Since there is no record of Jesus� childhood in the book of Matthew, the first we hear of Jesus is when he is being baptized by John the Baptist, who believes Jesus is the messiah. Upon being baptized, God voice comes down from the heavens saying, �This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.� After Jesus is baptized he is led by the Spirit in the desert where he is tempted, unsuccessfully, by the devil three times. While Jesus is wondering, he hears word of John the Baptist�s arrest, and returns to Galilee and calls his first four disciples, Peter (Simon), Andrew, James, and John. Before long Jesus gains many followers, and finally Jesus preaches to a large audience for the first time at the Sermon on the Mount. The first and main teaching here was the Beatitudes, but some other teachings there include topics such as divorce, anger, adultery, oaths, fasting etc. Each of these teachings goes against the current set of Jewish laws. Afterward, the crowds are amazed and many continue to follow him.
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