Ministry of Jesus
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The ministry of Jesus, in the
canonical gospels Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...
, begins with his baptism in the countryside of Roman Judea and Transjordan, near the River Jordan by
John the Baptist John the Baptist or , , or , ;Wetterau, Bruce. ''World history''. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1994. syc, ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ ܡܲܥܡܕ݂ܵܢܵܐ, Yoḥanān Maʿmḏānā; he, יוחנן המטביל, Yohanān HaMatbil; la, Ioannes Bapti ...
, and ends in
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
, following the Last Supper with his
disciples A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure. It can refer to: Religion * Disciple (Christianity), a student of Jesus Christ * Twelve Apostles of Jesus, sometimes called the Twelve Disciples * Seventy disciples in t ...
.''Christianity: an introduction'' by Alister E. McGrath 2006 pp. 16–22. The
Gospel of Luke The Gospel of Luke), or simply Luke (which is also its most common form of abbreviation). tells of the origins, Nativity of Jesus, birth, Ministry of Jesus, ministry, Crucifixion of Jesus, death, Resurrection of Jesus, resurrection, and Ascensi ...
() states that
Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and relig ...
was "about 30 years of age" at the start of his ministry.
Paul L. Maier Paul L. Maier (born May 31, 1930) is a historian and novelist. He has written several works of scholarly and popular non-fiction about Christianity and novels about Christian historians. He is the former Russell H. Seibert Professor of Ancient H ...
"The Date of the Nativity and Chronology of Jesus" in ''Chronos, kairos, Christos: nativity and chronological studies'' by Jerry Vardaman, Edwin M. Yamauchi 1989 pp. 113–129.
A chronology of Jesus typically has the date of the start of his ministry, 11 September 26 AD, others have estimated at around AD 27–29 and the end in the range AD 30–36.''Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament Times'' by Paul Barnett 2002 pp. 19–21. Jesus' early Galilean ministry begins when after his baptism, he goes back to Galilee from his
temptation Temptation is a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals.Webb, J.R. (Sep 2014). Incorporating Spirituality into Psychology of temptation: Conceptualization, measurement, and clinical implications. Sp ...
in the Judaean Desert.''The Gospel according to Matthew'' by Leon Morris p. 71. In this early period, he preaches around Galilee and recruits his first disciples who begin to travel with him and eventually form the core of the early Church''The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels'' by Douglas Redford 2007 pp. 117–130. as it is believed that the Apostles dispersed from
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
to found the
apostolic see An apostolic see is an episcopal see whose foundation is attributed to one or more of the apostles of Jesus or to one of their close associates. In Catholicism the phrase, preceded by the definite article and usually capitalized, refers to the ...
s. The major Galilean ministry which begins in
Matthew 8 Matthew 8 is the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and continues the narrative about Jesus' ministry in Galilee previously described in Matthew 4:23– 25. It follows on from the Sermon on the Mount, noting in its ope ...
includes the
commissioning of the Twelve Apostles The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles is an episode in the ministry of Jesus that appears in all three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 10:1–4, Mark 3:13–19 and Luke 6:12–16. It relates the initial selection of the Twelve Apostl ...
, and covers most of the ministry of Jesus in Galilee.''A theology of the New Testament'' by George Eldon Ladd 1993, p. 324.''The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels'' by Douglas Redford 2007 pp. 143–160. The final Galilean ministry begins after the
beheading of John the Baptist The beheading of John the Baptist, also known as the decollation of Saint John the Baptist or the beheading of the Forerunner, is a biblical event commemorated as a holy day by various Christian churches. According to the New Testament, Her ...
as Jesus prepares to go to Jerusalem.Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2007 ''Harmony of the Gospels'' pp. 97–110.''The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels'' by Douglas Redford 2007 pp. 165–180. In the later Judean ministry Jesus starts his final journey to Jerusalem through Judea.Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2007 ''Harmony of the Gospels'' pp. 121–135.''The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels'' by Douglas Redford. 2007 pp. 189–207. As Jesus travels towards Jerusalem, in the later Perean ministry, about one third the way down from the Sea of Galilee (actually a freshwater lake) along the River Jordan, he returns to the area where he was baptized.Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2007 ''Harmony of the Gospels'' p. 137.''The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels'' by Douglas Redford 2007 pp. 211–229.''Mercer dictionary of the Bible'' by Watson E. Mills, Roger Aubrey Bullard 1998 p. 929. The final ministry in Jerusalem is sometimes called the Passion week and begins with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
The gospel The gospel or good news is a theological concept in several religions. In the historical Roman imperial cult and today in Christianity, the gospel is a message about salvation by a divine figure, a savior, who has brought peace or other benefit ...
s provide more details about the final ministry than the other periods, devoting about one third of their text to the last week of the life of Jesus in Jerusalem.''Matthew'' by David L. Turner 2008 p. 613.


