Part 2
The Opening Events of Christ's Ministry
XVI. The Appearance of John the Baptist (Mt 3:1-6,
13-17; Mk 1:1-6, 9-11; Lk 3:1-6, 21-22; Jn 1:6-8, 15, 19-27)
XVII. The Temptation of Jesus (Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-13;
Lk 3:23a, 4:1-13)
XVIII. Baptism of the Multitudes (Mt 3:7-12; Mk 1:7-8;
Lk 3:7-18; Jn 1:28)
XIX. The Lamb of God (Jn 1:29-51)
XX. Water Made Into Wine (Jn 2:1-12)
The Early Judaean Ministry
XXI. The First Cleansing of the Temple (Jn 2:13-22)
XXII. Speaking with Nicodemus (Jn 2:23-3:21)
XXIII. John's Testimony Concerning Christ at AEnon
(Jn 3:22-36)
XXIV. The Woman at the Well (Jn.4:1-42)
The First Period of the Galilean Ministry
XXV. The First Tour (Mt 4:12,17; Mk 1:14-15; Lk 3:19-20,
4:14-15; Jn 4:43-45)
XXVI. The Nobleman's Son (Jn 4:46-54)
XXVII. The First Nazarene Rejection (Lk 4:16-30)
XXVIII. Four are Called to Service (Mt 4:13-16,18-22;
Mk 1:16-20; Lk 5:1-11)
XXIX. Jesus Teaches in a Synagogue (Mk 1:21,22; Lk
4:31,32; 6:20b-49)
XXX. Miracles in Capernaum (Mt 8:14-17; Mk 1:23-34;
Lk 4:33-41)
XXXI. The First Tour through Galilee Continues (Mk
1:35-39; Lk 4:42-44)
XXXII. Healing of a Leper (Mt 8:2-4; Mk 1:40-45;
Lk 5:12-16)
XXXIII. Healing of a Paralytic (Mt 9:2-8; Mk 2:1-12;
Lk 5:17-26)
The Opening Events of Christ's Ministry
XVI. The Appearance of John the Baptist (Mt 3:1-6, 13-17; Mk 1:1-6,
9-11; Lk 3:1-6, 21-22; Jn 1:6-8, 15, 19-27)
Now there came a man sent from God whose name was John.
The same came as a witness so that he might bear witness to the light,
so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came so
that he might bear witness to the light. Therefore, in the fifteenth year
of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate presiding as prefect over
Judaea, and Herod Antipas ruling as tetrarch over Galilee, and his brother
Philip ruling as tetrarch over the regions of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
and Lysanias ruling as tetrarch over Abilene, at the time of high-priests
Annas and Caiaphas, God's word came upon John, who was the son of Zacharias,
in the desert. And in those days - the summer of A.D. 26 - John came openly
and publicly preaching and baptizing in the wilderness of Judaea, unto
the inhabitants in all the region round about the Jordan, proclaiming
a baptism of repentance because of the remission or forgiveness of sins,
saying, "Repent, turn and reform - make a change in principle and practice
- for the kingdom of heaven has come near!" [For where the King is, there
is the kingdom.] For this is he that is spoken of, even as it has been
written of him in the book of the words of the prophets, saying, "Behold,
I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before
you; a voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled up, and every mountain
and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked ways shall turn into straight,
and the rough ways into smooth; and all flesh shall see the Salvation of
God." And John bore witness concerning him and cried out, saying, "This is
the One of whom I say the One coming behind or after me has previously existed
with the present result that he predates me, for he was prior to me." [The
Son of God was pre-existent from eternity past as a part of the godhead.
He predated his incarnation, therefore he himself was not created, though
his flesh was. Jesus, as was his teaching, is to us paradoxical - an existential
perplexity - a concomitant contradiction - as he is both God and man
at the same time - fully God and fully man at all times.]
And John himself was clothed with a garment made from camel's
hair, and his loins were girt about with a leather belt; and he did
eat, and his food was locusts and wild honey. And then there went out
unto him all those of the Judean country-side, and all they of Jerusalem,
and the inhabitants in all the region round about the Jordan River, and
they were all being baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins,
and participating in the result thereof.
Now Moses did write, "The Lord your God will raise up unto
you a Prophet from out of the midst of you, of your brethren, like
unto me; unto him shall you attentively hear and obey." And this was
the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites unto him
from Jerusalem in order that they might ask him, "Who are you?" He frankly
avowed, and did not deny or refuse them answer; he confessed, "I am not
Christ, the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And
he said in humility, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet Moses spoke of?" And
he answered, "No." Therefore they said unto him, "Who are you, so that we
may provide an answer to those interested in sending us forth? What do you
have to say for yourself?" He said, "I am a voice crying in the wilderness,
"Make straight the way of the Lord," as Isaiah the prophet has said."
