Chapter 5
Jesus’ Ministry
This chapter includes a number of episodes which are representative of the whole of Jesus’ ministry.
What Jesus Did
The four aspects of his ministry were teaching, preaching, healing and casting out demons. This latter needs expanding. Their nature is somewhat conjectural. In the ancient Middle East demons were believed to be the cause of a number of conditions such as epilepsy and psychosis, which are now known to have a medical cause. When we look at the ministry of Jesus there are many examples of Jesus casting out demons and casting out evil spirits. A supreme example is found in Mark’s gospel chapter 5 where Jesus addresses a man who lived in a graveyard. He was a danger both to anyone who met him and also himself- he would shout out as if in a strange language and cut himself with stones. Addressing the evil spirits, Jesus commanded them to come out of him. Whatever they were delving into, although an exploration of demonology is a fascinating study in itself, it is beyond the scope of this book. Suffice it to say that God through Jesus is more powerful.
He healed people in a number of ways, sometimes by just placing his hand on the person. On one occasion he even healed a blind man by spitting on the ground, gathering up the mud and rubbing it on his eyes.
All this demonstrated his multifaceted character, showing his love and proving his divinity. He showed his love often responding to immediate needs, such as miraculously turning water into wine at a wedding, healing the paralysed, or exorcising demons. He demonstrated his divinity by raising the dead and healing the blind, showing that God’s power was present in him.
Not surprisingly, news about him spread country wide. He went through the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
An Encounter of Jesus- The Woman at the Well (John 4:4-42)
The following early encounter gives us an oversight of the whole of Jesus’ ministry. It is worth reading the full account in John’s gospel.
Jesus and his disciples were travelling through Samaria, a region that was generally avoided by Jews. Around noon the disciples had gone to the nearby town to buy food, leaving Jesus resting from the heat of the day at the side of a well. There Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman, who is alone and fetching water.
They strike up a conversation which is surprising for a number of reasons. Firstly a man would not normally speak to a woman on her own. Secondly, Jews didn’t speak to Samaritans anyway as they had built their own temple which the Jews considered pagan. In addition the woman seemed to be an outcast as normally the women would come together In the early morning to the well. He then asked her to give him a drink, again this is countercultural to ask such a favour.
He then steers the conversation in a different direction and offers her living water, explaining that this living water is the Holy Spirit that those who believe in him would receive. The woman, realising that she is speaking with a prophet, asks about the proper place to worship. Jesus replies that true worship is not confined to a particular location but is about worshipping God in spirit and truth.
The woman, convinced by his words, goes back to her village and tells the people about her encounter, daring to believe that he was actually the promised Messiah. Many of them believed in Jesus because of her testimony.
By approaching her, Jesus demonstrated his care for all, regardless of their socialstanding. We can also be inspired by her excitement in sharing the good news of Jesus.
In this encounter we see many barriers broken down. Today one of the aims of Christians is continuing to break down barriers in so many areas of society.
Jesus the Healer
Then as now, sick people use the medical profession to be healed or cured. But Jesus used his miraculous power to heal the blind, the sick and the lame.
Although Jesus had come primarily to the Israelite people, he even healed those who were part of the oppressing forces, demonstrating that the kingdom of heaven is open to all believers. He clearly sees his role as for the whole world.
Healing a Woman with an “Issue of Blood”- See what Faith Can Do
Jesus was on his way to the house of Jairus, an official of the local synagogue whose daughter was very ill. Jairus had pleaded with Jesus to go to his house and heal her. A large crowd was following him but his journey was interrupted. A woman brought the crowd to a halt. She had been ‘subject to bleeding” for many years. The Bible expresses it quite delicately but what it implies is that she appeared to have had prolonged menstrual bleeding which in that culture made her unclean, an outcast. Jesus was surrounded by a crowd, but she pushed through and touched his cloak, thinking to herself that if she just touched his clothes she would be healed. Immediately the bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was free from her suffering. Jesus had felt power going from him and asked who had touched his clothes. The disciples commented that in the crowd, everybody is bumping into him. But the woman came and fell at his feet and trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. Jesus said to her, “Your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Jesus Restores a Dead Girl to Life. (Mark 5:21-43)
He continued to the home of Jairus, but was told that the little girl had died. When Jesus arrived at the house he told the mourners that the little girl was not dead, only asleep. They all laughed at him. They knew what a dead body looked like. But Jesus took thechild’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around. At this they were all completely astonished.
