Jesus remained in Galilee until the rainy season ended in the spring. At this time every believer would go up to Jerusalem. It was the Feast of Passover.
There are 3 feast in which every believer must attend. Passover, Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacles. When Jesus and his disciples arrived in Jerusalem, there were Jews from all over the world. Though God had provided in the Law for believers to share their homes with traveling brethren, there wasn’t much space left. This time of year in Israel, the temperature is very moderate and the skies are clear. So it wouldn’t be unusual for someone to camp out. Jesus chose a beautiful spot on the Mount of Olives, The garden of Gethsemane.
So much has happened on that hill. It is on the east side of Jerusalem overlooking the temple, just outside the Golden Gate. Even to this day, the city of Jerusalem inside the walls are made out of a certain stone. When the light from the sun hits the stones, it turns a sparkling pink. From the Mount of Olives, you can see the Golden crown of the Temple. Imagine in you mind, early morning in Jerusalem as the sun rises in the east. The city begins to stir. The priests prepare the Temple for the sacrifices and you are standing next to Jesus on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the city of our King. The beautiful colors, the sweet smelling sacrifices and worship in the Temple. O Jerusalem, O Jerusalem! The beauty of the whole earth. John 2.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Jesus began to select His disciples. They were staying at Peter’s home in Capernaum. God said in Exodus 15, I am the Lord that healeth thee. Jesus, as He walked by the seashore, would preach and heal everyone who asked. His fame began to spread throughout the region. People would come to Him at night for healing. For all the preachers at that time, no one was praying for healing. Even then, Jesus would find a solitary place to pray and renew His strength. Healing was a large part of Jesus’s ministry. Many people followed Jesus because of that. But healing without faith is nothing. There are many people who have received miracles and still walked away from God. Jesus healed because of His compassion for people. But to live the life of healing and health requires our faith and trust in Jesus. Jesus moved healing from the future tense to past tense. And by His stripes we are healed, 1 Peter 2. We serve a healing God.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

There is nothing that will gather the family together as a wedding or a funeral. Jesus’s family gathered for a wedding in Cana in Galilee. Jesus’s disciples were there too. Weddings in Jesus’s time lasted for days. The groom’s family were in charge of the food and drink. And if they ran out, it was a disgrace to the family. Apparently, more people attended the wedding than were expected and they ran out of wine. Mary overheard the steward talking about it. She went to Jesus and told Him. Jesus said, what do you want me to do? Mary told the steward to do whatever Jesus said. He told him to fill the 6 water pots, 100 gallons each. Then draw a laddle full and take to the chief steward. The chief steward drank and went to the bridegroom. He said, normally people start with the best wine, but you have wanted until now. This was Jesus’s first miracle. The reference is the Holy Ghost. He is the new wine. The best is reserved for last.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Jesus returned from the wilderness, walking passed John the Baptist. When he saw Jesus, said behold the lamb of God. The 2 disciples, one being Peter’s brother Andrew, standing next to John, followed Jesus. They ask Him where He lived. Jesus said follow me. They stayed the night talking to Jesus. The disciples returned home. And Jesus returned to Nazareth. The next sabbath Jesus preached in the synagogue in Nazareth. He stood up and preached from Isaiah ch.61. Which describes the messiah. Jesus said that this scripture is fulfilled in your ears. They wanted to throw Him off a cliff. Jesus moved to Capernaum. As Jesus was walking on the seashore, He saw Andrew, Peter’s brother, and called him to follow. Andrew went to his brother and told him I found the messiah. Jesus called Peter. Then John and James, then Philip and Nathanael. Jesus was calling the 12 disciples. He had begun healing people. And people were following Him. For now Jesus and His disciples were staying at Peter’s house.

After everyone had repented of their sins and was baptized in water before Yom Kippur, the high priest would lay hands on a scapegoat to transfer the sins of Israel to it. And lead it into the wilderness to be consumed by God. Jesus was baptized in water by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. He was lead into the wilderness by the Holy Ghost, there to be tempted by the devil. Each time the devil tempted Jesus, He said something interesting, it is written. Jesus quoted the bible to the devil. The word of God is sharper and more powerful than any two-edged sword, even to divide soul and spirit. Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days and nights, fasting. Just as Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights fasting. Just before Jesus was led into the wilderness, John the Baptist saw Jesus and said, behold the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Jesus is our scapegoat.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

John was sent by God to begin baptizing people in River Jordan. He was baptizing for people to repent for the remission of sin. Religious leaders came out to see if John was the Christ. All Israel was expecting the messiah. John told them he wasn’t the one. There one coming after him that was. John said I baptize in water for the remission of sin, but He that comes after me will baptize in the Holy Ghost and fire. John exhorted the people to bring forth fruit of their repentance. John saw Jesus and said, behold the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Jesus came to be baptized, but John said no, I must be baptized. Jesus said to fulfill all righteousness, I will be baptized. When Jesus came out of the water, a dove from heaven descended upon Him. And a voice from heaven said, this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. The power of the Holy Ghost came upon Jesus and compelled Him into the wilderness. Matt.3, Mark 1, Luke 3, John 1.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

