Jesus' Public Ministry 

Jesus’ public ministry began when he was baptized by John in the Jordan. It was on this occasion that Jesus became fully self-aware of his divine nature. Between the time of the supernatural visitation of the celestial messenger when Jesus was thirteen and the supernatural experience that he had at the time of his baptism, Jesus underwent his own natural evolutionary revelation of the truth of his divinity.

During the forty days in the wilderness, Jesus thought over his bestowal and carefully laid plans for his public ministry, plans that would serve not only this world but all other worlds that had been touched by rebellion as our world has been.

From the time that Jesus called his first six apostles to the time when the first public work took place, approximately one year was spent training the apostles and making other preparations. In the year that marked the beginning of the public ministry, there was a concerted effort to harmonize with the followers of John the Baptist while giving the apostles a chance to become familiar with their mission of preaching the gospel.

During the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness after his baptism the Master made several sweeping decisions that guided his subsequent public ministry.

He decided to always be subject to the Father’s will, even though he could have decided to go his own way in deciding the best way to better his world and his universe.

He decided not to employ any of the celestial hosts of heaven in his ministry except in the matter of time; he chose to be a man among men. No subsequent act of his would transcend the natural laws established and regularly working in the affairs of man as he lives on earth except in this expressly stated matter of time. The only exception to this rule would be if it were the express will of the Father.

To prevent the appearance of apparent time miracles, it was necessary for Jesus to remain constantly time-conscious. Any lapse of time consciousness on his part, in connection with the entertainment of definite desire, meant that whatever this Creator Son conceived in his mind was enacted, minus the time element. Such was the case in some of his miracles: turning the water to wine at Cana and the healing at sundown, for example.

Jesus decided not to attract attention to himself through the use of his superhuman powers. And even when he sometimes deliberately used the time-connected manifestation of miracles, he always told the recipients of healing to "tell no man." Of course, most recipients of such healing ignored Jesus’ direction.

He could have performed astounding miracles to draw men to himself, but Jesus decided to use the slow, sure way of accomplishing his mission. Jesus chose to establish the kingdom of heaven in the hearts of mankind by natural, ordinary, difficult, and trying methods, the same way that his earth children must subsequently follow in their work of enlarging and extending the heavenly kingdom.

There were just three main situations that were recurring during his public ministry: the desire of the people to be fed, their insistence on seeing miracles, and an insistence that he be made king. But Jesus never departed from the decisions that he made during the forty days.

In all his public teachings, he ignored the civic, social, and economic realms. He was concerned only with the principles of man’s inner and personal spiritual life.

Jesus never intended to formulate economic theories; he knew that each age must evolve its own remedies for existing troubles. If Jesus were on earth today, living his life in the flesh, he would be a great disappointment to the majority of good men and women for the simple reason that he would not take sides in present-day political, social, or economic disputes. He would remain apart from all temporal concerns while teaching us how to perfect our inner spiritual lives so that we could be much more competent to attack the solutions of our purely human problems.

In January of 27 CE, Jesus and the apostles began their public ministry through a preliminary tour, practicing what Jesus had taught them the previous year. They spent the year taking over John the Baptist’s work in Perea and Judea, often accompanied by John’s disciples. By this time, John had been imprisoned for six months, and the tour ended shortly after his death.

JANUARY-MARCH

On January 19, 27 CE, Jesus and the apostles departed from Bethsaida to Tarichea, continuing to Pella, where they taught for two weeks. Pella, once a site of John’s ministry, attracted many of his followers, though some resented Jesus for not helping John escape imprisonment. From Pella, they traveled to Amathus, staying for three weeks while Jesus preached and taught his apostles to comfort the afflicted and minister to the sick. On February 26, they moved to the Bethany ford near Perea, spending four weeks teaching before heading to Jerusalem.

APRIL

In April, they taught in Jerusalem, returning nightly to Lazarus’ home in Bethany. Their message focused on the kingdom of heaven, faith in God’s fatherhood, love for others, and obedience to God's will. Many Passover attendees embraced their message and carried it back to distant parts of the Roman Empire. One of Jesus’ notable sermons in the temple, in response to a man from Damascus, was the memorable Discourse on Assurance.

JULY

By the end of June, due to growing opposition, Jesus and the apostles left Jerusalem and went north to Samaria. They stayed in Bethel, teaching locals and visitors from neighboring towns. Afterward, they spent two weeks preaching to Jews and Samaritans in surrounding areas.

AUGUST

In early August, they preached in Archelaisl and Phasaelisl, addressing gentile audiences – Greeks, Romans, and Syrians – experiencing their first outreach beyond Jewish populations. By mid-August, they returned to Samarial, preaching in Sycharl after Jesus’ encounter with Nalda, the Samaritan woman. They set up a camp on Mount Gerizim, preaching throughout the region and preparing the way for the future ministry of Philip after Jesus’ death.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER

During these months, Jesus and the apostles retreated to Mount Gilboa, awaiting news about John the Baptist. Jesus delayed further public efforts out of respect for John’s situation, ensuring his work wouldn’t undermine John’s mission.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER

On November 2, 27 CE, the group disbanded their Gilboa camp. With tensions resolved between the followers of John and Jesus, both groups collaborated in the Decapolis cities of Scythopolis, Gerasa, and Gadara. By December, they returned to Pella, where they continued teaching Jews and gentiles. It was here that Jesus received John’s final message, confirming John’s lingering doubts. Jesus sent him words of encouragement, affirming he had not been forgotten. Afterward, Jesus praised John to the crowd, saying, "Among those born of women, there has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist."

JANUARY, 28 CE

On January 10, 28 CE, John was executed by Herod Antipas. Upon hearing the news, Jesus gathered the apostles, saying, "John is dead. The hour has come to proclaim the kingdom openly and with power. Tomorrow, we go into Galilee." On January 13, Jesus and the apostles, along with 25 disciples, departed for Capernaum to prepare for their next preaching tour.

Jesus and the apostles arrived in Capernaum on the evening of Tuesday, January 13. As usual, they made their headquarters at the home of Zebedee in Bethsaida. Through Andrew, Jesus arranged to speak in the synagogue on the coming Sabbath day.

On Friday morning of this same week, when Jesus was teaching by the seaside, the people crowded him so near the water’s edge that he signaled to some fishermen occupying a nearby boat to come to his rescue. After he got on the boat, he continued to teach the assembled multitude for more than two hours. To repay the favor, he directed the fishermen to a spot where fish were abundant and his followers saw the event as a miracle, but this was in no sense a miraculous draught of fishes. Jesus was a close student of nature and knew the habits of the fish in the Sea of Galilee.

The next Sabbath, at the afternoon service in the synagogue, Jesus preached his sermon on "The Will of the Father in Heaven." At this particular time, more people believed in Jesus in Capernaum than in any other city on earth.

At the end of the service, Jesus heard a young man cry out. The boy suffered from epilepsy, but everyone believed he was possessed by a demon. Jesus went to him and calmed his seizure. And so, the word got around very quickly that Jesus had cast a demon out of this boy.

Because it was the Sabbath, the story about Jesus healing the epileptic boy had spread like wildfire. Scores of those afflicted with diseases made ready to leave for Capernaum as soon as the sun set, hoping to be cured. And so, by the time the sun went down, the road from Capernaum to Zebedee’s home was crowded with nearly one thousand people who had come to seek healing.

