Paper 146 Overview: First Preaching Tour of Galilee

Jesus and his apostles began their first public preaching tour of Galilee on January 18, A.D. 28. The tour lasted about two months, taking them through many cities where they preached the gospel and baptized believers. This was the first time Jesus allowed his followers to preach freely without restrictions.

The Master only cautioned them three times during this tour - to avoid Nazareth and to be careful in Capernaum and Tiberias. The apostles were happy to finally preach without limits, and they worked with great joy as they spread the gospel message, helped the sick, and baptized those who believed.

The first public preaching tour of Galilee began on January 18, A.D. 28 and lasted about two months, ending when they returned to Capernaum on March 17. Jesus, the twelve apostles, and John the Baptist's former apostles traveled together on this journey. They preached in many cities including Rimmon, Jotapata, Ramah, and others, spending time teaching in these cities while also sharing the gospel in smaller towns they passed through.

This tour marked the first time Jesus allowed his associates to preach without restrictions. He only cautioned them three times - to stay away from Nazareth and to be careful in Capernaum and Tiberias. The apostles were very happy to finally preach freely, and they enthusiastically shared the gospel, helped the sick, and baptized new believers.

The small city of Rimmon had once been dedicated to Ramman, a Babylonian god of the air. Many people in Rimmon still held beliefs from early Babylonian and later Zoroastrian teachings. Jesus and his followers spent much time explaining the differences between these older beliefs and the new gospel of the kingdom. Peter gave one of his greatest early sermons here about "Aaron and the Golden Calf."

Although many people in Rimmon came to believe in Jesus' teachings, they later caused problems for other believers. It is hard to convert nature worshipers to spiritual worship in just one lifetime. Many good ideas from Babylonian and Persian beliefs about light and darkness were later included in Christian teachings, making them more acceptable to people in the Near East. It was at Rimmon that Todan first heard the gospel message, which he later carried beyond the Euphrates.

The common people of Jotapata gladly heard Jesus and many accepted the gospel of the kingdom. The most important event here was Jesus' talk to the twenty-four apostles on the second evening. Nathaniel was confused about Jesus' teachings on prayer, thanksgiving, and worship, so Jesus gave a detailed explanation that covered many important points.

Jesus explained about the prayer connection between humans and God, how inappropriate prayers are rejected, and how forgiveness works both ways - God forgives us as we forgive others. He taught about justice in the universe that even mercy cannot change, how we should show mercy to receive it, and that true prayer comes from following God's will. Jesus also taught them about praying in secret, praying for others rather than yourself, and using prayer as a path to true worship.

At Ramah, Jesus had a memorable conversation with an aged Greek philosopher. The philosopher thought science and philosophy were enough to satisfy human needs. Jesus listened patiently and agreed with many points the man made. However, Jesus pointed out that when the philosopher finished his explanation about human existence, he had failed to explain "whence, why, and whither."

Jesus told him, "Where you leave off, we begin. Religion reveals spiritual truths to the soul that the mind alone could never discover." For over an hour, Jesus taught the Greek about the gospel of salvation, and the philosopher believed because he was honest of heart. Later, Jesus told his apostles not to fear honest criticism or analysis of their beliefs, saying, "True and genuine inward certainty does not fear outward analysis." He explained that courage comes from honesty about what you believe.

Iron had many mineral mines, and since Jesus had never worked as a miner, he spent most of his time in the mines with the underground workers. While the apostles visited homes and preached in public places, Jesus worked alongside the miners. The news of Jesus as a healer had spread even to this remote village, and many sick people sought his help and were healed. However, Jesus only performed one actual miracle here - healing a leper.

One afternoon as Jesus was returning from the mines, he passed by a leper's house. The leper asked Jesus to make him clean so he could enter the kingdom. Jesus was moved with compassion, touched the man, and healed him instantly. Jesus told the man not to tell anyone but to show himself to the priests as Moses commanded. Instead, the man told everyone, causing such crowds that Jesus had to leave town early. This was the first miracle Jesus deliberately performed.

The apostles were happy to reach Cana because Jesus was well known there and people would listen to their message. On the third day, a nobleman named Titus came from Capernaum seeking help for his critically ill son. Jesus told him, "Return to your home; your son will live." Titus believed and hurried home, where his servants met him with news that his son had recovered at the exact hour Jesus had spoken.

This was not actually a miracle of physical healing but a case of Jesus knowing the future. Titus and his whole family became believers. The son later became an important minister of the kingdom and gave his life with those who suffered in Rome. Jesus had to leave Cana quickly because too many people were coming to him for healing after hearing about this event and the earlier water-to-wine miracle.

The people of central and southern Galilee were very interested in miracles. Many people with nervous disorders and emotional problems came to Jesus and then told others they had been physically healed. As Jesus and his apostles approached Nain, they met a funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow, with many townspeople following.

The widow and her friends recognized Jesus and asked him to bring the son back to life. Jesus examined the young man and discovered he was not actually dead but in a deep sleep. Jesus took his hand and said, "Awake and arise," and the youth sat up and began to speak. Jesus tried to explain to the crowd that the boy had not been dead, but no one believed him. The story spread throughout Galilee and Judea that Jesus had raised someone from the dead.

At Endor, Jesus escaped for a few days from the crowds seeking physical healing. During this time, he told his apostles the story of King Saul and the witch of Endor. Jesus explained that the rebellious midwayers (spiritual beings) who had sometimes pretended to be the spirits of dead people would soon be brought under control and would no longer be able to do these strange things.

Jesus also explained that the spirits of dead humans do not return to communicate with the living. Only after a dispensational age passes might an advanced human spirit return to earth, and even then only in exceptional cases as part of the spiritual administration of the planet. After resting for two days, Jesus told his apostles, "On the morrow let us return to Capernaum to tarry and teach while the countryside quiets down."