><>...JESUS THE CHRIST...><>
C. Galilean Ministry. Jesus' first stop on His return to Galilee was at Cana. There He healed a nobleman's son. The fervency of the nobleman persuaded Jesus to fulfill his request (John 4:45–54). In Nazareth Jesus worshiped in the synagogue on the Sabbath. There He was asked to read (in Hebrew) and explain (perhaps in Aramaic) a portion of Scripture. At first His kinsmen were pleased, but they became angry when they realized He was proclaiming Himself the Messiah. They led Him out of the city to cast Him off a precipice, but Jesus passed “through the midst of them” (Luke 4:30) and escaped.
Then Jesus went to Capernaum, which seems to have become His headquarters (cf. Matt. 9:1). Here He officially called to travel with Him the disciples Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who seem to have returned to their homes and occupations. Jesus taught in the synagogue each Sabbath and healed a demoniac there. He also healed Peter's mother-in-law (Matt. 8:14–15; Mark 1:29–31; Luke 4:38; cf. 1 Cor. 9:5). A crowd of sick folk subsequently gathered, “and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them” (Luke 4:40).
In the next stage of Jesus' ministry, He found great popularity among the common people. Now Jesus' primary mission was teaching, so He turned His back on those who would keep him chained to one spot for a ministry of healing only (Luke 4:42–44; cf. Mark 1:35, 37). The people acclaimed His miracles and teaching. Typical of His work on this circuit was the healing of the leper (Luke 5:12–15; cf. Mark 1:40–45). This incident underscored Jesus' submission to the Law, His compassion for men, and His interest in bringing men to salvation. (He commanded the leper to make the long journey to Jerusalem and present himself in the temple for the prescribed purification, submitting himself to God.)
James I. Packer, Merrill C. Tenney and William White, Jr., editors, Nelson's illustrated manners and customs of the Bible
To be continued |
