The Year of Popularity

New Testament Division--Second Period (Continued)

------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+-------- EVENTS | MATTHEW | MARK | LUKE | JOHN ------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+-------- Public Teaching in | 4:17 | 1:14, 15 | 4:14, 15 | 4:43-45 Galilee. | | | | | | | | Cana. Healing of the | ... | ... | ... | 4:46-54 n.o.bleman's Son (1). | | | | | | | | Rejection at | 4:13-16 | ... | 4:16-31 | Nazareth (2). | | | | | | | | Sea of Galilee. Call of | 4:18-22 | 1:16-20 | 5:1-11 | the Fishermen, etc. (3).| | | | | | | | Healing of Peter's | 8:14-17 | 1:21-34 | 4:31-41 | Wife's Mother, of a | | | | Demoniac, etc. | | | | | | | | Preaching Tour through | 4:23-25 | 1:35-39 | 4:42-44 | Galilee (4). | | | | | | | | Healing of a Leper. | 8:2-4 | 1:40-45 | 5:12-16 | | | | | Healing of a Paralytic, | 9:2-9 | 2:1-14 | 5:17-28 | etc. | | | | | | | | Jerusalem. Healing of | ... | ... | ... | 5:1-47 Infirm Man, etc. (5, 6).| | | | | | | | Sabbath Controversies, | 12:1-14 | 2:23 to | 6:1-11 | etc. | | 3:6 | | | | | | Mult.i.tudes Gather by | 12:15-21 | 3:7-12 | 6:17-19 | the Sea. | | | | | | | | Galilee. Choice of the | 10:2-4 | 3:13-19 | 6:12-16 | Twelve (7). | | | | | | | | Sermon on the Mount. |5:1 to 8:1 | ... | 6:20-49 | | | | | Capernaum. Healing of | 8:5-13 | ... | 7:1-10 | Centurion's Servant (8).| | | | | | | | Nain. Raising of the | ... | ... | 7:11-17 | Widow's Son (9). | | | | | | | | John the Baptist Sends | 11:2-19 | ... | 7:18-35 | Messengers to Jesus. | | | | | | | | Discourse of Jesus | 11:20-30 | | | about his Mighty Works. | | | | | | | | Our Lord Anointed by a | ... | ... | 7:36-50 | Woman. | | | | | | | | Second Circuit in | ... | ... | 8:1-3 | Galilee (10). | | | | | | | | Healing of a Demoniac, | 12:22-50 | 3:20-35 | 11:14-36;| etc. | | | 8:19-21 | | | | | Woes against the | ... | ... | 11:37 to | Pharisees, etc. | | | 13:9 | | | | | Parable of the Sower, | 13:1-53 | 4:1-34 | 8:4-18 | etc. | | | | | | | | Voyage across the Lake. | 8:18-27 | 4:35-41 | 8:22-25; | Tempest Stilled (11). | | | 9:57-62 | | | | | Demoniacs near Gadara. | 8:28 to | 5:1-21 | 8:26-40 | Recrossing the Lake | 9:1 | | | (12). | | | | | | | | Feast of Matthew, etc. | 9:10-34 | 2:15-22; | 5:29-39; | | | 5:22-43 | 8:41-56 | | | | | Second Rejection at | 13:54-58 | 6:1-6 | | Nazareth (13). | | | | | | | | Another Circuit in | 9:35-38; | 6:6-13 | 9:1-6 | Galilee; the Twelve | 10:1, 5, | | | Sent Forth (14). | to 11:1 | | | | | | | Herod's Dread of Jesus. | 14:1, 2, | 6:14-16, | 9:7-9 | | 6-12 | 21-29 | | ------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+--------

#TIME.#--A. D. 28 to A. D. 29.

#PLACES.#--Capernaum, Galilee, Jerusalem, Nain, Gadara, Nazareth.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GALILEAN MINISTRY Copyright, 1898, BY JOHN D. WATTLES & CO.

The figures attached to the journeys refer to events mentioned in the first column on the opposite page.]