Raising Lazarus from the Dead. (John 11)
Following this, messengers had brought him the message to come quickly as his friend Lazarus, the brother of his friends Martha and Mary, was very ill. But Jesus was in no hurry as he knew what was going to happen. On his arrival he was told that Lazarus had been dead for four days. He stood at the entrance of the tomb and commanded Lazarus to come out. Lazarus came out still wrapped in his grave clothes. So they removed the grave clothes and let him go back home. He was restored to living out the rest of his life in the normal manner.
Jesus still heals people in miraculous ways. I recently spoke to a man who, having a medically diagnosed cancer, received prayer by members of his church fellowship. When he returned to his consultant he was told that the cancer was no longer there. But why does that not happen to everybody in answer to prayer? Only God Knows!
Jesus is also the perfect example of love for all, caring for the poor, and he never turned away little children. Matthew 19:13–14 says, “allow the little children to come to me, for of such is the Kingdom of God”. In saying this he was reaching out to a segment of society that was thought to be insignificant. He is not saying that the kingdom of heaven actually belongs to little children. Instead, he is reminding his followers of their need for childlike trust and humility.
Jesus’ Command over Nature.
Water into Wine (John 2:1-11)
Almost at the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus, his disciples and his mother Mary were among the guests at a wedding. All were having a good time until calamity struck they ran out of wine. What did Jesus do? Only turn the water in six stone jars each holding about 20-30 gallons and turn it into wine! When tasted it was recognised as being top quality! What Jesus was offering was the best. We don’t know how many guests, but typically the whole village would be invited. But all this shows that Jesus was not averse to people enjoying themselves.
5000 People Miraculously Fed (John 6:1-14)
Crowds often followed Jesus. On one occasion, on a hillside above the sea of Galilee, around 5000 men were there, and whole families. Towards the end of the day marked with teaching and healing, the disciples were hungry. They realised too that the people would be hungry and asked Jesus what to do about it. (Just as an aside, they were there all day. The Bible does not tell us what they used for toilets). A young boy had five small loaves and a couple of fishes. Jesus miraculously multiplied these over and over again and each person was fed. The leftovers were collected so that none would be wasted- in all 12 baskets full. How did he do it? God Knows! Simply another miracle.
Walking on Water and Calming the Storm (John 6:16-24)
Following this, the disciples went ahead of Jesus and were in a boat rowing across the Sea of Galilee. Several hours into the night, a storm blew up so violent that they thought that the boat would capsize. Then they saw Jesus walking toward them across the surface of the water but they did not recognise him. Their fear turned to terror because they believed they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus reassured them that it was him. Peter wanted to walk to him and Jesus invited him to do exactly that. Peter jumped out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus, but the moment he took his eyes off Jesus he started to sink. He cried out and Jesus immediately reached out his hand to save him from sinking. As Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat together, the storm ceased. After witnessing this miracle, the disciples joined the dots up finally realising that Jesus actually was the Son of God. Now, as always, Jesus is watching over those who trust in him. The message here is to keep your eyes fixed on him. For those who trust him, he has calmed many storms in our turbulent lives. So never lose track of that truth- Jesus is the Son of God, God inside a human body.
These are just a few examples of Jesus, over and over again showing his compassion, his caring, his love of humanity, especially to the less fortunate. He is demonstrating his Omnibenevolence. Now that you have seen all this, you know that you can trust him. Jesus after all knows everything about you- and still cares for you. To all of us he says, “Come to me all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).
Jesus faces Opposition from the Religious Leaders
But this message of love, acceptance, and forgiveness contrasted with the judgemental and condemnatory attitude of the religious leaders of his time as it presented a fresh interpretation of the Law and the Commandments. They considered that the things he said were blasphemous because he said that he existed before Abraham and that he forgave people’s sins. Their understanding was that only God could forgive sins, and how could any person alive have a pre-existence? But Jesus continually reminded people that His works were aligned with God’s will so that “the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).
