03.08. Early work in Judea

Early work in Judea

Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, the northern part of Palestine, and the lakeside town of Capernaum soon became his base.¹ But now that the Feast of Passover was approaching, Jesus decided to travel south to Jerusalem, where people from all over the country were gathering for the festival. When Jesus visited the temple, it looked more like a market than a house of prayer. The courtyard was crowded with all kinds of traders, so that people could buy animals or change money for use in the temple festivities. The commercial activity so angered Jesus that, regardless of the risks to his own safety, he vigorously drove out the traders. The disciples had not expected such an explosion from their new-found master, and saw with some apprehension that such zeal would inevitably land him in severe trouble.² The Jewish leaders were caught unawares, and challenged Jesus to produce some authority for acting as he did. They suggested he perform a miracle, but Jesus refused. He would give all the evidence they wanted in due course, particularly through the miracle of the resurrection, but he would not perform miracles on demand.³

Nevertheless, Jesus did perform miracles while in Jerusalem, and some people said they believed. But Jesus did not trust people to be loyal followers if their ‘faith’ was simply enthusiasm for miracles.⁴ One man, however, seemed to seek the truth. This was Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee, reputable teacher and member of the Sanhedrin, or Jewish Council. He had special status in the Jewish community, but not in the sight of God. He, like anyone else, could only enter God’s kingdom if he was ‘born again’. He needed inner cleansing and renewal – that complete change of heart that comes only as the Spirit of God brings spiritual rebirth within.⁵

1. Matthew 4:13; Matthew 9:1; Mark 2:1; Mark 9:33; John 2:12; John 6:24. Another lakeside town, Bethsaida, was close by; Mark 6:43-45; John 6:13; John 6:17.

2. John 2:13-17

3. John 2:18-22

4. John 2:23-25

5. John 3:1-15

Bar Mitzvah ceremony, Western Wall