Mark 1. 9-11; Luke 3. 21, 22; John 1. 28-34); and find: 1.) The place.
2.) The age of Jesus. 3.) The baptizer. 4.) The divine manifestation.
10. =The temptation in the wilderness.= This followed immediately upon
the baptism, and was a preparation for his ministry (Matt. 4. 1-11; Mark
1. 12, 13; Luke 4. 1-13). Note: 1.) The place. 2.) The personality of
the tempter. 3.) The three forms of temptation. 4.) How repelled. 5.)
The result.
Let the student, 1.) Memorize these nine events in their order. 2.) Read
the account of each in the gospels. 3.) Recall where each took place.
4.) Notice what other persons besides Jesus are named in the period (for
example, Joseph, Mary, Simeon, Anna, Herod, etc.) and each one's part in
the events.
[Illustration: _JOURNEYS OF 30 YEARS OF PREPARATION_]
III. Draw the map of Palestine, locating upon it the live places named;
and then indicate the following =Journeys= of the period: 1. From
Bethlehem to Jerusalem (for the presentation in the temple) and return.
2. From Bethlehem to Egypt (flight from Herod). 3. From Egypt to
Nazareth. 4. From Nazareth to Jerusalem and return (visit to temple). 5.
From Nazareth to Bethabara (baptism). 6. Bethabara to the wilderness
(temptation).
IV. Let us now study the =External Conditions= of Christ's life during
this period.
1. =The family.= The royal line of both Joseph and Mary (Matt. 1. 1;
Luke 1. 27, 32). Their obscure social condition (Matt. 13. 54, 55). In
all probability they belonged to the better class of self-supporting
workers: for Joseph followed a trade.
2. =The house.= Probably like those of working people in Palestine;
built of clay, one story high, containing but one room with no window,
but lighted through the door; whitewashed on the outside; floor of
earth.
3. =The furniture.= A couch that could be rolled up (Mark 2. 12). A
lamp, a lamp-stand, "the bushel" (used as seat, table, and dish (Matt.
5. 15). Hand-mill for grinding (Deut. 24. 6; Matt. 24. 41). Probably
neither chair, table, nor bedstead.
4. =Education.= Jesus received only the common schooling, not a college
education (John 7. 15). Contrast with the early advantages of Paul (Acts
22. 3). Every synagogue had a school taught by "the minister." See Luke
4. 20. He was not a priest, nor even a scribe, but properly the curator
or sexton of the synagogue, and all the teaching was the reading of the
Old Testament.
5. =Religious training.=
1.) There was the influence of a godly man and woman.
Joseph, "a just man," living in fellowship with God.
(Matt. 1. 19, 20). The character of Mary (Luke 1. 38;
2. 19, 51).
2.) The instruction in the Scriptures at home (Deut.
6. 7.)
3.) The daily prayers, morning and evening, always
observed (Matt. 6. 5, 6).
4.) The Sabbath rest (Mark 2. 27).
5.) The worship of the synagogue (Luke 4. 16; Mark 6.
2.)
6.) The great feasts, celebrated each year at
Jerusalem--Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles--which
Joseph and Mary attended (Luke 2. 41).
Under these influences Jesus grew up to manhood.
Blackboard Outline
I. =Pla.= 1. Naz. ea. h. 2. Beth. pl. bap. 3. Wil. pl. temp.
4. Jer. pl. Tem. 5. Beth. pl. bir. 6. Eg. pl. ref.
II. =Even.= 1. Ann. bir. 2. Bir. Beth. 3. Wel. ch. 4. Ref. Eg.
5. Chi. Naz. 6. Vis. Tem. 7. Sil. ye. 8. Wo. Naz. 9. Bap.
Jor. 10. Tem. wil.