Chapter 6
Jesus’ teaching
A New World Order- An Upside-down Kingdom.
Repent and Believe
Jesus’ life and teaching was based on living and interpreting the 10 commandments, given to Moses, described in the list below.
The Ten Commandments are
● You shall have no other gods before me
● You shall not make any idols to worship
● You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain
● Rememberthe Sabbath day and keep it holy
● Honour your father and your mother
● You shall not murder
● You shall not commit adultery
● You shall not steal
● You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour
● You shall not covet
The first four relate to our relationship with and respect for God. The remaining six to how we live our lives. They would appear to be quite specific but Jesus put a much wider and deeper interpretation on them. For instance, whereas the commandment said “do not murder”, Jesus’ interpretation was “do not be angry with another person or insult them”. The seventh commandment said “do not commit adultery”- Jesus’ explanation was if a married person looks at another person lustfully, they are guilty of adultery in their heart. And do not covet- who has not, in looking at someone else’s possessions, has not thought, I wish I had one of those! I don’t think I need to go on!
They can be summarised as, “Love God, and treat your neighbour as you would like to be treated yourself”. He is teaching about how to live a life based on love, humility and compassion with God at the centre. This was something he demonstrated with every breath that he took.
The core of his teaching- how to live the Kingdom life- can be found in Matthew’s gospel, in chapters 4-6, often described as Sermon on the Mount. It is intended to identify the ways in which followers of Jesus should behave in living a life of acceptance of God’s invitation to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
The important lessons for his followers are that possessions on earth should not be our top priority. God Knows what we need and he will provide. Again, it’s all about trust.
● Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
● God will help people who seek his help.
● The way to heaven is like a narrow gate- difficult to pass through- but getting into hell is easy like a wide gateway. More about this later.
Those who are favoured by God are the poor, the hungry, the sad, those who are hated because of their allegiance to Jesus. But those who are rich and well fed should watch out- they have already had their reward.
Here is a blueprint for our guidance, a path for us to walk on our journey through life. The overall message is for Christians to follow Christ’s example of performing kind, generous actions to those less fortunate in this life.
It contains challenges and rewards. It is an ideal to work towards- it will take a lifetime. Does it mean that we have to abandon all materialism? Matthew 6:33 says seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you. He refers not only to the provisions of comfort, health and safety, but also to material things- but you would become a good steward. They would become your servants not your masters, so to speak. What if…..? Wouldn’t the world be a better place?
There is a lot to take in. Just stop there for a few moments and think about what Jesus is saying.
I’ll say it again. What if….?
Chapter 7
Jesus’ Death
Warning! This chapter contains descriptions which some readers may find disturbing. It is the stuff that nightmares are made of.
It looks at all of those questions- who, what, when, where, how and why.
We nowmoveforward in time to the final week before Jesus was executed alongside two common criminals. It is full of contrasts. On the one hand it shows Jesus’ compassion. On the other, the hatred of the Jewish leaders towards him. Jesus had warned the Twelve about what was going to happen telling them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that was written by the prophets concerning me- that I would be delivered over to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on, then flogged and killed, but I would be raised back to life.”
This is exactly what happened, but the disciples did not understand it. They just could not believe the things that Jesus was saying, not only that he was going to be executed, but also that he would rise from being dead, although he had told them repeatedly in the previous months.
So they travel to Jerusalem, Jesus is seen as the coming conquering king who would liberate the people from the oppression of Rome. Entering the city people lined his path with palm leaves and some even spread their cloaks on the road. Here is the conquering king- arriving not on a war horse bringing in his kingdom by force, but on a donkey, a symbol of peace and meekness.
On entry into Jerusalem he went to the temple. On the forecourts he encountered money changers and traders. Many people liked to buy small denomination currency with their large denomination currency so as to get more attention when they rattled their coins into the collection. The money changers would of course make a profit on the exchange. Other traders were selling animals which would be used as sacrifices. He addressed the corruption, shouting angrily, “You have turned this house of prayer into a den of thieves,” as he overturned the tables of the traders. It is worth noting that anger does have a place, even such violent anger.
