Faith Expressions

Introduction

This article contains “some beings, some places and some things gospel.” All of them, therefore, have something to do with the four gospels of the Bible, which tell the story of Jesus Christ while he lived here on earth more than 2,000 years ago.

The article is the complete version of Gospel Lists. Several lists are given, and each list deals with one particular topic. Gospel lists contains the following lists: list of the gospels and the books of the Bible, list of the beatitudes, list of famous miracles of Christ, list of famous line by a gospel character, list of the first twelve apostles of Christ, list of gospel characters, list of gospel places, list of the greatest commandments, list of prayers and list of the seven last words of Christ. Each list is presented on one page for easy reading and quick reference. Each list is given a description or explanation and items in some lists are provided commentary.

LIST: The GOSPELS and the BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

The Bible is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The New Testament is made up of the four gospels, the Acts, epistles and the book of Revelation. The books comprising the Old Testament are given below. All of the listed items are considered by all Christian churches as inspired.

Old Testament

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (Song of Songs), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi

New Testament

Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Acts, Epistles and Revelation: Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude and Revelation

LIST: BEATITUDES

The Beatitudes, also known as the Sermon on the Mount, are an essential part of the teachings of Jesus. They are the blueprint for Christian social action and social justice. They are intended to help one’s neighbor in need. They are intended to assist and to serve the neglected, the oppressed individuals and the most vulnerable. 

1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

2. “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

3. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

4. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

5. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

6. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

7. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

8. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

9-10. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)

LIST: FAMOUS MIRACLES of CHRIST

This list contains the most wonderful miracles that Jesus performed during his ministry of preaching, healing and reconciliation.

1. Jesus turned water into wine during a wedding celebration in Cana. (John 2:1-12)

2. Jesus fed 5,000 people using 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish in Bethsaida. (Luke 9:10-17)

3. Jesus healed a blind man named Bartimaeus in Jericho. (Mark 10:46-52)

4. Jesus raised dead Lazarus to life in Bethany. (John 11:38-45)

5. Jesus calmed a storm on Lake Galilee. (Mark 4:35-41)

6. Jesus walked on the water of Lake Galilee. (Mark 6:45-51)

7. Jesus rose from the dead three days after he was buried in Jerusalem. (John 20:1-18)

8. Jesus ascended into heaven in Bethany. (Luke 24:50-53)

LIST: FAMOUS LINE by a GOSPEL CHARACTER

This list contains some famous lines said by gospel characters. There are many famous lines or verses found in the gospels, but the gospel verses given below are truly essential to the understanding of God.

1. “…This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:5) - The line was said by God himself about Jesus during the transfiguration.

2. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) - This line was said by Jesus who told the people of his time that he was the good shepherd willing to die for them.

3. “…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25) - This line was uttered by Jesus when he was about to resurrect a dead friend name Lazarus, which Jesus did. It was his personal testimony that he was the author of life and, therefore, he was (and is) God.

4. “…Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) - This line was said by Mary in response to the angel’s announcement that she will conceive a child – God’s Son – through the power of the Holy Spirit.

5. “…Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) - This line was uttered by Simon, and because of this divine revelation given to Simon, Jesus gave him the name Peter which meant “rock” – the rock upon which Christ built his church.

6. “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) - The line was said by John the Baptist – the voice in the wilderness as described in the book of Isaiah – about who Jesus was and his role in saving humankind from sin and destruction.

7. “…My Lord and My God.” (John 20:28) - This line was uttered by Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Thomas did not believe that Jesus rose from the dead until he saw Jesus. It was during this encounter that he made this poignantly painful yet divinely inspired confession about Jesus: that Jesus was (and is) the perfectly exact image of the invisible of God, that he was before all things came into existence, that he had (and has) preeminence over all created things and that he was (and is) Lord to whom every knee must bend.

LIST: FIRST TWELVE APOSTLES of CHRIST

The list contains the names of the first twelve apostles of Christ. The word apostle is often associated with the term disciple. It means a follower, and in the case of the first twelve, it means a special follower who attends to the needs of his leader. Judas Iscariot is a perfect exception.

1. Simon who was named Peter by Christ

2. Andrew the brother of Simon

3. John, son of the Zebedee and the beloved disciple

4. James the Greater and the brother of John

5. Philip

6. Bartholomew

7. Thomas

8. Matthew who was a tax collector

9. James the Lesser and the son of Alpheus

10. Thaddaeus

11. Simon the Patriot

12. Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus

LIST: GOSPEL CHARACTERS

This list contains the names of gospel characters who played a significant part in the gospel stories.

Main Character

Jesus Christ (with God the Father and the Holy Spirit) - He was the central figure of the gospel stories.

Supporting Characters

Mary - She was the mother of Jesus. She was the only gospel character who was with Jesus during his birth and death.

Joseph - He was the legal or foster father of Jesus. He was a carpenter, a learned man and a descendant of King David.

Gabriel - He was the angel of God who announced to Mary that she will be the mother of God.

Three Magi - Known also as the three kings, the three magi were learned men from the east who followed the celestial signal of a star that informed them a king will be born for the Jews and led them to Bethlehem.