And some having been sent from among the Pharisees, they
asked him saying unto him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not
the Messiah, neither Elijah, neither the Prophet?" John answered them,
saying, "I baptize in water. But amidst you stands One whom you do not
know. It is this One that is coming and following up after me who has
been or existed previous to me - of whom I am not worthy that I should
loose the latchet of his sandal. He will baptize with fire and the Holy
Spirit!"
Now it came to pass in those days, when all the people
were being baptized, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee down
to the Jordan unto John to be baptized by him also. But John desired to
hinder him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by you, and you come
unto me?!" But Jesus answering said unto him, "Allow me now: for thus
it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him
also. And Jesus, when he was being baptized, immediately came up out
of the water praying, and John saw the heavens torn open unto him, and
the Spirit of God descending, coming upon him in a bodily form, like
as a dove: and a voice occurred out of the heavens, saying, "You are my
Son, the Beloved; in you I am delighted."
XVII. The Temptation of Jesus (Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-13; Lk 3:23a,
4:1-13)
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan,
and was driven forth by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness with the
wild beasts to be tempted by Satan. And he ate nothing in those days,
for he had fasted forty days and forty nights. And when they were completed
he afterward hungered. And the Tempter came: the Devil said unto him,
"Since you are the Son of God, command this stone that it become a loaf."
But Jesus answered him and said, "It is written, "Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.""
Then the Devil took and led him into the holy city, Jerusalem,
and he set him upon the wing of the temple, and said unto him, "Since
you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here: for it is written,
"He shall give his angels charge concerning you, to guard you; and,
on their hands shall they bear you up, lest perchance you dash your
foot against a stone."" And Jesus answering him said, "Again, it is written,
"You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.""
Again, the Devil took and led him up onto an exceedingly
high mountain, and showed him all of the kingdoms of the world and
their glory in a moment of time. And the Devil said unto him, "I will
give you authority over all of these things and their glory: for it has
been delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will to give it. Therefore,
if you will fall down and worship before me, it shall all be yours."
And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Get out of here, Satan; for it
is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you
serve."" And when the Devil had completed every temptation, he departed
from him for a while. And Jesus himself, when he began ministering, was
about thirty years of age. [See Appendix "G." As the first Adam was tempted
and succumbed, Messiah, the second Adam, was also tempted and resisted it
successfully.]
XVIII. Baptism of the Multitudes (Mt 3:7-12; Mk 1:7-8; Lk 3:7-18;
Jn 1:28)
Now when John the Baptist saw many of the Pharisees and
Sadducees coming out with the multitudes that went down to be baptized
by him, he therefore said unto them, "Offspring of vipers! Who warned
you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruits worthy of repentance
therefore - turning changes of mode, of thought and of feeling - and do
not even think to begin to say within or among yourselves, "We have Abraham
as our father." For I say unto you, that God is able to raise up offspring
unto Abraham out of these stones. And even now the axe is already laid at
the root of the trees. Therefore every tree not producing good fruit will
be hewn down, and cast into fire." And the multitudes asked him, saying,
"What then shall we do?" And he answered and said unto them, "He having two
garments, let him impart to the one having none; and the one having foods,
let him do likewise." And there came also tax collectors to be baptized,
and they said unto him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" And he said unto them,
"Be exacting no more than that which has been appointed you." And soldiers
in service also asked him, saying, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said
unto them, "You should extort nothing by harassment, intimidation, oppression
or violence, neither should you falsely, wrongfully or insidiously accuse
or inform against anyone; and be content or satisfied with your stipend
and provisions." And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned
in their minds concerning John, whether perchance he were Christ, the Messiah,
John answered, saying unto them all, "I indeed baptize you in water unto
repentance; but after me is coming he that is mightier than I, the latchet
of whose sandals I am not worthy nor fit to stoop down and unloose, let
alone bear. He whose fan is in his hand shall baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and with fire; and he will thoroughly purge his threshing-floor;
and he will gather his wheat into his garner; but he will burn up the chaff
with unquenchable fire." With many other exhortations therefore proclaimed
John the Good News unto the people. These things were done in Bethabara
beyond Jordan where John was baptizing.
XIX. The Lamb of God (Jn 1:29-51)
The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him,
and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God - the One taking up, carrying away,
removing and obliterating the error, offense and sin of the world
- the aggregate of mankind! This is he about whom I said, "After me comes
a man who has been initially appointed and established ahead of me,
and remains so; for he eternally existed prior to me." And I did not
previously know him from before; but I came baptizing in water for this
cause: that he might be personally manifested to Israel" And John bore
confirming testimony, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending out of
heaven, like a dove, and it rested upon him. And I did not previously know
him from before: but the One that sent me to baptize in water, that One
said unto me, "Upon whomsoever you shall see the Spirit descending and resting,
the same is he that baptizes in the Holy Spirit." I have seen, and have
borne witness, that this is the Son of God."
