Paper 137 Overview: Tarrying Time in Galilee

Jesus began his public work in January of the year 27 A.D. when he was about thirty-one years old. He gathered his first six apostles and started preparing them to help establish the kingdom of heaven. After choosing his apostles, Jesus spent time teaching them about the kingdom while they continued fishing to support themselves.

The apostles gradually learned from Jesus during this time while he patiently explained his mission. For about five months, Jesus had the apostles fish for two weeks and then do personal ministry work for two weeks in a pattern. This gave them practical experience in helping people and sharing the good news about the kingdom of heaven.

On Saturday, February 23, 26 A.D., Jesus came down from the hills to rejoin John the Baptist's followers who were camped at Pella. That day, Jesus helped an injured boy and took him back to his parents in the village of Pella. Jesus was beginning to show the kind of caring service that would mark his ministry.

Andrew was the first apostle chosen by Jesus. He had been following John the Baptist but decided to follow Jesus instead. Andrew then brought his brother Simon Peter to meet Jesus, and Jesus welcomed him as his second apostle. Peter's enthusiasm was noted by Jesus, who said he would give him a new name.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, became the third and fourth apostles. When they heard that Andrew and Peter were going with Jesus to Galilee, they asked to join as well. Jesus welcomed them, explaining that they were already part of the kingdom in spirit. From this day forward, the term "apostle" was used for Jesus' chosen advisors.

The next day, Jesus left John the Baptist, never to see him again. On the way to Galilee, Jesus and his four apostles met Philip of Bethsaida, whom Jesus invited to follow him. Philip quickly accepted and brought his friend Nathaniel to meet Jesus.

Nathaniel had doubts when Philip told him Jesus was from Nazareth. He asked, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" But when he met Jesus, he was impressed by Jesus' insight into his character. Jesus called him "a genuine Israelite, in whom there is no deceit." Now Jesus had six apostles who went with him to Nazareth, where Jesus destroyed all his writings as he had been instructed to do.

Jesus sent his apostles to Cana for a wedding while he visited his mother in Capernaum, stopping to see his brother Jude on the way. Jesus' family began to think that he might really be the Messiah, especially after hearing about recent events from his new followers. His brothers James and Jude were believers in his mission.

When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, people noticed a change in him. He seemed cheerful and more like his earlier self from Nazareth. His mother Mary was excited, thinking that the time had come for Jesus to reveal himself as king of the Jews. Instead, Jesus simply said he needed to stay there for a while to do his Father's will.

By Wednesday noon, about a thousand guests had arrived in Cana for the wedding, many hoping to see Jesus. The wedding proceeded normally, with Jesus participating but not performing any public displays of his power. His mother and some of his followers expected him to do something miraculous to announce his kingdom.

During the wedding feast, the wine ran out. Mary asked Jesus to help, but he initially refused, saying "My hour has not yet come." When Mary persisted, Jesus relented. Near the waterpots, the water was turned into wine. This was not actually a miracle where laws of nature were changed. Rather, the agents of the Creator made wine by the normal processes but without the element of time.

After the wedding, Jesus and his six apostles went to Capernaum without saying goodbye to anyone. On the way, Jesus talked about the coming kingdom and warned them not to mention the water-to-wine incident. He also told them to avoid the cities of Sepphoris and Tiberias in their future work.

That evening at Zebedee's house, Jesus explained to his apostles who he was and what his mission would be. They were shocked by his explanation of the kingdom. When Jesus saw they didn't understand, he sent them to bed. Jesus then spent the night in thought, realizing that his followers would always see him as the expected Messiah.

On Saturday, March 2, Jesus spoke at the Capernaum synagogue. Many people came hoping to see miracles because of stories about his baptism and the wine at Cana. Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah and simply said, "Be patient and you shall see the glory of God." The people were disappointed that he did not do anything miraculous.

That afternoon, Jesus took his apostles in a boat and taught them about the coming kingdom. He instructed them to continue their regular work until "the hour of the kingdom comes." He warned them that establishing the kingdom would involve difficulties, not the show of power many expected. He explained that the world would stumble at his words and many would demand miracles as proof.

For four months from March to June, Jesus held teaching sessions with his seven followers (six apostles and his brother James). During this time, Mary nearly lost faith in her son because he wasn't doing what she expected of the Messiah. Jude, Jesus' brother, couldn't attend many sessions because of family sickness.

These months allowed the apostles to get to know Jesus better. They were learning not to be afraid of him despite his divine nature. Nothing miraculous happened during this time, which tested their faith. Jesus also taught them about the various religious and political groups in Palestine but made it clear that they would not align with any of them.

On Sabbath, June 22, shortly before their first preaching tour, Jesus spoke in the synagogue about the kingdom of God. He explained that the kingdom included worshippers from all backgrounds - Jews and gentiles, rich and poor, free and slave. Jesus emphasized that God's love was for everyone.

Jesus taught that his kingdom was spiritual, not political or worldly. He said, "My kingdom is not of this world," and explained that his followers would enter the kingdom through moral decisions and spiritual victories. He described the kingdom as being like a seed that grows gradually, and as a life of increasing righteousness and joy in serving God.