of Jesus’ sister married and stayed in Nazareth before the family moved to Capernaum.
It is believed that Joseph died before Jesus started his ministry and before the Crucifixion. The last time Joseph is mentioned is at the temple in Jerusalem where Jesus was found with the rabbis and wise men of the day.
Jesus as an Adult
The ministry of Jesus starts with his baptism by John the Baptist when he was about 30 years old.
Mark 1:11 reads, And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
John the Baptist’s primary purpose in life was to fulfill the prophecy which is to prepare the way for Jesus. John was chosen to baptize Jesus and to fulfill the prophecy.
The second time the voice of God was heard was at the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain with three disciples (Peter, John, and James) as witnesses. Those that were present on top of the mountain were Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Peter, John and James.
Mark 9:2 reads, And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
At this point, God transformed Jesus by matching the outside and inside of the body of Jesus. The glory of God was revealed in Jesus.
Hebrew 10:20 reads, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.
Jesus Christ is the new and living way in which believers have direct access into the very Holy place of God.
Philippians 2: 7 reads, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man.
Jesus recognized sinners to be more important than Himself and was concerned with their needs. Jesus came to this earth in the form of a man to be the true servant of God and to provide the greatest gift, eternal life.
Miracles
Jesus blessed His people with many miracles for many reasons. He revealed His compassion and mercy with many miracles that were related to the healing of infirmities that people were suffering with for many years. Chief among these reasons for these miracles was the training of the twelve disciples. The disciples had to learn that faith in God was the source for power in accomplishing great tasks.
Jesus conducted hundreds if not thousands of miracles during a three year period, but only a few were recorded as outlined below. Many people received the mercy of Jesus as he healed them of their many health issues, demon possession, and other spiritual issues. However, there were five distinct instances where Jesus offended Jewish law by healing people on the Sabbath. Those miracles were of mercy and included healing a man of palsy, a withered hand, blindness, dropsy, and a woman with an infirmity for over 18 years. One could make the point the Pharisees were acting faithfully in accordance with their theoretical views by finding fault with Jesus, but they made no allowance for mercy for those in need on the Sabbath.
The more we understand who God is and comprehend His love, power, presence, the more credible the miracles become. These miracles express God’s beauty, truth, and goodness that lives within our beings that needs to be expressed through us on a daily basis.
The Approximate Beginning of Jesus’ First Year of Ministry
Jesus was about thirty year old when he travels from his home town of Nazareth to Galilee. He begins His ministry with being baptized by John the Baptist. During this first year He is confronted by Satan and is tested and begins His ministry with miracles. He begins to spend time selecting His disciples and training them. He then left Galilee to be baptized at the Jordan River. It was here that he met John the Baptist that was prophesized 400 years prior in the Book of Malachi.
Malachi 4:5-6 reads, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, least I come and smite the earth with a curse.
We are to keep the law of Moses and the message that John the Baptist presented throughout his life that prepared for the coming of Christ the Savior. Through John the Baptist and God men were brought to the repentance of their sins, conversion, and obedience to God’s word.
John 1:29 reads, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus and realized that Jesus was the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the one that would be sacrificed for all the sins of mankind.
John the Baptist is believed to have disciples that were transferred to Jesus’ ministry (One is identified as Andrew). Other early disciples that appear at this time are James, Phillip, Peter, and, Bartholomew.
Immediately after Jesus’ baptism, he is directed by God’s spirit into the wilderness for forty days to be confronted by Satan and to be ministered by angels. Jesus is obedient to God’s will and comes face to face with Satan and is attacked in a way that no ordinary man could endure. However, Jesus was a divine being that could not sin.
Matthew 4:3-11 reads, And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, “It is written. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Jesus experienced his life as a deity/human from birth to death and allowed himself to be experience the tests of Satan for forty days while fasting in the wilderness.
Hebrews 1:13-14 reads, But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit On My Right Hand, Until I Make Thine Enemies Thy Footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
The angels have always been principally involved in carrying out many ministries for both God and his Son. These ministries have included giving the Mosaic law, delivering messages from God, performing miracles, protecting children and for providing many more blessings. Jesus was made a little lower than the angels so that he may taste death for every man. It was his suffering as a deity and human that justified