Again on the next day, John was standing with two of his
disciples; and while watching Jesus walking he said, "Behold, the
Lamb of God!" And the two disciples with him, hearing him speak, went
and followed Jesus. And Jesus, noticing them following, turned himself
about and said unto them, "You are following after me. Why?" And they
said unto him, "Teacher, you are lodging somewhere. In what place?" He
then said unto them, "You come, and see." They went with him therefore,
and saw where he was lodging, and they stayed with him the remainder
of that day: it was the tenth hour, about four o'clock in the afternoon.
One of the two that heard John and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon
Peter's brother. He first found his own brother, Simon, and told him,
"We have found Christ, the Messiah, for sure!" He then ushered him
in unto Jesus. Then Jesus, looking earnestly and searchingly at him with
significance, said, "You are Simon, the son of Joanes: you shall be called
Kephas." [This is Aramaic for "Petros," which means Rock, and thus he
was then called Peter.]
On the following day Jesus decided to go forth into Galilee,
and he found Philip: and Jesus said unto him, "Follow me." Now Philip
was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathaniel
and said unto him, "We have found the One of whom Moses in the Law,
and the prophets, did write: Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!"
And Nathaniel said unto Philip, "Is anyone good, upright and virtuous
intrinsically able to be from Nazareth?" And Philip said unto him, "Come
and see!" And Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him, and said concerning him,
"Behold, an Israelite in whom in fact is no deceit, fraud, contrivance for
entrapment, insidious design or guile!" Then Nathaniel said unto him, "From
where do you inceptively or initially know me?" Jesus answered and said
unto him, "Before Philip went to call or summon you, I saw you situated
under your fig tree." Nathaniel answered and said unto him, "Rabbi, you
are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Then Jesus answered
and said unto him, "Because I said unto you, "I saw you underneath the
fig tree," you are believing? You shall be admitted to witness, observe
or see things of greater gravity than this." And he said unto him, "Most
certainly I say unto you, henceforth you will behold and see heaven opened,
and the angels of God ascending and descending - going up and coming
down - in the presence of the Son of Man."
XX. Water Made Into Wine (Jn 2:1-12)
On the third day that disciples were with him, there was
a wedding in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there, and
Jesus also was invited with his disciples to the wedding. And when the
wine ran short, his mother said unto him, "They have no wine!" And Jesus
said unto her, "Why involve you and I, woman? My destined period of time
is not yet arriving." Then his pushy mother said unto the servants,
"What if ever he be mentioning unto you all, do it with diligence."
Now there were six water-pots made of stone set there according to the
manner of ceremonial purification of the Jews, containing two or three
kegs apiece. Jesus therefore said unto the servants, "Fill the water-pots
with water." And they carefully filled them up to the brim. Then he said
unto them, "Now draw some out and bring it to the concerned director
of the feast." And they delivered it. And when the director of the feast
tasted the water that had become wine, not knowing from where it came
- but the servants having drawn the water knew - the director of the feast
called to the bridegroom and said unto him, "Every man first produces
or sets out the good wine, and when all have become inebriated, drunk
or intoxicated, then the inferior thereafter. You have kept back or reserved
the good wine until now!" Jesus did this beginning of his signs in Cana
of Galilee, and thus manifested his splendour; and his disciples placed
their confidence in, and committed themselves unto, him. After this he
went down to Capernaum, he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples,
and they stayed there awhile.
The Early Judaean Ministry
XXI. The First Cleansing of the Temple (Jn 2:13-22)
It was April eleventh, A.D. 27, and the passover of the
Jews was imminent; and Jesus therefore went up to the temple in Jerusalem.
And he found in the temple price gougers that sold oxen, sheep and
doves, who falsely claimed that the sacrifices the people brought in
were defective in order to sell them theirs, and also there were currency
exchange dealers sitting there making money off of the foreigners who
came in to buy sacrifices: so having made a whip out of cords, Jesus drove
all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the
currency dealer's money, and threw over their tables; and to them that sold
the doves he said, "Remove these things from this place! Do not make my
Father's house a house of business, merchandise, commerce, trade or profit
through deceptive advantage." His disciples then remembered that it was
written, "Zeal for your house has consumed me!" The Jews therefore responded
and said unto him, "Since you are doing these things, what convincing
evidence or proof are you going to be exhibiting unto us to demonstrate
your authority?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "Destroy this temple,
and in three days I will raise it." Then the Jews said, "This temple was
built in forty six years, and you will raise it in three days?!" But that
spoken was about his body as the temple. When therefore, he was later
raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this to
the Jews, and they believed the scripture, and this statement which Jesus
had made.