Jesus’ human heart was moved by the sight of all these sick people. He remembered the decisions that he had made on Mount Hermon not to use his supernatural powers. And he knew that healing these sick people would not lead to an enduring spiritual movement. But when someone in the crowd asked for Jesus to heal them, Jesus decided that he could do nothing but ask for the Father’s will. He stepped out and spoke to the crowd, saying: "I have come into the world to reveal the Father and establish his kingdom. For this purpose, have I lived my life to this hour. If, therefore, it should be the will of Him who sent me and not inconsistent with my dedication to the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, I would desire to see my children made whole—and —"

Any more words that he spoke were lost in the uproar that happened next, when in a moment of time, 683 men, women, and children were made whole, a miraculous healing of all their physical diseases and other material disorders. Such a scene had never been witnessed on earth before that day, nor has it been since.

Chiefly because of this amazing demonstration of physical healing, throughout the remainder of his earth career, Jesus became as much a physician as a preacher. He did continue his public teaching, but his personal work consisted mostly of ministering to the sick and the distressed.

The first public preaching tour of Galilee began on Sunday, January 18, 28 CE, and continued for about two months, ending with the return to Capernaum on March 17. On this tour Jesus and the twelve apostles, assisted by the former apostles of John, preached the gospel and baptized believers in Rimmon, Jotapata, Ramah, Zebulun, Iron, Gischala, Chorazin, Madon, Cana, Nain, and Endor. In these cities, they tarried and taught, while in many other smaller towns, they proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom as they passed through.

At Iron, Jesus spoke publicly in the synagogue on Sabbath days. And Jesus would also sometimes preach on the weekday morning or evening assemblies. But Jesus spent most of his time working underground as a miner. Many had heard of Jesus and sought him out as a healer, but the only miracle of healing that he performed was to the leper at Iron. This was the first miracle that Jesus performed deliberately.

The apostolic party was greatly cheered when Jesus announced, "Tomorrow we go to Cana." While in Cana, Jesus was sought out by Titus, a citizen from Capernaum, who asked Jesus to come home with him and heal his sick son. As it turned out, the son got better while the man was on his way home. But he believed that Jesus had caused the healing. Since Jesus was already well-known in Cana because of the water and the wine at the wedding, great attention was aroused, and people began bringing more sick and afflicted people to him. So, Jesus had to cut the Cana visit short, and they traveled to Nain. And many people followed them.

But in Nain, Jesus again was accosted during a funeral procession by the mother of the supposedly dead child. Jesus perceived that the child was not really dead and took his hand and told him to wake up. And when he did, the people believed it was a miracle, in spite of Jesus telling them otherwise. Again, Jesus was so sought after as a healer that he and the apostolic party had to leave the next day for Endor, where they managed to rest for a few days before they traveled to Capernaum on March 17.

And this was the end of the first preaching tour.

Early on the morning of Tuesday, March 30, 28 CE, Jesus and the apostolic party left Capernaum and arrived in Jerusalem for Passover on the afternoon of Friday, April 2; they established their headquarters, as usual, at Bethany. But they had to establish a camp at Gethsemane and go back and forth between Bethany and the camp to avoid the crowds that constantly sought Jesus out for healing.

On the second Sabbath in Jerusalem, the apostle John took Jesus to the pool of Bethesda, where a multitude of sufferers gathered, hoping to be cured by the waters. Jesus’ heart was moved, and he spoke to those there about the meaning of affliction. And many believed the gospel that Jesus spoke to them.

Simon, a Pharisee and a half-hearted believer in Jesus, invited him to a social supper one evening. And it was here that the woman of unsavory reputation happened to come in from the street. She had been reformed from the brothel's madam to a woman of dignity because of the gospel. She proceeded to anoint Jesus with a costly oil and to wipe his feet with her hair, much to the disgust of Simon. But Jesus tried to soften Simon’s heart and taught him lessons about forgiveness. Jesus told him that the doors of the kingdom are open to all who wish to enter, even this woman of "ill repute."

Before they left Jerusalem for Capernaum, Jesus attended many more social gatherings like this one, and many became believers in the gospel.

Before the departure of the apostles and the new corps of evangelists on the second preaching tour of Galilee, Jesus spoke in the Capernaum synagogue about righteous living. When Jesus had finished speaking, a large group of those who were maimed, halt, sick, and afflicted crowded up around him, seeking healing.

During the talk in the synagogue, a Pharisee convinced a man with a withered arm to approach Jesus and ask for healing. Knowing that the Pharisee had influenced this man to approach him, the Master healed the man and made it clear to all in the synagogue that it is always lawful to minister to the sick, even on the Sabbath.

The second public preaching tour of Galilee began on Sunday, October 3, 28 CE, and continued for almost three months, ending on December 30, 28 CE. Jesus and his twelve apostles participated in this effort, assisted by the newly recruited corps of 117 evangelists and by numerous other interested persons. On this tour, they visited Gadara, Ptolemais, Japhia, Dabaritta, Megiddo, Jezreel, Scythopolis, Tarichea, Hippos, Gamala, Bethsaida-Julias, and many other cities and villages.

This entire second preaching tour was principally to give the corps of 117 newly trained evangelists practical experience.

Jesus did very little public work on this preaching tour, but he conducted many evening classes with the believers in most of the cities and villages.

On Tuesday, January 18, 29 CE, the twenty-four were joined by the tested evangelists, about seventy-five in number, at the Zebedee house in Bethsaida preparatory to being sent forth on the third preaching tour of Galilee. This third mission continued for a period of seven weeks. They visited Magdala, Tiberias, Nazareth, and all the principal cities and villages of central and southern Galilee, as well as all the places previously visited. This was their last message to Galilee, except to the northern portions.

Jesus also announced the formation of the Women's Evangelistic Corps, which would consist of ten women chosen by him to preach the gospel. This was a groundbreaking action because women were not widely regarded as religious teachers at the time. These women, including Susanna, Joanna, Martha, Rachel, and others, were commissioned by Jesus and formed their own organization. They were given money and pack animals, and they began managing their own finances. Over time, Mary Magdalene and Rebecca joined the group.

Jesus’ main ministry was semi-public in that he concentrated his efforts on the younger members of the newly formed evangelistic group. He would give talks to them in the evenings during which he spoke on many subjects, including magic and superstition, and what must I do to be saved. With the older apostles away, these younger groups of both men and women more freely entered into these discussions with the Master.

On Friday, March 4, all the groups gathered at Nazareth.

The next day, the Sabbath, was a beautiful day, and all Nazareth, friends and foes, turned out to hear Jesus speak in the synagogue. It was the first time he’d been there since the start of his public ministry, and the townspeople's feelings about Jesus were mixed. When he was younger, Jesus had often spoken here, and of course, he had grown up here and was well known to the townspeople. But many in the town resented the fact that he did not include Nazareth on his earlier preaching tours. They had heard of his fame and were offended that he had done none of his great works in his hometown. So, the town's mood was unfavorable – even hostile – towards Jesus.

Just as when he was young, the services consisted of prayers and benedictions, followed by Jesus reading from the Scripture lessons and ending with Isaiah, from which he read: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

After Jesus finished, he faced hostile crowds who challenged his teachings and reputation, leading to a confrontation where his enemies attempted to throw him off a cliff. Despite the violence, Jesus calmly walked through the mob unharmed, though the incident sobered his followers who began to understand that establishing the kingdom would involve suffering and disappointment.

They left Nazareth on Sunday morning, assembling at Bethsaida on March 10, 29 CE.

It was around this time that Jesus began using parables to teach simple truths to the multitudes. One Sunday in Bethsaida, almost one thousand people arrived near the shore where Jesus was sitting in a boat. Peter asked whether he should talk to them. But Jesus answered, "No, Peter, I will tell them a story." And Jesus related the Parable of the Sower.

The next day, Jesus spoke other parables about the kingdom of heaven: the grain of mustard seed, the leavened bread, the hidden treasure in the field, the pearl of great price, and the sweep net. And from this time forward, he used parables almost all the time with the masses.