Overview

The gospel accounts place the beginning of Jesus' ministry in the countryside of
Roman Judea Judaea ( la, Iudaea ; grc, Ἰουδαία, translit=Ioudaíā ) was a Roman province which incorporated the regions of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea from 6 CE, extending over parts of the former regions of the Hasmonean and Herodian kingdom ...
, near the River Jordan. The gospels present
John the Baptist John the Baptist or , , or , ;Wetterau, Bruce. ''World history''. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1994. syc, ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ ܡܲܥܡܕ݂ܵܢܵܐ, Yoḥanān Maʿmḏānā; he, יוחנן המטביל, Yohanān HaMatbil; la, Ioannes Bapti ...
's ministry as the precursor to that of Jesus and the
baptism of Jesus The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is a major event in the life of Jesus which is described in the three synoptic Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark and Luke). It is considered to have taken place at Al-Maghtas (also called Bet ...
as marking the beginning of Jesus' ministry, after which Jesus travels, preaches and performs miracles.''The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament''
by Andreas J. Köstenberger, L. Scott Kellum 2009 p. 141–143.
Jesus's baptism is generally considered the beginning and the Last Supper with his disciples in Jerusalem as the end of his ministry. However, some authors also consider the period between the
Resurrection Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, whic ...
and the Ascension part of the ministry of Jesus. Luke states that Jesus was "about 30 years of age" at the start of his ministry. There have been different approaches to estimating the date of the start of the ministry of Jesus.''The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament''
by
Andreas J. Köstenberger Andreas Johannes Köstenberger (born November 2, 1957), usually cited as Andreas J. Köstenberger, is Research Professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Until 2018 he was Senior Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theolo ...
, L. Scott Kellum 2009 p. 140.
''Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible'' 2000 Amsterdam University Press p. 249.Jack V. Scarola, "A Chronology of the nativity Era" in ''Chronos, kairos, Christos 2'' by Ray Summers, Jerry Vardaman 1998 pp. 61–81. One approach, based on combining information from the
Gospel of Luke The Gospel of Luke), or simply Luke (which is also its most common form of abbreviation). tells of the origins, Nativity of Jesus, birth, Ministry of Jesus, ministry, Crucifixion of Jesus, death, Resurrection of Jesus, resurrection, and Ascensi ...
with historical data about Emperor
Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was the second Roman emperor. He reigned from AD 14 until 37, succeeding his stepfather, the first Roman emperor Augustus. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC. His father ...
yields a date around 28–29 AD/CE, while a second independent approach based on statements in the
Gospel of John The Gospel of John ( grc, Εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Ἰωάννην, translit=Euangélion katà Iōánnēn) is the fourth of the four canonical gospels. It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "sig ...
along with historical information from
Josephus Flavius Josephus (; grc-gre, Ἰώσηπος, ; 37 – 100) was a first-century Romano-Jewish historian and military leader, best known for '' The Jewish War'', who was born in Jerusalem—then part of Roman Judea—to a father of priestly ...
about the Temple in Jerusalem leads to a date around AD 27–29.''The Riddles of the Fourth Gospel: An Introduction to John'' by Paul N. Anderson 2011 p. 200.''Herod the Great'' by Jerry Knoblet 2005 p. 184. In the New Testament, the date of the Last Supper is very close before the date of the
crucifixion of Jesus The crucifixion and death of Jesus occurred in 1st-century Judea, most likely in AD 30 or AD 33. It is described in the four canonical gospels, referred to in the New Testament epistles, attested to by other ancient sources, and consider ...
(hence its name). Scholarly estimates for the date of the crucifixion generally fall in the range AD 30–36. The three
Synoptic Gospels The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the synoptic Gospels because they include many of the same stories, often in a similar sequence and in similar or sometimes identical wording. They stand in contrast to John, whose ...
refer to just one
passover Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the Biblical story of the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt, which occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the first month of Aviv, or spring. ...
, specifically the Passover at the end of Jesus's ministry when he is crucified. While the
Gospel of John The Gospel of John ( grc, Εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Ἰωάννην, translit=Euangélion katà Iōánnēn) is the fourth of the four canonical gospels. It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "sig ...
refers to two actual passovers, one at the beginning of Jesus's ministry and the second at the end of Jesus's ministry. There is a third reference to passover that many claim is a third actual festival, but this can not be supported, it is more likely to be a forecasting of the second Passover in the Gospel of John. This third reference to a passover in the Gospel of John is why many suggest that Jesus's ministry was a period of about three years. Scholars that support a three-year ministry, such as Köstenberger state that the Gospel of John simply provides a more detailed account.''Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey'' by Craig L. Blomberg 2009 pp. 224–229. During the ministry of Jesus, the tetrarch ruling over Galilee and Perea in this period was Herod Antipas, who obtained the position upon the division of the territories following the death of
Herod the Great Herod I (; ; grc-gre, ; c. 72 – 4 or 1 BCE), also known as Herod the Great, was a Roman Jewish client king of Judea, referred to as the Herodian kingdom. He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea, including his renova ...
in 4 BC.''The people's New Testament commentary'' by M. Eugene Boring, Fred B. Craddock 2004 p. 212.


