An examination of Jesus’ early ministry reveals that He initially avoided preaching in Jerusalem, focusing instead on other areas. This pattern is evident in several Gospel accounts:
- John 4:3 states, “He left Judea and departed again for Galilee.” This verse indicates Jesus’ movement away from the Jerusalem area early in His ministry.
- John 7:1 provides a clear reason for this avoidance: “After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.”
- Luke 4:14-15 describes Jesus’ early focus on Galilee: “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”
- Mark 1:14 similarly emphasizes Jesus’ initial Galilean ministry: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God.”
These verses demonstrate that Jesus deliberately chose to begin His ministry outside of Jerusalem, primarily in Galilee. This strategy allowed Him to establish His message and gather disciples before confronting the religious authorities in Jerusalem directly.