For Jesus, the parable approach was the greatest way to avoid the scorn of religious authorities, who claimed that Jesus' teachings were heretical and associated with demons. Everyone thought that spiritual powers governed nature. Therefore, he used simple nature parables to reassure his audience that his teachings were good rather than evil. In this way, he could convey essential facts to his eager audience while providing his adversaries fewer opportunities to accuse him of evil deeds.

The next week, Jesus needed some time away from the crowds of people that constantly were around him. So they rowed across the lake and found a private place to have breakfast near a small village called Kheresa. And here arose the famous story of Jesus driving demons out of a lunatic named Amos into a herd of swine. Jesus did help Amos regain his right mind, but the story of the demons and the swine was based on a misconception. Nevertheless, everyone believed it, and Jesus was again beset by throngs of people who believed that he had cured the lunatic of demon possession and sent the demons into the swine and over a cliff.

By the time Jesus returned to Capernaum, the crowds were larger than ever because news about the Kheresa lunatic had spread quickly throughout the area. While Jesus began speaking to a crowd of people, one of the synagogue rulers, Jairus, begged Jesus to come to his home and heal his sick daughter, who was near death. And Jesus consented.

But on the way to Jairus’ house, Jesus had an encounter with Veronica, who emerged from the crowd. Veronica believed that if she could only touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed of her scourging hemorrhage. And when she did so, she was healed. Jesus assured her that it was her faith that had cured her. He had not consciously willed her cure, but just being in his presence and having great faith was enough for her to lay hold of the power that emanated from him.

At Jairus' home, Jesus perceived that the daughter was not dead, as everyone thought; she was only sleeping. So, he woke her up, and she rose from her bed. Jesus tried to explain to the parents of the girl and to his apostles that she really had not died and that she was only sleeping, but they all believed that he had raised her from the dead.

About this time Jesus’ reputation as a healer was at its height. Everywhere he went, the sick and the afflicted were waiting for him. The Master now looked much worn, and all of his friends were becoming worried that he was near collapse.

The multitudes kept increasing in size. On Sunday morning, March 27, 29 CE, Jesus and the apostles tried to elude the crowds and escape across the lake to a beautiful park near Bethsaida-Julias. But the crowd saw which direction they went and came right after them. And by that afternoon, more than one thousand people had located Jesus. He spoke to them briefly, and they gathered in small groups, eating food that they had brought with them for the evening meal.

By Monday afternoon, the crowd had increased to more than three thousand, with more arriving all the time, bringing many sick people with them. And by Wednesday noon, about five thousand men, women, and children were assembled here in the park. And there was no more food.

It was here in this park that Jesus performed his first and only nature miracle when he multiplied the loaves and fishes – enough to feed the entire crowd of five thousand, with twelve baskets left over. He performed this miracle deliberately, using his supernatural energy driven by purely human pity.

This amazing demonstration of his power electrified the crowd and caused them to declare Jesus their long-awaited Messiah. They demanded in one voice, "Make him king!"

But Jesus dashed all their hopes when he stood on a large rock in the twilight and said: "You would make me king, not because your souls have been lighted with a great truth, but because your stomachs have been filled with bread. How many times have I told you that my kingdom is not of this world? This kingdom of heaven which we proclaim is a spiritual brotherhood, and no man rules over it seated upon a material throne. My Father in heaven is the all-wise and the all-powerful Ruler over this spiritual brotherhood of the sons of God on earth. Have I so failed in revealing to you the Father of spirits that you would make a king of his Son in the flesh! Now all of you go hence to your own homes. If you must have a king, let the Father of lights be enthroned in the heart of each of you as the spirit Ruler of all things."

The multitude dispersed, stunned and disheartened. In less than one month’s time, the enthusiastic and open followers of Jesus, who numbered more than fifty thousand in Galilee alone, shrank to less than five hundred.

On Sunday, April 24, 29 CE, Jesus and the apostles left Jerusalem for Bethsaida. Upon arrival, Jesus sent Andrew to ask the ruler of the synagogue permission to speak the next day, the Sabbath, at the afternoon service. Jesus knew that that would be the last time he would ever be permitted to speak in the Capernaum synagogue.

The attempt to make Jesus king had reached the ears of Herod Antipas, who sent observers to discern the truth. Some of the Jerusalem leaders had even tried to cancel the talk. And fifty-three Pharisees and Sadducees had come to start open warfare against Jesus. This talk marked a transition that turned the tide of popular fame away from Jesus. He now intended to concentrate on the most important task of winning lasting spiritual converts to the religious brotherhood of mankind.

Jesus went on the offensive in this epochal sermon. He denounced those who sought him out only for signs and wonders, saying: "I declare to you that such is not the mission of the Son of Man. I have come to proclaim spiritual liberty, teach eternal truth, and foster living faith. Only yesterday did I feed you with bread for your bodies; today, I offer you the bread of life for your hungry souls. Will you now take the bread of the spirit as you then so willingly ate the bread of this world?"

And he further declared: "I am this bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and are dead. But this bread which comes down from God, if a man eats thereof, he shall never die in spirit. I repeat, I am this living bread, and every soul who attains the realization of this united nature of God and man shall live forever. And this bread of life which I give to all who will receive is my own living and combined nature. The Father in the Son and the Son one with the Father—that is my life-giving revelation to the world and my saving gift to all nations."

Jesus was confronted by several of the Pharisees and others of his Jerusalem enemies who tried to discredit him and his teachings as blasphemous. In the end, Jesus simply exposed the folly of the whole rabbinic system of rules and regulations, which was represented by the oral law – the traditions of the elders, all of which were regarded as more sacred and more binding upon the Jews than even the teachings of the Scriptures. At this point, Jesus knew that he could not prevent further hostilities with the Jerusalem rulers.

In the middle of this meeting, a Jerusalem Pharisee brought a young man to Jesus. The young man was truly possessed by an evil spirit as was possible prior to Pentecost when Jesus bestowed his Spirit of Truth on humanity. Jesus commanded the spirit to come out of the lad, and immediately, the boy returned to normalcy and regained his sanity. This was the first time that Jesus cast an evil spirit out of a human being, and it was a true case of demonic possession.

This caused the charge that Jesus was in league with devils. Then Jesus asked: "How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand; if a house be divided against itself, it is soon brought to desolation."

The last of the seaside meetings was held on Sabbath afternoon, May 7, 29 CE. Jesus talked to less than one hundred and fifty who had assembled then. This was the lowest point of popular regard for Jesus and his teachings. From then on, a new following was built up, which was better grounded in spiritual faith and true religious experience. There was a more open proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom in its larger scope and its far-flung spiritual implications.

At Bethsaida-JuliasOn Monday, August 8, while Jesus and the twelve apostles were encamped in Magadan Park, near Bethsaida-Julias, more than one hundred believers, the evangelists, the women’s corps, and others interested in the establishment of the kingdom came over from Capernaum for a conference. Many of the Pharisees, learning that Jesus was here, came also. By this time, some of the Sadducees were united with the Pharisees in their effort to entrap Jesus.

Before going into a closed conference with the believers, Jesus held a public meeting at which the Pharisees were present, and they heckled the Master and otherwise sought to disturb the assembly. One of the troublemakers said to Jesus: "Teacher, we would like you to give us a sign of your authority to teach, and then, when the same shall come to pass, all men will know that you have been sent by God."

And Jesus answered them: "When it is evening, you say it will be fair weather, for the heaven is red; in the morning, it will be foul weather, for the heaven is red and lowering. When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say showers will come; when the wind blows from the south, you say scorching heat will come. How is it that you so well know how to discern the face of the heavens but are so utterly unable to discern the signs of the times? To those who would know the truth, already has a sign been given; but to an evil-minded and hypocritical generation, no sign shall be given."