Baptism and early ministry

The gospels present John the Baptist's ministry as the precursor to that of Jesus and the Baptism of Jesus as marking the beginning of Jesus' ministry. In his sermon in , delivered in the house of Cornelius the centurion,
Apostle Peter An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to send off". The purpose of such sendin ...
gives an overview of the ministry of Jesus, and refers to what had happened "throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached" and that Jesus whom "God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power" had gone about "doing good". specifies the location where John was baptizing as "Bethany beyond the Jordan".''Big Picture of the Bible - New Testament'' by Lorna Daniels Nichols 2009 p. 12 This is not the village
Bethany Bethany ( grc-gre, Βηθανία,Murphy-O'Connor, 2008, p152/ref> Syriac: ܒܝܬ ܥܢܝܐ ''Bēṯ ʿAnyā'') or what is locally known as Al-Eizariya or al-Azariya ( ar, العيزرية, " laceof Lazarus"), is a Palestinian town in the West ...
just east of Jerusalem, but the town of Bethabara in Perea.''John'' by Gerard Stephen Sloyan 1987 p. 11 Perea is the province east of the Jordan, across the southern part of
Samaria Samaria (; he, שֹׁמְרוֹן, translit=Šōmrōn, ar, السامرة, translit=as-Sāmirah) is the historic and biblical name used for the central region of Palestine, bordered by Judea to the south and Galilee to the north. The first ...
, and although the New Testament does not mention Perea by name, implicitly refers to it again when it states that John was baptising in Enon near Salim, "because there was much water there". First-century historian Flavius Josephus also wrote in the ''
Antiquities of the Jews ''Antiquities of the Jews'' ( la, Antiquitates Iudaicae; el, Ἰουδαϊκὴ ἀρχαιολογία, ''Ioudaikē archaiologia'') is a 20-volume historiographical work, written in Greek, by historian Flavius Josephus in the 13th year of the ...
'' ( 18 5.2) that John the Baptist was imprisoned and then killed in Machaerus on the border of Perea. and indicate possible activities of Jesus near the Jordan River around the time of his baptism, as does the initial encounter with the disciples of John the Baptist in , where "two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus".''A Summary of Christian History'' by Robert A. Baker, John M. Landers 2005 pp. 6–7 Assuming that there were two incidences of Cleansing of the Temple, which was located in Jerusalem, a possible reference to an early Judean ministry may be .


