Page 56 - Life of Christ - textbook (3)

would be greatest in the Kingdom. They were expecting Jesus to set up an earthly Kingdom and each
wanted a prominent position. Jesus had to remind them that to be first, they must assume the last
position.

Word came to the disciples that there were disciples not of the twelve that were casting out demons in
Jesus’ name. John asked Jesus to command them to stop. In a sense, John demonstrated jealousy in
that others were doing what only his disciples should be doing. John revealed the heart of the disciples
– that they had refused to accept Jesus’ words concerning His own death, as well as His insistence that
they too must be ready to take up a cross and prepare for death.

It is at this point that Jesus concluded His ministry in Galilee and directed His journey toward Jerusalem.
He was planning to attend the Feast of Tabernacles which would put this trip in October of the year
before he died.

From Galilee to Jerusalem

The second segment of Jesus’ ministry is His journey from His native Galilee toward Jerusalem during
the final year of His life. The Synoptic Gospels relate only one visit to Jerusalem by Jesus during His
ministry years -his final visit that ended in His crucifixion. However, the Gospel of John reports a series
of visits corresponding to the traditional Jewish pilgrimage feasts.

Only Luke gives extended attention to Jesus’ specific journey from Galilee to Judea. Much of the
information about Jesus’ ministry that is unique to the Gospel of Luke is found in Luke 9:51 through
18:14 in which Luke emphasizes Jesus’ ultimate destination, Jerusalem. Jesus’ main ministry was with
his disciples, teaching them the meaning of discipleship. All during this time, he steadfastly continued
His journey south to the Holy City and toward the climax of His earthly ministry.

The Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths or Sukkot, was
th
celebrated at the end of the grape harvest in September and October. The Feast takes place on the 15
of the Hebrew month Tishri. It begins five days after the Day of Atonement and at the time the fall
harvest had just been completed. The seven days of this feast were a time for great joy. It was a
celebration of God’s continued provision for them in the current harvest as well as a time of
remembering His provision and protection during the 40 years in the wilderness.

Many scholars believe that Jesus was born either
on the Day of Atonement or very shortly after
during the Feast of Tabernacles. The date for
Christ’s birth on December 25 was not
th
established until the 4 century AD by the
Roman Catholic Church as a day to celebrate His
birth but does not necessarily state it is the day
of His birth. It is interesting that in John 1:14
that John wrote, “And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth”. The word John chose to
speak of Jesus coming to “dwell” among us is the
Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacle

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