This made the chief priests and the other authorities even more determined to see him killed. They would soon get their way. But he continued his teaching for the next few days until the eve of the Passover, when he and his twelve disciples celebrated the Passover meal, one day early.
The Passover Meal
After the meal he also inaugurated a new symbolic meal of simply bread and wine, known as Communion (with God) or Eucharist (from the Greek word Eucharistia meaning thank you) as a way for his disciples then and now to remember his death and sacrifice. At its core, communion is a celebration, remembrance and proclamation of Christ’s death and the events which were to take place the following days- his arrest, trial and execution, followed by his being raised back to life. Of the loaf, torn apart to share with them, he said, “This is my body, broken for you, to preserve you for everlasting life,” describing the way his body would be pulled out of joint and mutilated by the manner of his death. Of the wine he said, “This is my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins”. This is the means whereby we can receive eternal life and forgiveness, an affirmation that we can be forgiven, over and over again. It is a time of renewing, cleansing, leaving the old behind us and making a new start. It reminds us and declares to those partaking that Christ is with us, Christ died for us and he is now alive working in us.
The disciple Judas left the meal early as he had made a deal with the religious leaders to have him arrested. He led them accompanied by a detachment of soldiers who arrested him and he was placed in a cell overnight to face trial the next day.
Early the following morning he was taken to the Sanhedrin- the body responsible for upholding the Jewish Law. He was accused of blasphemy but they couldn’t inflict a harsh enough punishment as they wanted to see him executed. So he was then taken to the governor of the province, Pontius Pilate, accused of being ‘King of the Jews’, a direct challenge to the Roman authorities.
According to Roman law the punishment for rebellion against the king was death by crucifixion. Although he did not think it warranted the death penalty he did not want to anger the Jewish leaders, so Jesus was beaten to the extent that the skin would be ripped from his back, hoping that would satisfy them. But many in the crowd had also misunderstood Jesus’ mission, who had expected a political or military leader who would free them from Roman oppression while Jesus’ mission was primarily spiritual and focused on the Kingdom of God. So they continued with their chanting crucify, crucify. Jesus was then led away to be crucified. He was ordered to carry the crossbeam of the cross but he was so weakened by the beatings that a passer-by, Simon from Cyrene was ordered to carry it for him. I wonder what was going through Simon’s mind at that time!
Weakened by this cruel beating he was led to a place just outside the city, called Golgotha. There Jesus was crucified along with two robbers, one on his right, one on his left. He was nailed by the soldiers to those pieces of wood, arms outstretched, suspended by nails through his hands and feet. As one modern hymn writer expressed it, “Hands that Flung Stars into Space to Cruel Nails Surrendered”. Here was the broken, disjointed body and the shedding of blood fulfilling the symbolism in Jesus’ last meal with his disciples.
Even in that situation he prayed, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” He was subjected to the taunts and jeers and scorn of the crowd. “He saved others, let him save himself.” Mockingly hailed as king of the Jews, a crown made out of vicious thorns was placed on his head adding to his pain and suffering.
Just put yourself at the scene for a moment. There are two things that many accounts of the crucifixion do not tend to make clear. The first was that Jesus was completely naked. We read that they divided his clothes. It didn’t mean they divided his clothes except his loincloth. Then we have the picture of Jesus lifted up high. In reality the crossbeam was only typically three metres off the ground. So here was the victim, subjected to verbal abuse from the onlookers and the ultimate humiliation and degradation of his nakedness for all to see. Also at some stage he would likely lose control of bowel and bladder. Pause for a moment and just think about it. But even here Jesus showed no resentment. The level of pain is indescribable- giving rise to our expression, excruciating. He was fastened by nails through his hands and feet with his arms stretched out carrying his bodyweight. I will protect the reader from the horrific physiological details of death by crucifixion- the what, concentrating on the why and how. But I will point out that it’s bad enough getting a splinter in your finger, or trying to pull a thistle out of the garden with your bare hands. I’m sure you can relate to that. Death by crucifixion is so horrific that I find it disturbing even writing about it.