Ministry in Galilee


Early Galilean ministry

The ''Early Galilean ministry'' begins when, according to Matthew, Jesus goes back to Galilee from the
Judean desert The Judaean Desert or Judean Desert ( he, מִדְבַּר יְהוּדָה, Midbar Yehuda}, both ''Desert of Judah'' or ''Judaean Desert''; ar, صحراء يهودا, Sahraa' Yahuda) is a desert in Palestine and Israel that lies east of Jerusa ...
, after rebuffing the temptation of Satan. In this early period, Jesus preaches around Galilee and, in , his first disciples encounter him, begin to travel with him and eventually form the core of the early Church. The Gospel of John includes the Wedding at Cana as the first miracle of Jesus taking place in this early period of ministry, with his return to Galilee. A few villages in Galilee (e.g. Kafr Kanna) have been suggested as the location of Cana. The
return of Jesus to Galilee The Return of Jesus to Galilee is an episode in the life of Jesus which appears in three of the Canonical Gospels: , and , . It relates the return of Jesus to Galilee upon the imprisonment of John the Baptist. Gospel of John According to the G ...
follows the arrest of
John the Baptist John the Baptist or , , or , ;Wetterau, Bruce. ''World history''. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1994. syc, ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ ܡܲܥܡܕ݂ܵܢܵܐ, Yoḥanān Maʿmḏānā; he, יוחנן המטביל, Yohanān HaMatbil; la, Ioannes Bapti ...
. The early teachings of Jesus result in his rejection at his hometown when in Jesus says in a Synagogue: "No prophet is acceptable in his own country" and the people reject him. In this early period, Jesus' reputation begins to spread throughout Galilee. In and , Jesus goes to Capernaum, where people are "astonished at his teaching; for his word was with authority", in the
Exorcism at the Synagogue in Capernaum All four gospels report that Jesus visited Capernaum in Galilee and often attended the synagogue there: * Matthew 4:13 describes Jesus leaving Nazareth and settling in Capernaum * Mark 1 describes Jesus teaching and healing in the synagogue *Luk ...
episode, which is followed by healing the mother of Peter's wife. includes the first
Miraculous draught of fishes The miraculous catch of fish, or more traditionally the miraculous draught of fish(es), is either of two events commonly (but not universally) considered to be miracles in the canonical gospels. The miracles are reported as taking place years apa ...
episode in which Jesus tells Peter, "now on you will catch men". Peter leaves his net and, along with him, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, follows Jesus as disciples thereafter. This period includes the Sermon on the Mount, one of the major discourses of Jesus in Matthew, and the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke.''The Sermon on the Mount: A Theological Investigation'' by Carl G. Vaught 2001 pp. xi–xiv The ''Sermon on the Mount'', which covers chapters 5, 6 and 7 of the Gospel of Matthew, is the first of the Five Discourses of Matthew and is the longest piece of teaching from Jesus in the
New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chris ...
. It encapsulates many of the moral teachings of Jesus and includes the
Beatitudes The Beatitudes are sayings attributed to Jesus, and in particular eight blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, and four in the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke, followed by four woes which mir ...
and the widely recited
Lord's Prayer The Lord's Prayer, also called the Our Father or Pater Noster, is a central Christian prayer which Jesus taught as the way to pray. Two versions of this prayer are recorded in the gospels: a longer form within the Sermon on the Mount in the Gosp ...
. The ''Beatitudes'' are expressed as eight blessings in the ''Sermon on the Mount'' in Matthew, and four similar blessings appear in the ''Sermon on the Plain'' in Luke, where they are followed by four woes that mirror the blessings.''The Synoptics: Matthew, Mark, Luke'' by Ján Majerník, Joseph Ponessa, Laurie Watson Manhardt 2005 , pp. 63–68 The Beatitudes present the highest ideals of the teachings of Jesus on mercy, spirituality and compassion.''A Dictionary Of The Bible'' by James Hastings 2004 p. 15–19 File:Giotto - Scrovegni - -24- - Marriage at Cana.jpg, Marriage at Cana File:Christus heilt einen Besessenen.jpg, Synagogue in Capernaum File:Raphael - The Miraculous Draft of Fishes - Google Art Project.jpg, First disciples and Miraculous catch of fish File:Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg, Sermon on the Mount


Major Galilean ministry

The ''Major Galilean ministry'', also called the ''Great Galilean ministry'', begins in
Matthew 8 Matthew 8 is the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and continues the narrative about Jesus' ministry in Galilee previously described in Matthew 4:23– 25. It follows on from the Sermon on the Mount, noting in its ope ...
, after the Sermon on the Mount and refers to activities up to the death of John the Baptist. The beginnings of this period include The Centurion's Servant () and Calming the storm (), both dealing with the theme of faith and fear. When the Centurion shows faith in Jesus by requesting a "healing at a distance", Jesus commends him for his exceptional faith. On the other hand, when his own disciples show fear of a storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus instructs them to have more faith, after he orders the storm to stop. In this period, Jesus is still gathering the
twelve apostles In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...
, and the
Calling of Matthew The Calling of Matthew is an episode in the life of Jesus which appears in all three synoptic gospels, , and , and relates the initial encounter between Jesus and Matthew, the tax collector who became a disciple. Biblical narratives According t ...
takes place in . The conflicts and criticism between Jesus and the Pharisees continue, e.g. they criticize Jesus for associating with "publicans and sinners", whereby Jesus responds: "It is not healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Commissioning the twelve Apostles The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles is an episode in the ministry of Jesus that appears in all three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 10:1–4, Mark 3:13–19 and Luke 6:12–16. It relates the initial selection of the Twelve Apostle ...
relates the initial selection of the
twelve Apostles In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...
among the disciples of Jesus. Jesus goes out to a mountainside to pray, and after spending the night praying to God, in the morning he calls his disciples and chooses twelve of them. In the Mission Discourse, Jesus instructs the
twelve apostles In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...
who are named in to carry no belongings as they travel from city to city and preach. Separately, relates the Seventy Disciples, where Jesus appoints a larger number of disciples and sends them out in pairs with the ''Missionary's Mandate'' to go into villages before Jesus' arrival there.''Luke'' by Sharon H. Ringe 1995 pp. 151–152 In two messengers from John the Baptist arrive to ask Jesus if he is the expected Messiah, or "shall we wait for another?" Jesus replies, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk". Following this, Jesus begins to speak to the crowds about the Baptist. This period is rich in parables and teachings and includes the ''Parabolic discourse'', which provides many of the parables for the
Kingdom of Heaven Kingdom of Heaven may refer to: Religious * Kingdom of Heaven (Gospel of Matthew) ** Kingship and kingdom of God, or simply Kingdom of God, the phrase used in the other gospels * Kingdom of Heaven (Daviesite), a schismatic sect, founded by Wil ...
, beginning in .''Preaching Matthew's Gospel'' by Richard A. Jensen 1998 pp. 25 & 158''Matthew'' by Charles H. Talbert 2010 (Discourse 3) pp. 162–173 These include the parables of The Sower,
The Tares The Parable of the Tares or Weeds (KJV: ''tares'', WNT: ''darnel'', DRB: ''cockle'') is a parable of Jesus which appears in . The parable relates how servants eager to pull up weeds were warned that in so doing they would root out the wheat as ...
, The Mustard Seed and
The Leaven ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
, addressed to the public at large, as well as The Hidden Treasure, The Pearl and Drawing in the Net. At the end of the Major Galilean ministry, Jesus returns to his hometown, Nazareth. His
wisdom Wisdom, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to contemplate and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowledg ...
is recognised there, questioned, and rejected. File: Rembrandt Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee.jpg, Calming the storm File: Brooklyn Museum - The Exhortation to the Apostles (Recommandation aux apôtres) - James Tissot.jpg,
Twelve Apostles In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...
File:70Apostles.jpg, Seventy Disciples File: Oberzell Alte Kirche Decke Johannes im Kerker.jpg, Baptist's Messengers


