Growing Up with Jesus Part 1: Firstborn Among Many Friends & Fellowship Taught by the Holy Spirit through Wilfred Ju
Study Plan Session Date Topic Title 1 June 10 The Coming of God's Anointed 2 June 17 Jesus' Youth 3 June 24 The Start of Jesus' Ministry 4 July 01 Jesus' Compassion & Mercy 5 July 08 Jesus' Authority 6 July 15 Jesus' Zeal for Our Father 7 July 22 Jesus the Blessing for All Peoples For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom. 8:29, NKJV)
Session 3: The Start of Jesus Ministry
Hints from Session 2 Luke 2:40-52 Forward into the Past Jesus successfully completed Bet Sefer Jesus sat in the midst of teachers listening and asking profound questions in preparation for Bet Midrash Evidence of Jesus' eagerness to move forward in His spiritual education. Highlighting Jesus Spiritual Growth in Wisdom Implied progress throughout Bet Sefer: And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:40) Implied progress through Bet Midrash: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52) Returned home to Nazareth So then what?
Filling in the Gaps of Jesus' Life From Session 2, it is safe to conclude: Jesus attended Bet Sefer Ages 5 12 Jesus attended Bet Midrash Ages 12 15 Final Stage of Jewish Education Bet Talmud Bet Talmud Ages 15 30 Graduate, highly regarded, from Bet Midrash Student goes to a rabbi and asks, May I be your Talmid? No verbal response from rabbi. If no outright rejection: Boy follows rabbi everywhere (may be more than one prospective talmid) Slept only when rabbi slept Ate only when rabbi ate Listened intently when rabbi spoke
Filling in the Gaps of Jesus' Life Final Stage of Jewish Education Bet Talmud So What!? Trial period lasted 1 week 1 month: Rabbi will either tell the boy to go take up his father's trade or accept the boy as Talmid. If accepted, a talmid for the next 15 years would follow his rabbi everywhere, learning the interpretations of the Law and the prophecies from the rabbi. At a time deemed appropriate by the rabbi, the rabbi would take his talmidim before a (rabbi's) synagogue and declare, I give him authority to become a rabbi. Some unbelievers have claimed that Jesus adapted teachings from other religions, due to his travels between 12 years of age to 30 years of age NOT!
Deriving Jesus' Continued Growth Known Fact: Jesus was a Rabbi The Disciples called Jesus, Rabbi (some examples) Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah (Mark 9:5) They said to Him, 'Rabbi' (which is to say, when translated, Teacher [Master]), 'where are You staying?' (John 1:38) Nathanael answered and said to Him, 'Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!' (John 1:49) And His disciples asked Him, saying, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' (John 9:2) Other rabbis acknowledged Jesus as a Rabbi There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.'
Digression: Jesus' Rabbinic Authority Jesus Becomes Rabbi Jesus At the end of his Bet Talmud training, the rabbi, who trained Jesus, proclaimed Jesus as rabbi. Jesus' rabbi declared, I give him [Yeshua] authority to become a rabbi. There is no mention of Jesus' rabbi in the Gospels. Contrast with Saul, who trained under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) Understanding the chief priests' demand to know: Now when He [Jesus] came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, 'By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?' (Matt. 21:23) Which we can interpret to mean: Who was your Rabbi? But soon after receiving authority from his rabbi, Jesus received even greater authority, above any rabbi!
