§ 34. CHRIST'S REASONS FOR LEAVING JUDEA
1 When therefore the Lord knew how that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples), 3 he left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs pass through Samaria.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20 added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.a
| Mark 1:14 | Matt. 4:12 | Luke 4:14 |
| 14 Now after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee. |
12 Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee. |
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee. |
a The place of John's imprisonment was Machærus, east of the Dead Sea. See Josephus. War, Ch. VII, vi. In Antiquities, Ch. XVIII, v, 2 Josephus gives the public and political reason for John's imprisonment because of Herod's fear of a revolution. He "feared lest the great influences John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion."
§ 35. JESUS IN SAMARIA.a
John 4:5-42
5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph: 6 and Jacob's 1well was there [see Josh. 24:32]. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat 2thus by the 1well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman therefore saith unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a Samaritan woman? (3For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, 4Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life. 15 The woman saith unto him, 4Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come all the way hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17 The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband: 18 for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, 4Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. 22 Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know: for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: 5for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. 24 6God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (which is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27 And upon this came his disciples; and they marvelled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why speakest thou with her? 28 So the woman left her waterpot, and went away into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: can this be the Christ? 30 They went out of the city, and were coming to him. 31 In the mean while the disciples prayed him, saying, Rabbi, eat. 32 But he said to them, I have meat to eat that ye know not. 33 The disciples therefore said one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are 7white already unto harvest. 36 He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 For herein is the saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not laboured: others have laboured, and ye are entered into their labour.
39 And from that city many of the Samaritans believed on him abecause of the word of the woman, who testified, He told me all things that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans came unto him, they besought him to abide with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word; 42 and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.b
1 Gr. spring: and so in ver. 14; but not in ver. 11, 12.
2 Or, as he was.
3 Some ancient authorities omit For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
4 Or, Lord.
5 Or, for such the Father also seeketh.
6 Or, God is spirit.
7 Or, white unto harvest. Already he that reapeth &c.
a Notice that John also had recently been preaching to Samaritans (§ 33) and compare hereafter Philip's work in the city of Samaria (Acts 8:5 ff.)
b In this early ministry Jesus allowed himself to be regarded as the Messiah by his first disciples (§ 28), and personally declared that he was the Messiah to the woman at the well (§ 35) (John 4:26), which many other Samaritans also personally believed (John 4:39, 42). He never declared this to the Jewish rulers at Jerusalem till the very end (§ 155), doubtless because such an avowal would lead them to kill him, and so must not be made till his work in teaching the people and training his disciples should be completed. Compare what he says later to Peter in Matt. 16:17-20 (§ 82). At the baptism and the temptation of Jesus it was clear that Jesus knew that he was the Son of God, the Messiah, and was so regarded by the Baptist. Events in Judea and Galilee change the early policy of Jesus and lead to silence on his part in the use of the word Messiah, though many of the people know that he makes Messianic claims and the rulers in Jerusalem come to suspect him and to fear him. See my volume on The Pharisees and Jesus.
§ 36. THE ARRIVAL OF JESUS IN GALILEE
43 And after the two days he went forth from thence into Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country [see Luke 4:24; Mark 6:4; Matt. 13:57]. 45 So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
PART VII
THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY
(Apparently about a year and a half)
§§ 37-71. Great fulness of detail in Mark for this period and condensed report in Luke while Matthew is chiefly topical in this portion. Mark's Gospel plunges at once into the Great Galilean Ministry (cf. Peter's summary of Christ's life in Acts 10:36-43 to the household of Cornelius). The mass of material makes clear grouping difficult, but there is progressb in the development of events.
