Stage Directions: Shift Scene to Galilee

The bulk of Jesus' ministry was spent near the Sea of Galilee in northern Palestine. For perhaps as little as a few months, certainly for no longer than two or three years, Jesus was engaged in an active ministry. What did he do?

First of all, Jesus preached, sometimes in Capernaum (which seems to have been a sort of "headquarters"), sometimes in the synagogues, and sometimes along country roads or on hillsides. Mark gives us a capsule summary of what he was preaching: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel" ( Mark 1: 15) That time of which the prophets had spoken is now here, Jesus says. The time of preparation is over. The Kingdom of God is at hand. (We will examine the idea of the "Kingdom of God" in Chapter 16.) What are people to do because of this? They are to "repent," turn about, begin again. Life must be different now, if these things are so. The "good news" makes all the difference.

Jesus also taught. He spent a great deal of time trying to make clear just how you were supposed to live after you had

committed yourself to him and his Kingdom. (Chapters 18 to 23 will deal with Jesus teachings.)

Then too, Jesus gathered a group of followers around him. A few people were convinced not only that Jesus was speaking the truth, but that he himself was the truth. They helped him in all that he did. The "inner circle" were called apostles, from a Greek word meaning "messenger" or one who speaks with authorization. There were all sorts and kinds -- fishermen from Galilee, a member of the fanatical Zealot party, two sets of brothers, a tax collector (the most despised profession in Palestine), a lone individual from Judea named Judas, and a few others. That Jesus was able to mold such diverse characters into a real community is a telling tribute to him. In addition to the apostles were many disciples, "learners" or apprentices, who were eager to know more about Jesus. Some of them may originally have been followers of John the Baptizer. Jesus instructed them and sometimes sent them out in small groups to preach, so that his message could be proclaimed more widely.