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At best, we know only scattered bits and pieces of the life and labors of our Lord. To those of us who love Him, they are precious gems
of truth that glitter and shine in the darkness and ignorance that surround most of His life. Many Bible scholars believe that Jesus died
at approximately thirty-three years of age. Most of that which is written concerning Christ deals with His public ministry and sufferings.
As we begin our study, let us briefly look at four stages of His existence which are more obscure than His ministry. (1) The earliest
knowledge we find reveals Him as the Pre-existing Christ. We know that Jesus did exist with God the Father, long before He was born
of the virgin Mary and had a body of flesh John 1:1-5). (2) We are also able to view the Christ of Prophecy. Throughout the Old Testament,
writers under the inspiration of God foretold the coming Messiah (Isaiah 53). (3) We may even have glimpses of the Christ of
Obscurity. Scriptures record the prenatal events such as the angelic visitation to Mary and Joseph. Later shepherds heard the angels herald
His birth, as He was born in Bethlehem. Following this hallowed event was His presentation in the temple where He was seen by Simeon
and Anna. Then came the visit of the wise men followed by the flight to Egypt. After the return to Nazareth, we know nothing until He
appeared again in the temple at age twelve. Afterwards, there were again many silent years. We would like to know more of the events
that transpired in that period, but God chose not to record them in the Bible. During approximately eighteen more silent years, Christ
grew into manhood. These were evidently years of preparation. (4) When he was about thirty years of age, the public ministry of our
Lord began. This fourth phase of the existence of Christ shows Him as the Ministering Christ. Of the remaining records of the life of
Christ, about half deal with His ministry.
While the ministry of Christ lasted only about three years, more is recorded about those three years than about the previous thirty
years. As we study the ministry of Christ, it can be conveniently broken down into three parts: (1) the year of inauguration, (2) the
year of popularity, and (3) the year of opposition. We cannot give attention to all events of the ministry of Christ, but we should consider
some of the high points along the way.
The first year of His ministry was the year of inauguration, during which our Lord began His ministry by being baptized (Mt. 3: 13~17).
Following His baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus was led of the Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted for forty days (Mt. 4: 1~11).
Shortly thereafter, Jesus performed the first miracle of His ministry by turning water into wine at the wedding feast John 2:1~11). He
later cleansed the temple John 2:13~17) and then gave a discourse to Nicodemus on the new birth John 3:1-21). The other miracle of
this period was the healing of the nobleman's son John 4:46~54). Following the inauguration were the years of popularity and
opposition. Since these last two periods form the mainstream of the public ministry of Jesus, let us look at the varied works and teachings
which filled those two years of our Lord's ministry.
During the ministry of our Lord, there were many who were miraculously healed by Him. Some of these incidents are listed with
Scripture references for your further study. Jesus healed: a demoniac (Luke 4:33~37), Peter's mother~in~law (Luke 4:38~39), a leper (Luke
5:12~13), a paralytic (Luke 5:18~26), the man at the pool John 5:2~9), a withered hand (Luke 6:6~1O),many near Galilee (Mt. 12:15), the
centurion's servant (Luke 7:2~1O),a dumb demoniac (Luke 11:14), two Gergesenes' demoniacs (Mt. 8:28-34),the woman afflicted with an issue
of blood (Mt. 9:20-22), two blind men (Mt. 9:27~31), a dumb man (Mt. 9:32~34), the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman (Mk.
7:24~30), the deaf and dumb man (Mk. 7:32~37), the blind man (Mk. 8:22~26), the demoniac son (Mt. 17:14~21),ten lepers (Luke 17:11~19),
the man blind from birth John 9:l-41), the woman bowed over with infirmities (Luke 13:1O~17), the man with dropsy (Luke 14:1~6),and
Bartimaeus the blind man (Mk. 10:46-52).In addition to these listed, there were many others; for "...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him" (Acts 10:38).
In addition to the miraculous healings, there were also many parables which He taught as He preached the Word of God. Often His
discourses on various subjects included parables as illustrations. Some of the most familiar have been selected for future reference and study.
The parables were: The Sower (Mt. 13:3-9, 18-23), The Wheat and Tares (Mt. 13:24-30,36-43), The Mustard Seed (Mt. 13:31-32),The
Leaven (Mt. 13:33), The Hidden Treasure (Mt. 13:44), The Goodly Pearl (Mt. 13:45-46), The Fishing Net (Mt. 13:47-51), The Unmerciful
Servant (Mt. 18:23-35), The Laborers in the Vineyard (Mt. 20:1-16),The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37),The Rich Fool (Luke
12:16-20), The Wise Steward (Luke 12:41-48), The Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9),The Great Supper (Luke 14:7-24),The Lost Sheep (Luke
15:1-7), The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10), The Prodigal Sons (Luke 15:11-32), The Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13), The Rich Man and
Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31),The Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-9),The Publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14),The Ten Pounds (Luke 19:11-27),
and The Good Shepherd John 10:1-16). While all these are great messages, none can equal the greatest sermon which Jesus preached,
the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. chapters 5-7).No wonder that it was written" ...For he taught them as one having authority, and not as
the scribes" (Mt. 7:29).
His authority was manifested not only by the healings and parables but also by many other miracles which our Lord performed. Peter
said, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs,
which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know ..." (Acts 2:22). Our Lord performed the miracles of calming
the stormy sea (Mt. 8:24-27) and walking upon the water (Mt. 14:22-33),proving Himself unquestionably the Master of the universe.
He fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fishes (Mt. 14:15-21).Later He fed another gathering of four thousand with seven
loaves and a few fishes (Mt. 15:32-38). No wonder He taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Mt. 6:11).He proved Himself
able to feed us.
He was able not only to feed the hungry, but also to raise the dead to life again. Jesus said, "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and
quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will" John 5:21). He repeatedly proved His ability to do so, by raising the widow's
son (Luke 7: 12-16), Jairus' daughter (Luke 8:41-56), and finally Lazarus John 11:1-16). He even took life again after His death by crucifixion
John 10: 18), thereby assuring us of the resurrection of our physical bodies at His second coming (l Cor. 15:17-20). He was also transfigured
before His disciples that "they and we might have a glimpse of our future state in glory (Mt. 17:1-9).
In conclusion, I readily acknowledge that not all aspects of His ministry have been covered. John said, "And there are also many
other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written everyone, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the
books that should be written" John 21:25). Though many events were left untouched by the writers of Scripture, I have endeavored to cover
some of the most important of those which have been recorded and have cited scriptural passages for your future reference and study.
I admonish you to read the biblical record of these events so that you may rejoice again and again in the ministry of Christ. There are
many other wonderful happenings such as Christ's forgiving the woman taken in adultery John 8: 1-11), so that we too may hope in
God's forgiveness of our sins. Although His ministry lasted only about three years, these were important years to God and should be of special
interest to us. The events of His short ministry were divinely recorded to bless human hearts throughout the ages. In time and for eternity,-
the ministry of Jesus Christ meets the needs of God's elect. My prayer is that those of us who love Him may be found serving Him until
He comes again or until we go by death to be with Him.
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