Day 13

Jesus’ ministry in Galilee - cont.

The commissioning of the twelve disciples

[Matt 10] Jesus next goes through all the towns and villages of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing people of all kinds of diseases and sickness. There are now a great number of people in need of his ministering, so Jesus gathers his chosen twelve disciples to prepare them for the task. They are Simon (who is called Peter), his brother Andrew, James and John, sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus, not Jesus’ brother), Lebbaeus, Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot. Jesus commissions them to go and preach the kingdom of heaven is at hand, but commands them not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans, but to go only to the lost sheep of Israel. They are given instructions on how they are to go about their task, and given authority to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons.

Ministering throughout Galilee

[Matt 11-12] Now John the Baptist, who has been imprisoned, sends two of his disciples to Jesus to get confirmation that he is the Messiah. Jesus tells them to go back to John and report the things they have witnessed and heard concerning his healing works, knowing that John would recognise these as having been prophesied by Isaiah. Turning to the crowd, Jesus talks to them about John the Baptist, commending him. He then speaks against the cities, where most of his good works had been done, for not repenting, mentioning Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum by name. Sometime later, on the Sabbath, Jesus is walking through the cornfields with his disciples who are feeling hungry and so pluck and eat ears of corn. The Pharisees see this and question Jesus because they view this act as work, which is not lawful on the Sabbath. Jesus rebukes them citing David eating the shewbread when he was hungry, and how priests by the law work in the temple on the Sabbath. Jesus then questions their understanding of the scripture that says, For I desire mercy and not sacrifice [Hos 6:6], having stated he is greater than the temple and that the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day. Jesus leaves them and goes to the synagogue. There he finds a man with a withered hand and seizes the opportunity to confront the Pharisees by healing him. The Pharisees then begin to plot against Jesus and discuss how they might destroy him, but Jesus, knowing their thoughts, slips away. Later, a blind and dumb man, possessed with a demon, is brought to Jesus and is completely healed by him. The people, amazed at what they have witnessed, begin to recognise that this man might be the son of David. When the Pharisees hear this they again accuse Jesus of casting out demons in the name of the Devil. Jesus is offended by this accusation and tells them that he casts out demons by the Spirit of God. He explains the fault in their kind of logic and warns them that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. The Pharisees, despite what they have witnessed, ask Jesus for a sign. He again rebukes them and, referring to Jonah, covertly prophesies his death and resurrection. Later, his mother and brethren come to speak with Jesus. When Jesus is told they are waiting to see him, he gestures towards his disciples saying, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

The Kingdom Parables

[Matt 13] The same day Jesus goes and sits by the sea and a large crowd gathers around him. The crowd grows so great that Jesus gets into a boat and sits a little way off from the shore. He then speaks to them in parables, the first being the parable of the sower who sows seeds on various types of ground. When his disciples ask why he speaks in parables, Jesus explains that it is so that only the spiritually discerning can understand and receive the benefits. Jesus then explains the parable of the sower, providing a key to understanding further parables. He then goes on to tell the parable of the tares that the enemy sows amongst the wheat. The next two parables are given, the first telling of the mustard seed that grows unnaturally large so that birds (representing the Devil, from the parable of the sower) are able to lodge in its branches. The next tells of leaven (idiomatic of sin) hidden in three measures of meal, contaminating the whole. Jesus then sends the crowd away and returns to the house where his disciples ask for an explanation of the parable of the tares. This Jesus does and tells them three more parables likening the kingdom of heaven to treasure hidden in a field, a pearl of great price and a net cast into the sea gathering good and bad, the bad being eventually cast away. Jesus asks his disciples if they understood these parables, to which they reply they did. Jesus then leaves the house and returns to Nazareth to teach in the synagogue. The people are so astonished at his teaching, his words of wisdom and the mighty works they know he has done that they question how the son of a carpenter, whose brethren they knew and still live amongst them, could possibly attain such abilities. Jesus tells them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. Because of their unbelief, Jesus no longer ministers in Nazareth.

Jesus withdraws from Galilee

[Matt 14:1-17:21]

Herod’s reaction to Jesus’ ministry

[Matt 14:1-12] A while back, Herod the tetrarch had beheaded John the Baptist on the occasion of Herod’s birthday. John had been imprisoned for speaking against the marriage of Herod to Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because it was unlawful. Herodias had her daughter dance for Herod and he was so aroused that he rashly promised her up to half his kingdom. Having been coached by her mother, she asked for the head  of John the Baptist on a platter. The request dismayed Herod, but his promise was made in front of all his guests, so John was executed. Now, when the fame of Jesus reaches Herod’s ears, he fears that Jesus might be John the Baptist risen from the dead.