Herod “the Great” - He was the king who ordered the massacre of male children aged two years and below in Bethlehem during the time of Jesus Christ’s birth.

Elizabeth - She was the cousin of Mary and the mother of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist - He was the prophet who “prepared the way” for the Lord Jesus. He baptized Jesus in the Jordan river and witnessed the physical manifestations of the Holy Trinity who were God the Father, God the Son or Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit.

Simeon - He was the devout man who presided over the purification ceremony of infant Jesus in the temple. He was a God-fearing man who was waiting for the consolation of Israel and who was given an assurance by the Holy Spirit that he will not die until he sees the messiah.

Nicodemus - He was the Jewish leader to whom Jesus revealed the reason for God’s plan of salvation.

Peter - He was one of the first two disciples of Christ and the leader of the first twelve apostles of Christ. The name “Peter” was given by Jesus Christ to Simon, which meant “rock” – the rock upon which Christ built his church.

John - He was the beloved disciple who was described as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

First Apostles of Christ - The first twelve apostles of Christ were made up of Simon (called Peter) and Andrew, James and John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon the patriot and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

Mary and Martha - They were dear friends of Jesus whose dead brother named Lazarus was raised to life by Jesus.

Mary Magdalene - She was the faithful follower who witnessed the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Bartimaeus - He was the blind man whom Jesus healed because of his gut-level faith. Bartimaeus was pure repentance personified.

Zacchaeus - He was the tax collector with whom Jesus ate a meal in his house and, consequently, who became a repentant sinner and a true son Abraham.

Samaritan Woman - She was the woman near Jacob’s well with whom Jesus had a conversation which revealed that Jesus ignored the prejudices of his time in order to save people from sin since salvation was (and is) for all.

Roman Officer - He was the official who asked Jesus through a messenger to heal his servant but informed Jesus not to come to his house because he, the official, did not deserve such a visit. The officer asked Jesus to just “say the word and his servant will be healed,” which happened. The Roman officer was faith personified.

Caiaphas - He was the High Priest who planned the killing of Jesus.

Pharisees and Sadducees - They constitute the religious authorities during the time of Jesus. 

Pontius Pilate - He was the Roman governor of Judea who presided over the trial of Jesus and gave in to the demand of a mob – led by the religious authorities – who wanted Jesus to be crucified.

Herod (Herod Antipas) - He was the king who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist and who became a friend of Pilate after the latter gave the former the chance to interact with Jesus personally during the trial of Jesus.

Army Soldier - He was the soldier who witnessed the crucifixion of Christ and declared that Jesus was a good man and the Son of God.

People of the Holy Land during the time of Jesus

LIST: GOSPEL PLACES

There are many places in the Holy Land where Jesus left his impressions more than 2,000 years ago. Below are descriptions of some of these places and they serve as guide to the understanding of Jesus and God.

Bethlehem - This was the birthplace of Jesus Christ and the hometown of Joseph, the legal or foster father of Jesus, and King David.

Nazareth - This was the town of Mary and the boyhood town of Jesus.

Egypt - This was the place of exile of the Holy Family – Joseph, Mary and Infant Jesus – during the time of Herod “the Great,” who ordered the massacre of male children 2 years and below in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’s birth.

Jordan River - This was the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Right after the baptism of Jesus, the three persons of the Most Holy Trinity manifested themselves: God the Father through a vocal utterance, God the Son or Jesus through human form, and God the Holy Spirit through a flying dove.

Mount Olives - This was the place where Jesus spent time in prayer, in communion with God.

Jerusalem - This was the place where Jesus preached the good news of salvation. This was the city where Jesus entered triumphantly while riding on a donkey to the joyous delight of the people who were shouting “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13). This was the venue where Jesus broke bread and drank wine with his apostles to celebrate the Passover festival before his crucifixion. This was the site where Jesus was crucified and buried and, then, rose from the dead.

Bethany - This was the place where Jesus ascended into heaven.

LIST: GREATEST COMMANDMENTS

The two greatest commandments were given by Jesus in response to the question asked by one of the teachers of religious laws of his time.

1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.” (Mark 12:30) - This is the greatest commandment. One’s spoken and written words, one’s thoughts, one’s feelings and one’s action must be motivated by the love of God. However wonderful, amazing, great or heroic all of one’s spoken and written words, all of one’s thoughts, all of one’s feelings and all of one’s actions, if they are not motivated by the love of God, they do not amount to anything until God, in his wisdom, goodness and compassion, decides they amount to something good.

2. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) - This is the second greatest commandment and it is directly related to the love of God. Inversely, love of God without love of neighbor is not love of God. There are many ways by which God manifests himself to humanity, and the most common manifestation is through one’s neighbor: the most vulnerable in society, the orphans and the widows, the children and the elderly, the people in need of God, the individuals with special needs, the homeless and so on. In short, God commands us to love our neighbor because if we love our neighbor, we are loving God.

