Mark is regarded as the oldest of the four gospels and is written before 65 A.D. in Rome. It is likely the most orderly of the four gospels and is thought to have been the Gospel followed by the other writers.

Matthew wrote not to give a chronological ordering of events but to prove that Jesus was the Messiah to the Jews. Discourses Matthew 5-7; 24-25; Miracles 8,9

Luke sets out his purpose in 1:1-3. Luke sets out another orderly account for gentiles to understand. In keeping with his purpose he refers to gentile elements in the life of Christ rather than concentrating on the Jewish elements.

John's Gospel is yet in another style. John writes in a form of extended Gospel tract to lead mankind to a saving relationship with Christ. John 20:30-31

The ministry of Jesus spanned a period of three years. This has been challenged by some who have attempted to compress these events into two years and some have tried to compress them into one year. The evidence from the narration is clear that Jesus carried out a three years ministry.

Early Judean Ministry
Early in Jesus' ministry he visited Cana of Galilee John 2:1ff and made a brief trip to Capernaum, then returned to Jerusalem for the Passover. John 2:13-14 From John's Gospel it can be deduced that the Passover began three months after John's baptism. April, 27 A.D. John 1:43; 2:1-12 It was here during this time that Jesus met with Nicodemus. Leaving Jerusalem Jesus began a short six month ministry in Judea. This period was still in preparation for His disclosure as the Messiah. Mark 1:1-13; Luke 3:20-4:13

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Ministry in Samaria
Jesus left Judea because he was gaining in popularity and not because His ministry was a failure. Jesus' ministry in Samaria was brief lasting only two days but it shows the attitude of Jesus toward Samaritans. They are in as much need of salvation as the Jews. The ministry of Jesus is for both Jew and Gentile, yes even Samaritans.

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Ministry in Galilee
One of the main reasons why Jesus moved his ministry to Galilee was that the Jews were trying to put a wedge between John the Baptist Disciples and Jesus' Disciples in Judea. The hour had not yet come for conflict with the Pharisees and so he moves on to Galilee. The Galileans were a mixture of Jews and Gentiles and so Jesus brings the ministry of grace to a mixed people who were living in darkness. Jesus again emphasises the universal nature of the Gospel.

This portion of Jesus' ministry lasted about a year and a half from A.D. 27 - 29. Mark 1:14-6:44; Luke 4:14-9:50

Outline Early Ministry
Outline  Later Ministry

Ministry among Gentiles
Following a dispute with the Pharisees and the doors to the synagogue being closed to Him, Jesus determines to enter into Gentile territory. Mark 6:45-9:32 John had just been beheaded by Herod Antipas and so to avoid his anger Jesus enters into the territory of the Phoenicians, especially Tyre and Sidon. This was a trip of about thirty-five miles to the Northwest. Jesus tried to hid away from the crowd but was soon found out by a woman from Phoenicia who wanted her daughter healed. Mark 7:24-30; Matthew 15:21-28 Next Jesus retreated to the district of Decapolis, a region with ten cities. Upon returning to Gennesaret he was again met with the combined force of the Pharisees and Sadducees. To escape Jesus took a boat to Bethsaida and then on to Caesarea Philippi, the furthest north Jesus would take his ministry. It was here the Peter announced his famous confession. From this time on Jesus would speak plainly of his coming suffering and death. Matthew 16:21

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Ministry in Galilee
The public ministry of Christ is about to break forth from its relative seclusion. Jesus had been privately tutoring his disciples for about six months in the nature and character of His Kingdom. They were brought to an understanding that He is the Messiah and that he must suffer and die. Finally he revealed a portion of His glory to them in the transfiguration. Now he returns through Galilee to stay at Capernaum for a while before going on to Judea and finally to Jerusalem. Mark 9:33-50

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Ministry in Jerusalem
This period covers a brief period of but three months from the Feast of Tabernacles to the Feast of Dedication. John records the account of His ministry in Jerusalem and Luke gives the account of the surrounding regions. Jesus had not gone to the Feast of the Passover or Pentecost but now it was October and decided to go up to the Feast of Tabernacles. Urged by the disciples to go up quickly, Jesus explained that it was not yet his time to reveal his full Messiahship. John 7-8

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Ministry in Judea
Jesus was determined to evangelise the entire province of Judea before turning his attention to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51-13:21 Jesus had sent the seventy disciples ahead of him to the surrounding areas of Judea and when ministry became too dangerous in Jerusalem Jesus withdrew to Bethany beyond the Jordan to teach in Perea. This is the place where John first Baptised.

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Ministry in Perea
Jesus now found it necessary to leave Jerusalem and Judea having stirred up the hatred of His enemies. The door effectively being closed in Judea, Jesus moves on to the region of Perea. This portion of Jesus' ministry only lasted about three and a half months. It ran from the Feast of Dedication in A.D. 29 to the spring of A.D. 30 when Jesus would return to Jerusalem.

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Emotions
Opposition was now so strong that Jesus had to retire to a secluded place called Ephraim to meditate and prepare for the coming sufferings and death. Luke 19:57 Ephraim must have been located in the north east corner of Judea. Jesus left Ephraim and made his way to the crowd of Pilgrims making their way up to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. This would have brought Jesus along the boarder of Samaria and Galilee west of the Jordan. Luke 13:22-19:21

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Ministry in Jerusalem
Jesus arrives in Jerusalem the day before the Passover. The Passover was celebrated for an entire week but the Passover supper was not observed until Thursday the fourteenth of the month of Nisan. A.D. 30 Jesus went to the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead just six weeks earlier. With Lazarus having been raised from the dead Jesus must be the Messiah. The plans of the Pharisees to arrest Jesus were put off as Jesus entered Jerusalem with a great crowd of his supporters. Luke 19:28-24:53.

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Copyright © 1995 David Graves & Jane Graves, Electronic Christian Media