XXII. Speaking with Nicodemus (Jn 2:23-3:21)
Now while Jesus was in Jerusalem, during the feast of the
Passover, many had confidence, believing and trusting into his Name
as they beheld the signs, miracles and wonders which he began to do. But
Jesus did not reciprocally commit or intrust himself unto them; for he
intuitively knew to discern everything. He had no need that anyone should
expound concerning man; for he himself understood what was in man - a
sin nature. But there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus: he was
a ruler of the Jews. This man came unto Jesus by night and said unto him,
"Rabbi, we know for sure that you have come from God as a teacher, for
no one is intrinsically able to be doing these extraordinary signs, amazing
miracles and remarkable wonders that you are doing except or unless perhaps
God be sided with him." Jesus answered and said unto him, "Most certainly
I say unto you, unless one receives birth anew from above - the second
birth - regeneration [e.g. constitution as a child of God through faithing
into Jesus unto resultant spiritual birth by means of his Holy Spirit],
he is not able to be admitted into the kingdom of God." [For legitimate
and genuine membership in his Church, the kingdom of God, one must be born
again. Where the King is, even if only by means of his Holy Spirit, there
is the kingdom.] Confused, Nicodemus said unto him, "How is a man able
to be born being old? He is not able to enter into the womb of his mother
and be born a second time." Jesus answered, "Most certainly I say unto
you, unless one receives birth through the means or instrumentality of Water
(the Gospel, Glad Tidings or Good News) and Spirit (the Holy Spirit), he
is not able to enter into the kingdom of God. That having obtained birth
from the flesh is flesh; and that having obtained birth from the Spirit
is spirit. Do not marvel because I told you, "You must be born again from
above [e.g. regenerated through or by means of the Gospel and the Spirit]."
The wind blows where it wants and you hear the sound of it, but you do not
know from where it comes, or where it goes. So is everyone having obtained
birth from the Spirit." Nicodemus answered and said unto him, "How are these
things able to happen?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "You are the teacher
of Israel, and you do not comprehend these things?! Most certainly I say
unto you, we speak what we know to be absolute, and testify concerning what
we have seen, and you all are not receiving our testimony. Since I explained
earthly things for you all, and you all are not believing, how will you
all believe if I perchance tell you all of heavenly things? No one has ascended
into heaven but he having descended out of heaven - the Son of Man who
existsed in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness
[Numbers 21:4-9], even so must the Son of Man be lifted up on the cross:
in order that everyone trusting into him may not be lost, but may now
have life everlasting." [The subjunctives, "may," indicate that it is to
be viewed as a privilege.]
Now our faithful God of provision so generously cared for,
valued and esteemed the world - the aggregate of mankind - that he
consequently gave his only-begotten (in respect of special generation
by the Holy Spirit) Son, in order that everyone trusting into him may
not be lost, but may now have life everlasting [the above has been restated
for emphasis]. For God did not send forth his Son into the world in order
to sentence the world, but in order that the world might be rescued via,
or by way and means of, him. The one faithing or trusting into him ["faithing"
or "trusting" as a nominative singular present participle - specifically
designating the one producing continuous action] is not under sentence;
but the one not trusting (according to the foreknowledge of God) has
already been sentenced in advance, for he has not trusted [perfect indicative
- completed action in past time having present results] into the Name
of the only-begotten Son of God with the present result that he is lost.
And this is the separation or crisis of distinction: that the Light (Jesus
Christ) has come into the world, but man loved, valued, esteemed, delighted
and invested in the darkness more than the Light, for man's works were
pernicious. For everyone habitually committing wickedness detests and abhors
the Light, and avoids coming to the Light, so that their works might not
be detected and exposed. But the one practicing in accordance with (Gospel)
truth comes to the Light (Jesus), in order that it might be evident that
his deeds and works remain, having been wrought before or in the sight
of God.
XXIII. John's Testimony Concerning Christ at AEnon (Jn 3:22-36)
After these things, Jesus and his disciples came into the
land of Judaea, and he stayed there with them and baptized. And John
also was baptizing in AEnon near Salim because there was much water there:
and people came and were baptized by him; for John was there, not yet
having been cast into prison. There was therefore a questioning on the
part of John's disciples with Jews about purification. And they came
to John and said unto him, "Rabbi, he that was with you beyond the Jordan,
to whom you have borne witness, behold, this One baptizes, and all are
coming to him!" John answered and said, "A man is not able to receive anything
unless it is, having been given to him from Heaven. You yourselves witnessed
that I said, "I am not Christ, the Messiah," But that having been sent,
I am preceding Him. He having the bride (Church) is the bridegroom (Jesus);
but the friend of the bridegroom (John), standing and hearing him, rejoices
with joy for the voice of the bridegroom. This then, my joy, has been fulfilled.
