THE NEW TESTAMENT a graphic novel
1st edition, 1st print
Copyright © 2023 Scandinavia Publishing House
www.sph.as | info@sph.as
Concept by José Pérez Montero
Text copyright © Ben Alex
Illustrations copyright © José Pérez Montero
Layout by Ben Alex
Cover design by Gao Hanyu
Printed in China
ISBN 9788772033488
BY José Pérez Montero
TEXT BY BEN ALEX
This is the story of Jesus’ birth and early ministry. Jesus was the son of God and savior of the world. He was the greatest person who ever lived on this earth -- and He was born in Israel, the land of the Jews, which was only a minor province in the mighty Roman empire ruled by Caesar Augustus. King Herod the Great was king of Israel, but most Jews didn’t like him because of his cruelty and collaboration with the Romans. They were waiting for a righteous king who would free them from the Romans...
In Israel lived a certain priest, Zechariah, who was married to a woman named Elizabeth. They had no children, and this was a great sorrow to them in their old age.
Zechariah, do not be afraid! God has heard your prayers. Elizabeth will give birth to a son.
One day something unusual happened.
Zechariah was on temple duty when suddenly an angel appeared.
Elizabeth is too old for that. How will this be?
His name will be John. he will be filled with the holy spirit and be a blessing to you as well as your people.
Hello Mary, do not be afraid. God has chosen you.
What for?
Because of your doubt, you will not be able to speak until your son is born.
Look! Zechariah is making signs. What is he saying?
later Zechariah returned to his home...
Zechariah, I think I’m pregnant! Maybe God has finally heard our prayers!
You are going to be the mother of Jesus, son of the most High God.
What does this mean? I don’t understand.
Jesus will be the king everyone has been waiting for. You will give birth to him.
But how? I have no husband yet. I’m a virgin. Nothing is impossible for God. The Holy Spirit will come upon you.
One more thing. Your relative Elizabeth is also having a son. She is already six months pregnant.
Mary knew well that any young girl getting pregnant outside of marriage would be in serious trouble. And what would Her fiance Joseph say when she told him she was with child?
May it happen according to your word.
Elizabeth would understand! Mary could hardly wait to tell her the news. she rode all the way from Nazareth to Elizabeth’s home in Judea.
Elizabeth!
Mary!
The baby in my womb leaped for joy at the sound of your voice!
Then the angel disappeared.
Mary told Elizabeth what had happened.
Elizabeth, I’m so happy that the Lord has chosen me to carry his son. But I’m also scared.
Dance, mary, dance! The Lord has been good to both of us.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months.
Elizabeth gave birth to a healthy boy. all her neighbors and relatives rejoiced with her. When the boy was 8 days old, he was to be circumcised and named.
Shouldn’t he be named after his father Zechariah?
Zechariah wrote On a tablet: His name is John!
What does his father think?
Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened so he could speak. Praise the Lord, for he has visited and saved his people so we can be a holy nation and serve him !
I think he should be called John.
John grew up to become a man of spiritual strength. He lived in the desert until the day he would appear publicly to the people of Israel.
Mary left Elizabeth and Zechariah and went home to Nazareth. Hello Joseph!
Welcome home! How was it?
How’s Elizabeth?
How can I explain this to him?
Joseph, there’s something I must tell you... What?
Joseph, your family descends from the house of King David, right? yes, So?
Fine! She gave birth to a beautiful boy.
You also know how the prophets have foretold that Messiah would be born of King David’s lineage, right?
Yeeees...
Wonderful, although she seems too old for that.
Joseph, I am going to be his mother. I am 3 months pregnant!
How could you do this to me?
Joseph, Come back please! I promise you, this is God’s will. An angel told me God has chosen us to be his parents.
I can’t marry Mary now. But I love her, and I don’t want to expose her to public disgrace. What shall I do?
Then one night...
I must break the engagement.
Joseph was confused. Then...
Joseph, Joseph! Don’t worry, Mary is right. You can Marry her for The baby is conceived by the Holy Spirit.
An angel from God!
Mary!
Joseph!
then the happy parents-to-be were married.
Mary, I’m sorry! The angel of God told me everything. Will you marry me?
Oh, I’m so happy. Praise God!
Listen, people of Nazareth! This is a decree from emperor augustus in Rome...
Months went by. Life in the small town of Nazareth went on as usual. Joseph was busy in his workshop, and Mary was counting the days until giving birth. Then one day a roman official arrived in town...
Ceasar wanted a counting of all the people in his empire. The DESCENDENTS OF KING DAVID would have to go to Bethlehem in Judea to register.
This is a long trip, Mary. Think you can make it?
