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Christ In Ministry – I
When we look at Jesus Christ in ministry, His teachings stand out as life-changing. We see what came before and glimpses of what is to come.
This article is one of an eight-part series on Jesus Christ. The following links will connect you to each article. Christ In Creation, Christ In Prophecy, Christ In Ministry – I, Christ In Ministry – II, Christ In Ministry – III, Christ In Sacrifice, Christ In History, and Christ In Revelation.
His beginning
Before we look at His ministry, there are some critical points for us to consider about Him.
Jesus was a simple carpenter living in a small town, making a living for His family until He reached His thirty birthday.
He did not have any special training besides the synagogue training that all young Jewish boys received. He learned the scriptures and memorized large sections as they all did.
The Mishnah
The Mishnah (a written record of the oral traditions of Jesus’ time) tells us about their practice. Young boys started as young as 5 to study the written Torah. By 12-13, they became religious adults, having memorized large portions. At the age of 20, they were to learn a trade and be fully qualified by 30. At that time, they could change professions if they wanted.
Jesus may have continued His studies to the age of 15 as some of the more gifted students did.
People did not have the Scriptures in their homes and went to the synagogues to study. If they were wealthy, they might have had a small part copied by a scribe. However, faithful Jewish men committed large portions of the Torah to memory.
Jesus matured in this structured environment and at 30 left the carpenter shop to fulfill His earthly mission.
Jesus went to John to be Baptized
When it was time for Jesus to start His ministry, He went down to the Jordan where John was baptizing, and John baptized Him. Jesus told John that it was to fulfill all righteousness.
21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” Lk 3:21-22 NKJV
When He came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended on Him. What a powerful affirmation from God that Jesus is indeed His Son. The voice of God then speaks from heaven and says, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:17 NKJV
Fasting and temptation
After the Spirit descended upon Him, the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness, where He fasted and prayed for 40 days and 40 nights. During this time, Luke tells us the devil tempted Him. with all manner of temptations. He lists a few so we can understand.
At the end of Jesus’ fast, when hunger returned, Satan tempted Him to use His authority to turn the stones into bread. Hunger is a powerful motivator. However, Jesus quoted scripture to Satan instead of doing what Satan said.
Jesus answered temptation as we should, with God’s word. Jesus could have turned the stones into bread. He chose not to and answered Satan, 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ Lk 4:4 NKJV
We should remember that Jesus said His disciples would also fast when He was no longer with them. Therefore, when we face an important decision, we should always pray, fast, and seek God’s leading before proceeding.
The beginning
After His fast in the wilderness, He immediately started teaching with power about the coming kingdom and the ways of God. From this point on, He was on His way to Calvary. He knew that we needed a Savoir to pay the price for our sins and that He was here for that purpose.
It is here we see the beginning of Christ in ministry. The teachings of Jesus start at this point and continue to the end.
14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. Lk 4:14-15 NKJV
As the Son of God, He could teach with authority and complete certainty. The people responded to His teaching in the synagogues and the signs He did. Crowds begin to follow Him to learn more and to witness the miracles such as healing the sick.
The Synagogue
The synagogue (or assembly) was the center of Jewish life. The synagogue was their church and school, and they gathered there for other events. The Jewish people also refer to the synagogue as a temple or shul.
Jesus went from synagogue to synagogue in Galilee, teaching until He arrived home in Nazareth.
As a young adult in Nazareth, Jesus would have taken His turn reading the Torah on the Sabbaths that the synagogue’s attendant had scheduled. Now returning, the attendant gave Him the honor and passed Him the scroll.
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: Luke 4:16-17 NKJV
As He began to read, they were, at first, pleased to see Him and have Him teach. He was a hometown boy who had made a name for Himself, teaching in other synagogues. They had heard of the miracles He had done in other towns, and I am sure they wanted to see the same in Nazareth.
The Scripture
The Scripture they gave Him to read was from Isaiah in what we now call chapter 61, starting with verse 18.
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19 NKJV
After He read, they all marveled at His abilities and presentation, asking themselves, “Is this not Joseph’s son? They did not even notice when He told them in the 21st verse, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus told them, in this verse, that He was the Messiah Isaiah spoke of in this Scripture. However, they did not become angry until He went a little further. It was when He reminded them that they wanted to see the things done in Nazareth that they had heard He had done in Capernaum.
In verse 24, He said,” Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.” He then reminded them of how God had done many things outside of Israel because of their unbelief. At this point, the teachings of Jesus got Him into trouble. However, Jesus was not stopped, He had come to teach about the kingdom and He continued until He was crucified three years later.
