(3) His boyhood and youth.  This is commonly called the years of silence:  (a) We have the record of his parents’ settlement in the city of Nazareth, Matt. 2:23; (b) We know that he had a normal growth, Lu. 2:40; (c) At twelve years old he was remarkably developed and from his reply to his mother we may infer that he was conscious of his mission, Lu. 2:41-50; (d) From Luke 2:50 we may infer something of the spirit which possessed him during the rest of his private life; (e) We also know his occupation (Mk.6:3).

The Beginning of Christ’s Ministry.  Here are several matters of importance. (1) The ministry of John the Baptist (Matt 3:1-12; Mk. 1:2-8; Lu. 3:1-18; John 1:6-33) who announced Christ’s coming and prepared a people for him.  This he did by preaching repentance and by baptising them as a profession of repentance and as a sign that they were forgiven. (2) The Baptism of Jesus. (Mt. 3:13-17; Mk. 1:9-11; Lu. 3:21-23; John 1:29-34.) At this time he put off the life of seclusion and entered upon his public career.  He also received the Father’s attestation to his sonship and the special equipment of the Holy Spirit for his work by which also John knew him to be the Messiah, John 1:33.  By this act he also set the stamp of approval on John’s work and showed that he was not in competition with John. (3) The temptation of Jesus (Mt. 4:1-11; Mk, 1:12-13; Lu. 4:1-13).  We are given the place and length of time of this temptation, also three of the temptations and how they were met.  In Heb. 2:18 and 5:18 we have some light on the purpose of this trial.  It is probable, however, that all the import of it cannot be fully understood. (4) The work of Jesus begun.  Here it is necessary to study two things:  (a) The winning of his first six disciples (John 1:35-51); (b) His first miracle (John 2:1-11).  At this point it will also be of help to call to mind that the method of Jesus was to preach, teach and heal (Mt. 4:23).  At the close of the marriage feast, which usually lasted six or seven days, Jesus went down to Capernaum (John 2:12).

The Early Judean Ministry.  The records of this period are very brief and may be studied under three heads, (1) The incidents at Jerusalem during the first Passover of Christ’s public ministry.  The two principal incidents were the cleansing of the temple (John 2:13-22) and the conversation with Nicodemus, Jno. 3:1-31. (2) The work out in Judea, where he won and baptized many disciples, whereupon John was led to make testimony to Jesus at Aenon, John 3:22-36. (3) His successful work in Samaria, concerning which there is given the story of his message to the woman at the well and of his two days’ stay at Sychar.  The period is made notable by two of the greatest discourses of all his ministry:  (a) that to Nicodemus; (b) that to the woman at Jacob’s well.