What’s that?
Soon they were on their way...
Look, Jerusalem! Bethlehem can’t be far away.
Many other travelers were on their way to bethlehem.
At last they arrived in Bethlehem. But The nights were cold, and they needed a place to sleep.
This way!
Joseph, It’s now!
Joseph, I think it’s time for the baby to be born.
There were many people in town. Joseph went from place to place...
Sorry, no vacancy.
Mary was in Labor. Joseph was getting desperate... I know someone who might be able to help you.
OK, You may stay in my stable for the night.
Right there, in a stable in Bethlehem, the savior of the world was born.
May God help you!
Mary and Joseph looked at the baby and couldn’t quite understand they were holding the messiah in their arms. Mary wondered what his life would be like. How would he save their people and bring light to the world?
Joseph, I’m so happy... and a bit worried too.
in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were watching their sheep when an angel appeared...
A savior has been born in Bethlehem. He is Messiah, the lord!
Glory to God, and peace on earth to those who love him!
Come, let’s go to Bethlehem and see what has happened!
This must be the child the angels told us about!
Maybe God has finally heard the prayers of his people and sent a savior to us!
Then the shepherds left the stable.
Can I hold him? God told me I wouldn’t die until I had seen the savior.
In the temple was also an old woman named Anna. She never left the temple but was fasting and praying day and night, and she always talked to people about the coming savior.
When Jesus had been circumcised and named, Joseph and Mary took him to the temple in Jerusalem to make a special offering to God--a pair of turtledoves and two young pigeons.
His name is Jesus, which means ‘God saves.’
God, now let your servant die in peace for I have seen the savior with my own eyes.
This child will be a light to the people of Israel and all the world!
His life will bring you pain. for although many will rejoice because of him, others will hate him when he reveals their innermost thoughts.
This child will rescue Jerusalem!
Far away in the East lived three wise men called the Magi. in the sky, they noticed an unusually bright star. They knew the star signified an important event, so they followed the star and finally arrived in Jerusalem.
We have seen the star of the future king of the Jews. Where can we find him?
When Herod heard about a new king, he got upset and summoned the chief priests and wise men to his court. he asked them where this king was supposed to be born according to the scriptures. They told Him:
The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem!
“Out of You, Bethlehem in Judea, will come a ruler and shepherd of my people Israel!” Now Herod was really worried. He secretly called the Magi...
when you find this king, let me know where he is. I want to worship him too!
This was a lie. Herod had other plans.
I must kill him.
The Magi left and came to the place where the baby was... ...and they worshiped him and offered him expensive gifts. Then they returned to their country without telling Herod where they had found him.. Mary, I’m sure God will protect us.
When the sun came up, they were on their way to Egypt.
That night Joseph had a dream. In the dream an angel said to him:
Joseph, wake up!
Herod wants to kill the child. you must Flee to Egypt.
Mary, get up! the angel told us to leave.
When Herod realized he had been outwitted by the magi, he was furious.
Go from house to house and kill every boy under two years old!
The soldiers carried out the king’s orders...
Sir, every boy under two is dead.
In the meantime Jesus and his parents had arrived safely in Egypt.
Herod died and was succeeded by his son who was even worse than his father.
I am the greatest king ever in Israel. Write it down!
After their long journey...
Welcome home!
They stayed there for over a year...
...until the angel told them to go home.
I really look forward to be home.
Back in Nazareth, not far from the king’s palace, Joseph’s family was received with joy.
Jesus grew up and helped Joseph in his workshop. He was growing up to become a mature young man, full of wisdom and pleasant to be with.
It was our ancestor King Solomon who first built the Temple
Every year Jesus’ parents used to go to Jerusalem for the passover festival. This was an important religious event. When Jesus was twelwe years old, he went with them to the festival.
On their way home Mary couldn’t find Jesus.
I wonder where the boy is. Probably with Joseph.
Joseph, is Jesus with your group?
No, I thought he was with you!
then They went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.
No, we haven’t. Have you seen our son Jesus?
For three days they were searching for Jesus. We have looked all over town.
There he is--inside the temple!
He’s talking with the religious teachers!
We have looked all over for you!
Why did you do this to us?
You didn’t need to look for me. You should have known I must be in my father’s house.
At that time they didn’t know what Jesus meant. But Mary stored all these things in her heart. After this Jesus returned with them to nazareth, and he continued to grow in wisdom. God was pleased with him, and so were the people around him.
When Jesus was thirty years old, his cousin John started to preach on the banks of the Jordan river. John urged people to change their hearts, return to God, and have their sins forgiven. As The prophet ISAIAH Had said long ago, “Someone is shouting in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord!”
