestZechariah sang of a sunrise from on high. Jesus is that light.SimeonSimeon held the salvation of God in his arms, and it was a baby.AnnaAnna waited decades in prayer, and the answer was carried in to her.Mary MagdaleneThe risen Shepherd calls his own by name.MarthaThe answer to Martha's grief was not a doctrine but a person.Mary of BethanyMary anointed the body of the one who would die for her.LazarusJesus called Lazarus out of the grave, then walked into his own.John the BaptistJohn was the voice. Jesus was the Word.The woman at the wellShe came for water and met the one who gives living water.NicodemusThe Son of Man was lifted up so that people like Nicodemus could be born again.ZacchaeusZacchaeus went looking for Jesus, but Jesus had come looking for him.Joseph of ArimatheaJoseph gave Jesus a borrowed grave. Jesus gave it back empty.Herod the GreatHerod clung to a throne; the true King came to lay his down.PaulPaul's whole life is proof that grace reaches the worst of us.BarnabasBarnabas stood up for Saul before the church, which pictures Christ standing up for sinners before the Father.John MarkMark's own story of failure and restoration fits the Gospel he gave us: a Savior who came to serve.StephenStephen's death echoes the death of Jesus, because Stephen belonged to him.TimothyTimothy's care for others echoes the mind of Christ, and his strength came from Christ's grace, not his own temperament.LydiaLydia's story shows that faith begins with God opening a heart, and that a welcomed person becomes a welcoming one.PriscillaPriscilla taught Apollos “the way of God,” and that way is a person, Jesus.SilasSilas sang in chains because his Lord had already broken death's.ApollosApollos was a great preacher who kept pointing past himself.Philip the evangelistPhilip started with Isaiah's lamb and ended with Jesus.CorneliusCornelius learned that Jesus is Lord of all, including him.DorcasTabitha, arise: the words of Jesus, spoken again.TitusTitus's whole letter rests on grace that appeared.PhilemonPaul asks Philemon to do for Onesimus what Christ did for him.OnesimusOnesimus went home with someone else paying his debt.AdamThe first Adam brought death by disobedience. The last Adam brings life by obedience.EveEve was promised an offspring who would crush the serpent. Jesus is that son.CainAbel's blood cried out for justice; Jesus' blood speaks a better word.AbelThe first innocent blood, answered by Jesus' better blood.NoahNoah's family was carried safely through judgment in the ark. Jesus carries his people through judgment in himself.JobJob longed for a Redeemer to stand on the earth and plead his case. Jesus is that Redeemer.AbrahamThe promise to Abraham was always about one offspring, Christ, and everyone who belongs to him.SarahSarah's son came by promise, not by planning, and that is how every child of God comes.LotLot was pulled out of judgment by the hand. Jesus takes hold of people who would never leave on their own.HagarHagar was found by the God who sees. In Jesus, God came to look outsiders in the eye.IshmaelThe God who heard Ishmael is the God who came looking for outsiders.IsaacIsaac, the beloved son carrying wood up the hill, points to the Son who carried his cross and was not spared.RebekahGod's choice of Jacob did not depend on Rebekah's scheme, and the gospel does not depend on ours.JacobJacob saw a stairway between heaven and earth, and Jesus said he is that meeting place.EsauEsau traded his inheritance for a meal; in Christ, the inheritance is kept for us.LabanLaban kept changing the terms; God kept his.LeahLeah was the unchosen wife, and through her son Judah came Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.RachelRachel wept for her children. Jesus was born in Bethlehem to bring them home.JosephJoseph, rejected by his brothers and raised to save them, points to the greater Son who was handed over for our rescue.JethroJethro, an outsider, came to know the LORD. Jesus opened the door wide for outsiders.MosesMoses points to a greater prophet who does more than carry God's word down the mountain.AaronAaron points to a high priest who never needs a sacrifice for himself.MiriamMiriam's song by the sea pictures the song of the redeemed, and her healing pictures the work of an intercessor.JoshuaJoshua bears the same name as Jesus and points to the one who gives a rest that lasts.CalebCaleb trusted God's promise against the giants. Jesus faced the greatest enemy and won the land for us.RahabAn outsider under judgment is saved by faith and brought into the family of the promised King.DeborahThe LORD raises up deliverers for a people who cannot save themselves, and Deborah's song points to the one who finally