Jesus was a Teacher
His march to Calvary starts here in this verse. But, first, he started teaching God’s truth as no one had ever taught it before or since.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Matt 4:23 NKJV
As I have noted above, He starts teaching God’s Word in the synagogues. His teaching was not just reciting the Old Testament scriptures; He was able to bring life into it. His word touched the hearts of those who listened.
The teachings of Jesus stood out because He taught with authority, unlike the other teachers. The other teachers knew the scriptures and how other teachers had interpreted them. Jesus knew the truth of God! As the Gospel of John says, He was the Word.
Christ in ministry was new and living. He spoke with the authority that God gave Him.
Mark tells us, 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. MK 1:22 NKJV
He taught with authority because
The scribes had the written word. Jesus was the Word, as the Gospel of John says: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Jn 1:1-5 NKJV
The scribes could only teach what they had learned from another man who had learned from someone before him. Jesus knew not just the Scriptures but the complete truth behind every word He revealed. He was the author as well as the teacher.
When Jesus spoke, it was God talking to men.
Have you ever wanted God to speak directly to you? You can have that today as you study your Bible. The teachings of Jesus are God speaking words to you.
If you have made Jesus Lord of your life, you have His Spirit living in you. It will help you understand when God speaks to you through the Word.
Jesus and the Law
The most extensive example of Jesus’ teaching is in Matt. 5, 6, and 7. We often call these chapters the Sermon on the Mount because the Scriptures tell us He went up a mountain and taught them. Matt 5:1-2
***NOTE: If you are studying the ministry of Jesus with me, take time to read each chapter several times. See what Jesus is saying.
What strikes me is how early in His ministry, He started dealing with the misuse of the Law.
He states His purpose in the following verse, 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Mat 5:17 NKJV
He came to fulfill the Law and help us understand how complete it is. Although the Law could not save us, it was good as a schoolmaster to help us learn God’s ways. It gives the basics of right and wrong. We do need to understand what God labels as wrong or sinful.
When a Pharisee asked Jesus what the most important Law is, 37 Jesus said to him, ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Mat 22:37-40 NKJV
It would be best if you remember this critical Scripture as we examine some of the Laws Jesus discusses. They are revolutionary. You will see how each Scripture will point out that the Law is much broader than the Jewish leaders viewed it.
Israel is a light to the world
God created a nation through Abraham’s descendants that He called Israel. One of its primary purposes was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah and to show the world the light of God’s word. However, the Israelites failed to reveal God to the world. Instead, they became so involved in making the Law fit their desires that they looked down on the world and did little to influence it.
Jesus points out to them what God meant for them to be. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5:14-16 NKJV
The Israelites should have been a light to the Gentile world. Instead, they studied what God gave them and excluded everyone else. They took the Law of God and the prophets and created a complex system that no one could follow.
They missed the great depth of God’s love shown in the Law.
Jesus Fulfills the Law
Jesus clearly stated that He did not come to get rid of the Law or the Prophets. He says 17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Matt 5:17 NKJV
The Law defined right and wrong! This does not change regardless of what laws man makes. The truths revealed in the Law, when applied, make life better for everyone. Man’s laws tend to divide and lead to more sin.
Jesus not only taught the Law as no one had ever taught it before, but He opened it up and showed us the depth of God’s Law. The life and teachings of Jesus fulfilled the Law!
The scribes and Pharisees were the religious leaders or preachers of the day. Therefore, the people considered them moral authorities. However, Jesus saw them differently. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:20 NKJV
You see, the scribes and Pharisees defined the Law in a way that was physical and not spiritual. Jesus shows them on the Mount the depth of the spiritual interpretation of the same laws.
Teaching on Murder
Murder begins in the Heart of man and Jesus started there.
Jesus starts with what they knew, 21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: Matt 5:21 KJV. They understood that killing one another was a sin. What Jesus explained was that murder started in the heart. It began with anger.
In the following 22nd verse, Jesus expands on the relation of anger to murder. He told them that when they are angry without cause, they are in danger of judgment, and even name-calling can endanger their soul.
Being right with your brother is so important that Jesus says, “23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matt 5:23-24 NKJV
How often should we have left our offering before the altar and got right with our brother or sister before returning to make the offering?
Note: The following articles will tell you more about Jesus Christ. Just click on the title you are interested in, Christ In Creation, Christ In Prophecy, Christ In Ministry – I, Christ In Ministry – II, Christ In Ministry – III, Christ In Sacrifice, Christ In History, and Christ In Revelation.