Repent, You Hypocrites! You think you’re safe because you’re jews.
Back in Nazareth Jesus had taken over Joseph’s cabinetmaker business.
Everyone talks about John. He’s preaching that the kingdom of God is near.
This was exciting news. For although the rabbis had spoken about the coming kingdom for centuries, no one had dared talk about it like John.
Mother, I must go and see John. I’ll be back.
At the Jordan river, John was baptizing people.
Change your hearts! And prove this change in your lives! The axe of judgment is ready to cut down the trees that don’t produce fruit.
What should we do?
Share what you have with those who have nothing!
Don’t cheat people!
Be happy with your pay, And don’t make false accusations against people!
What about us?
I baptize you with water, but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am.
He will baptize you with the holy spirit.
Jesus!
What are you doing here? Baptize me, John!
WHEN JESUS CAME OUT OF THE WATER THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED ON HIM LIKE A DOVE. AND A VOICE SPOKE FROM HEAVEN:
This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.
Me baptize you? No, you should baptize me!
John.
It’s right that you baptize me, John. do it!
After his baptism Jesus listened to John for a while. One day a group of religious leaders came out to investigate who this strange man was.
Who do you think you are? Messiah?
Or Elijah? No.
I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’
If you’re not the Messiah or Elijah, who has given you the authority to baptize people?
This is hilarious! We must keep an eye on them so they won’t cause trouble.
you know who I am. I only baptize with water. but among you is a man you don’t know. He is the one. I’m not even worthy to tie his shoes.
He is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
If you are the son of God, you can easily order these rocks to become bread!
After Jesus’ baptism, God’s Spirit led him into the desert to be tested. For 40 days and nights he didn’t eat anything, and he was getting very hungry. That’s when the devil came to tempt him...
No, God says obedience to his word is more important than bread.
Then the devil took him to the HIGHEST POINT OF THE TEMPLE
THROW YOURSELF DOWN FROM HERE. GOD WILL SURELY PROTECT YOU IF YOUR ARE HIS SON.
God also says, ‘Don’t test me!’
Then the devil took him up to the top of a high mountain...
I’ll give you all the kingdoms in the world if you will worship me! away with you, Satan! God’s word says to worship him alone.
After this the devil left Jesus alone for awhile. instead angels came and strengthened him.
It’s time to move.
You must be andrew. I saw you with John. Tell me, where is he?
Andrew found some of John’s other disciples...
Didn’t John tell us this Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?
And didn’t John say this Jesus is greater than him?
Let’s find out who he is!
Andrew was a disciple of John. He told Jesus the bad news: John had been imprisoned by Herod.
When they found him...
Come with me!
We want to follow you.
Friends, what do you seek?
where do you live?
Come and see!
I’m from Nazareth in Galilee where some of you also live. Follow me, Philip!
We’re from Bethsaida.
The news about Jesus got out. More and more people heard about him.
Nathanael, we’ve found a prophet, jesus of nazareth! How did you know me?
Can anything good come from there?
You’re certainly a man of integrity, Nathanael.
I saw you under the fig tree.
Master, you are the son of God!
You will see greater things than this.
Jesus and his handful of disciples walked from town to town in Galilee, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and healing every disease and sickness among the people. The news about him spread even beyond the borders of Israel.
Andrew, do you really think Jesus is the messiah?
I never heard anyone speak like him.
Peter, I know he is!
Jesus spoke to the crowd from the boat. Then...
Peter didn’t want to make a fool of himself.
Try again!
On your word then.
The nets were so full they began to tear!
Come and help us!
Simon, throw out your nets!
Simon, push your boat out into the water!
OK, Master, but we have worked all night and haven’t caught a thing.
LORD, PLEASE LEAVE ME. I’M TOO SINFUL TO BE AROUND YOU.
Fear not, simon Peter. from now on you’ll be fishing for people.
As soon as peter and his companions landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
We’re out of wine!
A couple of days later, Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding. Jesus’ mother, Mary, was also there.
A wedding usually lasted for seven days, and the guests were served wine and delicious foods that were not available on normal days. But at this particular wedding there was a problem...
There’s no more wine. Maybe it’s time for Jesus to step in. Son, they are out of wine. Maybe you can help them.
Why are you telling me this? My time has not yet come.
Mary went to the servants...
Do whatever he tells you.
fill the jars with water.
Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies.
The master of ceremonies had no idea where the wine came from.
This is a good wine-very good!
The master of ceremonies went to the bridegroom... How come you have saved the best wine until now?
This was the first miracle Jesus did--turning water into wine at a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee.
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