Jesus left Nazareth and began His preparation for His ministry among the Jewish people. He journeyed to the place on the lower Jordan where John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing and there presented Himself for baptism. He then withdrew to the desert west of the Jordan, where, after forty days of fasting, He was tempted by the devil. After this retreat Jesus returned to the Jordan and was pointed out by John the Baptist as the Messiah. Five of the Baptist’s disciples-all of them Galileans-were attracted to Jesus and He now traveled north with them to Galilee. The third day of their journey brought them to Cana in Galilee, and here, at a wedding feast, He performed His first miracle, taking this eventful step at the request of Mary, who was one of the guests.
From Cana Jesus went with Mary and His new follower to Capernaum, on the west coast of the Sea of Galilee. He tarried there with them for a few days, then went down to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. In Jerusalem He formally opened His public life by driving from the temple the vendors and money-changers. The Pharisees were outraged, but one of them was impressed by Christ’s action and came to Him one night for instruction. After this interview Jesus left Jerusalem and spent some time preaching with His disciples in the countryside. On learning that John the Baptist had been imprisoned, He and His followers returned to Galilee. On the way north, Jesus converted a Samaritan woman and many of her fellow townsmen.
John Baptizes Jesus
Matthew 3:1-17 | Mark 1:1-11 | Luke 3:1-22
The Devil Tempts Jesus
Matthew 4:1-11 | Mark 1:12-13
Luke 4:1-13 | John 1:19-34
The First Disciples | John 1:35-51
Jesus Attends a Wedding at Cana | John 2:1-11
Christ Begins Teaching in Judea
Matthew: 14:3-5 | Mark 6:17-20
Luke 3:19-20 | John 2:13-3:36
Christ’s Journey Through Samaria | John 4:1-42
Information from The Life of Christ “Our Lord’s Life with Lesson in His Own Words for Our Life Today” The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959. © 1954 edited by Reverend John P. O’Connell, MASTD and Jex Martin, following mainly A Chronological Harmony of the Gospels by Stephen J Hartdegen OFM NIHIL OBSTAT John A McMahon; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago August 1, 1953. Print. Black & white drawings by Albert H Winkler.