From the Healing of the Nobleman s Son, February, A. D. 28, to the Choosing of the Twelve Apostles, June A. D. 28; 4 Months.

I. THE FIRST REJECTION AT NAZARETH (Luke 4:14-30). Jesus very naturally turned to his old home at Nazareth when he came into Galilee. On the Sabbath he went into the synagogue as was his custom. He stood up to read that day and read from the sixty-first chapter of Isaiah which all Jews believed referred to the Messiah. Jesus fearlessly declared that this prophecy was fulfilled." Jesus was anointed and sent to save and comfort humanity. At first they heard his gracious words gladly, but when they recalled his lowly origin and when he intimated that God's mercy was not limited to the Jews, they thrust him out of the synagogue, and leading him out to the brow of the hill they would have cast him down, but he quietly escaped from their hands.

II. THE REMOVAL TO CAPERNAUM (Matt. 4:13-17). Having been rejected in his own village, Jesus removed to Capernaum on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee and made it the center of his work in Galilee,

III. THE CALL OF THE FOUR (Matt. 4:18-22; Mark i:16-20; Luke 5:I-H). Jesus taught the people at Capernaum, and one day as he was teaching by the seashore he told Simon to push out the boat a little further, and he taught the people from the boat. Then they launched out into deep water and Jesus told Simon to cast out the net, and though they had hitherto caught nothing, this time they caught so many fish that the net began to break. Simon and Andrew beckoned to James and John, who were in another boat, to help, and both boats were filled so that they began to sink.- Jesus then bade the four fishermen, Simon, Andrew, James and John leave their fishing, follow him and become fishers of men.

IV. THE DAY OF MIRACLES (Matt. 8:14-17; Mark i:21-31; Luke 4:31-41). Jesus is found on the Sabbath day teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum, and he astonished the people at his doctrine and power. In this synagogue in Capernaum he cast out an unclean spirit, which was reported and brought many to see him. Peter's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and when he touched her hand the fever left her. The same Sabbath evening after sunset many were brought to Jesus to be healed because the Jews felt the Sabbath was past and it was right to work. Many bore testimony at this time that he was Christ.

V. THE FIRST PREACHING TOUR (Matt. 8:2-4; Mark 1:35-45; Luke 4:42-44; 5:12-16). Very early in the morning after this busy day Jesus withdrew to a solitary place where he might rest and pray. But Simon and others followed him, beseeching him to return, for all people were seeking him. But Jesus insisted that he must also preach in other cities, and he started on a tour through eastern Galilee. Among the many that he healed and blessed was a leper who came and worshiped, begging to be healed. Jesus touched the man and he was healed from his leprosy. At Jesus' word he presented himself to the priests and made the offerings required by the Law when one was healed of leprosy. The one that was healed went forth and reported this to many, and they came in great numbers to see Jesus.

VI. THE PARALYTIC BORNE OF FOUR (Matt. 9:18; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26). When Jesus returned to Capernaum crowds pressed into the house where he was teaching. Four men came with a paralytic on a litter, and not being able to enter the door on account of the crowd they took the man up the outside staircase and let him down through the roof into Jesus' presence. Jesus saw their faith and immediately said, "Thy sins be forgiven thee." 'i his aroused the anger of the Pharisees and they accused him of blasphemy, but Jesus, undisturbed by their murmuring, bade the man take up his bed and walk, and immediately he was restored.

VII. THE CALL OF MATTHEW AND HIS FEAST (Matt. 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32). One day as Jesus walked along the sea he saw Matthew at the port of Capernaum sitting at the receipt of custom. Although he belonged to a despised class, Jesus called him to leave all and follow him. Matthew obeyed and soon after made a feast to which he invited Jesus and many of his old associates. The Pharisees found fault with Jesus for sitting with publicans and sinners, but Jesus told them that he had not come to call the righteous to repentance.

VIII. THE QUESTION ABOUT FASTING (Matt. 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39). Soon after the call of Matthew some disciples of John and the Pharisees came to Jesus asking why his disciples did not fast. He replied that so long as the bridegroom was with them they could not fast. Fasting would be as unfitting as putting a new patch on an old garment, or new wine into old bottles.

IX. THE INFIRM MAN AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA (John 5:1-47). The time for the second Passover of Christ's ministry drew near, and Jesus with his disciples went up to Jerusalem to attend the feast. When they came to the pool of Bethesda they found many sick people waiting for the troubling of the waters that they might step into the waters and be healed. Among them was a man who had been lame for thirty-eight years. Jesus bade him take up his bed and walk, and with the word he was healed, and taking up his bed carried it away. But it was on the Sabbath and the Pharisees were angry that Jesus healed and the man carried his bed on that holy day. Jesus was called to account for this deed and proceeded to avow his union with the Father, and declared himself to be the Messiah and the future Judge of the world. To attest these statements he appealed to the testimony of John the Baptist, to the miracles, and to the Scriptures.

X. THE DISCIPLES PLUCK CORN ON THE SABBATH (Matt. 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5). On the next Sabbath the Pharisees again accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, because his disciples in passing through the corn fields began to pluck and eat of the ripened grain. Jesus vindicated the conduct of the disciples by referring to David breaking the law and eating the shewbread, and openly declared that he was Lord of the Sabbath.

XI. HEALING THE WITHERED HAND (Matt. 12:914; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11). A week later Jesus entered the synagogue at Capernaum and there Pharisees were still watching him, to see whether he would break the Sabbath; and they asked him whether it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath day. Jesus answered them by asking whether it is lawful to lift a sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath and whether it was better to do good or evil. The man with the withered hand stood before them and Jesus restored his hand, and his enemies could say nothing against it.

XII. THE WIDESPREAD FAME OF JESUS (Matt. 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12). Jesus' fame at this time had spread all over Palestine, and the people gathered from all provinces, and even from Tyre and Sidon, bringing with them many sick to be healed.

XIII. CHOOSING THE TWELVE (Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-19). In these days of popularity Jesus withdrew to a mountain alone to pray. He prayed all night, and in the morning he organized his kingdom, calling the twelve apostles to be helpers in his work. The twelve chosen were Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphceus and Simon Zelotes, Judas the brother of James and Judas Iscariot.

QUESTIONS.

• Name and locate the events.
• Give opening and closing events and date of each.
• What Scripture did he read in the synagogue?
• What was he anointed to do?
• What suffering was he to relieve?
• Why was he thrust out?
• Where does he go next?
• Name the four that were called at Capernaum.
• What was done on the day of miracles?
• How was the paralytic healed?
• Why did the Pharisees get angry?
• What was Matthew doing when he was called?
• Whom did Jesus come to save?
• Who was concerned about fasting?
• How did Jesus illustrate that it was absurd to fast?
• What miracle was performed at the time of the second Passover?
• How did Jesus heal the man?
• How long was this man lame?
• On what day was he healed?
• On what day was the corn plucked?
• Who is Lord of the Sabbath?
• Where and on what day was the withered hand healed?
• What is lawful on the Sabbath?
• What effect had these miracles on the people?
• What did Jesus do before choosing the twelve?
• Name the twelve.
• What did Jesus do in this period on Sabbaths?
• How many were named before?
• Draw map, trace journey and locate events.