Final Galilean ministry

The ''Final Galilean ministry'' begins after the death of John the Baptist, and includes the Feeding the 5000 and Walking on water episodes, both in . After hearing of the Baptist's death, Jesus withdraws by boat privately to a solitary place near
Bethsaida Bethsaida (; from gr, Βηθσαϊδά from Hebrew/ Aramaic ''beth-tsaida'', lit. " house of hunting" from the Hebrew root ; ar, بيت صيدا), also known as Julias, is a place mentioned in the New Testament. Julias lay in an administrative ...
, where he addresses the crowds who had followed him on foot from the towns, and feeds them all with " five loaves and two fish" supplied by a boy. Following this, the gospels present the ''Walking on water'' episode in , and as an important step in developing the relationship between Jesus and his disciples, at this stage of his ministry. The episode emphasizes the importance of faith by stating that, when he attempted to walk on water, Peter began to sink when he lost faith and became afraid. At the end of the episode, the disciples increase their faith in Jesus, and, in Matthew 14:33, they say: "Of a truth thou art the Son of God". Major teachings in this period include the Discourse on Defilement in and where, in response to a complaint from the Pharisees, Jesus states: "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'". Following this episode, Jesus withdraws into the "parts of Tyre and
Sidon Sidon ( ; he, צִידוֹן, ''Ṣīḏōn'') known locally as Sayda or Saida ( ar, صيدا ''Ṣaydā''), is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate, of which it is the capital, on the Mediterranean coast. ...
" near the
Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...
, where the Canaanite woman's daughter episode takes place in and .''Jesus the Miracle Worker: A Historical & Theological Study'' by Graham H. Twelftree 1999 pp. 133–134 This episode is an example of how Jesus emphasizes the value of faith, telling the woman: "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." The importance of faith is also emphasized in the
Cleansing ten lepers Jesus' cleansing of ten lepers is one of the miracles of Jesus reported in the Gospels (Gospel of Luke ). Narrative Ten lepers, seeing Jesus, "raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus healed all ten, telling them ...
episode in . In the Gospel of Mark, after passing through
Sidon Sidon ( ; he, צִידוֹן, ''Ṣīḏōn'') known locally as Sayda or Saida ( ar, صيدا ''Ṣaydā''), is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate, of which it is the capital, on the Mediterranean coast. ...
, Jesus enters the region of the Decapolis, a group of ten cities south-east of Galilee, where the Healing the deaf mute miracle is reported in . After the healing, the disciples say: "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." The episode is the last in a series of narrated miracles which builds up to Peter's proclamation of Jesus as Christ in .


