#Government# was that of a foreign nation--Rome.
---------------------+------------+----------+-----------+-------- EVENTS | MATTHEW | MARK | LUKE | JOHN ---------------------+------------+----------+-----------+-------- | | | | Baptism of Jesus. | 3:13-17 | 1:9-11 | 3:21-23 | | | | | The Wilderness. | | | | Temptation of Jesus | 4:1-11 | 1:12,13 | 4:1-13 | (1, 2). | | | | | | | | The Witness of John, | ... | ... | ... | 1:19-51 etc. | | | | | | | | Cana. The First | | | | Miracle. Capernaum | ... | ... | ... | 2:1-12 (3, 4). | | | | | | | | Jerusalem. First | | | | Cleansing of the | ... | ... | ... | 2:13 to Temple, etc. (5). | | | | 3:21 | | | | Ministry in Judea. | | | | Witness of the | ... | ... | ... | 3:22-36 Baptist. | | | | | | | | Imprisonment of John | | | | the Baptist. Jesus | 14:3-5; | 6:17-20; | 3:19,20; | 4:1-3 leaves Judea, etc. | 4:12 | 1:14 | 4:14 | | | | | Jacob's Well. | | | | Discourse with | | | | Samaritan Woman, | | | | etc. (6). | ... | ... | ... | 4:4-42 ---------------------+------------+----------+-----------+--------
#PLACES.#--Wilderness of Judea, Bethany beyond Jordan, Cana, Sychar, Jerusalem, Judea.
[Illustration: JUDEAN MINISTRY Copyright, 1898, BY JOHN D. WATTLES & CO.
The figures attached to the journeys refer to events mentioned in the first column on the opposite page.]
#120. The Year of Obscurity.#--Before examining this at all, it will be well to consider the state of national life into which the life of the Master was projected. It was not like that which we have seen prevailed so constantly before the captivity, for there was now among Jews no idolatry of any kind to be found. This was a great gain. Moreover, it was a national life under subjection to a foreign and Gentile power. With this power the Lord had to reckon, of course. Once more there was great reverence for the written Word, which was now more full than it ever had been, for the Old Testament, as we have it, was all in existence. There was to be found in every Jewish town the synagogue, where the law was read and expounded. This institution was an outgrowth of the captivity experience, and was most valuable. But, alas! there was also much of formality, especially among the religious leaders. They had so added to or explained the written law that it had become void through the traditions of men. Much religiosity, but little true religion, was to be found. Yet among the lowly there was still true religion, as shown by such persons as Zacharias and Elisabeth, Joseph and Mary, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Into a national life such as is here very briefly indicated, Jesus came forth.