Feeding the 5000 on the eastern shore of Galilee

[Matt 14:13-15:20] After burying John, his disciples come to Jesus and tell him of all that had happened. Jesus, wanting to spend some time alone, crosses the sea by ship to a quiet place. But the people, hearing of this, gather and go around the coast to meet him. When Jesus reaches the shore and sees all these people, he is filled with compassion and heals their sick. When evening comes, the disciples become concerned the crowd will not have time to get to a town to buy food. The disciples have just five loaves and two fishes between them. Jesus asks the people to sit; he looks to heaven, blesses and breaks the food, then gives it to his disciples to distribute amongst the people. When they have finished eating, there are still twelve baskets of fragments remaining, having amply fed five thousand men plus women and children. The crowd is dispersed and Jesus sends his disciples back across the sea while he goes up the mountain to be alone and pray. During the night, when the disciples’ boat is in the middle of the sea, the weather changes and a strong wind begins to toss the boat around. Jesus is now coming to join them and is walking across the sea, but they do not recognise him and, thinking they are seeing a spirit, they become fearful. When Jesus calls out to them, Peter asks if he can walk on the water to meet him. When he does he is distracted by the waves, begins to sink and calls out to Jesus to save him. Jesus reaches out to Peter, telling him that he started to sink through lack of faith. When the two get into the ship, the wind ceases and the disciples worship Jesus, acknowledging he is the Son of God. Later, the Pharisees again challenge Jesus, this time asking why his disciples ignore the tradition of the elders by not going through the elaborate ritual required when washing their hands before they eat. Jesus rebukes them, telling them that they disobey God’s law of Honour thy father and mother by their tradition through which, in declaring their actions towards their parents as a gift by which their parents will profit (called ‘Corban’), they avoid any commitment. Jesus tells them, and later explains to his disciples, that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth, which is from the heart.

To Phoenicia

[Matt 15:21-28] Jesus then goes to the region of Tyre and Sidon. From there a woman comes to him begging for mercy and help with her daughter who is suffering badly from possession by the Devil. He initially ignores her but draws out a confession of faith whereby she, as a Gentile, likens herself to a puppy being given food from its master’s table. Jesus acknowledges her great faith and her daughter is healed.

Jesus feeds the 4000 at Decapolis

[Matt 15:29-16:12] Jesus then moves on and comes to a mountainside by the Sea of Galilee, where great multitudes come with many sick people requiring healing. After three days, Jesus has compassion for them and seeks to feed them. As with the five thousand before, the people are all fed by the multiplication of food. This time it is from seven loaves and a few little fishes, feeding four thousand men besides women and children, and having seven baskets left over when all are fed. The people are then all sent away and Jesus goes by boat to the coast of Magdala. Here the Pharisees and Sadducees approach Jesus asking for a sign from heaven, but they are rebuked for not recognising the signs of the times from scripture. He then turns to his disciples warning them to take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. At first, they don’t understand, confusing the warning with their lack of bread. Jesus reminds them of the feeding of the five thousand, then four thousand, emphasising that lack of food isn’t a problem and that his warning is specifically against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The penny drops and they realise Jesus is warning them against their doctrine.

To Caesarea Philippi

[Matt 16:13-17:21] They then travel on to the region of Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asks them who they think he is, to which Peter acknowledges him as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus tells Peter (whose name means a rock or stone, that is, a little rock) that this was revealed to him by the Spirit and that his church would be built on this rock (that is a ‘mass of rock’, meaning Jesus himself). They are told not to reveal to anyone that he is the Messiah. From this point on, Jesus begins to explain that he must go to Jerusalem where he will suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes, be killed and will rise again on the third day. Peter rebukes Jesus for thinking this way, but is told that his thoughts are from Satan, contrasting with his earlier revelation from God. Six days later, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain where they witness his transfiguration and meeting with Moses and Elijah. The three are told not to mention what they have seen to anyone until after his resurrection. Soon after, they join a multitude of people amongst whom is a man whose son is possessed, and whom the disciples were not previously able to heal. Jesus rebukes the Devil, and the child is cured. When asked by his disciples why they were unable to cure him, he tells them that their faith was not strong enough, but, in any event, this kind of exorcism would have required prayer and fasting.

Jesus last ministry in Galiliee

[Matt 17:22-18:35]

Jesus discusses his death

[Matt 17:22-23] Whilst still in Galilee, Jesus again tells his disciples how he will be betrayed and killed, but will rise again on the third day.

Temple tax

[Matt 17:24-27] When they then arrive at Capernaum, Peter is approached by the tax collectors asking if Jesus pays his tribute. He replies yes, but Jesus later explains to Peter how he, Jesus, shouldn’t be obliged to pay tribute, being the ‘heir to the kingdom’. But to avoid offence, the tribute money is miraculously provided from the mouth of a fish caught by Peter.

