Page 18 - The Gospel Chronicle - Narrative

Narrative: Introduction

rd
th
Eusebius in the 4 c. A.D. and ultimately to Origen in the 3 c. A.D. But this opinion is only
based on the tenuous assumption that the gospel of John mentions three distinct Passover’s,
when it does not. The gospel of John, while the best source for such specific chronological
details, only contains two clearly distinct Passover events. One at the beginning of Jesus’
ministry and a second at the end when Jesus is crucified as the Passover Lamb. The third
instance in John 6:4, which simply tells us “And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.” does
not suggest that Jesus participated in a third Passover. Additionally, to have a clearly defined

three year ministry would actually require four distinct Passover’s not only three. To completely
capture three years one needs a beginning Passover, an ending Passover and two middle
Passover’s. For this same reasoning the two year opinion is also discredited, because based on
how the gospel Narratives are constructed, the presence of two distinct Passover’s can only

confirm the passage of one full year.

Yet as stated before, the opinion of one year is not supportable either, as there are
events that occur to either side of these two Passovers. While the two and three year theories
lack enough material, there is too much for the one year theory. One year is definitely a better

place to start, both for the number of clearly defined Passovers and for Jesus quoting from Isaiah
near the beginning of his ministry.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the

poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the
acceptable year of the Lord.” - Luke 4:18-19

The Acceptable Year of the Lord, can be clearly set between the two defined Passover’s

in John. Yet there are other events outside of this “Acceptable Year” that extend to both sides of
that defined year. What is to be done with this? This overflow leaves a couple of questions in its
wake: Just how long is Jesus’ earthly ministry? Does it really matter? And: If it matters why is it

ii • The Gospel Chronicle