Ben Wilson

But John the Baptist is someone who kind of gave him the pattern for how to conduct his ministry. Now, according to Matthew, it is once John the Baptist is thrown into prison that Jesus returns to Galilee and begins to preach. And according to Matthew, the first thing he does is call disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John.

The timelines of the four gospels don't actually match up exactly, which again is the sort of thing that you would expect from firsthand accounts of people who were not writing down things as they happened, but writing down remembrances later. But the general timeline is the same that he starts preaching and performing miracles and calling disciples at this inauguration period of his ministry.

The timelines of the four gospels don't actually match up exactly, which again is the sort of thing that you would expect from firsthand accounts of people who were not writing down things as they happened, but writing down remembrances later. But the general timeline is the same that he starts preaching and performing miracles and calling disciples at this inauguration period of his ministry.

When Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is at hand, he means a specific thing by that. I think most people would have interpreted it as a return of independent Israel under divine guidance. Of course, what Christians think he meant was a spiritual kingdom.

When Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is at hand, he means a specific thing by that. I think most people would have interpreted it as a return of independent Israel under divine guidance. Of course, what Christians think he meant was a spiritual kingdom.

But in either case, like the Pharisees, Jesus is calling people to live a more obedient life in preparation for the coming of the kingdom of heaven. But unlike them, his emphasis will be on adherence to the deeper meaning of the commandments rather than strict obedience to the specific Mosaic rituals. But most of that is yet to come.

But in either case, like the Pharisees, Jesus is calling people to live a more obedient life in preparation for the coming of the kingdom of heaven. But unlike them, his emphasis will be on adherence to the deeper meaning of the commandments rather than strict obedience to the specific Mosaic rituals. But most of that is yet to come.

Jesus hasn't really set out his moral framework to the world yet. Early on, Jesus' message is simply, repent, do better. According to the synoptic gospels, I should explain that really quick. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic gospels because they basically agree with each other. They're kind of narrative histories of Jesus's life and they match each other very closely.

Jesus hasn't really set out his moral framework to the world yet. Early on, Jesus' message is simply, repent, do better. According to the synoptic gospels, I should explain that really quick. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic gospels because they basically agree with each other. They're kind of narrative histories of Jesus's life and they match each other very closely.

John is the non-synoptic gospel and it's quite different. It has a little less biography and kind of more of his sermons, more of his teachings. So according to the synoptic gospels, Jesus's first miracles are healings. Matthew says he went around, quote, healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people and also exorcisms, casting out demons.

John is the non-synoptic gospel and it's quite different. It has a little less biography and kind of more of his sermons, more of his teachings. So according to the synoptic gospels, Jesus's first miracles are healings. Matthew says he went around, quote, healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people and also exorcisms, casting out demons.

According to John, the first miracle was turning water into wine. And this is widely regarded by most Christians as his first miracle. So I'll read the book of John. It describes the miracle, quote, and both Jesus was called and his disciples to a marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?

According to John, the first miracle was turning water into wine. And this is widely regarded by most Christians as his first miracle. So I'll read the book of John. It describes the miracle, quote, and both Jesus was called and his disciples to a marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?

Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bear it.

Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bear it.

Now, one of the most interesting things about Jesus is he likes to party. I can't think to say it any other way. He likes to have dinner with his friends. He likes to eat and drink with his disciples and followers and everyone really. The Pharisees especially looked askance at the company he kept.

Now, one of the most interesting things about Jesus is he likes to party. I can't think to say it any other way. He likes to have dinner with his friends. He likes to eat and drink with his disciples and followers and everyone really. The Pharisees especially looked askance at the company he kept.

Paul Johnson says about him, quote, he was a convivial and collegiate spirit, always seeking companions and new friends. He actually uses that word a lot, convivial. And I think it's a good one. Jesus was very convivial. In fact, Matthew takes time to make an apology for Jesus' habits in this regard.

Paul Johnson says about him, quote, he was a convivial and collegiate spirit, always seeking companions and new friends. He actually uses that word a lot, convivial. And I think it's a good one. Jesus was very convivial. In fact, Matthew takes time to make an apology for Jesus' habits in this regard.

He says, Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And fasting is something that a lot of religious people do where you abstain from food. You intentionally make yourself hungry in order to sacrifice something and hopefully draw closer to God. And so these people are saying, hey, like the Pharisees, they fast all the time.