III. =Jour.= 1. B. J. R. 2. B. E. 3. E. N. 4. N. J. R. 5. N. C.
6. B. W.
IV. =Ext. Con.= 1. Fam. 2. Hou. 3. Furn. 4. Edu. 5. Rel. tra.
Questions for Review
Where did the mother of Jesus live before her
marriage? At what place was Jesus baptized? Where did
the temptation take place? What three visits did Jesus
make to Jerusalem before his ministry? To what country
was Jesus taken as a refuge from Herod? Name six
places connected with this period and a fact about
each. Name four announcements made to different people
of the coming of Jesus. For what purpose did Joseph
and Mary go to Bethlehem just before the birth of
Jesus? Who came to see Jesus at Bethlehem. Who gave
him welcome in the temple during his infancy? How old
was Jesus when he first visited the temple? What part
of his life is known as "the silent years"? What trade
did Jesus follow when he became a man? What took place
at the baptism of Jesus? State nine events in the
first thirty years of Jesus's life. State a fact in
the life of Jesus with which each of the following
persons was connected: Joseph, Simeon, Herod, John the
Baptist, Gabriel, wise men, "the doctors of the law,"
shepherds. How do we know that Joseph and Mary were
poor people? To what distinguished family did they
belong? In what kind of a house did they probably
dwell? What articles of furniture did the house
contain? What education did Jesus receive? Who was the
teacher of the school? What were the religious
influences around the youth of Jesus? What feasts did
he attend?
FIFTH STUDY
The Year of Obscurity
From the First Followers of Jesus to His Return to Galilee.
I. =Preliminary Notes= on the period.
1. =Sources of Information.= Our only account of this period is
contained in =John's Gospel=. Read carefully John 1. 19 to 4. 54 for all
the facts on record.
2. =Time.= The Saviour came from the temptation in the wilderness either
late in February or early in March, A. D. 27, and he began his ministry
in Galilee in May, A. D. 28; so that this period embraced nearly
=fifteen months=. (Edersheim. According to Andrews it ended in March,
and was a year in duration).
3. =Locality.= Most of this year was passed in =Judea=, though there is
mention of one journey to =Galilee= soon after the beginning (John 1.
43), and of another at the close (John 4. 3).
4. =Aim.= It is probable that Jesus began his ministry in Judea, the
leading province, in order to give to the leaders of the nation the
=first opportunity= of accepting him as the Messiah of Israel. Not until
Jerusalem and Judea had rejected him did he turn to the people of
Galilee.
II. =Places.=
1. =Bethabara= (or Bethany, as in Rev. Ver.) (John 1. 28). Here occurred
the meeting of Jesus with his first followers (John 1. 37).
2. =Cana=, the place of the first miracle (John 2. 1). This was in
Galilee, not far from Nazareth.
3. =Capernaum=, named only as a place of a brief visit by Jesus at this
time, but later more prominent in the history (John 2. 12). Situated on
the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
4. =Sychar=, the place of the Samaritan ministry (John 4. 5, 40). This
was formerly supposed to be the well-known city of Shechem, but is now
more accurately fixed at _Askar_, a small village near to Jacob's well.
5. =Jerusalem.= During this period two events took place in
Jerusalem--the cleansing of the temple (John 2. 14, 15), and the
conversation with Nicodemus (John 3. 1-21).
[Illustration: _YEAR OF OBSCURITY._]
III. =Journeys.= We begin in the wilderness of the temptation. 1. From
the wilderness to Bethabara. 2. From Bethabara to Cana. 3. From Cana to
Capernaum. 4. From Capernaum to Jerusalem and Judea. 5. From Judea to
Sychar, and thence to Cana.
IV. We place in order next the =Events= of the Saviour's life during
this period.
1. =The first followers.= Read John 1. 35-51 and ascertain the names of
four, with hints of two others; for one of two in ver. 40 was John, and
the language in ver. 41 implies that each sought his own brother. Notice
what traits of character each disciple showed. In this little company,
the band out of which grew the Christian Church, we find: 1.) A man who
brought people one by one to Jesus. 2.) A deep, spiritually-minded
mystic. 3.) A born leader. 4.) A plain, simple-minded believer. 5.) A
man of pure, spotless character. What a combination of qualities for the
founding of a church!
2. =The first miracle= (John 2. 1-11). In this miracle we find an apt
symbol of what Christ came to do among men. He found water, and he
turned it into living, spirit-quickening wine.
3. =The visit to Capernaum= (John 2. 12). Why he went we have no means
of knowing, and it is idle to speculate.
4. =The first Passover= (John 2. 13). The mention of these passovers is
important, for they enable us to know how long was the ministry of
Jesus, and they give us dates for its events. This was the first
passover of his ministry, not of his life.