Judea and Perea to Jerusalem


Later Judean ministry

In this period, Jesus starts his final journey to Jerusalem by going around
Samaria Samaria (; he, שֹׁמְרוֹן, translit=Šōmrōn, ar, السامرة, translit=as-Sāmirah) is the historic and biblical name used for the central region of Palestine, bordered by Judea to the south and Galilee to the north. The first ...
, through Perea and on through Judea to Jerusalem. At the beginning of this period, Jesus predicts his death for the first time, and this prediction then builds up to the other two episodes, the final prediction being just before Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time, the week of his crucifixion. In and , Jesus teaches his disciples that "the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. Later in this period, at about the middle of each of the three
Synoptic Gospels The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the synoptic Gospels because they include many of the same stories, often in a similar sequence and in similar or sometimes identical wording. They stand in contrast to John, whose ...
, two related episodes mark a turning point in the ministry of Jesus: the
Confession of Peter In Christianity, the Confession of Peter (translated from the Matthean Vulgate Latin section title: ''Confessio Petri'') refers to an episode in the New Testament in which the Apostle Peter proclaims Jesus to be the Christ ( Jewish Messiah). T ...
and the Transfiguration of Jesus.''The Christology of Mark's Gospel'' by Jack Dean Kingsbury 1983 pp. 91–95''The Cambridge companion to the Gospels'' by Stephen C. Barton pp. 132–133 These episodes begin in Caesarea Philippi, just north of the Sea of Galilee, at the beginning of the final journey to
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
which ends in the Passion and
Resurrection of Jesus The resurrection of Jesus ( grc-x-biblical, ἀνάστασις τοῦ Ἰησοῦ) is the Christian belief that God raised Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion, starting – or restoring – his exalted life as Christ and Lo ...
.''The Collegeville Bible Commentary: New Testament'' by Robert J. Karris 1992 pp. 885–886 These episodes mark the beginnings of the gradual disclosure of the identity of Jesus as the
Messiah In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; , ; , ; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of '' mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach ...
to his disciples; and his prediction of his own suffering and death.''Transfiguration'' by Dorothy A. Lee 2005 pp. 21–30 Peter's Confession begins as a dialogue between Jesus and his disciples in , and . Jesus asks his disciples: ''But who do you say that I am?'' Simon Peter answers him: ''You are the Christ, the Son of the living God''.''Who do you say that I am? Essays on Christology'' by Jack Dean Kingsbury, Mark Allan Powell, David R. Bauer 1999 p. xvi In , Jesus blesses Peter for his answer, and states: "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven." In blessing Peter, Jesus not only accepts the titles ''
Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and relig ...
'' and '' Son of God'', which Peter attributes to him, but declares the proclamation a divine revelation by stating that his Father in Heaven had revealed it to Peter.''One teacher: Jesus' teaching role in Matthew's gospel'' by John Yueh-Han Yieh 2004 pp. 240–241 In this assertion, by endorsing both titles as divine revelation, Jesus unequivocally declares himself to be both Christ and the Son of God. In the Gospel of Matthew, following this episode, Jesus also selects Peter as the leader of the Apostles, and states that "upon this rock, I will build my church". In Jesus then continues: "That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church". The word "church" (''ekklesia'' in Greek) as used here, appears in the Gospels only once more, in , and refers to the community of believers at the time.''The Gospel of Matthew'' by Rudolf Schnackenburg 2002 pp. 7–9