The Incomparable Life (Continued)

#128. The Year of Popularity.#--This was spent in Galilee. The Galileans had heard of his fame from those of their number who had seen him in Jerusalem, so it required but a few deeds of might to arouse them to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. His activity during this year may be studied with relation, first, to his miracles, and second, to his teaching.

#129. His Miracles Multiplied.#--These were multiplied beyond any previous precedent. They sprang from him as sparks spring from the red-hot iron of the blacksmith under the hammer. There must have been single days when he wrought hundreds of miracles. Take that Sabbath day in Capernaum as an example. In the morning in the synagogue he healed a demoniac. In the later part of the day he healed Peter's mother-in-law. Then, as the sun was setting, there came to him all in that city that had maladies of any kind, and he healed them all. A wonderful day that, for Capernaum. No wonder that later on he referred to that city as exalted to heaven. His miraculous power manifested itself over disease of every kind. No malady was unreachable by him.

The three characteristics of his healing ministry were, first, it was instantaneous--there was no period of convalescence. Deathly sick one moment--perfectly well the next; this was the history of each patient.

(One exception there is to this, and that is of the man who needed two touches to cure his blindness (Mark 8:24.) Was the man's faith at fault?) Second, it was perfect--there were no signs of weakness left and no relapses. How unlike the frequent experience under even the best of modern physicians! In the third place, it was all _without money or price_.

#130. His Power# was equally great over death. He called, and Lazarus came forth; he took the dead maiden by the hand and she arose. He spoke to the young man on his bier and he responded. His power extended to the spirit world, for he commanded evil spirits to come out of men, and they obeyed. Nature obeyed his voice, as when he spoke to the winds and the waves and they were hushed. Man, nature, and the spirit world all recognized his power and yielded swift obedience. No wonder that his popularity was immense under these circ.u.mstances. It would not be possible to exaggerate the exciting scenes through which he pa.s.sed during this year. Men thronged around him so violently, and crushed together to see and hear him so vehemently, that many were thrown down and trampled on. Wild cries must have come from the ma.s.ses of people who so excitedly pressed near to him. They actually broke up the roof of one house so as to get into his presence the patient for whom they craved his services. He had not time so much as to eat in peace, as they gave him no respite (Mark 6:31).

#131. His Miracles as Lessons.#--All these miracles of his were in reality also object-lessons to lead men to an apprehension of things invisible and spiritual. If he healed a man born blind, it was to make men see that they needed spiritual sight. If he touched the deaf man's ears and made him hear, what was this but an object-lesson showing that they woefully needed spiritual hearing? And if he raised the dead, this, too, was to teach a great spiritual truth, namely, that he was the resurrection and the life.

#132.# In all this wonderful life we are glad to note how much of happiness must have come to the Master as he saw the sick made instantly well. At the same time his gift of healing sometimes brought to him exquisite sorrow, as in the case of the ten lepers, nine of whom did not think it worth their while to go back to say, "Thank you." It was at this time in his ministry that the Master began to bid men whom he helped hold their peace, for there was really danger that the excited throngs would develop into uncontrollable mobs, and that the Roman government would find it necessary to interfere.

#133. His Teaching# was apparently less important than were his miracles, though it was really more important. If we could have only the miracles, or the teaching, we would at once take the teaching. The miracles were chiefly temporary in their effect, while the influence of the teaching is eternal. In view of the fact that, as noted in Lesson 2, we have so few of his words recorded, we may well wonder at their power. As he said, "the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life" (John 6:63).

#134.# His teaching was characterized by its #boldness#. He taught them as one who had authority, for he knew by inward experience the truth of all that he uttered. The Scribes were more like parrots, for they repeated the opinions of those who had gone before them, and had no true vision of things spiritual. Jesus, on the other hand, did not hesitate to quote pa.s.sages from Moses, and set them aside, on his own authority. He had larger vision than had the great lawgiver, and he was well aware of that fact. "Ye have heard that it hath been said--but I say unto you," such was his confident manner of teaching.

And the results of his teaching have fully substantiated his claim.

#135.# In his teaching he was #infinitely tender# with confessed sin, but at the same time he was equally stern against professed holiness.