Digression: Jesus' Rabbinic Authority The Higher Authority Above All Rabbis Jesus received greater authority from the Ultimate Authority 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' (Matt 3:16-17) It is this Authority not the authority from a rabbi that was the basis for Jesus to declare: 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matt. 28:18-20)
Y e hôvâh ʾĔlôhîym Equips Rabbi Jesus Tested/Assayed/Tempted/Tried by Satan Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. (Matt. 4:1-2) Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. (Mark 1:12-13) Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. (Luke 4:1-2) What was Jesus doing during the forty days and forty nights? Scriptural significance of 40 days and 40 nights Time of Noah: Rained 40 days/40 nights (Gen. 7) Period of Cleansing
Y e hôvâh ʾĔlôhîym Equips Rabbi Jesus Tested/Assayed/Tempted/Tried by Satan What was Jesus doing during the forty days and forty nights? (Continued) Moses After recording and reading the Book of the Covenant [Commandments in Exo. 20-23] (Exo. 24: 16-18, Deut. 9:9-11) Period of communion with Y e hôvâh ʾĔlôhîym Moses after the golden calf incident (Exo. 34:27-28, Deut. 9:12-19, Deut. 10:10) Period of Supplication & Intercession Elijah fled from Beersheba to Mount Horeb [ 260 mi] (1 Kings 19:1-8) Period of Seeking Y e hôvâh ʾĔlôhîym
Y e hôvâh ʾĔlôhîym Equips Rabbi Jesus Tested/Assayed/Tempted/Tried by Satan What was Jesus doing during the forty days and forty nights? (Continued) Jesus most likely was Praying and Fasting Communing with God the Father & the Holy Spirit Praying in Supplication for His [Jesus'] ministry Seeking the Will of God His Father Interceding for âdâm (both Jews and Gentiles) Afterwards Satan was allowed to [test-]tempt (Πɛɩράςω) Jesus Πɛɩράςω (pi-rad'-zo) to test, endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:- assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try
Specific Test-Tempt of Jesus The 3 test-temptations Full record of Satan trying Jesus is recorded in Matthew 4:3-11 and Luke 4:3-13 Read Matthew 4:3-11 Read Luke 4:3-13 The three temptations are same in both accounts, but given in different order Matthew 4:3-11 Attacks ordered in increasing severity Almost like fencing 4:3 Satan thrusts 4:4 Jesus parries with Scripture 4:5-6 Satan thrusts, this time using Scripture 4:7 Jesus parries again with Scripture 4:8-9 Satan lunges 4:10 Jesus parries and ripostes with Scripture
Specific Test-Tempt of Jesus The 3 test-temptations (continued) The three temptations are same in both accounts, but given in different order (continued) Luke 4:3-13 First temptation same in Luke and Matthew Second and third temptations are reversed First possibility regarding Luke: Luke is recording Satan's attempts at tempting Jesus chronologically. Second possibility regarding Luke: 1 st attempt, Satan uses man's fleshly need (hunger) against Jesus 2 nd attempt, Satan uses man's desires (wants) against Jesus 3 rd attempt, Satan tries to use man's sinful nature (this case, pride), backed by scripture, against Jesus In all cases, Jesus defended Himself with God's word.
Jesus Begins His Ministry Immediately became renown After the period of 40 days & 40 nights and after being succored by the angels, Jesus returned to Galilee Matt. 4:12-16 Wilderness to Nazareth to Capernaum Fulfilling prophecy (Isa. 9:1-2) Mark 1:14 Went to Galilee Luke 4:14 Returned to Galilee, preaching in synagogues. Jesus began to preach in the area of Galilee Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 4:17) The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the good message [gospel]. (Mark 1:15) And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. (Luke 4:15)
Visualizing Where Jesus Went Jesus whereabouts All 4 Gospels: Jesus baptized by John in Jordan River where? Pharisees confront John at Bethabara (John 1:28) Beth Bara (place of fords)? (Judges 7:24) 40 days/40 nights in wilderness To the northeast To the east To northwest
Map of Jesus Early Ministry John 1:43 Matt 4:12-17 Bethsaida John 1:35-42 Matt 4:18-22 John 2:1-11 Luke 4:16-30 Matt 4:12-13 Possible Area of Trial Site of Jesus Baptism Bethabara (John 1:28) [Bethbara (Judges 7:24)]
Jesus' Ministry Grows The first Talmidim of Jesus Jesus breaks with Jewish religious education Beth Talmud Boy (15 years old after completion of Bet Midrash) seeks Rabbi to ask if he may be Talmid Jesus called His Talmidim all adults Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men. Matt. 4:18-20, Mark 1:16-18 Simon and Andrew were fishing from shore Jesus calls John and James Ben Zebedee Matt. 4:21-22, Mark 1:19-20 John and James helping father mend nets Left immediately to follow rabbi. Jesus calls Philip John 1:43 Philip responds by seeking his friend Nathanael Nathanael might not have become a talmid of Rabbi Jesus
References 1. Discipleship vs. Talmidim, Dan Stolebarger, Koinonia House, 11/05/2005, http://www.khouse.org/articles/2005/616 2. Follow the Rabbi, Sermon by Brian Newman, Jacksonville Chapel, NJ 3. Bet Ha-Midrash, Marcus Jastrow, Kaufmann Kohler, Jewish Encyclopedia http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3191-bet-ha-midrash 4. Bethabara, Bible Hub, http://biblehub.com/topical/b/bethabara.htm