Peter's confession marks the time when Peter, and then all the apostles, declared that Jesus was truly the Deliverer, the Son of the living God. A new significance attaches to all of Jesus’ teachings from this point on. Before Caesarea-Philippi, he presented the gospel of the kingdom as its master teacher. After Peter’s confession, he appeared not just as a teacher but as the divine representative of the eternal Father who is the center and circumference of this spiritual kingdom, and it was required that he do all this as a human being, the Son of Man.

This event marked the beginning of the fourth and last stage of Jesus’ life career. While the majority of his followers still regarded him as the Messiah, he became known to the apostles as the Son of God.

In the course of this month, twelve groups comprising almost one hundred evangelists labored in Gerasa, Gamala, Hippos, Zaphon, Gadara, Abila, Edrei, Philadelphia, Heshbon, Dium, Scythopolis, and many other cities. While Jesus did no public preaching on this tour, he did visit with the apostles in the cities where they labored and had occasion to speak publicly, although more informally. One evening at Hippos, in answer to a disciple’s question, Jesus taught the lesson on forgiveness which included the following memorable statements:

"The Father in heaven loves his children, and therefore should you learn to love one another; the Father in heaven forgives you your sins; therefore should you learn to forgive one another."

"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?" And Jesus answered: "Not only seven times but even to seventy times and seven."

At Edrei, where Thomas and his associates labored, Jesus spent a day and a night and, in the course of the evening’s discussion, outlined the principles which should guide those who preach the truth, and which should activate all who teach the gospel of the kingdom. These Instructions for teachers and believers can guide anyone who desires to carry the gospel to others.

The four-week mission in the Decapolis was moderately successful. Hundreds of souls were received into the kingdom, and the apostles and evangelists had valuable experiences carrying on their work without the inspiration of the immediate personal presence of Jesus.

After the Decapolis tour, Jesus and his associates prepared to take a week’s rest before they were ready to start upon the last of their labors for the kingdom. This was their last rest, for preparations for the Perean mission developed into a campaign of preaching and teaching that extended right on down to the time of their arrival at Jerusalem and of the start of the closing episodes of Jesus’ earth career.

During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus boldly entered Jerusalem and taught publicly in the temple, openly declaring his divine mission. His teachings divided opinions – some believed him to be a prophet or the Messiah, while others dismissed him as misleading the people. The Sanhedrin feared to confront him openly due to his growing support, though his apostles were filled with fear over his bold pronouncements.The First Temple TalkIn his first talk at the temple, Jesus taught about the freedom of the new gospel. Responding to questions about his authority, he declared, "No man has taught me these truths; they come from Him who sent me." He denounced burdensome traditions, calling his teachings a direct revelation from the Father. Although many were ready to believe, the agents of the scribes wanted to arrest him but feared the crowd's reaction. Even his detractors marveled at his wisdom, wondering if the expected Messiah could accomplish more than Jesus had already done.Proclaiming Himself the Light of the WorldJesus seized the global gathering at the festival to proclaim his mission, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life." He challenged those who judged him by outward appearances, declaring, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know the Father." His bold words silenced his enemies, who dared not move against him.Discourse on the Water of LifeOn the final day of the feast, as the procession from the pool of Siloam entered the temple courts, Jesus announced, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes shall be filled with living water." He proclaimed that the Spirit of Truth, soon to be poured out upon all believers, would quench their spiritual thirst forever. Jesus reminded them that their ancestors had used rituals to symbolize divine grace, but now God was revealing the true spirit to them through his Son.Discourse on Spiritual FreedomOn the afternoon of the final day, Jesus taught again, emphasizing spiritual liberty. "If my words abide in you, then you are truly my disciples, and the truth shall make you free," he said. When challenged about his authority, Jesus responded, "If you keep my word, you will never taste death." He revealed his unity with the Father, declaring, "Before Abraham was, I am." Enraged, his enemies tried to stone him, but Jesus slipped away and found refuge near Bethany with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.Through these public teachings, Jesus proclaimed his divine mission, invited all to partake in the water of life, and demonstrated the spiritual freedom that comes through truth. His fearless message at the Feast of Tabernacles further cemented both the faith of his followers and the hostility of his opponents, setting the stage for the final events of his earthly ministry.

Jesus and the twelve now prepared to establish their last headquarters in Perea, near Pella, where the Master was baptized in the Jordan. On Tuesday, December 6, 29 CE, the entire company of almost three hundred started out at daybreak with all their belongings, planning to stay that night near Pella by the river. This was the same site by the spring that John the Baptist had occupied with his camp several years before.

The kingdom was now taking on a new phase. Every day, pilgrims arrived from all parts of Palestine. Near the end of December and before the return of the seventy, almost eight hundred visitors were gathered about the Master and camped out with him.

Jesus and his associates were about to enter upon their last mission, the three-month tour of all Perea, which terminated only upon the Master entering Jerusalem for his final labors on earth. Throughout this period, the headquarters of Jesus and the twelve apostles were maintained at the Pella camp.

It was no longer necessary for Jesus to go abroad to teach the people. They now came to him in increasing numbers each week and from all parts, not only from Palestine but from the Roman world and the Near East. Although the Master participated with the seventy in the tour of Perea, he spent much of his time at the Pella camp, teaching the multitude and instructing the twelve.

The kingdom's work prepared to enter upon its terminal phase under the personal leadership of Jesus. This phase was one of spiritual depth in contrast with the miracle-minded and wonder-seeking multitudes who followed after the Master during the former days of his popularity in Galilee.

Jesus had attended the Feast of Tabernacles to proclaim the gospel to the pilgrims from all parts of the empire; he now went up to the Feast of the Dedication for just one purpose: to give the Sanhedrin and the Jewish leaders another chance to see the light. Here, he notably told the story of the Good Samaritan. The principal event of these few days in Jerusalem occurred on Friday night at the home of Nicodemus, where some twenty-five Jewish leaders who believed Jesus’ teaching were gathered. Among this group were fourteen men who were then, or had recently been, members of the Sanhedrin. It was a friendly group.

On this occasion, Jesus’ hearers were all learned men, and they were amazed at the remarks the Master had made to this distinguished group. Not since the times of the Mediterranean Tour had he exhibited such learning and a grasp of the affairs of men, both secular and religious.

When this meeting broke up, all went away mystified by the Master’s personality, charmed by his gracious manner, and in love with the man. They tried to advise Jesus concerning his desire to win the remaining members of the Sanhedrin. The Master listened attentively but silently to all their proposals. But he knew none of their plans would work. He knew that most Jewish leaders would never accept the gospel of the kingdom; nevertheless, he gave them all one more chance to choose. But when he left the meeting that night with Nathaniel and Thomas, he had not yet decided upon the method he would pursue in bringing his work once more to the notice of the Sanhedrin.

But it wasn’t long before the method he sought presented itself.

The next morning, the three went over to Martha’s home at Bethany for breakfast and then went immediately into Jerusalem. This Sabbath morning, as Jesus and his two apostles drew near the temple, they encountered a well-known beggar, Josiah, a man who had been born blind, sitting at his usual place. As he gazed upon this man who had been born blind, the idea came into his mind as to how he would once more bring his mission on earth to the notice of the Sanhedrin and the other Jewish leaders and religious teachers.

Jesus gave Josiah his sight by miraculous healing – on the Sabbath and near the temple – for the prime purpose of making this act an open challenge to the Sanhedrin and all the Jewish teachers and religious leaders. This was his way of proclaiming an open break with the Pharisees. He was always positive in everything he did. And it was for the purpose of bringing these matters before the Sanhedrin that Jesus brought his two apostles to this man early in the afternoon of this Sabbath day and deliberately provoked those discussions which compelled the Pharisees to take notice of the miracle.

