A. THE PRELIMINARY PERIOD. (a) The Peri od of the Early Life.—Jesus was born in the seventh year before the Christian Era, toward the close of the reign of Herod the Great. (See Nativity in the article GOSPEL; NEW TESTAMENT CHRONOLOGY.) His mother was Nary. a virgin, betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth. The circumstances preceding and attending the Child's birth were of such supernatural character as to mark it as miraculous. It occurred in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea. where Joseph and Jlary had gone for the purpose of registra tion, in connection with one of the Imperial en rollments customary in the provinces. After Herod's death Jesus' home was in Nazareth until the time of His formal entrance upon His public work. Of these early years practically no information has come to us, the Gospels giv ing, besides the summary statements of Luke (ii. 40. 52), hut one event of that time—His visit to the temple (Luke ii. 41-51)—while the extra-canonieal traditions referring to this period are worthless. (h) Induction Into Pub lic Work.—With the baptism in Jordan at the hands of John the Baptist, it is clear that to Jesus' mind His work was formally undertaken. This work. as He conceived it, was not that of a rabbi. nor even that of a prophet, but that of the INIessiah foreshadowed. and promised to the people of God in the Old Testament Scriptures. It is this clear realization of His mission that gave significance to the event as Jesus looked at it. and offers the proper meaning to His state ment to the Baptist. "Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." as well as to the message which came to Him from the heavens. "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. iii. 15.17). Follow ing upon His baptism Jesus retired to the neigh boring wilderness. There for a season He was subject to an inward struggle with thoughts which this public consecration to His mission most naturally brought to Him, a struggle right ly termed a temptation. From this He returned to the scene of His baptism. where He met cer
tain of the Baptist's disciples. to whom He had been pointed out by their teacher. They were Andrew, and Simon, his brother. Philip and Na thaniel. and, apparently. also John. all of them residents of Galilee. This acquaintance proved to be the beginning of their discipleship. and their discipleship formed the nucleus of all of Jesus' subsequent following. (c) Early Judean, Ministry.—After a short visit to His home, Jesus returned to Judea to be present at the Feast of the Passover, in the spring of the year (A.D. 27). While there He apparently made a public declaration of His mission of religious reform by driving out of the temple the traders and money-changers. who had been gradually per mitted by the priests to bring their business within the sacred inclosure. Through this act and the miracles which He wrought in the city, He attracted much attention, and gained a con siderable following among the people. For a while—possibly during the summer and autumn —He remained in Judea, carrying on, with such of His disciples as had accompanied Him to the feast, or as had attached themselves to Him in Jerusalem, a simple work among the people. Upon the imprisonment of the Baptist, however, He withdrew permanently into Galilee. passing through Samaria, in a village of which region, Sychar by name (the modern Askar), He spent a few days in successful work. Upon reaching Galilee He repaired to His former home, where He spoke to the people at their Sabbath service in the synagogue. His teaching, however. which clearly forecast the comprehensive character of His mission, involving a practical ignoring of all mere national claims, angered the people and forced Him to withdraw to the more congenial surroundings of Caperimum, which lie forthwith made His home and the centre of His work. Here He called to His more formal following Simon and Andrew and John, who had come to Him at the Jordan. and with them James, the brother of John, and in their company He began His stated work.