Later Perean ministry

Following the proclamation by Peter, the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus is the next major event and appears in , and .''The Content and the Setting of the Gospel Tradition'' by Mark Harding, Alanna Nobbs 2010 pp. 281–282 Jesus takes Peter and two other apostles with him and goes up to a mountain, which is not named. Once on the mountain, states that Jesus "was transfigured before them; his face shining as the sun, and his garments became white as the light." At that point, the prophets Elijah and Moses appear and Jesus begins to talk to them. Luke is specific in describing Jesus in a state of glory, with referring to "they saw his glory".''Transfiguration'' by Dorothy A. Lee 2005 pp. 72–76 A bright cloud appears around them, and a voice from the cloud states: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him". The Transfiguration not only supports the identity of Jesus as the Son of God, (as in his
Baptism Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost ...
), but the statement "listen to him" identifies him as the messenger and mouth-piece of God.''Metamorphosis: The Transfiguration in Byzantine Theology and Iconography'' by Andreas Andreopoulos 2005 pp. 47–49 The significance is enhanced by the presence of Elijah and Moses, for it indicates to the apostles that Jesus is the voice of God, and, instead of Elijah or Moses, he should be listened to, by virtue of his filial relationship with God. echoes the same message: at the Transfiguration, God assigns to Jesus a special "honor and glory" and it is the turning point at which God exalts Jesus above all other powers in creation. Many of the episodes in the Later Judean ministry are from the Gospel of Luke but, in general, these sequence of episodes in Luke do not provide enough geographical information to determine Perea, though scholars generally assume that the route Jesus followed from Galilee to Jerusalem passed through Perea. However, the Gospel of John does state that he returned to the area where he was baptized, and states that "many people believed in him beyond the Jordan", saying "all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true". The area where Jesus was baptised is inferred as the vicinity of the Perea area, given the activities of the Baptist in Bethabara and Ænon in John and . This period of ministry includes the Discourse on the Church, in which Jesus anticipates a future community of followers and explains the role of his apostles in leading it.''Behold the King: A Study of Matthew'' by Stanley D. Toussaint 2005 pp. 215–216 It includes the parables of
The Lost Sheep The Parable of the Lost Sheep is one of the parables of Jesus. It appears in the Gospels of Matthew () and Luke (). It is about a shepherd who leaves his flock of ninety-nine sheep in order to find the one which is lost. It is the first member ...
and The Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18, which also refer to the Kingdom of Heaven. The general theme of the discourse is the anticipation of a future community of followers, and the role of his apostles in leading it. Addressing his apostles in , Jesus states: "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven". The discourse emphasizes the importance of humility and self-sacrifice as the high virtues within the anticipated community. It teaches that in the Kingdom of God, it is personal humility that matters, not social prominence and clout.''Matthew'' by Larry Chouinard 1997 p. 321 At the end of this period, the Gospel of John includes the Raising of Lazarus episode in , in which Jesus brings
Lazarus of Bethany Lazarus of Bethany (Latinised from Lazar, ultimately from Hebrew Eleazar, "God helped"), also venerated as Righteous Lazarus, the Four-Days Dead in the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the subject of a prominent sign of Jesus in the Gospel of John, ...
back to life four days after his burial.Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2007 ''Harmony of the Gospels'' pp. 155–170 In the Gospel of John, the raising of Lazarus is the climax of the "seven signs" which gradually confirm the identity of Jesus as the Son of God and the expected Messiah.''The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament''
by Andreas J. Köstenberger, L. Scott Kellum 2009 pp. 312–313
It is also a ''pivotal episode'' which starts the chain of events that leads to the crowds seeking Jesus on his Triumphal entry into Jerusalem—leading to the decision of Caiaphas and the
Sanhedrin The Sanhedrin ( Hebrew and Aramaic: סַנְהֶדְרִין; Greek: , '' synedrion'', 'sitting together,' hence ' assembly' or 'council') was an assembly of either 23 or 71 elders (known as " rabbis" after the destruction of the Second Temp ...
to plan to kill Jesus (
Crucifixion of Jesus The crucifixion and death of Jesus occurred in 1st-century Judea, most likely in AD 30 or AD 33. It is described in the four canonical gospels, referred to in the New Testament epistles, attested to by other ancient sources, and consider ...
).