The Sanhedrin convened a meeting that day, violating their own rule about working on the Sabbath.

Teaching in Solomon’s Porch

All of the time this Sabbath-breaking session of the Sanhedrin was in progress in one of the temple chambers, Jesus was walking about nearby, teaching the people in Solomon’s Porch, hoping that he would be summoned before the Sanhedrin where he could tell them the good news of the liberty and joy of divine sonship in the kingdom of God. But they were afraid to send for him. They were always confused by these sudden and public appearances of Jesus in Jerusalem. The very occasion they had so eagerly sought, Jesus now gave them, but they feared to bring him before the Sanhedrin even as a witness, and even more, they feared to arrest him.

This was midwinter in Jerusalem, and the people sought the partial shelter of Solomon’s Porch; as Jesus lingered, the crowds asked him many questions, and he taught them for more than two hours.

When they once more saw Josiah, he had been cast out of the synagogue during the meeting of the Sanhedrin. So Jesus invited Josiah to join the other believers at the Pella camp.

In early January of 30 CE, Jesus and his followers embarked on a significant journey through Perea, a region east of the Jordan River. This mission, lasting nearly three months, marked the final phase of Jesus' public ministry before his fateful journey to Jerusalem. Led by Abner, a former disciple of John the Baptist and now chief of the seventy messengers of the kingdom, the team spread across numerous cities and villages, sharing Jesus' teachings.

The Perean landscape provided a unique backdrop for this mission. Equally populated by Gentiles and Jews, the region was known for its picturesque beauty and was often referred to as "the land beyond the Jordan." This diverse setting allowed Jesus' message to reach a broad audience, including many who had not previously encountered his teachings.

Jesus divided his time strategically between the base camp at Pella and trips to various cities, working alongside the twelve apostles to support the seventy messengers. This period saw a shift towards emphasizing the spiritual aspects of Jesus' message, with less focus on miraculous demonstrations. The apostles, including Peter, taught daily, while Jesus reserved evenings for in-depth question-and-answer sessions with advanced disciples.

As word of Jesus' presence spread, the audience at Pella grew rapidly. By mid-January, over 1,200 people had gathered at the camp. Jesus taught this multitude daily, usually speaking at nine o'clock in the morning. By mid-March, the crowd had swelled to over 4,000 people who gathered each morning to hear Jesus or Peter speak. The mission reached its peak just as Jesus prepared for his final journey to Jerusalem, attracting a mix of eager truth-seekers and skeptical religious leaders from Jerusalem and elsewhere.

During this time, Jesus delivered several impactful sermons, including the parable of the Good Shepherd. This story emphasized Jesus' role as both the gateway to salvation and the protective shepherd of his followers. He used vivid imagery to contrast his dedication to his flock with the self-interest of "false shepherds" and "thieves." Jesus declared, "I am both the door to the Father's sheepfold and at the same time the true shepherd of my Father's flocks."

The Perean mission also saw a significant development in the organization of Jesus' followers. The women's corps, now numbering sixty-two, took over most of the work of ministering to the sick. This period marked the final stage in developing the higher spiritual aspects of the gospel of the kingdom, with a noticeable absence of miracle-working.

As the mission progressed, Jesus' teachings began to hint at the challenges that lay ahead. He spoke of completing his Father's will and not forsaking the flock entrusted to his care, foreshadowing the events that would unfold in Jerusalem. Despite the growing opposition from some religious leaders, this period in Perea saw the most thorough dissemination of Jesus' teachings and the most widespread acceptance among the better classes of citizens in any part of Palestine.

A significant portion of Jesus' teachings during the Perean mission focused on the themes of wealth, trust, and spiritual readiness. In a memorable Sabbath sermon at Pella, Jesus warned against the "leaven of the Pharisees," which he described as hypocrisy born of prejudice and nurtured in traditional bondage. He encouraged his followers to trust in God's provision, using the example of sparrows to illustrate God's care for even the smallest creatures: "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And yet, when these birds flit about in quest of their sustenance, not one of them exists without the knowledge of the Father, the source of all life."

Jesus also addressed the dangers of materialism and the proper attitude towards wealth. When approached about a dispute over inheritance, he used the opportunity to tell the parable of the rich man whose ground brought forth plentifully. In this parable, a wealthy man decided to tear down his barns to build bigger ones, thinking he could then relax and enjoy his wealth. However, that very night, his life was required of him, rendering his plans futile. Jesus used this story to illustrate the folly of hoarding wealth without spiritual growth, stating, "A man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he may possess."

Jesus emphasized that while wealth itself isn't inherently sinful, the love of riches can blind one to spiritual realities. He taught that there is a significant difference between wealth that leads to covetousness and selfishness, and that which is held and dispensed in the spirit of stewardship. Jesus encouraged his followers to lay up treasures in heaven, saying, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

In private discussions with his apostles, Jesus delved deeper into these themes. He reassured them of God's provision for those dedicated to spreading the gospel, using examples from nature to illustrate his points. "Consider the lilies, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these," Jesus told them, emphasizing trust in divine providence.

Jesus stressed the importance of seeking heavenly treasures over earthly possessions and being prepared for future challenges to their faith. He warned of a coming crisis and the need for vigilance, using the analogy of servants awaiting their master's return from a wedding feast. "Keep yourselves like men who are watching for their master to return from the marriage feast so that, when he comes and knocks, you may quickly open to him," Jesus advised.

The mission concluded with Jesus preparing his followers for the trials ahead. He spoke of a "baptism" he had yet to undergo, hinting at the approaching culmination of his earthly ministry. Jesus warned that his message would not immediately bring peace but might even cause division within families. However, he encouraged his disciples to continue preaching the gospel of peace, assuring them that true believers would find lasting peace in their hearts.

This period in Perea served not only to spread Jesus' message to a wider audience but also to deepen the understanding and commitment of his closest followers. It set the stage for the dramatic events that would unfold in Jerusalem, preparing the apostles for their role in continuing Jesus' mission after his departure. The teachings during this time emphasized the spiritual nature of the kingdom, the proper attitude towards material possessions, and the need for unwavering faith in the face of coming challenges.

One Sabbath morning, a wealthy Pharisee in Philadelphia invited Jesus to breakfast, hoping to honor him. A number of influential guests, including Pharisees and lawyers, attended. As they gathered, a prominent Pharisee from Jerusalem headed directly to the seat of honor by the host, unaware it had been reserved for Jesus. When the host redirected him to a less prestigious seat, the man felt deeply offended.

Later, a man suffering from a chronic illness entered, hoping, though not expecting, that Jesus might heal him. Moved by the man’s unspoken faith, Jesus took his hand and said, "Arise and go your way. Though you did not ask, I know the desire of your heart and the faith in your soul." The man was healed and departed quietly. Addressing the guests, Jesus explained, "Such works are not meant to lure anyone into the kingdom but to reveal the Father to those already within it. If one of you had an animal fall into a well on the Sabbath, would you not rescue it?" The room fell silent.

Noticing the social dynamics among the guests, Jesus shared a teaching on humility. "When invited to a feast, do not take the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished arrives, and the host asks you to move, causing embarrassment. Instead, choose the lowest seat, so the host may invite you to a higher place, honoring you before others. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. When you host a meal, don’t always invite friends, relatives, or the wealthy—those who can repay you. Instead, invite the poor, the disabled, and the outcast, for they cannot repay you, but your heart will be blessed."

The Parable of the Great Supper

To further emphasize his message, Jesus shared a parable of the Great Supper. "A certain ruler prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. When everything was ready, he sent his servants to summon the guests. But each guest made excuses. One said, ‘I just bought a field and must inspect it.’ Another said, ‘I purchased oxen and must tend to them.’ A third said, ‘I just got married and cannot come.’