| 1. | The Rejection at Nazareth and the New Home in Capernaum, §§ 37-43. |
| 2. | The First Tour of Galilee with the Four Fishermen and the Call of Matthew (Levi) on the Return with the Growing Fame of Jesus, §§ 44-48. |
| 3. | The Sabbath Controversy in Jerusalem and in Galilee, §§ 49-51. |
| 4. | The Choice of the Twelve and the Sermon on the Mount, §§ 52-54. |
| 5. | The Spread of Christ's Influence and the Inquiry from John in Prison, §§ 55-59. |
| 6. | The Second Tour of Galilee (now with the Twelve) and the Intense Hostility of the Pharisees, §§ 60-63. |
| 7. | The First Great Group of Parables with the Visit to Gerasa (Khersa) and to Nazareth (final one), §§ 64-69. |
| 8. | The Third Tour of Galilee (Following the Twelve) and the Effect on Herod Antipas, §§ 70-71. |
a We cannot confidently determine the length of the ministry in Galilee. We are not sure whether it began in summer or late autumn (see footnote 7 in Explanatory Notes at end of Harmony). If the feast of John 5:1 was a passover or there is an unknown passover, the Galilean ministry lasted at least sixteen months, for it ended when another passover was near (John 6:4). Otherwise we should not certainly know that it lasted more than some six or eight months. About the two subsequent periods of our Lord's ministry we shall find no room to question that each lasted six months; but here we have to admit much uncertainty as to the time. After all, a determination of the time employed would be a matter of very little importance to our study of this period. But the immense amount of material in this period argues for a length of over a year.
b Throughout this great ministry in Galilee, and the periods that will follow after, the reader ought to trace carefully the progress of the history along several lines: (1) the Saviour's progressive self-manifestation; (2) the gradual training of the Twelve who are to carry on his teaching and work after his death; (3) the deepening and spreading hostility of the Jewish influential classes and official rulers. By constantly observing these parallel lines of progress, it will be seen that the history and teachings of our Lord exhibit a vital growth, moving on to an end by him foreseen (Luke 12:50), when the hostility of the rulers will culminate as he before the Sanhedrin avows himself to be the Messiah, and the Twelve will be almost prepared to succeed him.
§ 37. GENERAL ACCOUNT OF HIS TEACHING IN GALILEE
| Mark 1:14-15 | Matt. 4:17 | Luke 4:14-15 |
| 14 [Now after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee], preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel. |
17 From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. |
14 [And Jesus returned in the power of [see John 4:3, 43] the Spirit into Galilee]: and a fame went out concerning him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. |
In sections 38-43 (the Rejection at Nazareth and the New Home in Capernaum) Jesus revisits Cana and Nazareth, recalls the four fishermen by the Sea of Galilee, and begins his ministry of teaching and healing in Capernaum.
§ 38. THE HEALING AT CANA OF THE SON OF A COURTIER OF CAPERNAUM
46 He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain 1nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe. 49 The 1nobleman saith unto him. 2Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his 3servants met him, saying, that his son lived. 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to amend. They said therefore unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.
1 Or, king's officer.
2 Or, Lord.
3 Gr. bondservants.
§ 39. THE FIRST REJECTION AT NAZARETH
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him 1the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the 2book, and found the place where it was written,
| 18 | The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, |
| 3Because he anointed me to preach 4good tidings to the poor: | |
| He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, | |
| And recovering of sight to the blind, | |
| To set at liberty them that are bruised, | |
| 19 | To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [see Isa. 58:6; 61:1-2]. |
20 And he closed the 2book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 23 And he said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable, Physician, heal thyself [see John 6:42; 7:15]: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in thine own country. 24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is acceptable in his own country [see John 4:44]. 25 But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land [see 1 Kings 17:1; 18:1-2]; 26 and unto none of them was Elijah sent, but only to 5Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow [see 1 Kings 17:8-9]. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian [see 2 Kings 5:1-14]. 28 And they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things; 29 and they rose up, and cast him forth out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way. 31 And he came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee.
1 Or, a roll.
2 Or, roll.
3 Or, Wherefore.
4 Or, the gospel.
5 Gr. Sarepta.
§ 40. THE NEW HOME IN CAPERNAUM
13 And leaving Nazareth,a he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken 1by Isaiah the prophet [see Isa. 8:23; 9:1-2], saying,
| 15 | The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, |
| 2Toward the sea, beyond Jordan, | |
| Galilee of the 3Gentiles, | |
| 16 | The people which sat in darkness |
| Saw a great light, | |
| And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, | |
| To them did light spring up. |
1 Or, through.
2 Gr. The way of the sea.
3 Gr. nations: and so elsewhere.
a Nazareth was never the Saviour's residence during his public ministry. After the wedding at Cana he lived a short time at Capernaum, and henceforth that city will be his abode, till he leaves Galilee six months before the crucifixion—most of the time, however, being actually spent in several journeys throughout Galilee, together with a trip to Jerusalem, and retirement to districts around Galilee.