Final ministry in Jerusalem

The final ministry in Jerusalem is traditionally called the Passion and begins with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem early in the week that includes the Last Supper and is liturgically marked as
Holy Week Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
.''The People's New Testament Commentary'' by M. Eugene Boring, Fred B. Craddock 2004 pp. 256–258''The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew-Luke, Volume 1'' by Craig A. Evans 2003 pp. 381–395''The Synoptics: Matthew, Mark, Luke'' by Ján Majerník, Joseph Ponessa, Laurie Watson Manhardt 2005 pp. 133–134''The Bible knowledge background commentary: John's Gospel, Hebrews-Revelation'' by Craig A. Evans pp. 114–118 The gospels pay special attention to the account of the last week of the life of Jesus in Jerusalem, and the narrative amounts to about one third of the text of the four gospels, showing its theological significance in Christian thought in the Early Church. Before arriving in Jerusalem, in , after raising Lazarus from the dead, crowds gather around Jesus and believe in him, and the next day the multitudes that had gathered for the feast in Jerusalem welcome Jesus as he descends from the Mount of Olives towards Jerusalem in , , and .''John 12–21'' by John MacArthur 2008 pp. 17–18 In as Jesus approaches Jerusalem, he looks at the city and weeps over it, foretelling the suffering that awaits the city.''Mercer Commentary on the New Testament'' by Watson E. Mills 2003 pp. 1032–1036 In the three Synoptic Gospels, entry into Jerusalem is followed by the Cleansing of the Temple episode, in which Jesus expels the money changers from the Temple, accusing them of turning the Temple to a den of thieves through their commercial activities. This is the only account of Jesus using physical force in any of the Gospels.''The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary'' by Craig A. Evans 2005 p. 49''The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia'' by Geoffrey W. Bromiley 1988 pp. 571–572''The Fourth Gospel And the Quest for Jesus'' by Paul N. Anderson 2006 p. 158 The synoptics include a number of well known parables and sermons such as the Widow's mite and the Second Coming Prophecy during the week that follows. In that week, the synoptics also narrate conflicts between Jesus and the elders of the Jews, in episodes such as the
Authority of Jesus Questioned The authority of Jesus is questioned whilst he is teaching in the Temple in Jerusalem, as reported in all three synoptic gospels: , and . According to the Gospel of Matthew: Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the ch ...
and the Woes of the Pharisees, in which Jesus criticizes their hypocrisy.
Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot (; grc-x-biblical, Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριώτης; syc, ܝܗܘܕܐ ܣܟܪܝܘܛܐ; died AD) was a disciple and one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. According to all four canonical gospels, Judas bet ...
, one of the
twelve apostles In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...
, approaches the Jewish elders and performs the " Bargain of Judas" in which he accepts to betray Jesus and hand him over to the elders.''All the Apostles of the Bible'' by Herbert Lockyer 1988 p. 106–111''The Synoptic Gospels and the Book of Acts'' by Doremus Almy Hayes 2009 p. 88 Matthew specifies the price as thirty silver coins. In Matthew 24, Mark 13 and
Luke 21 Luke 21 is the twenty-first chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the observations and predictions of Jesus Christ delivered in the temple in Jerusalem.Halley, Henry H. ''Halley's Bible Handbook'': a ...
, Jesus provides a ''Discourse on the End Times'', which is also called the Olivet Discourse because it was given on the Mount of Olives. The discourse is mostly about judgment and the expected conduct of the followers of Jesus, and the need for vigilance by the followers in view of the coming judgment.''The Gospel according to Matthew'' by Leon Morris 1992 pp. 593–596 The discourse is generally viewed as referring both to the coming destruction of the
Temple in Jerusalem The Temple in Jerusalem, or alternatively the Holy Temple (; , ), refers to the two now-destroyed religious structures that served as the central places of worship for Israelites and Jews on the modern-day Temple Mount in the Old City of Jeru ...
, as well as the End Times and Second Coming of Christ, but the many scholarly opinions about which verses refer to which event remain divided. A key episode in the final part of the ministry of Jesus is the Last Supper, which includes the '' Institution of the Eucharist''. In , , during the last supper, Jesus takes bread, breaks it and gives it to the disciples, saying: "This is my body which is given for you". He also gives them "the cup" to drink, saying this is his blood. While it may have been fermented, none of the biblical accounts refer to it as wine, but rather as "the fruit of the vine" or "the cup". In ,
Paul the Apostle Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
refers to the Last Supper., , , Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2007 ''Harmony of the Gospels'' pp. 180–191''The encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 4'' by Erwin Fahlbusch, 2005 pp. 52–56''The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary'' by Craig A. Evans 2003 pp. 465–477 concludes the Last Supper with a long, three chapter sermon known as the '' Farewell discourse'' which prepares the disciples for the departure of Jesus.''John'' by Gail R. O'Day, Susan Hylen 2006 , Chapter 15: The Farewell Discourse, pp. 142–168''The Gospel according to John'' by Herman Ridderbos 1997 ''The Farewell Prayer'': pp. 546–576 File:Brooklyn Museum - Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees (Malheur à vous, scribes et pharisiens) - James Tissot.jpg, Woes of Pharisees File:Duccio di Buoninsegna - Pact of Judas - WGA06789.jpg, Bargain of Judas File:Juan de Juanes 002.jpg, Last Supper &
Eucharist The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was institu ...
File:Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles.jpg, Farewell discourse


See also

:Gospels and theology *
Christ myth theory The Christ myth theory, also known as the Jesus myth theory, Jesus mythicism, or the Jesus ahistoricity theory, is the view that "the story of Jesus is a piece of mythology", possessing no "substantial claims to historical fact". Alternatively ...
* Gospel harmony * Historical Jesus *
Jesus Seminar The Jesus Seminar was a group of about 50 critical biblical scholars and 100 laymen founded in 1985 by Robert Funk that originated under the auspices of the Westar Institute.''Making Sense of the New Testament'' by Craig Blomberg (Mar 1, 2004) ...
*
Jesus in Christianity Jesus is called the Son of God in the Bible's New Testament, and in mainstream Christian denominations he is God the Son, the second Person in the Trinity. He is believed to be the Jewish messiah (the Christ) who is prophesied in the Hebrew Bi ...
* Life of Christ in art * Life of Jesus in the New Testament *
Miracles of Jesus The miracles of Jesus are Miracle, miraculous deeds attributed to Jesus in Christianity, Christian and Islamic texts. The majority are faith healings, exorcisms, resurrections, and control over nature. In the Synoptic Gospels (Gospel of Mark, ...
* Parables of Jesus :Associated places * Al-Maghtas * Qasr el Yahud


Notes


References

; Citations {{DEFAULTSORT:Ministry Of Jesus Life of Jesus in the New Testament