That One must increase, but me, to decrease."
The One coming from above (Jesus) is above all; the other,
being of the earth (John), of the earth is, and of the earth speaks.
The One coming from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has
seen and heard, but no one is receiving his testimony. The one receiving
his testimony has made a solemn declaration that God is true; for he
whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God does not ration the
Spirit. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
The one trusting into the Son has life everlasting; but the one refusing
to believe the Son will not be admitted to experience life, for the wrath
of God abides over that one.
XXIV. The Woman at the Well (Jn.4:1-42)
Now when the Lord therefore knew that the Parisees had
heard that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John, although
Jesus himself did not baptize, but his disciples were doing it, he
left Judaea and departed again unto Galilee. And Jesus needed to pass
through Samaria. So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near
to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph: and Jacob's
well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat as
he was by the well. It was about noon, the sixth hour. There came a woman
of Samaria to draw water: Jesus said unto her, "Give me a drink." For his
disciples were gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman
therefore said unto him, "How is it that you, being a Jew, asks a drink
from me? I am a Samaritan woman!" [For Jews did not associate with Samaritans.]
Jesus answered and said unto her, "If you knew the Gift of God, and Who
it is that says to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked of Him,
and He would give you Living Water (the Gospel)." The woman said unto him,
"Lord, you have no vessel, and the well is deep: where then have you living
water? You are not greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us this well
and drank out of it: he, and his sons, and his livestock." Jesus answered
and said unto her, "All who drink of this water will thirst again; but
whoever drinks of the Water which I will give (the Gospel), will in no
way "thirst" ever again; for the Water (Gospel) which I will give him will
become in him a well of water springing up or gushing into life everlasting."
The woman said unto him, "Lord, give me this water in order that I thirst
not, nor come here to draw." Jesus said unto her, "Go. Call your husband
and come back here." The woman answered and said, "I have not a husband."
Jesus said unto her, "You say correctly, "A husband I have not," for you've
had five husbands, and the one who you have now is not your husband.
This you have spoken truly." The woman said to him, "Lord, I perceive
that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you
Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where it is right to worship."
Jesus said unto her, "Woman, believe me, there comes a time when you will
worship the Father neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem. You know
not what you worship. We worship what we know since salvation is out of
the Jews as a source and means. In fact a time comes, and presently exists,
when genuine worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit (in the realm
of the Spirit as distinguished from outward show and form) and truth (in
sincerity and rightness as distinguished from hypocrosy and error); for
the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is a spiritual being,
and those worshiping him need to worship in Spirit and truth." The woman
said unto him, "I know that Messiah is coming, the One called Christ,
and when that One comes, he will declare unto us all things." Jesus then
said unto her, "I am he that is speaking to you."
And upon this came his disciples; and they marvelled that
he was speaking with a Samaritan woman; yet no one said, "What do you
seek?" or, "Why do you speak with her?" The woman then left her water-pot,
and went away into the city and said to the people, "Come! See a man who
told me all things whatsoever I did: is not this One Christ, the Messiah?"
Then they went out of the city and were coming toward him. In the meanwhile
the disciples petitioned him saying, "Rabbi, eat." But he said unto them,
"I have food to eat of which you know not." Then the disciples said
to one another, "No one brought him anything to eat!" Jesus said unto
them, "My food is that I may do the will of Him that has sent me, and
that I may finish His work. Do you not say, "It is yet four months and
then the harvest comes?" I say unto you, behold! Lift up your eyes and
behold the fields (the approaching Samaritans), because they are white to
harvest already! And the one reaping receives reward and gathers fruit
to life eternal in order that the one sowing and the one reaping may also
rejoice together. For in this the saying is true that: "One is the one
sowing, and another the one reaping." I send you to reap that over which
you have not laboured. Others have laboured, and you have entered into
their labour."
And from the city of Sychar many of the Samaritans believed
in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all
things whatsoever I did." So when the Samaritans came unto him, they
asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more
believed through his word, and they said to the woman, "We no longer
believe because of what you said, for we have heard him ourselves, and
we know absolutely that this one truly is the Saviour of the world - Christ,
the Messiah!" (His disciples had gone to Capernaum, for they were fishermen),
and after the two days Jesus himself went forth from here to go into
Galilee.