§ 41. JESUS FINDS FOUR FISHERS OF MEN IN FOUR FISHERMENa
| Mark 1:16-20 | Matt. 4:18-22 | Luke 5:1-11 |
| 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea: for they were fishers. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they left the nets, and followed him. 19 And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets. 20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him. |
18 And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left the nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence he saw other two brethren, 1James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him.a |
1 Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat. 4 And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking; 7 and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken; 10 and so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt 2catch men. 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him. |
1 Or, Jacob: and so elsewhere.
2 Gr. take alive.
a Three of these two pairs of brothers (Andrew and Peter, John and James) had already become disciples of Jesus at Bethany beyond Jordan (James probably soon afterwards), but now they leave their prosperous fish business and follow Jesus continuously as many business men since have given up a lucrative business for the ministry. They, along with Philip and Nathaniel, had been with Jesus in the early ministry (the year of obscurity).
§ 42. THE EXCITEMENT IN THE SYNAGOGUE BECAUSE OF THE TEACHING OF JESUS AND THE HEALING OF A DEMONIAC ON THE SABBATH
| Mark 1:21-28 | Luke 4:31-37 |
| 21 And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; 24 and he cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked 1him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And the unclean spirit, 2tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. 28 And the report of him went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about. |
31 [And he came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee.] And he was teaching them on the sabbath day: 32 and they were astonished at his teaching; for his word was with authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean 3devil; and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 4Ah! what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art [see Ps. 16:10], the Holy One of God. 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the 3devil had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no hurt. 36 And amazement came upon all, and they spake together, one with another, saying, What is 5this word? for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. 37 And there went forth a rumour concerning him into every place of the region round about. |
1 Or, it.
2 Or, convulsing.
3 Gr. demon.
4 Or, Let alone.
5 Or, this word, that with authority ... come out?
§ 43. HE HEALS PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW AND MANY OTHERS
| Mark 1:29-34 | Matt. 8:14-17 | Luke 4:38-41 |
| 29 And straightway 3when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell him of her: 31 and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were 1possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many 4devils; and he suffered not the 4devils to speak, because they knew him.5 |
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother lying sick of a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto him. 16 And when even was come, they brought unto him many 1possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick: 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken 2by Isaiah the prophet [see Isa. 53:4], saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases. |
38 And he rose up from the synagogue, and entered into the house of Simon. And Simon's wife's mother was holden with a great fever; and they besought him for her. 39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she rose up and ministered unto them. 40 And when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41 And 4devils also came out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. |
1 Or, demoniacs.
2 Or, through.
3 Some ancient authorities read when he was come out of the synagogue, he came &c.
4 Gr. demons.
5 Many ancient authorities add to be Christ. See Luke 4:41.
In sections 44-52 Jesus makes his first tour of Galilee with the Four Fishermen whom he has now called to follow him continuously. On the return to Capernaum Matthew is called and various miracles arouse the enthusiasm of the multitudes and the hostility of the Pharisees to Christ's teachings.
§ 44. THE FIRST TOUR OF GALILEE WITH THE FOUR FISHERMEN
| Mark 1:35-39 | Matt. 4:23-25 | Luke 4:42-44 |
| 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him; 37 and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee. 38 And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth. 39 And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out 4devils. |
23 And 1Jesus went about in all Galilee,a teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the 2gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the the people. 24 And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments, 3possessed with devils, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond Jordan. |
42 And when it was day, he came out and went into a desert place: and the multitudes sought after him, and came unto him, and would have stayed him, that he should not go from them. 43 But he said unto them, I must preach the 5good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent. 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of 6Galilee. |
1 Some ancient authorities read he.
2 Or, good tidings: and so elsewhere.
3 Or, demoniacs.
4 Gr. demons.
5 Or, gospel.
6 Very many ancient authorities read Judea.
a This journey about all Galilee included a great mass of teaching and healing (dwell on Matt. 4:23-25), of which only a few specimens are recorded, and these apparently occurred at Capernaum, his headquarters. The journey given by Luke only (8:1-3) is probably distinct from this, and if so it would be a second, while that of Luke 9:1-6 (= Mark 6:6-13 = Matt. 9:35-11:1), which is quite certainly distinct, would then be a third journey about Galilee. The reader ought to expand his imagination and take in these extended labors.