5. =Cleansing the Temple= (John 2. 14-17). This was the first public act
of his ministry in which he claimed the authority of Messiah in the
house of God. See the prophecy, Mal. 3. 1-3. At the close of his
ministry he found that the same evils had crept again into the temple,
and purged it a second time (Matt. 21. 12).
6. =Conversation with Nicodemus= (John 3. 1-21). This conversation was
remarkable: 1.) From the rank and character of the man (Vers. 3, 10).
2.) From the theme (Ver. 3.) 3). From its results (John 7. 50; 19. 39).
7. =Ministry in Judea= (John 3. 22.) 1.) Its precise place is unknown.
2.) Its relation to John the Baptist (John 3. 26). 3.) Its success (John
4. 1).
8. =Ministry in Samaria= (John 4. 4-42). 1.) What led to it. (Ver. 4.)
2.) Where it took place. (Ver. 5.) 3.) How it began. (Vers. 6, 7.) 4.)
Its first convert, a remarkable character, of aptness in speech,
penetration, and power to influence others. (Vers. 9, 15, 20, 25, 28,
30, 39.) Compare her brightness with the dullness of Nicodemus. 5.) Its
length. (Ver. 40.) 6.) Its results: (Vers. 41,42.) This ministry is a
most interesting episode in the life of Jesus.
9. =Return to Galilee= (John 4. 43). 1.) Reason for the journey (John 4.
1-3). 2.) Another reason (Mark 1. 14). 3.) Still another reason (John 4.
44, 45)--that is, he had no honor in his own country until he had
obtained it in Judea.
10. =Healing the nobleman's son= (John 4. 46-54). 1.) Where Jesus was.
(Ver. 46.) 2.) Who the man was. (Ver. 46)--literally, "a king's man,
courtier." Is his name given in Luke 8. 30? 3.) His spirit, earnestness,
persistence, faith. (Vers. 48-50.) 4.) His reward. (Vers. 51, 52.) 5.)
Result of the miracle. (Ver. 53.)
Let the student, 1.) Commit this series to memory. 2.) Study the facts
in relation to each by searching out the references. 3.) Recall the
facts in connection with each event. 4.) Make a list of eight men and
two women who were connected with these events and recall what is
related of each person.
V. Let us now consider the =General Traits of the Ministry of Christ=
during this period.
1. It was =preparatory=. So far as we can perceive, the plans of
Christ's kingdom were not as yet revealed, and no general proclamation
of it was made. Yet he clearly revealed himself to a chosen few as the
Messiah of Israel (John 1. 41, 45: 4. 25, 26).
2. =It was connected with John the Baptist.= The two streams of John's
ministry and Christ's ministry run together during this preparatory
ministry. John introduced Jesus (John 1. 29-36). The two worked at the
same time, in the same way, and not far apart (John 3. 22-24). Both
Jesus and John refused to be put into a relation of rivalry, either by
their friends (John 3. 25-30) or by their enemies (John 4. 1-3).
3. It was =individual=--that is, to individuals rather than to masses of
people. We read of no such multitudes as in the succeeding period, but
we find six conversations of Jesus with single persons or small groups.
He sought to gather a few choice disciples rather than many adherents.
4. It was a =teaching= ministry. There were miracles (John 2. 23; 3. 2),
but they were not made prominent; and the immediate followers of Jesus
were won by what they saw in him and heard from him rather than by
wonders wrought by him.
VI. Lastly, we ascertain the =Results= of the Saviour's ministry during
this period.
1. It gave him =prominence before the people=. The popular attention was
arrested, and there was a transient, superficial acceptance by the many;
but Jesus knew the hearts of men too well to trust them (John 2. 23, 24;
3. 26).
2. It led to his =rejection by the rulers=. Though this is not stated it
is hinted at in the controversies of the Jewish leaders (John 2. 18); in
the conclusion of the gospel writer (John 3. 18-20), and in the
reference to the Pharisees (John 4. 1). From this hour the attitude of
the capital and the ruling minds was hostile to Jesus. They missed the
one great opportunity in their nation's history.
3. It drew around him =chosen followers=. From this time there was a
company of disciples with Jesus. They returned to their homes in Galilee
for a time, but were soon called to leave all and accompany their
master. To some of them we find three separate calls (John 1. 37-42;
Matt. 4. 18-22 more than a year later, and Mark 3. 13, 14, later still).
