The Ministry of Jesus: Key Categories and Teachings

Miracles of Jesus
- Four Categories:
- Healings (e.g., leper, paralyzed man, blind man).
- Casting out of demons (e.g., boy, man).
- Nature miracles (e.g., feeding 5,000, walking on water).
- Raising the Dead (e.g., widow's son, Jairus' daughter, Lazarus).
Spiritual Habits of Jesus
- Synagogue attendance (Luke 4:16f; Matthew 12:1f).
- Prayer (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16).
- Withdrawal from crowds for rest and to avoid opposition/being made king.
- Fasting: One documented 40-day fast after baptism (Matthew 5).
Teaching Methods of Jesus
- Modeling.
- Mentoring.
- Practical Assignments.
- Lecture – teaching/preaching, often using parables.
- Parables: 'earthly story with a heavenly meaning'.
- Reasons for using parables:
  - To gain attention.
  - To stimulate inquiry.
  - To plant seeds.
  - To veil the message.
Key Teachings of Jesus
- Discipleship: Deny self, take up cross daily, follow Him (Luke 9:23f).
- Greatness in the Kingdom: Become like a child, humble self, be last (Matthew 18:1f; John 13:1f; Matthew 20:16).
- Materialism: Mentions money/materialism frequently (Luke 16, 18, 19; Matthew 6).
- The Sign of Jonah: His resurrection (Matthew 12:38f).
- His Death (John 3:14, 6:43f; Luke 9:18-22).
- Judgment / The end of the World: Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25).
- His Deity: Claims through