In the writings of the Jews, there is a story of the prophet Elijah. He was a big burly man from the country. He was not a highly educated or sophisticated priest. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Elijah was a Prophet of the Lord. In these writings, two specific articles of clothing are spoken of, Elijah’s camel hair prayer shawl and his leather girdle. When Elisha had taken Elijah’s place, these two pieces were given to him by God. After Elisha’s death, the priest brought the camel hair prayer shawl and the leather girdle into the temple to ask God who was the next prophet. The Lord told them to place the prayer shawl and girdle at the Altar of Incense until He would show them the next prophet. In the economy of Israel, a man could be a priest and a prophet at the same time.  On the other hand, a prophet didn’t necessarily have to be a priest. Just before Jesus was born, Mary’s cousin husband, Zacharias was performing his duties as a priest. He was burning incense before the Lord, in the Temple. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to him in the Holy of Holies, and said to him that Elizabeth, his wife, would have a boy. He, John, would be a Prophet of the Most High God. “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair and a leather girdle about his loins: and his meat was locust and wild honey.” Matt.3:1-4. Now you know why Jesus said this of John the Baptist, “But I say unto you, that Elias(Elijah) is come already, and they knew him not.” Luke 17:12. John came before Jesus preaching repentance for sins, preparing the coming of Jesus in his ministry. Mark 1:1-4; Luke 3:1-6; John 1:23; Mal.3:1; Isa.40:3-5. ff

Joseph, Mary and Jesus were living in Egypt. God told Joseph to stay there until He told him to return. Joseph was a skilled carpenter and they had the gifts given to them by the wise men. An angel appeared in a dream to Joseph. He told Joseph Herod was dead and to return to Israel. Joseph and Mary and Jesus came back. Herod’s son was ruling in Jerusalem. They decided to go back to Nazareth, to fulfill a scripture that says that Jesus would be called a Nazarene. When Jesus was bar mitzvah, he was old enough to go to the feast in Jerusalem. It was the feast of Passover. When it was over, Mary and Joseph gathered with the caravan to go home. They thought Jesus was with the boys playing. The caravan left and journeyed a day’s distance. They looked for Jesus and couldn’t find Him. If you were charged with the most important mission in the world by God Himself and lost Jesus, what would you do? They returned to Jerusalem and looked for Jesus for 3 days. They found Him in the temple talking to the doctors of the law, asking questions. They walked up to Jesus and Mary asked Him, why have you done this to us? Jesus said, don’t you know I must be about my Father’s work. Jesus was missing for 3 days at the feast of Passover. He returned home with Mary and Joseph and grew in grace and stature, in favor with God and man.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Jesus was about 2 years old. The wise men came from Persia following a heavenly star. The star they saw was the alignment of 5 planets. They came into Israel and went to king Herod to find out about the child they called king of Israel. Herod pretended to be interested. But he found out where Jesus was and sent the wise men on their way. He told them to come back and tell him where exactly this king was. The wise men went to Bethlehem and found Jesus. They gave him gifts of gold, for a king, frankincense, to burn to a God, and myrrh, to embalm a person. The wise men were warned by God not to go back to Herod. They went home another way. God warned Joseph to go to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Joseph and Mary left at night to go to Egypt. They stayed there until Herod was dead. In the meantime, Herod sent his army into Bethlehem and killed all the children up to 2 years old. To fulfill the scripture that says for out of Egypt I called my son. Matt.2, Luke 2, Hosea 11.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Everyone knows the Christmas story. But the birth of Jesus was on this wise. The angel Gabriel had spoken to Zacharias, Mary and Joseph. Joseph took Mary as his wife. She was pregnant with Jesus. Mary was about 8 months pregnant when Ceasar announced a taxed on the world. Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem to be taxed. Joseph was of the house and lineage of King David. They traveled with a caravan. Mary rode a donkey for 90 miles. When they arrived in Bethlehem, so had the rest of family. There was no rooms available. Mary was having contractions. Joseph needed to find something quickly. Someone offered his stable. Thank God it was springtime. Winter in Israel is the rainy season. So, among the animals, the savior of the world was born. His crib was a feeding trough with hay as a mattress. Mary and Joseph were entrusted with mission more important than anything in this world. And they did with grace. Joseph and Mary stayed in Bethlehem for about two years. Until the wise men, kings in their own right, came to visit the King of kings.

Crain Blanchard

Www.joseph1637.com