The First Period of the Galilean Ministry
XXV. The First Tour (Mt 4:12,17; Mk 1:14-15; Lk 3:19-20, 4:14-15;
Jn 4:43-45)
Now in December of A.D. 27, Herod Antipas, the tetrarch
over Galilee and Perea, being reproved by John for having Herodias,
his brother's wife, and for all of the other evil things which he had
done, yet added this upon all: that he shut up John in prison. And when
Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he came in the power of the Spirit
into Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God, saying,
"The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come. Reform
- make a turning change in principle and practice - and be giving credence
to - believing and trusting in - the Good News!" And the Galileans received
him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast;
for they also had gone to the feast. And fame concerning him went out
through all the region round about, and he taught in their synagogues,
being recognized by all. But Jesus himself testified that a prophet
has no honour in his own country.
XXVI. The Nobleman's Son (Jn 4:46-54)
He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he
had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son
lay sick in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judaea
into Galilee, he went out unto him and asked him that he would come down
and heal his son; for his son was at the point of death. Jesus therefore
said unto him, "You all can in no way believe unless you see signs and
wonders." The nobleman persisted, saying unto him, "Lord, come down
lest my child dies." Jesus said unto him in compassion, "Go your way.
Your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke unto him,
and he went on his way. And as he was yet going down, his bondslaves
met him saying, "Your child is alive." So he inquired of them the time
when he began to get well. They said therefore unto him, "Yesterday,
at one, the fever left him." So the father knew that it was at that time
in which Jesus said unto him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed,
and his whole household. This is the second sign that Jesus did in Cana,
having come out of Judaea into Galilee.
XXVII. The First Nazarene Rejection (Lk 4:16-30)
And Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up
as a child: and he entered into the synagogue, as was his custom on
the sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And there was given unto him
the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the scroll and found the
place where it was written, and he read aloud: "The Lord's Spirit is
upon me: for this reason he anointed me to evangelize and announce the
Good News to persons of low estate. He has sent me to spiritually heal
the contrite and broken in heart; to openly and publicly announce release,
dismissal and deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the
blind; to liberate with deliverance those who have been cruelly and oppressively
shattered and crushed; and to participate in the results of all these foregoing
actions: to openly and publicly announce an era of propitious acceptance
by the Lord..." And he closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant,
and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And then he began to speak unto them, saying, "Today, for your advantage,
this scripture has been fulfilled in your ears." And all bore witness to
him by saying "Amen;" and they marvelled at the words of grace proceeding
from his mouth: and they said, "Is this not the son of Joseph?" And he said
unto them, "Surely you will all quote this parable unto me: "Physician,
heal or cure yourself. Do also here in your native land those things that
we heard were happening in Capernaum."" And he said, "Truly, I say unto
you, that no prophet is approved and accepted in his native country. But
on oath I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when a great famine came on all the land, when the heavens were shut up
over three years and six months; and Elijah was sent to not even one of
them, but to a widow woman in Zerephath of Sidon. And there were many lepers
in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; and not one of them were
cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." And all those in the synagogue became
passionately enraged and under the full influence of wrath and anger upon
hearing these things, and rising up they forcibly ejected him out of the
city, and drove him up even to the edge of the precipice upon which their
city had been built in order to cast him down headlong, but passing through
their midst, he departed, going on his way.
XXVIII. Four are Called to Service (Mt 4:13-16,18-22; Mk 1:16-20;
Lk 5:1-11)
And leaving Nazareth, Jesus came and stayed in Capernaum,
which is by the Sea of Galilee (where his disciples were fishing), within
the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, who said, "The land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali, the way by the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee
of the nations. The people which sat in darkness saw a great Light; And
to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, to them did Light spring
up." And Jesus continued to preach saying, "Repent! For the kingdom of
Heaven has come." And walking, passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he
encountered Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, casting nets into the
sea. And Jesus said unto them, "Come with me. I will make you to become
fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and went with him.
And it came to pass that a multitude of people pressed in upon him, hearing
the Word of God, and Jesus saw some boats by the shore, that the fishermen
had gone out of them, tending to their nets. And he entered into one of
them which was Simon Peter's, and asked him to put out a little from the
shore. And Jesus sat down and taught the multitudes from out of the boat.
And when he had left off speaking, he said unto Simon, "Put out into the
deep, and let down your nets for a haul." And Simon answered and said, "Master,
we toiled all night and caught nothing - but because you said to, we will
let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great
multitude of fishes such that their nets were breaking; and they beckoned
unto their partners, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who
had been in their father's boat mending nets, that they should come and
help them. And they came and filled both boats so much so that they began
to sink. And Simon Peter, having seen this, fell at the knees of Jesus saying,
"Depart from me, Lord; for I am a sinful man!" For he and all those with
him were seized with astonishment at the haul of fish they all caught; and
so were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners.