4. =It prepared for his ministry in Galilee.= The fame of Christ's acts
in Judea went before him to Galilee, awakened curiosity, and gave him a
ready reception on his return (John 4. 45). We shall find in the next
period great multitudes thronging after Jesus as the result of his
ministry in Judea.
Blackboard Outline
I. =Pre. Not.= 1. =Sour. Inf.= Jno. 2. =Ti.= 15 m. 3. =Loc.=
Jud. 4. =Aim.= Fir. opp.
II. =Pla.= 1. Beth. 2. Can. 3. Cap. 4. Syc. 5. Jer.
III. =Jour.= 1. W. B. 2. B. C. 3. C. C. 4. C. J. & J.
5. J. S. & C.
IV. =Even.= 1. Fir. Foll. 2. Fir. Mir. 3. Vis. Cap. 4. Fir. Pass.
5. Cle. Tem. 6. Con. Nic. 7. Min. Jud. 8. Min. Sam. 9. Ret.
Gal. 10. Heal. Nob. Son.
V. =Gen. Tra.= 1. Prep. 2. Con. J. Bap. 3. Ind. 4. Tea.
VI. =Res.= 1. Prom. 2. Rej. rul. 3. Cho. fol. 4. Prep. Min. Gal.
Questions for Students
What book is our only source of information for this
period? How long was the period? Where was it mostly
passed? What was Christ's aim at this time? Name the
five places of the period, and an event at each. Give
in order the ten events of this period. Who were the
first six followers of Jesus? What was his first
miracle, and where wrought? Where did Jesus go for his
first passover? Name two events that took place at
this visit. Where did Jesus preach for a time? What
led him to another province? Whom did he meet there,
and at what place? How long did he stay in the
province of Samaria? What were his reasons for
returning to Galilee? What miracle did he work on his
return? What were the circumstances of this miracle?
What were the general traits of Christ's ministry
during this period? What were the results of his
ministry? How did it prepare the way for his work in
Galilee?
SIXTH STUDY
The Year of Popularity
From the Rejection at Nazareth to the Discourse on the Bread of Life
I. =General Aspects of the Ministry of Christ during the Period.=
1. =Its Time.= It was either a little less or a little more than a year,
according to different authorities. According to Dr. Edersheim it
extended from May, A. D. 28, to April, A. D. 29; according to Dr.
Andrews, from March, A. D. 28, to April, A. D. 29.
2. =Its Locality.= The principal sphere of Christ's activity during this
year was Galilee, though he made one visit to Jerusalem (John 5. 1).
3. =Its Aim.= The purpose of Jesus during this year seems to have been
to proclaim the new kingdom of God as widely as possible, and to make
men acquainted with its principles. The theme of his preaching is given
in Matt. 4. 17. The deeper themes of the Gospel were reserved for a
later time and a select body of hearers; and those aspects were
presented which all men could at once comprehend, as the teaching in the
Sermon on the Mount.
4. =Its Activity.= No other year in the Saviour's life was crowded so
thickly with journeys and labors. See its summary in Matt. 4. 23-25. We
can trace eight distinct journeys from Capernaum to various regions
during this year.
5. =Its Divisions.= The number of events left on record makes a
subdivision of this period necessary, and we find a convenient place at
the Sermon on the Mount, which marks a point of departure in the
Saviour's ministry. The =Early Galilean Ministry= extends from the
rejection at Nazareth to the Sermon on the Mount, and the =Later
Galilean Ministry= from the Sermon on the Mount to the discourse on the
Bread of Life. During the earlier section the ministry was personal and
the range was less extended; during the later Jesus sent his apostles
forth to labor, and his own journeys were longer and in new fields.
II. =The Places.= Though the Saviour visited many places during this
year only seven have been named in the gospels. These are:
1. =Capernaum=, his home during the period (Matt. 4. 15). From this
place he went forth on all of his preaching tours, and to it he
returned. Its privilege (Matt. 11. 23, 24). It was situated on the
northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
2. =Nazareth.= Twice in this period Jesus was at this place: at its
beginning (Luke 4. 16), and again in the middle of the year (Matt. 13.
