The Glory of His Third Galilean Tour

The Goodness of Christ · AD 29

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.

Acts 10:38

In the winter months of AD 29 the Lord Jesus set out on His third Galilean tour, and everywhere He went He did good. We follow Him as He heals a woman who had suffered twelve years, raises a synagogue ruler's dying daughter, marvels at the unbelief of His own hometown, and sends out the Twelve as laborers into a plentiful harvest. As it is written, He is good and does good, and He is good to all who come to Him in faith.

Read: Mark 5:21–43; Mark 6:1–6; Matthew 9:35–38; Matthew 10:1–39

Heals an Old Woman and a Young Girl

As soon as Christ stepped out of the boat at Capernaum, the crowds pressed around Him. Among them was Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue — very likely one of the leaders who had been offended when Christ healed on the Sabbath. But his twelve-year-old daughter was dying, and whatever he had thought of Jesus no longer mattered. He fell at the Lord's feet and begged Him to come.

On the way, a woman who had suffered a flow of blood for twelve years — spending all she had on physicians, only to grow worse — fought through the crowd. She could not summon the boldness to call out, but she believed that if she could only touch the hem of His garment she would be healed. By faith she touched it, and by faith she was not disappointed; the flow of blood stopped at once.

Perceiving that power had gone out of Him, Christ stopped and asked who had touched Him. Trembling, the woman fell at His feet and confessed everything. The faith that leads us to Christ is the faith that leads us to fear Christ — yet great fear of God leads to great comfort, for He looked gently on her and blessed her.

While He was still speaking, word came that Jairus's daughter had died. But before the pain could settle in, the Lord said, “Do not fear, only believe.” Sending the mourners away and taking only Simon, James, John, and the parents, He took the little girl by the hand and said, “Talitha cumi” — “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” She rose and began to walk, and all were overcome with amazement at the One who had power even over death.

My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.

Mark 5:23

Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.

Mark 5:34

Travels to Nazareth

Soon afterward Christ left Capernaum for Nazareth. His mother and brothers had recently come to bring Him home, thinking He had gone mad for abandoning the family trade, and perhaps this prompted His return to the town that had once tried to kill Him. Though there was no attempt on His life this time, the Nazarenes remained offended by Him.

They had heard the reports of His miracles, but they could not get past the fact that He had grown up down the street. Their familiarity with Jesus blinded them. Because of their unbelief He could do no mighty work there except to heal a few sick people, and He departed marveling at their unbelief.

And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

Mark 6:5–6

The Harvest Is Plentiful

From Nazareth the Lord went throughout the surrounding cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and affliction. More than waiting for people to come to Him, He went to them, one town after another, and the crowds only grew.

When He saw the multitudes He was moved with compassion, for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Being the Good Shepherd, He turned to His disciples with a charge to pray.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Matthew 9:37–38

Sends Out the Twelve Apostles to Preach

Having told them to pray for laborers, Christ then sent out laborers Himself. He commissioned the Twelve in pairs, giving them power and authority over all demons and diseases, and sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God. He directed them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

They needed no extra clothes, food, or money, for God would provide through those who received them — and to receive God's minister is to receive God Himself. Yet those who rejected His messengers rejected Him: they were to shake the dust off their feet, and it would be more bearable on the day of judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

He was sending them out as sheep in the midst of wolves; they would be dragged before governors and kings and hated for His name's sake. Yet they were not to fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul — only Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Whoever acknowledges Christ before men, He will acknowledge before His Father; whoever denies Him, He will deny.

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:38–39

For Reflection

Down, down, down our Lord traveled — and He is good. He was good to Jairus, who had likely been among those angry at Him, and good to the trembling woman who came in fear yet left with the desire of her heart fulfilled. The Nazarenes, unimpressed with the carpenter's Son, did not benefit from His goodness, but to the harassed multitudes He gave a shepherd's heart and sent out laborers. “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you” (Ps. 31:19).