Ministry of Jesus

The Ministry of Jesus refers to the period during which Jesus taught, performed miracles, and spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven. It began when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, though the Gospel of John does not mention the baptism.

Events

Beginning

According to the Synoptic Gospels, the ministry of Jesus begins with his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Then Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days to fast and pray, and he was tempted by Satan. After this, he started preaching, according to the Gospel of Mark: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

Jesus chose the Twelve Disciples to follow him closely and learn from him. However, the disciples who were closest to Jesus were James son of Zebedee, John, and Peter, since they witnessed things that none of the other disciples were allowed to see, like the Transfiguration.

Teaching

Jesus taught in temples, fields, and homes, usually with parables. His central messages include love, forgiveness, and the coming of the kingdom of God.

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most famous teachings of Jesus, containing the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer. The Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke both include the Sermon on the Mount, though it differs somewhat between them, whereas the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John do not include the Sermon on the Mount.

Miracles

Jesus performed many miracles to show that he had been given power. These included:

  • Healing the blind, deaf, paralyzed, and ill.
  • The Feeding of Five Thousand with just five loaves of bread and two fish.
  • Walking on water and calming a storm.
  • Rasing the dead into life, such as Lazarus.

Opposition

As Jesus grew more popular, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other religious leaders, opposed him. They accused him of breaking Jewish law and claiming to be the Son of God, which they considered blasphemy.

Final days

In the last week of his life, known as the Passion, Jesus entered Jerusalem during Passover. He was later arrested, tried, and sentenced to death by crucifixion under Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Christians believe that his death and resurrection are central to the salvation of humanity.