54). On both occasions he was rejected by the people (Luke 4. 28, 29;
Matt. 13. 57).
3. =Nain.= This was a city southwest of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus
restored a young man to life (Luke 7. 11).
4. =The Mountain.= A few miles from Capernaum and west of the Sea of
Galilee is a mountain (probably Kurun Hattin, "the horns of Hattin")
where was delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5. 1).
5. =Bethsaida=, a place on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee,
east of the river Jordan. Near this was wrought the miracle of Feeding
the Five Thousand (Mark 6. 45).
6. =Gergesa.= A place on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, called
also =Gerasa= (Mark 5. 1; Luke 8. 26. Rev. Ver.).
7. =Jerusalem.= We read of one visit to the capital during this period
(John 5. 1).
III. =The Early Galilean Ministry.=
1.) =The Journeys.= Combining the accounts in the four gospels we find
that the journeys were the following:
2.) =The Settlement at Capernaum= (Cana to Nazareth and Capernaum). From
Cana, where Jesus was at the close of the preceding period, he went to
Nazareth (Luke 4. 16), probably intending to begin his ministry there;
but being rejected went down to Capernaum and made it the headquarters
of his ministry (Luke 4. 30, 31).
3.) =Tour in Eastern Galilee= (Capernaum, Eastern Galilee, and return).
From Capernaum Jesus went forth on a preaching tour through the villages
near the Sea of Galilee (Luke 4. 43, 44).
4.) =A Visit to Jerusalem= (Capernaum to Jerusalem and return). Mention
is made in John 5. 1 of a feast in Jerusalem which Jesus attended, but
it is uncertain whether Passover, Tabernacles, or Purim is meant.
5.) =The Mountain Journey= (Capernaum to the mountain and return). For
the purpose of quiet meditation and the call of his apostles Jesus went
to a mountain near the Sea of Galilee. There he chose the twelve and
gave to them and the multitudes around the Sermon on the Mount (Mark 3.
13, 14; Matt. 5. 1).
[Illustration: _YEAR OF POPULARITY
PART ONE_]
IV. =Events of the Early Galilean Ministry.=
1.) With the first Journey, the _Settlement at Capernaum_, we connect
the following events:
1. =The Rejection at Nazareth= (Luke 4. 16-30).
2. =The First Disciples Called= (Luke 5. 1-11). They
had already been followers of Jesus, but now were
called upon to leave their homes and become his
disciples.
3. =Miracles at Capernaum= (Mark 1. 21-34). The gospel
writers select the scenes of one day and show many
miracles, in the synagogue, at Peter's house, and in
the street.
2.) With the Second Journey, the _Tour in Eastern Galilee_, we find two
events named:
4. =Healing of the Leper= (Mark 1. 40-45). This took
place during the journey.
5. =Healing the Paralytic= (Mark 2. 1-12). This took
place after the return to Capernaum.
3.) With the Third Journey, the _Visit to Jerusalem_, we note two
events:
6. =The Miracle at Bethesda= (John 5. 1-16). Read this
in the Rev. Ver. and note what is omitted. Observe
also what resulted from this miracle in Jerusalem
(John 5. 16-19).
7. =The Withered Hand= (Mark 3. 1-6). This probably
took place at Capernaum, soon after the return from
Jerusalem.
4.) With the Fourth, the _Mountain Journey_, we note two events:
8. =The Call of the Twelve= (Mark 3. 7-19). This was
at the mountain.
9. =Sermon on the Mount= (Matt. 5-7). This sermon is
omitted in Mark and abbreviated in Luke, but reported
fully in Matthew.
To the Teacher
1. Let the outline of the lesson be committed to
memory.
2. Let one scholar draw the maps in presence of the
class, another insert the places, a third indicate and
name the journeys.
3. Then let one scholar name all the events with the
first journey; another the events of the second
journey, etc.
4. Let a scholar be called upon to tell the story of
each one of the nine events in the period.
Blackboard Outline
PART ONE
I. =Gen. Asp.= 1. Ti. 2. Loc. 3. Aim. 4. Act. 5. Div.
II. =Pla.= 1. Cap. 2. Naz. 3. Nai. 4. Moun. 5. Beth. 6. Ger.
7. Jer.
III. =Ear. Gal. Min. Jour.= 1. Set. Cap. 2. To. Ea. Gal. 3. Vis.
Jer. 4. Moun. Jour.