crushes the enemy.GideonGod saves through weakness so that no one can boast, and Gideon's failure shows Israel's need for a better King.SamsonA deeply flawed deliverer wins his greatest victory in his death, and his failures make us long for a deliverer without sin.EliEli was a priest who failed to guard God's house. Jesus is the faithful high priest who never fails.HannahHannah sang of a God who lifts the lowly. Mary sang the same song when Jesus was coming.SamuelSamuel was prophet, priest, and judge. Christ is Prophet, Priest, and King in full.NaomiNaomi said God had emptied her. God was already bringing her a Redeemer.RuthBoaz redeems what Ruth cannot redeem herself. That is the pattern of the gospel.OrpahOrpah's road shows how wide Ruth's step was, and how wide God's welcome is.BoazBoaz chose to pay the price for someone with no claim on him. That is grace.SaulSaul is the king the people asked for. Jesus is the King God gives.JonathanJonathan gave up his rightful place for his friend. Christ did far more.AbigailAbigail stepped between an angry king and a guilty house and said, On me be the guilt. Jesus did that fully.DavidDavid was promised a son who would reign forever. Jesus is that Son.BathshebaMatthew names Bathsheba in the line of Jesus. The family of the Messiah carries its wounds openly.NathanNathan announced God's promise of an everlasting son of David. Jesus is that Son.AbsalomAbsalom stole hearts; the Son of David wins them by giving his life.SolomonSolomon was a son of David who built God a house, and Jesus is the greater Son of David who is the house.HezekiahHezekiah could pray for his city, but he could not keep it safe forever. Jesus keeps his people for good.JosiahJosiah renewed the covenant for a few years. Jesus brings a new covenant that lasts.AhabAhab took a vineyard by having an innocent man killed. Jesus, the innocent one, gave himself to give us an inheritance.JezebelJezebel used power to take. Jesus used power to give himself away.ElijahElijah went up to heaven and left his spirit on a disciple, and Jesus ascended and poured out his Spirit on his church.ElishaElisha's name means God saves, and his works point ahead to the Savior.AmosAmos promised that David's fallen house would rise. James says it did, in Jesus.HoseaHosea paid to bring back an unfaithful wife. Jesus paid with his life for a bride who had wandered.GomerGomer was bought back by a husband who would not give up. That is the gospel in miniature.JonahJonah went into the deep against his will, and Jesus went into death willingly to save his enemies.IsaiahIsaiah saw the glory of the King, and John says that King was Jesus.MicahMicah named the town. Seven centuries later the wise men were sent there.HabakkukHabakkuk heard that the righteous shall live by faith. Paul built the gospel on that line.ZephaniahZephaniah said the LORD would be in his people's midst, a mighty one who saves. Jesus is God with us.NahumNahum saw a messenger running on the mountains with good news. Paul says that is the gospel.JeremiahJeremiah promised a new covenant, and Jesus brought it in his blood.BaruchBaruch watched God's word burn and wrote it again. Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will not.ObadiahObadiah ends with saviors on Mount Zion and the kingdom belonging to the LORD. Jesus brought that kingdom.JoelJoel promised the Spirit for everyone. Jesus poured him out.EzekielEzekiel saw glory leave the temple. In Jesus, glory came back to dwell with us.DanielDaniel saw one like a son of man given an everlasting kingdom, and Jesus took that title as his own.HaggaiHaggai promised that the latter glory of the house would be greater. Jesus walked into that temple.ZechariahZechariah saw a humble king on a donkey. Five centuries later, Jesus rode one into Jerusalem.EstherEsther went uninvited before the king to plead for a condemned people, and that points to a greater intercessor.MordecaiMordecai was honored by the king after being marked for death. Jesus was raised and exalted after he died for his people.EzraEzra read God's word to a people starting over. Jesus is the Word, and he opened the Scriptures to his people.NehemiahNehemiah left the palace to rebuild a ruined city, and his unfinished reforms point to a better builder.MalachiMalachi promised a messenger and a Lord coming to his temple. The Gospels open with both.

Questions to sit with

Jesus asked his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15). Who do you say he is?

Where do I need to stop trying and simply come to him? (Matt 11:28)

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Keep readingMeet the TwelveStart with Peter, and walk through the twelve men Jesus chose.