The U. S. Inauguration of a president is a gala event. Our Lord’s year of inauguration was eventful. His footsteps led from Galilee to Jerusalem and back to various places in Galilee. We have already witnessed His first miracle and a review of Him choosing His first disciples.
Our trip will take us from the wedding at Cana of Galilee to Capernaum to Jerusalem and back north again.
Jesus:
- A Short Stay in Capernaum. John tells us that shortly after the wedding at Cana, Jesus traveled to Capernaum for a few days. From the listing of those traveling, whose name is mission from the list? (John 2:12)
- In Judea: John 2:13-14 tells us that Jesus left from Capernaum to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. What was the first stop?
- Read John 2:13-24. Jesus walks into the Temple only to find it turned into a marketplace. What was to take place during the Passover? What was the response from the Jewish leaders? Jesus replied with a statement. Confusing?
- Verses 23-25 remind us that Jesus performed many miraculous signs while in Jerusalem. What was the result? How do you explain the meaning of verse 24-25?
Herod’s Temple: The second period of Herod’s life involved the prosperity of his vast building programs. With the aid of the Romans the territory was extended to what had been unparalleled since the reign of Solomon (died 931 B.C.). His taxation of the people to support his building activity was extensive, but he virtually rebuilt every city in the land, even constructing entire cities from the ground up. He also built many palaces for himself.
Soon the now nearly four hundred-year-old Temple of Zerubbabel was pale in contrast to the magnificence of his new palaces and structures in Jerusalem. In the year 19 B.C. he embarked on an extensive remodeling of the Temple, which captured the imagination of the world of that day. It was frequently said that if one had not seen Herod’s Temple, he had never seen a truly beautiful building (compare John 2:19-20).
John tells us that the temple took 46 years to complete. And if this commentary’s dating is correct, the time to Jesus’ 30th year is about right, assuming that Jesus was born around 4 B. C.
Read John chapter 3. This story is a very important one and made a great impact on Nicodemus. Where else are we told about Nicodemus and under what circumstances?
Use the table below to list some of the key verses in this section.
John 3: verse |
Additional Information |
Spiritual Value |
Your Notes |
| 3:1 “Ruling Council” | Was a member of the Sanhedrin, 71 members including the High Priest | Called Jesus “Rabbi” showing knowledge of Messianic Promise | |
| 3:3 “Unless a man is born again. . .” | Spiritual rebirth only possible from Holy Spirit | Man’s spiritual rebirth provides “sight” (v3). I.e. Can see the Light. | |
| 3:8 “The wind (ruach) blows wherever it pleases.” | The Holy Spirit is also referred to as the “Wind.” | While we cannot see the Wind, we can observe its effects | |
| 3:14 “Just as Moses lift up the snake. . .” | Numbers 21:4ff | Looking to Jesus cross is of greater value than Moses | |
| 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world. . .” | V 17 is frequently omitted but very important. | God’s Son saves, not condemning. The Law condemns, the Gospel Saves. | |
| 3:19ff “Light has come into the world” | Light created the world, the Light shines in darkness (1:5) | Those who avoid light love to live in sin’s pleasure and darkness. |
Let’s review what’s happened in Jerusalem so early in Jesus’ ministry.
- Jesus’ zeal consumed Him and He___________________________
- Jesus was challenged by the Jewish rulers by demanding a _______________________
- Jesus performed many signs and many _________________________
- Jesus went one-on-one with Nicodemus saying __________________________
- Jesus ends His sermon with gospel _______________________________
Our next lesson continues with Jesus’ walk back to Galilee through the Judean countryside that takes Him through Samaria.
Where is Samaria?
While the term Samaria was first identified with the city founded by Omri, it soon became associated with the entire region surrounding the city, the tribal territory of Manasseh and Ephraim. Finally, the name Samaria became synonymous with the entire Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 13:32; Jer. 31:5). After the Assyrian conquest, Samaria began to shrink in size. By New Testament times, it became identified with the central region of Palestine, with Galilee to the north and Judea to the south.
Who are Samaritans? And why did the Jews hate them? These questions are very important as we embark on Jesus’ walk through Samaria.