The servants reported these excuses to their master, who became angry. ‘I prepared this feast, but those I invited have rejected my invitation,’ he said. ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys and bring in the poor, the blind, and the lame.’ The servants did so, but there was still room. The master then ordered, ‘Go to the highways and countryside and compel people to come so my house will be filled. None of those originally invited shall taste my banquet.’"

One Pharisee present grasped the meaning of Jesus’s words. That day, he was baptized and publicly professed his faith in the gospel of the kingdom, moved by the lessons of humility, generosity, and the importance of embracing the call of God.

Abner had arranged for the Master to teach in the synagogue on this Sabbath day, the first time Jesus had appeared in a synagogue since they had all been closed to his teachings by order of the Sanhedrin. After the service, Jesus looked down before him upon an elderly woman who looked very sad and who was bent in form. This woman was dominated by fear and had no joy in her life. As Jesus stepped down from the pulpit, he went over to her and, touching her bowed-over form on the shoulder, said: "Woman, if you would only believe, you could be wholly loosed from your spirit of infirmity." And this woman, who had been bowed down and bound up by the depressions of fear for more than eighteen years, believed the words of the Master and, by faith, straightened up immediately. When this woman saw that she had been made straight, she lifted up her voice and glorified God.

Jesus frequently delivered such victims of fear from their spirit of infirmity, from their depression of mind, and from their bondage of fear. But the people thought that all such afflictions were either physical disorders or possession of evil spirits.

When an indignant and unfriendly Pharisee criticized Jesus for ministering to the woman on the Sabbath, this Pharisee was put to shame as the crowd sided with Jesus and rejoiced with the woman that she had been healed. He was even deposed soon after and replaced by a follower of Jesus.

Jesus taught again in the synagogue on Sunday, and many were baptized by Abner at noon on that day.

One of David’s messengers brought an urgent message to Jesus from his friends at Bethany: Lazarus, Jesus’ long-time friend, was gravely ill. Hearing the news, Jesus began thinking of a plan that might give the scribes and Pharisees of Jerusalem one more chance to accept his teachings, and he decided, his Father willing, to make this last appeal to Jerusalem the most profound and amazing outward working of his entire earth career. The Jews clung to the idea of a wonder-working deliverer. Though he refused to stoop to the performance of material wonders or the enactment of temporal exhibitions of political power, he did now ask the Father’s consent for the manifestation of his power over life and death, a power that he had never used before.

Jesus knew that Lazarus would die soon, but he delayed his arrival at Bethany for two more days so that there would be no question that his friend was truly dead before he worked his miraculous resurrection. On Wednesday morning, he said to his apostles: "Let us prepare at once to go to Bethany." The apostles tried to talk him out of it but Jesus was determined.

During the day on Wednesday, he had occasion to speak to this group on the topic of "Terms of Salvation." and he told the parable of the publican and the Pharisee, saying: "You see, then, that the Father gives salvation to the children of men, and this salvation is a free gift to all who have the faith to receive sonship in the divine family. There is nothing man can do to earn this salvation. Works of self-righteousness cannot buy the favor of God, and much praying in public will not atone for lack of living faith in the heart. Men you may deceive by your outward service, but God looks into your souls."

He also spoke to a group of troublemaking Pharisees about marriage and divorce. Jesus proclaimed a positive teaching of the highest ideals regarding marriage. He exalted marriage as the most ideal and highest of all human relationships. Likewise, he implied strong disapproval of the lax and unfair divorce practices of the Jerusalem Jews, who at that time permitted a man to divorce his wife for the most ridiculous of reasons, such as being a poor cook, a faulty housekeeper, or for no better reason than that he had become enamored of a better-looking woman.

And later, to his apostles, he taught:

"Marriage is honorable and is to be desired by all men. The fact that the Son of Man pursues his earth mission alone is in no way a reflection on the desirability of marriage. That I should so work is the Father’s will, but this same Father has directed the creation of male and female, and it is the divine will that men and women should find their highest service and consequent joy in the establishment of homes for the reception and training of children, in the creation of whom these parents become copartners with the Makers of heaven and earth. And for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall become as one."

That evening, Jesus’ message regarding marriage and the blessedness of children spread all over Jericho so that the next morning, even before breakfast time, scores of mothers came to Jesus where he was staying, bringing their children in their arms and leading them by their hands; they desired that he bless their little ones. The apostles tried to send them away, but these women refused to leave until the Master laid his hands on their children and blessed them. And when the apostles loudly yelled at these mothers, Jesus came out and indignantly scolded them, saying: "Suffer little children to come to me; forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Verily, verily, I say to you, whosoever receives not the kingdom of God as a little child shall hardly enter therein to grow up to the full stature of spiritual manhood."

And Jesus received all of the children, laying his hands on them, while he spoke words of courage and hope to their mothers.

And so does the sacred oftentimes appear to be the common, as on this day, these children and their mothers little realized that the onlooking intelligences of the universe beheld the children of Jericho playing with the Creator of a universe.

Mary and Martha were grief-stricken and confused when Jesus arrived at their home in Bethany. Lazarus had indeed died before Jesus arrived. They wondered why it had taken him so long to get there, but Jesus told Martha: "Only have faith, Martha, and your brother shall rise again."

Then Jesus said, looking straight into the eyes of Martha: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live. In truth, whosoever lives and believes in me shall never really die. Martha, do you believe this?" And Martha answered the Master: "Yes, I have long believed that you are the Deliverer, the Son of the living God, even he who should come to this world."

Many people from nearby villages and many from Jerusalem had come to offer condolences to the sisters. But many of these visitors were Jesus’ bitter enemies. And some of them were not sincere in their concern for the sisters because of their connection with Jesus. And they murmured among themselves and sneered because Jesus had apparently allowed his friend to die.

When they got to the tomb, Jesus said, "Take away the stone," and the apostles and others rolled the stone away from the tomb. The sisters were dismayed, knowing that their brother had been dead now for four days. By the fourth day after death, the soul of the deceased was assumed to have left the body. And this was a common belief. And this was why Jesus waited as long as he did. He knew that after four days, there would be no doubt that Lazarus had truly been resurrected from the dead.

Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: "Father, I am thankful that you heard and granted my request. I know that you always hear me, but because of those who stand here with me, I thus speak with you, that they may believe that you have sent me into the world and that they may know that you are working with me in that which we are about to do." And when he had prayed, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"

Though these human observers remained motionless, the vast celestial host was all astir in unified action in obedience to the Creator’s word. In just twelve seconds of earth time, the lifeless form of Lazarus began to move and presently sat up. His body from head to toe was bound about with grave cloths. And as he stood up before them – alive – Jesus said, "Loose him and let him go."

Then Lazarus walked over to Jesus and, with his sisters, knelt at the Master’s feet to give thanks and offer praise to God. Jesus, taking Lazarus by the hand, lifted him up, saying: "My son, what has happened to you will also be experienced by all who believe this gospel except that they shall be resurrected in a more glorious form. You shall be a living witness of the truth which I spoke – I am the resurrection and the life."

Though many believed in Jesus due to this mighty work, others only hardened their hearts the more to reject him. By noon the next day, this story had spread all over Jerusalem. Scores of men and women went to Bethany to look at Lazarus and talk with him, and the alarmed Pharisees hastily called a meeting of the Sanhedrin so that they might determine what should be done about these new developments.

Late on Monday evening, March 6, 30 CE, Jesus and the apostles arrived at the Pella camp. This was the last week of Jesus’ stay there, and he was very active in teaching the multitude and instructing the apostles. He preached every afternoon to the crowds and each night answered questions for the apostles and some of the more advanced disciples residing at the camp.

