OUR LORD’S MINISTRY IN PALESTINE

At around the age of 30 Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan and began his ministry.  He had come to bring people back to God but in spite of his teaching and miracles, after two years his public ministry had failed. The people saw him only as a possible resistance leader against the Romans and the Jewish religious authorities resented him and saw him as a trouble-maker.

Therefore he concentrated on his 12 Apostles and, when Peter confessed that he was the Messiah or Christ (the King and Deliverer sent by God), he began to prepare them for his Crucifixion and Resurrection.  An important part of this preparation was his Transfiguration which took place at this point.

References

1. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2008) Bethlehem.  Available from:
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2000/3/Bethlehem.htm  (Accessed 16 November 2010) (Internet).

2. Sacred Destinations (not dated) (2008) Mary’s well. Nazareth.  Available from: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/nazareth-marys-well.htm  (Accessed 16 November  2010) (Internet).

3. Josephus (1st century AD) War. 2.21.8.

4. The Jesus Boat Foundation (2010) The Sea of Galilee.  Available from:
http://www.jesusboatmuseum.com/about/the-sea-of-galilee/  (Accessed 16 November 2010) (Internet).

5. Reed, J.L. (2007) The HarperCollins visual guide to the New Testament.  What archaeology reveals about the first Christians, New York: HarperCollins.

6. Israel Ministry of Tourism (2005) The Dead Sea.  Available from:
http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Discover+Israel/Geographic+Regions/The+Dead+Sea+General+Info.htm) (Accessed 16 November) (Internet).

7. Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation (2008) Home page.  Available from: http://www.deadseascrollsfoundation.com/ (Accessed 16 November 2010) (Internet).

8. Keller, W. (1980) The Bible as history revised, London: Hodder and Stoughton.

9. Daniel-Rops, H. (1955) Jesus in his time, London: Eyre and Spottiswoode.

10. Josephus (1st century AD) Antiquities,15.11.5.