arranging the material in an orderly way presents much difficulty. If
a topographical outline is attempted it can only be approximately
correct because at some points the gospels leave us in uncertainty or
in ignorance. If a chronological outline is attempted there is no less
of uncertainty.

The following outline, however, may be accepted as a scheme of study
for the period. (1) The childhood and youth of Jesus. From the birth
of Jesus, B.C. 4 to the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist,
A.D. 26. (2) The beginning of Christ's ministry. From the beginning of
John's ministry to Christ's first public appearance in Jerusalem, A.D.
27. (3) The early Judean ministry. From his first public appearance in
Jerusalem to his return to Galilee, A.D. 27. (4) The Galilean
ministry. From the return to Galilee to the final departure for
Jerusalem, A.D., 29. (5) The Perean Ministry. From the departure from
Galilee to the final arrival in Jerusalem, A.D. 30. (6) From the final
arrival in Jerusalem to the resurrection, April, A.D. 30. (7) The
forty days. From the resurrection to the ascension. May, A.D. 30.

The Childhood and Youth of Jesus. (1) _The long preparation for his
coming_. The prophets had most emphatically proclaimed his coming and
all things had from the beginning been divinely directed so that
preparation might be made for his advent. His human ancestry had been
selected and prepared. When the time drew near for him to appear, the
coming of John the Baptist his forerunner, was announced to Zacharias
his father (Lu. 1:5-25). This was quickly followed by the announcement
of the birth of Jesus to Mary his mother (Lu. 1:26-38) and soon
thereafter to Joseph, the espoused husband of Mary (Matt. 1:18-25).
The beautiful story of his birth is told in the second chapter of
Luke.