And Jesus said unto them, "Fear not. From this moment you will be catching
men alive." And when they had brought their boats in, they abandoned everything
and went with Jesus.
XXIX. Jesus Teaches in a Synagogue (Mk 1:21,22; Lk 4:31,32; 6:20b-49)
Now being in Capernaum of Galilee, immediately on the sabbath
Jesus entered into the synagogue and was teaching them, saying,
"Fortunate are the lowly and needy, for the kingdom of
God is for you; But woe unto you that are selfishly opulent, for you
already have your comfortable cheer and enjoyment in full.
"Fortunate are those now hungering, longing and earnestly
desiring, for you will be filled, satiated and satisfied; But woe unto
those of you having been filled, satiated and satisfied, for you shall
be hungry, longing and earnestly desirous.
"Fortunate are those presently weeping, for you will be
happy and rejoice; But woe unto those of you now happily rejoicing,
for you shall mourn, wail and weep.
"Fortunate are you when men might dislike you, and when
they might segregate you, and might insult you with opprobrious language,
and when they begin to reject your name with contempt as malevolent
on account of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and jump for joy,
because look! Great is your reward in heaven! For according to these
things did their fathers unto the prophets. But woe unto you when all
men without exception or distinction speak well of you, because according
to this did their fathers unto the false prophets.
"And I say unto you who may be listening: Faithfully value,
esteem, materially care for, and selflessly manifest generous concern
for - without any expectation of return or reciprocal response - your
opposing, antagonizing, adversarial enemies. Practice what is good and
right unto those disliking you. Speak well towards those imprecating
evil upon you; And try praying for those who harass and insult you. To
those slapping you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from those
taking away your shirt, try not to withhold the underwear also. And unto
everyone asking of you, be giving. And from those taking away your things,
do not demand them back. And as you are willing that men might be doing unto
you, do also unto them likewise.
"And if you perchance lovingly care for those who are lovingly
caring for you, what thanks is there due unto you? For even the sinners
are lovingly caring for those who are lovingly caring for them. And
if you perchance do good unto those doing good unto you, what thanks
is there due unto you? For even the sinners do the same. And if you
perchance lend money unto him from whom you confidently expect to recover,
what thanks is there due unto you? For even the sinners are lending money
unto other sinners in order that they might receive back the same. But
be continually seeking the highest good of, and selflessly caring for,
your enemies, valuing, esteeming, manifesting genuine concern for, and
being faithful towards them; And be doing good; And be lending money,
expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will
be mature sons of the Most High, because he is kind and gracious unto
the ungrateful and the wicked. Become merciful then, even as your Father
also is merciful.
"Do not be continually judging - needlessly assuming censorial
power over or calling others to account [not to be confused with the
exercise of discernment or authority], and you shall in no way be judged.
Do not be continually condemning - unduly giving judgement against
or unduly sentencing - and you shall in no way be condemned. Keep on
forgiving, and you will most certainly be forgiven.
"Keep on giving, and there will most certainly be given
unto you good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over
shall men give into the bosom of your garment; but the same measure which
you are delivering will be measured to you in return."
And he spoke a parable to them: "A blind person is not
able to be guiding a blind person. Will they not both fall down into
a pit? A disciple does not supersede the teacher; but being thoroughly
adjusted, all disciples will certainly be like the teacher.
"And why are you observing the sliver in the eye of your
brother, while you are not discerning the board in your own eye? Or
how are you able to be saying unto your brother, "Brother, may I be
allowed to take out the sliver that is in your eye?" while you yourself
are not noticing the board in your own eye? You hypocrite! First extract
the board that is in your own eye, and then you will certainly be able
to see clearly to remove the sliver that is in the eye of your brother.
"Now there is not, a good tree (person) producing rotten
fruit, nor a bad tree (person) producing good fruit; but each tree
(person) is known by its own fruit: For men are not gathering figs out
of thornbushes, nor harvesting grapes out of a bramble. The upright
man out of the virtuous, precious deposit in the core of his being
brings forth the good; And the wicked man out of the malignant, worthless
deposit in the core of his being brings forth the evil; And out of the
abundance of the core of a man's being his mouth contsistently speaks.
"And why are you calling me "Lord, Lord," yet you are not
doing that which I might be saying? Anyone who is coming unto me, and
is hearing my words, and is doing them, I will suggest unto you whom
he is like. He is like a man building a house, who excavated and made it
deep, and set its foundation upon the bedrock. And it happened that the
torrent of a flood came up against that house, but could not disturb it,
for it had been established upon the bedrock. But he hearing but not
doing is like unto a man having built a house on the soil without a foundation,
upon which burst the torrent, and it fell at once, and great became the
ruin of that house." And when he finished all of his words in the ears
of the people, they were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them
with authority, and not as the scribes.