But the most horrific words uttered by Jesus, never exceeded in history before or after, from Adam to the end of time. The words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That “Why” question- the biggest “Why” ever uttered. Never in the whole of human history has God forsaken any human being. Yet here is his son, his beloved son, forsaken by his father, knowable to all as a loving heavenly father. And the reason? Here was Jesus at the receiving end of the judgement of God, abandoned as the bearer of the sin of the whole world, for your wrongdoing and my wrongdoing.
This is what a father allowed to happen to his only son! Yet it was for you and me that he did it! I repeat the words, “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him would not die but have everlasting life.” This is what Salvation means, what it means to be saved, another word with the meaning different from that in common use, often trivialised.
“Jesus Saves” was an often stated slogan in my youth. Without the background, it is probably meaningless. In the typing pool in my former workplace was a card pinned to the notice board- “Jesus Saves!” The comment underneath was “Not on my salary he wouldn’t”……
The low point of the disciples’ whole experience must have been the arrest, followed by Jesus’ trial, death sentence and subsequent execution. In that moment all their hopes and expectations were dashed into a million fragments. With the exception of John, all the disciples abandoned Jesus and fled for fear of their own arrest and condemnation. But some of the women remained and stood at a distance with John. There they were removed from the jeers and taunts of the crowd, the groans of the tortured victims and the stench of stale urine and faeces.
Around six hours later, after receiving sour wine to quench his thirst, he cried out, “It is finished” and he breathed his last. Not just that his life had come to an end but the work that he came to do was now complete. He had carried the sin of the whole world. Then, now and for all time.
Just pause for a moment- here we have answers to all of the what, when, where, how, why and who questions.
I include here some of the words of Psalm 22, which King David wrote after his adultery with Bathsheba, some 1000 years before the birth of Jesus, at the time when he felt abandoned by God. It chillingly yet prophetically so accurately describes the experience of Jesus at his crucifixion.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
All who see me mock me.
I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
They have pierced my hands and my feet.
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”
But later in the psalm there is also a message of hope
“All of the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord.
Future generations will be told about the Lord.
They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn.”
Here is Jesus crucified. It was not uncommon for the victim to be suspended for days even before finally dying, swarming with flies, crows pecking at the flesh of the squirming, gasping victim. Truly, a living nightmare.
As evening approached, because it was the eve of the Sabbath, a rich man called Joseph who had become a disciple asked Pilate for the body. To ensure that he was already dead one of the soldiers plunged his sword into Jesus’ side. Blood and a watery liquid poured out. His body was removed from the cross and taken to an unused tomb nearby where his body was placed and wrapped in strips of linen cloth and the tomb closed with a flat circular stone rolled over the entrance.
The Lamb of God
In many places in the Bible, Jesus is described as the Lamb of God, identifying with the lambs that were sacrificed before the escape from slavery in Egypt. Now, Jesus becomes as if the sacrificial lamb, releasing the people from their slavery to sin. For the Israelites, forgiveness was achieved on the Day of Atonement. But now, here is Jesus becoming the ultimate sacrifice. He was sacrificed once and for all. He did it once, and he did it- for all! The atoning sacrifice was no longer required. The sacrifice of Jesus meant that the sins of the whole world were transferred to him. God was not punishing Jesus. Rather, God punished sin in the flesh of Jesus. The wrath of God was satisfied! Sin was defeated, saving people from its enslaving power, through that cross. In the same way that the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt led them out of slavery into freedom and the promise of their own country, the “Promised Land”, people now are offered an invitation to become citizens of a New Kingdom.
The main point here is that God did this because we are worth it. Each and every one of us is worth saving from death and being given a new life in a New Kingdom.
…….. If only Marilyn Monroe and many like her had realised that each and every one of us is so special in God’s sight!
So if we admit our faults and confess our wrongdoings and our self-centeredness we will certainly receive God’s forgiveness. Jesus took all of our sin and it was nullified on his death. “He Died to Save Us from our Sins,” is the central core message, but as we have seen, this is an oversimplification of a very complex scenario.
Next time we reach the final chapters of Is the Bible True?