  The Year of Popularity From the Rejection at Nazareth to the Discourse on the Bread of LifeI. 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 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). 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
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 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. 10.) Walking on the Sea (Mark 6. 45-52). Note the additions in Matt. 14. 22-33). 11.) Discourse on the Bread of Life (John 6. 24-59). This marked a crisis in his ministry, for it proclaimed a spiritual application of the miracle, and not a "kingdom of meat and drink," as men were expecting. Note the results (John 6. 60-68). Thus at the close of his Galilean ministry—as before at the close of his Judean ministry—the Saviour was left alone with his few disciples. Blackboard Outline Part Two
Questions for Review Part Two [Review the Questions with Part One.] How many journeys are named with the later Galilean ministry? What was the first journey of the later Galilean ministry? The second journey? The third? The fourth? What two events took place with the tour in southern Galilee? What four events with the Gadarene voyage? What two events with the tour in Central Galilee? What three events with the retirement to Bethsaida? |
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