Offences

[Matt 18] His disciples had been disputing which of them should be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and put the question to Jesus. He doesn’t answer their question as asked, but draws a child to him and tells them that anyone with the faith of a little child will enter the kingdom, and anyone who humbles himself as a little child will be among the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Then, using children as a metaphor for those who are truly humble in their faith, Jesus warns of the consequences of anyone who offends such a person, for he came to save the lost, and it is the will of the Father that none of those saved should perish. Whilst speaking of offences, Jesus provides a three-stage approach for dealing with unrepentant sinners within the church community: to approach the offender on a one-to-one basis; to then take one or more witnesses to convict the sinner; and finally to bring the matter before the church. If none of these actions bears fruit, then the offender is to be treated as an outcast. Peter asks Jesus how often he should forgive the same sin committed against him –  till seven times? – to which Jesus replies seventy times seven. Jesus then relates the parable of the unforgiving servant, representing the extent of God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness we are consequently expected to extend to others.

In Judea

[Matt 19:1-12; Lk 10:1-13:21]

Teaching concerning divorce

[Matt 19:1-12] Jesus and his followers travel to the area of Judea where many more people follow Jesus and are healed. The Pharisees come intending to entrap Jesus with a question concerning divorce and the law as given by Moses. Jesus responds by referring to Genesis and confirming God’s true intent for marriage, one man and one woman, which should be for life. Should a person then divorce, marriage to another is not permitted all the time the spouse is still living, the exception given relating only to the Jewish period of betrothal.

The mission of the seventy

[Lk 10:1-24] Jesus sends seventy of his disciples out to preach the gospel with the ability to support their preaching with miracles, and with full instructions on how to practise their mission. They are to go without any physical means of support, relying on the hospitality of those cities that accept them, but not lingering in those that don’t. They later return with joy reporting the success they had experienced, including being able to exorcise spirits. Jesus tells them they are blessed, as many prophets and kings had desired to have seen and heard the things they have seen and heard.

The parable of The Good Samaritan

[Lk 10:25-37] A lawyer asks Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus draws from him the need to love God and your neighbour, then relates the parable of The Good Samaritan as an example of what is meant by loving your neighbour.

At Bethany with Mary and Martha

[Lk 10:38-42] On an occasion when Jesus is at Martha’s house, Martha complains that her sister is spending time sitting at his feet leaving her to do the work. He tells Martha that Mary is right to take the opportunity to care for her soul rather than the things of this world.

Teachings in Judea

[Lk 11:11-13:21] Later, when Jesus has finished praying, he is asked by one of his disciples to teach them to pray. He teaches them what we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer, encouraging them to always ‘ask, seek and knock’ through prayer, to which God will respond. When Jesus later casts out a demon, some people say that it is done in the name of Satan (perhaps having heard of the Pharisees’ accusation some time before) to which Jesus explains the absurdity of that idea, and then warns it is possible for a person to be repossessed to a greater degree if precautions are not taken once cleansed. A woman speaks up and says how blessed Jesus’ mother is to have borne him, to which Jesus replies that it is more blessed to hear the word of God and keep it. Then, when many people are gathered around him, Jesus refutes those looking for a sign, citing Jonas (Jonah) and Solomon as being signs of their times, saying that one who is greater than Jonas and Solomon is before them, and their eyes should be able to perceive this. Jesus is then invited to dine with a Pharisee, but when he sits to eat the Pharisee expresses surprise that Jesus did not wash his hands first. As before, Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their hypocrisy in appearing to be righteous by their ceremonies and behaviour, but not following the spirit of the law in many things they do, pronouncing woes against the Pharisees and the lawyers in his condemnation. Meantime, a very large crowd has been gathering along with Jesus’ disciples who are waiting on him. When Jesus joins the crowd, he first turns to his disciples and again warns them against ‘the leaven of the Pharisees’, which is hypocrisy, against reticence in professing the gospel and in blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, the latter of which is an unforgivable sin. In response to a request by a man concerning inheritance due him, Jesus tells a parable about covetousness, teaching his disciples to first seek the kingdom of God, encouraging them to focus their lives on God and live in dependence on Him. He then tells another parable to warn them they will not know the hour when he will return, but they are to remain faithful to his teaching, for the faithful will be rewarded, but the unfaithful will be punished. However, they are to expect trouble and persecution because of their faith. Jesus then speaks to all the people, warning them to discern what is right, so they too might be prepared in time for the judgement to come. On being told of Galileans who were slaughtered by Pilate when making sacrifices, Jesus teaches that fate is not caused by sin, and emphasises the necessity of repentance. Then, using the parable of the fig tree, teaches the importance of bearing fruit in one’s life. Later, when Jesus is teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, he heals a woman who has been afflicted for eighteen years, and puts to shame the ruler of the synagogue for his indignation that this healing work was done on the Sabbath. Jesus then repeats the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast, first told when he was ministering in Galilee, as these parables warn against false teaching in the church.