IV. =Events. Ear. Gal. Min.=
_Jour. 1._ 1. Rej. Naz. 2. Fir. Dis. Cal. 3. Mir. Cap.
_Jour. 2._ 4. Heal Lep. 5. Heal Par.
_Jour. 3._ 6. Mir. Beth. 7. With. Ha.
_Jour. 4._ 8. Ca. Tw. 9. Ser. Mo.
Questions for Review
PART ONE
How long was this period? Where was it passed? What
was the aim of Jesus during this year? What are its
two subdivisions? Name seven places visited by Jesus
during this period. Name four journeys during the
early part of this period. What three events are
connected with the settlement at Capernaum? What two
events are named in connection with the tour in
eastern Galilee? What two events are given with the
visit to Jerusalem? What two events are named with the
mountain journey?
PART TWO
We now take up the second part of the Year of Popularity, from the
Sermon on the Mount to the Discourse on the Bread of Life.
V. =The Journeys of the Later Galilean Ministry.=
1. =Tour in Southern Galilee= (Capernaum to Nain and return). From
Capernaum Jesus led his disciples southward as far as Nain (Luke 7. 1,
11). There he wrought a miracle, and on the journey homeward preached in
various places (Luke 8. 1).
2. =The Voyage to Gergesa.= (Capernaum to Gergesa and return.) With his
disciples Jesus sailed across the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8. 22), stilling
the tempest on the way. They landed at Gergesa, in the country of the
Gadarenes (Luke 8. 26)--that is, not far from the well-known city of
Gadara, which was twenty miles from the Sea of Galilee. Here the
Gadarene demoniac was restored, but the people were unwilling to receive
Jesus, so he sailed back to Capernaum (Matt. 9. 1.)
[Illustration: _YEAR OF POPULARITY
PART TWO._]
3. =Tour in Central Galilee= (Capernaum to Nazareth and return). The
object of this journey was a second visit to Nazareth (Mark 6. 1), but,
like the first, it was unsuccessful; so Jesus left "his own country" and
preached in the villages of central Galilee (Mark 6. 6).
4. =Retirement to Bethsaida= (Capernaum, Bethsaida, and return). In
order to obtain needed rest and seclusion Jesus and his disciples sailed
across the lake to the unsettled country near Bethsaida (Mark 6. 31,
32). Here he wrought the miracle of Feeding the Five Thousand, recrossed
the lake in the night, and a day or two afterward gave his last
discourse of the Galilean ministry.
Let the pupil draw the same map as with Part One, but omitting the
journeys of that part; and place upon the maps the journeys of the later
Galilean ministry.
VI. =The Events of the Later Galilean Ministry.=
1.) With the First Journey, the _Tour in Southern Galilee_:
1.) =The Widow's Son Raised= (Luke 7. 11-16). This
took place at Nain, southwest of the Sea of Galilee.
2.) =Washing the Saviour's Feet= (Luke 7. 36-50). This
event is to be carefully distinguished from the
"anointing by Mary," much later in the history.
These two events are related only by Luke.
2.) With the Second Journey, the _Voyage to Gergesa_:
3.) =Parables by the Sea= (Mark 4. 1-34; also in Matt.
13. 1-52). These were given just before the journey.
4.) =Stilling the Tempest= (Mark 4. 1-35-41).
5.) =The Gadarene Demoniac Restored= (Mark 5. 1-20).
6.) =Jairus's Daughter Raised= (Mark 5. 21-43). Two
miracles wrought after the return from the Gadarene
country.
3.) With the third Journey, the _Tour in Central Galilee_.
7.) =Second Rejection at Nazareth= (Mark 6. 1-6).
Compare with this the account of his former rejection,
and note the differences.
8.) =Sending out the Twelve= (Mark 6. 7-13). Read the
longer report of the charge to the Twelve in Matt. 10.
4.) With the Fourth Journey, the _Retirement to Bethsaida_:
9.) =Feeding the Five Thousand= (Mark 6. 31-44). This
and the following are the only miracles related in all
the four gospels. Compare their accounts.