First Teaching Tour Of Galilee Series

Harmony of the Gospels

-AD 27-

Galilee

Title: First Teaching Tour of Galilee

Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44

-Matthew-

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)

At this time, Jesus had a great deal of freedom. He moved freely through Galilee and He taught in the synagogues. The religious leaders would eventually plan to take Him and to put Him to death, however before that, they would bar Him from the synagogues and do everything possible to discredit Him with the people. He had to avoid Jerusalem, except on the feast days, because that was the center of religion and where His enemies were the strongest.

“Preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” The gospel of the kingdom (good news of the kingdom) was present in the person of Jesus Christ. He was the Messiah and they should have received Him.

He healed all kinds of physical ailments. The list included blindness, palsy, deafness, leprosy, continuous bleeding, bent bodies, withered limbs, lameness and demon-possession. This was a sign to the people of who He was, and many believed because of the miracles.

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic and those that had the palsy, and he healed them. (Matthew 4:24)

You can add lunatics to the list of people that He healed. He is getting famous over a wide area, and of course His fame is spread by word of mouth. I can’t think of a time where He ever refused to heal anyone.

And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. (Matthew 4:25)

When Jesus traveled from place to place, a lot of people went with Him. His family and disciples were joined by many others: the curious, the sick and their friends and family, those desiring to hear His teaching and probably some of His enemies. It must have been a sizable group, and they drew attention wherever they went.

Decapolis was a district containing ten cities, in the northeastern part of Galilee, east of the Jordan River. Many Gentiles lived in this area.

-Mark-

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. (Mark 1:35)

He got up, while His disciples were still asleep and went to a solitary place to pray. It was probably still dark and He was alone. I am sure that He could have used the rest, but His need to pray to His Father was greater than the needs of His body. What an example this is for us. We should begin the day with prayer and include Bible study, if possible. That is a good practice for any believer.

And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the towns, that I may preach them also: for therefore came I forth. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. (Mark 1:36-39)

“All men seek for thee.” The multitudes sought after Him to receive some benefit from Him. They would be healed from sickness and demon-possession. And they were fed by the words He spoke and by the bread that He dispensed. The Gospel began to go forth, through His teaching. And through the Gospel they are prepared for salvation, that is, His death and His resurrection. His teachings will not save you. He brought salvation through His work on the cross.

His ministry only lasted for three years, however during that time it says that He preached throughout all Galilee. At the same time, He cast out demons. There was a great manifestation of demon activity at that time. There were three time periods when demon activity was great: The first was during the time of Moses, the second was during the time of Elijah, and the third was when our Lord walked the earth.

-Luke-

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. (Luke 4:42-44)

Jesus often sought solitude. There He found relief from the constant demands that were placed on Him by the multitudes, and by His disciples, family and friends. This was a time for prayer, and He was energized by the Holy Spirit and strengthened by the Father. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and He was the divine Son of God, but He moved in a human body. This is a good lesson for us. We need to be alone at times, to pray and to meditate upon His word. We need the filling of the Holy Spirit and we need God’s grace and mercy. What a wonderful God and Savior we have! He provides everything that we need for our salvation and to live the Christian life.