GLIMPSE
AT THE LIFE OF JESUS
AFTER presenting a cluster of scenes relating to the birth of our Saviour, and giving us a single incident of his youth, the sacred narrative enters at once upon his public life, beginning with his baptism and subsequent temptation.
The baptism of our Lord took place in the autumn; and the temptation, the calling of some of his disciples, the visit to Cana and Nazareth, the tarrying at Capernaum, and the going up to Jerusalem, occupied the remainder of the year, up to the time of the Passover.
At that Passover he purified the temple and had an interview with Nicodemus.
After this, he spends some months preaching throughout Judea, journeys northward; talks with the woman at Jacob's well, converts many Samaritans, teaches in Galilee; at Cana heals the nobleman's
son; is rejected from Nazareth and takes up his abode at Capernaum.
There, or near by, occurred the miraculous draught of fishes, the healing of the demoniac in the synagogue, the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, and other miracles. Again he preaches and heals throughout Galilee, and after his return to Capernaum
heals a paralytic; calls Matthew Levi; answers questions about fasting, etc., thus completing the year.
Coming again to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover, he heals an infirm man at the pool at Bethesda. Afterward he corrects abuses of the Sabbath, chooses the twelve, gives the Sermon on the Mount, heals the centurion's servant, raises the son of the widow of Nain, testifies concerning John, is anointed by a poor woman in the house of Simon, and reproves and instructs the Pharisee; makes another circuit through Galilee; heals a demoniac; is accused of casting out devils through Beelzebub; reproves the Pharisees, exposes error, defends truth, and gives instruction; relates the parable of the sower, that of the tares, and many others; stills the tempest on the Sea of Galilee; restores reason to the demoniacs of Gadara; heals the woman with a bloody flux, and raises the daughter of Jairus; heals two blind men and a dumb man; is again rejected from Nazareth; makes a third circuit in Galilee, after which he sends forth the twelve; Herod takes Jesus to be John, whom he has beheaded; the twelve return, and Jesus crossing the lake with them, feeds the five thousand on its northeastern border; walks upon the sea, performs cures, and discourses concerning the bread of life, and thus completes another year's work.
This Passover, the third after the beginning of his ministry, our Lord did not attend, but remained in Capernaum, where the Pharisees upbraid his disciples for eating with unwashed hands; going thence to the region of Tyre and Sidon, he heals the daughter of the Syrophenician woman; returning to the region of Decapolis, southeast of the Sea of Galilee, he there heals a man who is deaf and dumb, and miraculously feeds the four thousand; passing the river to the west side of the sea he there reproves the Pharisees, who again demand a sign. Then commences the journey to Caesarea Philippi. On crossing the sea to the northeastern side, Jesus warns his disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees; at Bethsaida he heals a blind man, and on the journey northward questions his disciples, receives Peter's confession, foretells his own death and resurrection, and the sufferings of his followers.
A few days after this, he was transfigured, and on coming down from the mountain healed the demoniac whom the disciples could not heal. After this he again foretells his death and resurrection, and has several discourses with his disciples.
In these he teaches humility by the example of a little child, allows others to heal in his name, teaches to avoid offences, gives the parable of the lost sheep, shows how difficulties should be settled, teaches forgiveness, and gives the parable of the cruel servant, who, when he had been freely forgiven, refused to forgive another.
Then our Lord departs from Galilee, as noticed in our last advance lesson. We have now passed over about three years of the Saviour's public ministry, -from his baptism to his first Passover, about half a year; from his first to his second Passover, one year; from his second to his third Passover, one year; and from his third Passover to his departure from Galilee, about half a year. Half a year more brings us to his crucifixion; but although the remaining part of his life is so short, it is remarkably full of events, and will furnish themes for many lessons. God grant that we may so learn those lessons that they may affect our hearts and lives!
G. H. B.