Word regarding the resurrection of Lazarus had reached the encampment two days before the Master’s arrival, and the entire assembly was excited about it. Not since the feeding of the five thousand had anything occurred that so aroused the imagination of the people. And so it was at the very height of the second phase of the public ministry of the kingdom that Jesus planned to teach this one short week at Pella and then begin the tour of southern Perea, which led right up to the final and tragic experiences of the last week in Jerusalem.

On Thursday afternoon, Jesus talked to the multitude about the "Grace of Salvation." In this sermon, he retold the story of the lost sheep and the lost coin and then added his favorite parable of the prodigal son.

Jesus was very partial to telling these three stories at the same time. He presented the story of the lost sheep to show that when men unintentionally stray away from the path of life, the Father is mindful of such lost ones and goes out, with his Sons, the true shepherds of the flock, to seek the lost sheep. He then would recite the story of the coin lost in the house to illustrate how thorough is the divine searching for all who are confused, confounded, or otherwise spiritually blinded by the material cares of life. And then, he would continue into the telling of this parable of the lost son and the father’s acceptance of the returning prodigal to show how complete is the restoration of the lost son into his Father’s house and heart.

Many times during his years of teaching, Jesus told and retold this story of the prodigal son. This parable and the story of the good Samaritan were his favorite means of teaching the love of the Father and the neighborliness of man.

Parable of the Shrewd Steward

One evening, Simon Zelotes, commenting on one of Jesus’ statements, said: "Master, what did you mean when you said today that many of the children of the world are wiser in their generation than are the children of the kingdom since they are skillful in making friends with the mammon of unrighteousness?" Jesus answered by relating the parable of the Shrewd Steward; he finished the parable by saying: "And again I assert that no man can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to one while he despises the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

When the Pharisees who were present heard this, they began to sneer and ridicule since they were very attached to their riches. They tried to engage Jesus in an argument, but Jesus would not argue with them. So they started arguing among themselves, attracting a lot of attention. Jesus left them to it and went to his tent.

On March 1, 30 CE, Jesus preached his last sermon at Pella. This was one of the most important addresses of his public ministry, embracing a full and complete discussion of the kingdom of heaven. He was aware of the confusion that existed in the minds of his apostles and disciples regarding the meaning and significance of the terms "kingdom of heaven" and "kingdom of God," which he used interchangeably. Although the term "kingdom of heaven" should have been enough to separate what it stood for from all connection with earthly kingdoms and temporal governments, it was not. The idea of an earthly king was too deep-rooted in the Jewish mind to be replaced in a single generation. Therefore, Jesus did not at first openly oppose this long-nourished concept of the kingdom.

This Sabbath afternoon, the Master sought to clarify the teachings about the kingdom of heaven; he discussed the subject from every viewpoint and endeavored to make clear the many different senses in which the term had been used.

The Master distinctly taught a new concept of the double nature of the kingdom in that he portrayed the following two phases:

1. The kingdom of God in this world, the supreme desire to do the will of God, the unselfish love of man, which yields the good fruits of improved ethical and moral conduct.
2. The kingdom of God in heaven is the goal of mortal believers, the estate wherein the love for God is perfected, and wherein the will of God is done more divinely.

Jesus taught that, by faith, the believer enters the kingdom now. In the various discourses, he taught that two things are essential to faith-entrance into the kingdom:

1. Faith, sincerity. To come as a little child, to receive the truth of sonship as a gift; to submit to the doing of the Father’s will without questioning and in the full confidence and genuine trustfulness of the Father’s wisdom; to come into the kingdom free from prejudice and preconception; to be open-minded and teachable like an unspoiled child.
2. Truth hunger. The thirst for righteousness, a change of mind, adopting the motive to be like God and to find God.

Jesus never gave a precise definition of the kingdom. Instead, he would talk about different aspects of the kingdom at different times. In the course of this Sabbath afternoon’s sermon, Jesus noted no less than five phases of the kingdom, and they were:

1. The personal and inward experience of the spiritual life of the fellowship of the individual believer with God the Father.
2. The enlarging brotherhood of gospel believers, the social aspects of the enhanced morals, and accelerated ethics resulting from the reign of God’s spirit in the hearts of individual believers.
3. The supermortal brotherhood of invisible spiritual beings which prevails on earth and in heaven, the superhuman kingdom of God.
4. The prospect of the more perfect fulfillment of the will of God, the dawn of a new social order in connection with improved spiritual living – the next age of man.
5. The kingdom in its fullness, the future spiritual age of light and life on earth.

This is why we must always examine the Master’s teaching to ascertain which of these five phases he may have reference to when he uses the term kingdom of heaven. By this process of gradually changing one’s will and, by doing so, affecting human decisions, Jesus and his teachings are gradually but certainly changing the entire course of human evolution.

The day after the memorable sermon on "The Kingdom of Heaven," Jesus announced that on the following day he and the apostles would depart for the Passover at Jerusalem.

The address on the kingdom and the announcement that he was going to the Passover set all his followers to believe that he was going up to Jerusalem to inaugurate the temporal kingdom of Jewish supremacy. No matter what Jesus said about the nonmaterial character of the kingdom, he could not remove from the minds of his Jewish hearers the idea that the promised Messiah was to establish some kind of nationalistic government with headquarters at Jerusalem.

On Monday, March 13, Jesus and his twelve apostles took final leave of the Pella encampment, starting south on their tour of the cities of southern Perea, where Abner’s associates were at work. When the Master left Pella, about one thousand disciples followed him. When this large company arrived at the Bethany ford of the Jordan, his disciples began to realize that he was not going directly to Jerusalem as they thought. While they hesitated and debated among themselves, Jesus climbed upon a huge stone and delivered that discourse that has become known as "Counting the Cost."

Among other things, the Master said:

"You who would follow after me from this time on, must be willing to pay the price of wholehearted dedication to the doing of my Father’s will. If you would be my disciples, you must be willing to forsake father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters. If any one of you would now be my disciple, you must be willing to give up even your life just as the Son of Man is about to offer up his life for the completion of the mission of doing the Father’s will on earth and in the flesh."

Immediately after concluding the discourse, Jesus and the twelve started off on the way to Heshbon, followed by about five hundred, and this number dwindled as more followers headed to Jerusalem ahead of Jesus.

For more than two weeks, Jesus and the twelve, followed by a crowd of several hundred disciples, journeyed about in southern Perea, visiting all of the towns wherein the seventy labored. This journey ended on March 29, 30 CE, at Livias.

The Blind Man at Jericho

Late on the afternoon of Thursday, March 30, Jesus and his apostles, at the head of a band of about two hundred followers, approached the walls of Jericho. As they came near the gate of the city, they encountered a group of beggars, among them an elderly man named Bartimeus who had been blind from his youth. Bartimeus had heard much about Jesus and knew all about his healing of the blind Josiah at Jerusalem. Bartimeus was determined to never again allow Jesus to visit Jericho without appealing to him to heal his blindness.

When Bartimeus heard the heavy steps of the multitude, he asked those who were nearby what was going on. And they told him: "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And when he heard this, he lifted his voice and cried: "Jesus, Jesus, have mercy upon me!" Some of those near Jesus told him to be quiet, but he cried all the louder.

When Jesus heard the blind man crying out, he stood still. And when he saw him, he said to his friends, "Bring the man to me." And then they went over to Bartimeus, saying: "Be of good cheer; come with us, for the Master calls for you." When Bartimeus heard these words, he threw aside his cloak, springing forward toward the center of the road, while those nearby guided him to Jesus. Jesus said to Bartimeus: "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimeus answered, "I would have my sight restored." And when Jesus heard this request and saw his faith, he said: "You shall receive your sight; go your way; your faith has made you whole." Immediately he received his sight, and he remained near Jesus, glorifying God, until the Master started on the next day for Jerusalem, and then he went before the multitude declaring to all how his sight had been restored in Jericho.

