HIS MINISTRY, HIS IDENTITY
Soon after Jesus' first recorded miracle, He recruited more disciples and started His ministry in earnest.
Indeed, the Gospel accounts in the New Testament describe the events following Jesus' first miracle, the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana, as recorded in John 2:1-11. This miracle signified the beginning of His public ministry and demonstrated His divine authority.
After this event, Jesus began to call more disciples to follow Him. For instance, in John 1:43-51, shortly before the wedding at Cana, Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael to be His disciples. Philip then tells Nathanael, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:45 NIV).
Following the miracle at Cana, Jesus’ ministry gained momentum. He traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God, and healing every disease and sickness among the people (Matthew 4:23). His teachings and miracles drew large crowds, and His fame spread throughout the region.
This period of His ministry was marked by significant events and teachings. He delivered the Sermon on the Mount, outlined in Matthew chapters 5 to 7, where He taught about the Beatitudes, love for enemies, and the Lord's Prayer, among other things. He performed numerous miracles, such as healing the sick, casting out demons, and calming a storm.
One key aspect of Jesus' ministry was His focus on calling individuals to repentance and to a deeper understanding of God's kingdom. He challenged the religious norms of the day and emphasized a personal relationship with God, marked by love, humility, and service.
This time was also characterized by growing opposition from religious leaders who were threatened by His teachings and influence. Yet, Jesus continued His ministry, emphasizing the importance of faith, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, and the coming of God's kingdom.
Along with His teachings, He performed many miracles and had a great following.
Absolutely, Jesus' ministry was characterized by a combination of profound teachings and miraculous acts, which significantly contributed to His large following. These miracles served multiple purposes: they demonstrated His divine authority, authenticated His message, and expressed His compassion for humanity.
Nature of Miracles: The miracles Jesus performed were diverse. They included healing the sick (like the blind, lepers, and those with various diseases), casting out demons, raising the dead, controlling nature (such as calming storms and walking on water), and providing supernaturally (like feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish).
Teachings and Parables: Alongside these miraculous acts, Jesus was a profound teacher. His teachings often challenged the prevailing religious and societal norms of the time. He used parables, a form of simple yet deeply symbolic stories, to communicate truths about the kingdom of God, forgiveness, faith, and love. These teachings were revolutionary, emphasizing inner righteousness, mercy, and a personal relationship with God over mere ritualistic religion.
Impact on Followers: The combination of His teachings and miracles had a profound impact on those who followed Him. People were drawn to Jesus not only because of the wonders He performed but also because of the hope and truth He offered. He spoke with authority and offered a message of redemption and transformation that resonated deeply with many.
Growing Opposition: While many followed Jesus because of His miracles and teachings, these same factors also led to growing opposition, particularly from religious leaders of the day. They saw Him as a threat to their authority and were often challenged by His teachings, which contradicted their practices and interpretations of the Law.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: The miracles and teachings of Jesus were also seen as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. This fulfillment of prophecy further authenticated His claim to be the Son of God and the promised Savior.
In summary, Jesus' ministry, marked by miraculous deeds and transformative teachings, drew a great following and significantly altered the religious landscape of the time. His actions and words continue to be a cornerstone of the Christian faith, emphasizing the power of God's love and the reality of His kingdom.
Although He had a great following, most were not sure who He was. Even John the Baptist sent a representative to ask if He was the Messiah. Jesus replied, watch what I do. Although the people could not figure out who Jesus was, the demons had no problem identifying Him.
Your observation is quite insightful. Despite Jesus' widespread following and the impact of His ministry, there was indeed uncertainty among many, including some of His contemporaries, about His true identity. This uncertainty is highlighted in various instances in the Gospels.
John the Baptist's Inquiry: In Matthew 11:2-6 (and Luke 7:18-23), we find an account of John the Baptist sending his disciples to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus' response was to point to His works: "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor." This reply was a reference to the fulfillment of messianic prophecies found in Isaiah, thereby indirectly affirming His messianic role.
Public Uncertainty: Throughout His ministry, people often questioned Jesus' identity. Some thought He was a prophet, others Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets come back to life (Matthew 16:13-14). The uncertainty stemmed partly from their expectations of what the Messiah would be like, which often included political and military liberation from Roman rule, not necessarily a spiritual savior.
Recognition by Demons: Interestingly, while people debated Jesus' identity, the demonic realm seemed to have no such confusion. In several instances in the Gospels, demons immediately recognize Him as the Son of God and are fearful of His authority. For example, in Mark 1:23-24, an impure spirit in a man exclaims, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" This immediate recognition by the demons contrasts sharply with the misunderstanding or lack of recognition by many people.
Theological Significance: Theologically, this contrast serves to underscore the spiritual truth of Jesus' identity and mission, which was more readily apparent in the spiritual realm. It also highlights the human struggle to understand and accept divine revelation, especially when it does not align with preconceived notions or expectations.
In summary, while Jesus performed many miracles and drew a large following, His true identity as the Messiah was not universally recognized during His earthly ministry. This theme of recognized and unrecognized messiahship in the Gospels invites reflection on the nature of faith, revelation, and the kingdom of God as presented by Jesus.
So those of the spiritual realm had no problem understanding who Jesus was while most were yet blinded.
Yes, that's an astute observation. The Gospels present a striking contrast between the recognition of Jesus' identity by spiritual beings and the lack of understanding or recognition by many humans during His earthly ministry. This contrast highlights several key themes in biblical teaching:
Spiritual Awareness: The spiritual realm, as depicted in the Bible, operates with a different level of awareness and perception. Demonic beings, being spiritual entities, recognized Jesus as the Son of God and reacted to His presence with fear and acknowledgment of His authority. This is seen in several instances in the Gospels, such as in Mark 1:24 and Luke 4:34, where demons explicitly identify Jesus as the Holy One of God.
Human Misunderstanding: In contrast, many people, including religious leaders and even Jesus' own disciples at times, struggled to understand His true identity. This lack of recognition can be attributed to various factors, such as preconceived notions of what the Messiah would be like spiritual blindness, or simply the difficulty of comprehending the fullness of Jesus' divine nature in a human context.
Revelation and Faith: The New Testament suggests that recognizing Jesus as the Messiah involves spiritual revelation and faith. For instance, when Peter declares Jesus as the Christ, Jesus responds by saying that this was not revealed by flesh and blood, but by His Father in heaven (Matthew 16:16-17). This implies that understanding Jesus' true identity goes beyond human reasoning alone and requires divine revelation.
The Role of Faith: The Gospels also emphasize the importance of faith in recognizing and understanding Jesus' identity and mission. Jesus often commended individuals for their faith and linked it to their healing and spiritual insight.
In summary, the distinction between the recognition of Jesus by spiritual beings and the misunderstanding or lack of recognition by many people during His time on earth underscores the spiritual nature of His identity and mission. It highlights the need for spiritual revelation and faith to truly comprehend who Jesus is, according to the Christian faith.
Note, also, that the demons knew something about the timetable of the ministry of Jesus and of the end times. In Matthew 8:28, the demons asked Jesus if he had come to torment them before the appointed time.