FIFTH STUDY
The Year of Obscurity
From the First Followers of Jesus to His Return to Galilee.
I. Preliminary Notes on the period.
1. Sources of Information. Our only account of this period is contained in John's Gospel. Read carefully John 1. 19 to 4. 54 for all the facts on record.
2. Time. The Saviour came from the temptation in the wilderness either late in February or early in March, A. D. 27, and he began his ministry in Galilee in May, A. D. 28; so that this period embraced nearly fifteen months. (Edersheim. According to Andrews it ended in March, and was a year in duration).
3. Locality. Most of this year was passed in Judea, though there is mention of one journey to Galilee soon after the beginning (John 1. 43), and of another at the close (John 4. 3).
4. Aim. It is probable that Jesus began his ministry in Judea, the leading province, in order to give to the leaders of the nation the first opportunity of accepting him as the Messiah of Israel. Not until Jerusalem and Judea had rejected him did he turn to the people of Galilee.
II. Places.
1. Bethabara (or Bethany, as in Rev. Ver.) (John 1. 28). Here occurred the meeting of Jesus with his first followers (John 1. 37).