The Ministry of Jesus (Part 2)
His Youth
The Bible does not tell much about Jesus’ life as a young man. Jesus grew up as the son of the carpenter Joseph. When Jesus was twelve years of age He was found discussing important matters with scribes and other teachers in the Jewish temple, or church. He knew things about God and the kingdom of God that others had never understood. These doctors and educated people were astonished at the understanding and answers that Jesus had at this young age.
Read about it in Luke 2:40
The Grace of God was upon Jesus and He was strong in spirit. He was of earthly flesh, therefore He became hungry, tired and thirsty just like you and me. He was the divine Son of the Almighty God living inside the flesh of man with all of its frailties. This is why He can understand anything that we feel; He has felt it too.
Jesus’ Induction into Ministry
When Jesus was about 29 years of age He began His ministry. He was baptized in the Jordan river by His first cousin, John the Baptist, who was preaching and telling people that Messiah was coming. As John was baptizing Jesus, the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove and a voice from Heaven confirmed that Jesus was the beloved Son of God.
Jesus’ Ministry
Jesus ministered for only three or four years. He began to teach and to perform many miracles in all the communities nearby. Jesus often used parables when teaching the multitudes who came wherever He went. Some of these teachings and miracles were recorded in the Bible.
Jesus’ purpose in life was to do the will of His heavenly Father. Wherever He went, He brought goodness. He never hurt or injured anyone, although He did get angry at others who did wrong. He called self-righteous church-going people vipers and once turned over tables in the temple where money-changers were taking advantage of the people.
Jesus was friends with the outcast of society - sinners. He reached out to the publicans, thieves, prostitutes. He never scorned anyone. He knew what was in the heart of a man (or woman). Just because they were religious did not mean that they knew God.
Much of the life of Jesus is recorded in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. During His few years of ministry on earth Jesus performed many miracles.
Some of His miracles included:
* raising Lazarus and others from the dead;
* feeding over 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish;
* walking on water and calming the stormy Sea of Galilee;
* casting out demons;
* healing a paralyzed man, restoring a man’s ear, and healing many others.