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 wo