And this was the last miracle of healing that Jesus performed during his public ministry.

On April 2, Jesus made a deliberate decision to enter Jerusalem in a public yet symbolic manner, knowing full well the challenges that awaited him. Rejecting the prevailing idea of a Messiah as a warrior king, Jesus chose instead to fulfill a different prophecy from Zechariah: "Your king comes to you... humble, riding on a donkey." This act emphasized that his mission was spiritual, not political. Jesus instructed Peter and John to retrieve a donkey from a nearby village, with the explanation, "The Master has need of him." The owner, recognizing Jesus as the Galilean teacher, willingly offered the animal. Meanwhile, word spread quickly through Jerusalem that Jesus would soon enter the city. Pilgrims and locals eager to see him gathered along the road, many believing him to be the long-expected Messiah.

That afternoon, Jesus mounted the donkey as his followers laid cloaks and branches on the path ahead, forming a carpet of honor. The joyful crowd, which included women disciples, began singing Psalms: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" The procession radiated excitement until they reached a point on the Mount of Olives where Jesus paused, overcome with emotion. Looking down upon the city, he wept, lamenting Jerusalem’s rejection of peace and salvation.

As the procession resumed, crowds from Jerusalem joined in, waving palm branches and shouting praises. Jesus allowed the spectacle to continue, knowing it would prevent his immediate arrest and give people one last chance to embrace his message of peace.

The next day, Jesus and the twelve arrived at the Jerusalem temple at about nine o’clock. They went at once to the large court where Jesus so often taught, and after greeting the believers awaiting him, Jesus mounted one of the teaching platforms and began to address the gathering crowd.

Amid a noisy aggregation of money changers, merchandisers, and cattle sellers, Jesus attempted to teach the gospel of the heavenly kingdom. He resented this profanation of the temple; the common people, especially the Jewish visitors from foreign provinces, also heartily resented this desecration of their national house of worship.

As Jesus was about to begin his address, two things happened to arrest his attention. At a nearby money table, a violent argument had broken out over the alleged overcharging of a Jew from Alexandria, while at the same moment, the air was filled with the bellowing of a herd of some one hundred steers, which was being driven from one section of the animal pens to another. As Jesus paused, silently but thoughtfully contemplating this scene of commerce and confusion, close by, he saw a simple-minded Galilean, a man he had once talked with in Iron, being ridiculed and pushed around by arrogant Judeans who thought themselves superior, and all of this combined to produce one of those strange and periodic uprisings of indignant emotion in the soul of Jesus.

To the amazement of his apostles, standing near at hand, Jesus stepped down from the teaching platform and, going over to the lad who was driving the cattle through the court, took his whip of cords and swiftly drove the animals from the temple. But that was not all; he strode majestically before the wondering gaze of the thousands assembled in the temple court to the farthest cattle pen and proceeded to open the gates of every stall and to drive out the imprisoned animals. By this time, the assembled pilgrims were electrified, and with wild shouting, they moved toward the bazaars and began to overturn the tables of the money changers. In less than five minutes, all commerce had been swept from the temple. By the time the nearby Roman guards had appeared on the scene, all was quiet, and the crowds had become orderly again. Jesus, returning to the speaker’s stand, spoke to the multitude: "You have this day witnessed that which is written in the Scriptures: ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a den of robbers.’"

This event became known as "Jesus Cleanses the Temple of Moneylenders."

After cleansing the temple, Jesus faced a wave of opposition from the Sanhedrin, Pharisees, and Sadducees. These religious leaders, threatened by his growing influence, sought to discredit him publicly. They attempted to entangle him in political and theological traps, hoping to alienate him from either the Jewish faithful or the Roman authorities. The Sanhedrin began by questioning his authority, demanding to know who had given him the right to teach and act in ways that disrupted their control over the temple. Jesus skillfully turned their challenge back on them, asking whether John the Baptist’s authority came from heaven or men – a question they dared not answer, knowing it would expose their hypocrisy.In a separate attempt, the Pharisees asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, hoping to trap Jesus into making a statement against Rome. His response – "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s" – left them confounded. This answer not only escaped their trap but also revealed the importance of distinguishing between worldly obligations and spiritual devotion.

The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, presented him with a hypothetical scenario involving marriage after death, intending to mock the concept of an afterlife. Jesus responded by explaining that life beyond death transcends earthly relationships. He declared that in the resurrection, people would be more like angels, living as children of God. His answer exposed the Sadducees' misunderstanding of divine realities and affirmed the eternal nature of life with God.

During this period, Jesus was approached by a group of Greeks, signaling the global reach of his teachings. Their inquiry symbolized that his message was not confined to the Jewish people alone but was meant for all humanity. Jesus acknowledged this interaction as a turning point, knowing his mission would soon culminate in events that transcended the boundaries of nations and religions.

In his last appearance in the temple, Jesus delivered a powerful and scathing discourse. He denounced the scribes and Pharisees for their spiritual blindness, calling them hypocrites who placed burdens on others while failing to live righteously themselves. His words served as both a condemnation of their leadership and a call for repentance. Jesus warned the crowds to avoid following these misguided leaders, explaining that true greatness lay in humility and service. "He who is greatest among you shall be your servant," he declared, reminding them that leadership in the kingdom of God was based on love, not power.

After rebuking the leaders, Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, expressing sorrow that the city had rejected so many opportunities to embrace truth. He foretold the impending destruction of the temple and the downfall of Jerusalem, not as an act of divine punishment, but as a consequence of continued spiritual rebellion. His prophecy emphasized the natural outcome of ignoring divine light and guidance.

Following this public discourse, Jesus retreated with his apostles for a day of solitude, seeking communion with God. This period of reflection strengthened him for the trials ahead, demonstrating his unwavering reliance on the Father. Meanwhile, Judas Iscariot began to conspire/Event/Judas Conspires with Jesus' Enemies] with the religious leaders, growing disillusioned with Jesus' refusal to establish an earthly kingdom. Judas' decision to betray Jesus marked the tragic result of ambition and spiritual confusion.

During those final days, Jesus taught his followers critical lessons about their dual role as children of God and citizens of the world. In response to ongoing questions, he clarified that spiritual allegiance to God took precedence over earthly affiliations. He emphasized that while believers had responsibilities to their communities and governments, their primary identity was as sons and daughters of the divine Father. This teaching reinforced the idea that citizenship in the kingdom of heaven transcended national or cultural boundaries.

Jesus’ interactions with the Jewish leaders further illustrated the growing tension between divine truth and institutional power. One ruler asked him to summarize the greatest commandment. Jesus responded by quoting two laws: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind" and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." With this statement, he redefined righteousness, shifting the focus from ritual observance to love and mercy. The simplicity of these commandments embodied the heart of his message and left no room for legalism or self-righteousness.

As the Sanhedrin solidified its plans to arrest Jesus, the contrast between divine love and human rejection became stark. Judas, now fully committed to betrayal, made a final agreement with Jesus’ enemies. Yet, despite the growing opposition, Jesus continued to teach the principles of forgiveness and mercy. His discourse on divine sonship reminded his followers that all were children of God, regardless of their circumstances or failures. This truth challenged them to rise above the limitations of earthly citizenship and embrace their identity as part of God’s spiritual family.

While Jesus would go on to host the Last Supper with his apostles to provide final guidance, this was the end of his public ministry.

These final teachings encapsulate Jesus' message that spiritual transformation begins with love, forgiveness, and humility.

The Sanhedrin’s decision to pursue his death underscores the tragic reality of rejecting divine truth, but Jesus' example provides a lasting demonstration of the power of love and grace, even in the face of betrayal and suffering. His final days invite his followers to choose between the transient values of the world and the enduring truth of the kingdom of God.