No more terrible words have ever been spoken than those of the Master against the Scribes and Pharisees, on account of their hypocrisy. To read them with any adequate conception of the occasion is to feel almost terrified at their vehemence. On the other hand, no zephyr was ever more gentle than were his words to those who felt their sin and wished to abandon it.

#136.# In his teaching he #made much use of parable#, for this was in reality a picture, and he knew that pictures convey truth and are remembered longer than any other form of speech. What an array of pictures his parables have hung in the galleries of our memories!

Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan, Ten Virgins, Lost Sheep, Unjust Judge--what are these but pictures that we cherish, and from which we gain eternal truths of the most precious nature?

#137.# His teaching for the most part revolved around the idea of #the Kingdom of G.o.d on Earth, and Himself as its Center#. Let the student look up all the parables of the Kingdom and he will realize the truth of this statement. The reason why even his nearest disciples misunderstood him so, and thought that this kingdom was to be like that of David, was that they did not put the emphasis in the right place. They thought of "The _kingdom_ of G.o.d," while he thought of "The Kingdom of _G.o.d_." There is a great difference between these two forms of emphasis. The one led them to ask for places on his right and left in his kingdom; the other emphasized the truth that the Kingdom of G.o.d is within you. Thus in the midst of great excitement, this year of popularity was spent. Tours through Galilee were like triumphal processions, and the throngs were never weary of crowding on him and the disciples. Alas! that the people should not have better appreciated the inwardness of his mission, but should have taken in only that which was temporal and not eternal!

Test Questions

What is the second year of our Lord's life called?

Where was it for the most part spent?

What two chief characteristics marked this year?

Over what did the Master show his power?

Name the peculiarities of his healings.

Of what may the miracles be said to be object-lessons?

Which was more truly important--his miracles or his teaching? Why?

What two characteristics did his teaching possess?

Why did he make so much use of the parable?

Around what thought did most of the Lord's teaching revolve?

Why did the disciples so misunderstand him?

Lesson 5

The Year of Opposition

New Testament Division--Second Period (Continued)

-----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+--------- EVENTS | MATTHEW | MARK | LUKE | JOHN -----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+--------- Sea of Galilee. Return | | | | of the Twelve, etc. | 14:13-21 | 6:30-44 | 9:10-17 | 6:1-14 | | | | Jesus Walks upon the | 14:22-36 | 6:45-56 | ... | 6:15-21 Water. | | | | | | | | Discourses, etc. | 15:1-20 | 7:1-23 | ... | 6:22-71 | | | | Northward Journey. | | | | Region of Tyre and | | | | Sidon (1, 2). | 15:21-28 | 7:24-30 | | | | | | Return to Eastern Side | | 7:31 to | | of the Lake, etc. (3). | 15:29-38 | 8:9 | | | | | | The Lake Crossed. A | 15:39 to | | | Sign from Heaven | 16:4 | 8:10-13 | | Demanded (4). | | | | | | | | The Lake Recrossed. | | | | The Leaven of the | 16:5-12 | 8:14-21 | | Pharisees (4). | | | | | | | | A Blind Man Healed. On | | | | Way to Bethsaida (4). | ... | 8:22-26 | | | | | | The Confession of | 16:13-38 | 8:27 to | 9:18-27 | Peter, etc. | | 9:1 | | | | | | Mount Hermon. The | | | | Transfiguration (5). | 17:1-13 | 9:2-13 | 9:28-36 | | | | | Healing of the | 17:14-20 | 9:14-29 | 9:37-43 | Demoniac Boy. | | | | | | | | Prediction of Death | | | | and Resurrection. | 17:22, 23 | 9:30-32 | 9:43-45 | | | | | Arrival at Capernaum, | 17:24 to | 9:33-50 | 9:46-50 | etc. (6). | 18:35 | | | | | | | Jerusalem. Jesus | | | | attends the Feast of | ... | ... | ... | 7:1 to Tabernacles (7, 8). | | | | 8:59 | | | | Return to and Final | | | | Departure from Galilee | | | | (9). | 19:1, 2 | 10:1 | 9:51-56 | | | | | Mission of the | ... | ... | 10:1-37 | Seventy, etc. | | | | | | | | Bethany. Visit to | | | | Martha and Mary (10). | ... | ... | 10:38-42 | | | | | Healing of a Man Born | | | | 9:1 to Blind, etc. | ... | ... | ... | 10:21 | | | | Jerusalem. Jesus at the| | | | Feast of Dedication. | ... | ... | ... | 10:22-42 | | | | Retirement to Perea. | | | 11:1-13; | Discourses, Parables, | ... | ... | 13:10 to | etc. (11). | | | 17:10 | | | | | Bethany. Raising of | | | | Lazarus (12, 13). | ... | ... | ... | 11:1-46 | | | | Withdrawal to Ephraim | ... | ... | ... | 11:47-54 (14). | | | | | | | | Samaria. Healing of | | | | the Ten Lepers (15). | ... | ... | 17:11-19 | | | | | Discourses, etc. | 19:2 to | 10:2-45 | 17:20 to | | 20:28 | | 18:34 | | | | | Near Jericho. Healing | | | | of Blind Men (16). | 20:29-34 | 10:46-52 | 18:35-43 | | | | | Jericho. Visit to | | | | Zaccheus, etc. | ... | ... | 19:1-28 | | | | | Bethany. Anointing by | 26:6-13 | 14:3-9 | ... | 11:55 to Mary (16). | | | | 12:11 -----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------

