Extensive Teaching in Galilee

Before the "hour" of Jesus' death, he has much to do in his heavenly Father's service. In Galilee, Jesus commences an even greater ministry than in Judea and Jerusalem. He goes "throughout the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the  good news of the kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity among the people." (Matthew 4:23)  His challenging words: "Repent you people, for the kingdom  of the heavens has drawn near" ring out in the entire district. (Matthew 4:17)  In a few months, when two disciples of John the Baptizer come to get a firsthand report about Jesus, he tells them: "Go your way, report to John what you saw and heard: the blind are receiving sight, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed and the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised up, the poor are being told the good news. And happy is he who had not stumbled over me." -Luke 7:22, 23. 

'Good talk concerning Jesus spreads out through all the surrounding country,'  and great crowds flock to him-from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the other side of the Jordan River.  (Luke 4:14, 15; Matthew  4:24, 25)  They come to him not only because of the miraculous healings but also because of his marvelous teachings. His message is appealing and encouraging. (Matthew 5:1-7:27) Jesus'  words are winsome and delightful.  (Luke 4:22) The crowds are  "astounded at his way of teaching," for he speaks from the Scriptures with authority.  (Matthew 7:28, 29; Luke 4:32)  Who would not be drawn to such aman? May we too cultivate the art of teaching so that honest-hearted individuals will be drawn to the truth.

However, not all of Jesus' listeners are receptive. Even early in his ministry, when he is teaching in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth, there is an attempt to kill him. Although the towns people marvel at his "winsome words," they want  to see miracles. Rather than performing many powerful works there, however, Jesus exposes their selfishness and lack of faith. Filled with anger, those in the synagogue  rise up, seize Jesus, and rush him out to a mountainside to hurl him head first over the cliff.  But he escapes from their grasp and safely slips away.  The "hour" of his death had not yet come. -Luke 4:16, 30. 

Religious leaders-scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and others-are also  often present  where Jesus preaches.  Many of them are there, not to listen and learn, but to find fault and try to entrap him.  (Matthew 12:38; 16:1; Luke 5:17; 6:1, 2) For example, while visiting Jerusalem for the Passover of 31 C.E., Jesus cures a  man who has been sick  for 38 years.  The Jewish religious leaders accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. He replies: "My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working." Now the Jews charge him with blasphemy for claiming to be God's Son by calling him Father. They seek to kill Jesus, but he and his disciples  leave Jerusalem for Galilee.  Similarly, we are wise to avoid undue confrontations with opposers as we devote our energy to the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work. -John 5:1-18; 6:1. 

For the next year and a half or so, Jesus confines most of his ministry to Galilee, visiting Jerusalem only to attend the three annual festivals of the Jews. All in all, he has undertaken three preaching tours in Galilee; the first with 4 new disciples, the second with the 12 apostles, and an expanded one with the trained apostles also being sent out. What an extensive witness to the truth given in Galilee! -Matthew 4:18-25; Luke 8:1-3; 9:1-6. 

Next time: Witnessing Courageously in Judea and Perea

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000