LIST: HEALING by JESUS

The ministry of healing was one of the main works of Jesus Christ, a part of his plan to save humankind from sin and destruction. Jesus performed many healings but only some were recorded as separate, individual episodes. Below are some of the healings done by Jesus that completely astonished, amazed and surprised the people of his time. 

1. Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law from fever. (Mark 1:29-31)

2. Jesus healed a man with a dreaded skin disease. The man said to Jesus that if Jesus wants to make him clean, he will be cleaned. Jesus replied that he wants him to get cleaned. (Mark 1:40-45)

3. Jesus healed a man possessed by many demons which were named, collectively, as “Mob.” (Luke 8:26-39)

4. Jesus healed a paralyzed man to show that he had the power to forgive sins. The paralyzed man was carried by some men who had to make an opening on the roof to let down the paralyzed man and be close to Jesus for healing. (Luke 5:17-26)

5. Jesus healed the sick people in Gennesaret. And the sick people who simply touched the cloak of Jesus got healed. (Mark 6:53-56)

6. Jesus healed the daughter of a Gentile woman because of her insistent, humble faith. (Mark 7:24-30)

7. Jesus healed a deaf-mute man in Lake Galilee area. The man was brought to Jesus by the people, and it was the people who begged Jesus to heal the deaf-mute man. (Mark 7:31-37)

8. Jesus healed a blind man named Bartimaeus in Jericho. (Mark 10:46-52)

9. Jesus healed the servant of a Roman officer who sent Jewish elders to see and ask Jesus to heal his servant. When the Roman official saw Jesus and company was coming, the officer sent some friends to tell Jesus not to come into his house – because he (officer) was unworthy of him (Jesus) – but just say the words of healing and his servant will be healed. (Luke 7:1-10)

10. Jesus healed a boy possessed by an evil spirit. Initially, it was the disciples of Jesus who were asked by the father to heal his son, but the disciples were unable to heal the boy. Then, the father asked Jesus to heal his son. After the boy was healed, Jesus informed his disciples that healing someone who was possessed required faith. (Matthew 17:14-20)

LIST: PRAYERS

In the Bible, the book that holds the distinction as a book of prayers is the Psalms. In the gospel stories, Jesus is depicted as a man of prayer, one who finds time to communicate with God. Below is a list of five prayers, three of them are prayers by Jesus.

1. “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13) - This is the prayer which Jesus taught to his disciples, and it is a prayer of faith, hope and love. It is a prayer of faith because it puts one’s trust to an invisible God. It is a prayer of hope because it recognizes the fulfillment of one’s needs as being dependent on God. It is a prayer of love because it professes to obey the will of God, which is love of God who is holy, and to love and forgive others in order to be forgiven by God, which is love of neighbor. Indeed, it is a prayer of faith, hope and love and it is a JESUS tradition.

2. “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.” (Luke 1:46-48) - This was the song of praise by Mary to God during the time when she visited her cousin Elizabeth. The prayer was truly a joyous outburst of praise from a lowly woman gifted by God to be the mother of His Son through the power of the Spirit of God.

3. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47) - This statement was said (shouted) by blind Bartimaeus who wanted Jesus to heal him of his blindness, and Jesus healed him. It was a prayer said with so much gut-level faith and without an iota of hypocrisy. It was a prayer that recognized Jesus as God who had the power to forgive sins.

4. “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Luke 22:42) - This prayer was made by Jesus on Mount Olives. His hour of death was near, and he had to suffer all the humiliation and physical abuses associated with death on the cross. God the Father wanted him to continue the mission of saving humankind and, thus, Jesus took all the insults and injuries. Jesus died on the cross but three days after he was buried, he rose from the dead. Jesus was obedience personified.

5. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) - This prayer was made by Jesus Christ during his crucifixion. It was one of the seven last words of Christ. It was a prayer for the forgiveness of sins, an expression of love for humankind for whom Jesus died for. It was a gut-wrenching prayer – the most extreme type which Jesus had to do in order to fulfill God’s promise, his promise to save humankind from sin and destruction.

LIST: SEVEN LAST WORDS of CHRIST

The seven last words of Christ were the utterances Jesus made while he was hanging on the cross. Those utterances had a profound influence on human morality and history.

1. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:33-34)

2. “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

3. To Mary: “Woman, behold thy son!” To John the Disciple, “Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26-27)

4. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

5. “I thirst.” (John 19:28)

6. “It is finished.” (John 19:29-30)

7. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

Notes:

Bible Verses Reference for the “LIST: BEATITUDES” - King James Version (KJV) Online 2020

Bible Verses Reference for the “LIST: FAMOUS LINE by a GOSPEL CHARACTER” - King James Version (KJV) Online 2020

Bible Verses Reference for the “LIST: GOSPEL PLACES” - NLT 2013; In Addition: For more information, Read “JESUS PRINTS in PLACES of HIS TIME”

Bible Verses Reference for the “LIST: GREATEST COMMANDMENTS” - NLT 2013

Bible Verses Reference for the “LIST: PRAYERS” - NLT 2013; Recommended Reading: John 17:1-26

Bible Verses Reference for the “LIST: SEVEN LAST WORDS of CHRIST” - King James Version (KJV) Online 2020