Temptation complete and still sinless! Isn’t it amazing how our Lord has survived all these hurdles? From kings to the devil and yet none has succeeded in getting our Lord to bend His knees, so to speak. The next segment of our walk relates to our Lord’s inauguration. He’s about 30 years old. He has been baptized by John the Baptist and tempted by Satan himself.
Since all the gospels begin to take different directions from the temptation, we will begin to move around more. We are going to follow His footsteps in this study. In some cases, we may skip some of each of the gospel text. Here is the outline of our study from this point forward:
- The Inaugural Year (circa 30 years old)
- The Year of Popularity (circa 31 years old)
- The Year of Opposition (circa 32 years old)
- The Last Months (circa 33 years old)
- The Last Days (Jerusalem and the Crucifixion)
- His Hours on the Cross
- Post Resurrection Appearances.
Terms:
- Bethany: Now called “el-Azariyeh.” The place where Jesus’ friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived. Located about two miles east of Jerusalem. Bethany is in the province of Judea.
- Bethabara: It is known as: “Bethany beyond the Jordan.” This is where one of the gospel writers refers to the place where Jesus was baptized.
Our spiritual walk will take us from His temptation with Satan to the choosing of His first disciples and then back to Galilee. Do you suppose that Jesus would have been better off with the Motor Club to make up His travel plans? (Did you know? The LCMS has itinerant preachers? There are also known as “circuit riders.” That is how Jesus would be classified today).
Jesus begins to preach. What event coincided with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry? Go to Matthew 4:12.
- Jesus moves back to Galilee: Matthew 4:13-17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:14 and John 1:35-42. Each of the gospel writers tell a slightly different account – from each telling about returning to Galilee. List the event following:
- Matthew ____________________________
- Mark_______________________________
- Luke_______________________________
- John_______________________________
- Jesus picks His team members. Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:14-20, Luke 5:1-11. Who were the first four disciples chosen by Jesus? What was their occupation? How long did it take them to answer Jesus’ call? How long does it take for us to listen to Jesus when He calls?
- The remaining disciples make up the “dirty dozen,” take place in separate events. With the exception of John, the gospel writers only tell us specifically about Levi, then list the remaining. Matthew 9:9-13 and 10:1-4, Mark 2:13-17 and 3:13-19, and Luke 5:27-32 and 9:1-2.
- List all of the original 12 disciples – also called apostles: _____________________________________________________________________________
- How did Jesus continue the “forerunner’s” message? Go to Mark 1:15.
Rocky! The Gospels preserve a surprising amount of information about Peter and his family. Simon is the son of Jona or John (Matt. 16:17; John 1:42). He and his brother, Andrew, came from Bethsaida (John 1:44) and were Galilean fishermen (Mark 1:16; Luke 5:2-3; John 21:3), in partnership with the sons of Zebedee, James and John (Luke 5:10). Peter was married (Mark 1:29-31; 1 Cor. 9:5) and maintained a residence in Capernaum (Mark 1:21, 29). Before becoming disciples of Jesus, Peter and Andrew had been influenced by the teaching of John the Baptist (John 1:35-42).
Jesus’ First Miracle: Water to red! Sound familiar? Where? Under what circumstances? Only John records this very beautiful miracle of Jesus. Go to John 2: 1-11.
- Where is Cana of Galilee? Use your Bible map section to locate.
- Cana of Galilee is usually identified with Kehr Kenna, some four miles northeast of Nazareth. It is on the road to Capernaum. Modern scholars, however, prefer to identify Cana with Khirbet Kana, a ruin on the top of a hill eight and one-half miles north of Nazareth. (Source: Archaeological Supplement: Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible)
- Just scan down the text. What of significance is missing from the account?
- Here’s the scene. Jesus’ mother comes to her son and says, “they have no more wine.” To which Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.” And then Mary said, “Do whatever He tells you.” Does the dialog indicate to you that Mary understood and perhaps could have witnessed her son’s great power and expected Him to come to the rescue?
- The miracle involved changing 120 to 180 gallons of ordinary water into wine. Did Jesus say or do anything to affect the change? And what was the quality of the new wine according to verse 10?
- Verse 11 is perhaps the biggest verse in this section:
- The miracle was Jesus’ __________________miracle.
- This miracle was performed in __________________.
- He revealed His ____________________to his disciples.
- And His disciples put their _________________in Him.
- What was the real miracle here? Was it making additional wine for the wedding feast or was it the faith and trust that resulted?