IN DECEMBER of the year 29, Jesus returned to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Dedication, which commemorated the reconsecration of the temple by Judas Machabeus. His preaching brought accusations of blasphemy from the leaders of the Jews; when they attempted to seize Him, He escaped to Perea, the territory across the Jordan. He preached for several months in the Perean towns, traveling north as far as the Decapolis, where He crossed the Jordan again and journeyed south through Samaria. The healing of the ten lepers is assigned to this period, as well as some of the most familiar parables, such as the Prodigal Son, the Unjust Steward, the Pharisee and the Publican, and the Laborers in the Vineyard. Early in March He was again in Perea, where He received a message from Bethany asking Him to cure Lazarus, who was at the point of death. Lazarus was already dead when Christ reached Bethany, but He proceeded to the tomb and brought him back to life, a miracle which brought popular belief in His Messiasship to its highest pitch and resulted in the decision of the Jewish leaders to destroy Him. After a two-week retreat in Ephrem, in the Judean desert, He went up to Jerusalem for the Passover, traveling via Jericho, where He healed two blind men and related the Parable of the Gold Pieces, and Bethany, where His anointing by the sister of Lazarus took place.
Feast of the Dedication | John: 10:22-39
Jesus Enters Perea
Matthew 10:37-39 | Matthew 19:1-2 | Mark 10:1 | Luke 14:1-35 | John 10:40-42
Parables of God’s Mercy | Luke 15:1-16:13
The Prodigal Son is the Model for Today’s Penitent
Saint Augustine – Saint Margaret of Cortona
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:14-17 | Luke 16:19-31 | John 5:39-47
Humility and Gratitude | Luke 17:5-19
The Coming of the Kingdom
Matthew 24:26-28 | Matthew 24:37-41 | Luke 17:20-37
Lessons in Prayer
Matthew 19: 3-26 | Mark 10:2-27 | Luke 18:1-27
The Reward of Christ’s Followers
Matthew 19:27-20 | Mark 10:28-31 | Luke 18:28-30
The Raising of Lazarus
Matthew 20:17-19 | Mark 10:32-34 | Luke 18:31-34 | John 11:1-56
Events at Jericho
Matthew 20:20-34 | Mark 10:35-52 | Luke 18:35-19:10
Parable of the Gold Pieces | Luke 19:11-28
The Anointing at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13 | Mark 14:3-9 | John 12:1-11
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, MA NIHIL OBSTAT John A McMahon; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago August 1, 1953. Print. Black & White Drawings by Albert H Winkler.