XXX. Miracles in Capernaum (Mt 8:14-17; Mk 1:23-34; Lk 4:33-41)
Now in the synagogue there was a man which had a spirit,
an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice saying, "Ah! What
have we to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Are you here to destroy
us? I know you, who you are, the Holy One of God!" And Jesus rebuked it
saying, "Shut up and come out of him!" And when the unclean demon had thrown
him down in their midst, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, it
came out of him having done the man no harm. And amazement came upon them
all, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this?
A new teaching! With authority and power he commands even the unclean spirits!
They obey him and come out!" And his fame and rumors at once spread out
everywhere through the whole area of Galilee. And then when Jesus was come
out of the synagogue with his disciples, they came and entered into the house
of Andrew and Simon Peter, with James and John. And Simon's mother-in-law
lay sick, and was in the grip of a great fever, and immediately they told
him of her and asked him to help her. And he came and stood over her and
took her by the hand and raised her up. He rebuked the fever and the fever
left her and she immediately ministered unto their needs. And when evening
had come, when the sun was setting, all they that had any that were sick
with various diseases, and any that were demon possessed, they brought them
unto him. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed
the many that were sick with various diseases, and he cast the demons out
of those that were possessed, which cried out saying, "You are the Son of
God!" And rebuking them he did not allow them to speak, because they knew
him, that he was Christ, the Messiah. Thus it was fulfilled which was spoken
through Isaiah the prophet saying, "Himself took our infirmities, and bare
our diseases."
XXXI. The First Tour through Galilee Continues (Mk 1:35-39; Lk
4:42-44)
Now in the morning, long before it was day, Jesus rose
up, went out, and departed into a deserted place, and there he prayed.
And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when
they found him they said unto him, "All are seeking you." And just then
the multitudes that sought after him, caught up and came unto him also,
and desired to detain him in order that he should not leave them. But he
said unto them, "I must proclaim the Good Tidings of the kingdom of God
to the other cities also; for it is for this reason that I was sent." He
then said to his disciples, "Let us move on to the next place that I
may preach there also. This is my objective." And Jesus went into their
synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
XXXII. Healing of a Leper (Mt 8:2-4; Mk 1:40-45; Lk 5:12-16)
And it came to pass while he was in one of those cities
that there came unto him a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus,
he knelt down, fell on his face and besought him, saying, "Lord, if you
will, you can make me clean." And being moved with compassion, Jesus
stretched forth his hand and touched him, saying, "I will. Be made clean."
And immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean.
And Jesus sternly charging him and immediately sent him out, saying, "
See to it that you say nothing to anyone: but go and show yourself to the
priest, and offer for your cleansing those things commanded by Moses as
a testimony unto them." But the man went out and began to greatly publish
it, spreading the matter abroad insomuch that great multitudes came together
to him from every quarter to hear and be healed of their infirmities. Therefore,
Jesus could not any more enter openly into a city, so he withdrew into
deserted places and prayed.
XXXIII. Healing of a Paralytic (Mt 9:2-8; Mk 2:1-12; Lk 5:17-26)
After some days, Jesus entered again into Capernaum, and
it came to pass as he was teaching, that it was noised abroad that
he was in a certain house. And many were gathered together who had come
out of every place, from Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem, so that there
was no longer any room, no, not even about the door. And there were Pharisees
and doctors of the Law which also did sit; and Jesus spoke the Word unto
them, and the power of the Lord was with him so that he could heal. And
behold, four men came and brought to him a man that was paralyzed, laid
out upon a cot; and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus.
And when they found that they could not bring him in near unto him because
of the press of the crowd, they went up to the housetop and uncovered the
roof, removing the tiles over where Jesus was. And when they had finished
breaking it up, they let down the cot upon which the paralytic lay, through
the tiles, into the midst of the crowd before Jesus. And Jesus, seeing their
faith, said unto the paralytic, "Son, rejoice. Your sins are forgiven."
But, behold, there were certain of the scribes and Pharisees sitting there
who began to reason within their minds, saying, "Why does this man speak
this way? He blasphemes! Only God can forgive sins!" And Jesus, perceiving
in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, answered and said
unto them, "Why do you reason these things and thus think evil in your minds?
Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven you;"
or to say, "Arise. Take up your cot and walk?" But so that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, (he then said
unto the paralytic) I say unto you, Arise, take up your cot, and go unto
your house." And the man immediately rose up, took up that upon which he
lay, went forth in the presence of all, and departed unto his house glorifying
God. And when the multitudes saw this, fear and amazement gripped them
all; and they glorified God, saying, "We have never seen this before!
We have seen a paradox today!"