#TIME.#--A. D. 29 to A. D. 30.

#PLACES.#--Capernaum, Tyre and Sidon, Decapolis, Caesarea Philippi, Mt. Hermon, Galilee, Jerusalem, Eastern Bethsaida.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PEREAN MINISTRY Copyright, 1898, BY JOHN D. WATTLES & CO.

The figures attached to the journeys refer to events mentioned in the first column on the opposite page.]

The Incomparable Life (Continued)

#138. The Year of Opposition.#--Our Lord's year of popularity waned much after the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. This miracle stirred the people to the very height of enthusiasm. Now, they thought, we have one who is worthy to be our king. So intense was this conviction that they wanted on the spot to proclaim him king, and raise the standard of revolt against Rome (John 6:15). Even the disciples seem to have been infected with this mad thought, for he "constrained" them to go away (Matt. 14:22). On the day following, however, the mult.i.tudes found him again, and tried to persuade him to repeat the miracle of feeding. This he refused to do. He tried to make them understand that he had better bread for them, even the bread of life. But what they really wanted was only bakers' bread. They thought that if Moses fed the people for forty years for nothing, their Messiah should do even better than that. So, when he refused to be to them a "commissariat department," they at once forsook him. "Many" of his disciples "went back" at that time. For all of this read John 6:22-71. At this moment it was that Peter comes so grandly to the front and makes his confession. When we see Peter later on denying his Master, let us bear in mind his bold stand taken at this juncture.

#139. Opposed by the Pharisees.#--During all this year of popularity the Pharisees were d.o.g.g.i.ng the footsteps of the Master, as spies dog the criminal. Of these Pharisees there were at this time, in Palestine, about 6000. They were the ecclesiastical leaders of the people, and this makes their opposition all the more ghastly. They, who should have led the people aright, led them astray. The grounds of their opposition were manifold. Among others were the following:

(1) They opposed him because of their _own intense pride_. They were those who sought glory one of another, and so they could not believe in him (John 5:44). His aims and theirs were so widely apart that they could not even understand him. To them the glory that cometh from G.o.d had no attractiveness. So they opposed him who was meek and lowly.

(2) They opposed him on account of _his humble origin_. He was only a carpenter's son, and so to them was of no account. Had they made due investigation, they would have found that he came of the line of David, their great king. But they did nothing of the sort (Matt.

13:55-58). It was an offense to them that he came from among the lowly, and not from some of the aristocratic families of the land. His lack of training in the schools seems to have nettled them, so that they exclaimed in disgusted surprise, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" (John 7:15.)