Feasts & intermittent locations of Jesus' Ministry
As we already saw, Jesus was in Jerusalem as a 12-yr.-old (see PSALM 138 Later childhood of Jesus-- at the Temple)-- probably for the Feast of Dedication (Lights; Hanukkah) on December 25th in the mo. of Kislev.
He was there 5x during his ministry; the 1st & 5th time was for the Passover Feast, so that there were only 4 feasts.
Laid out below is the distinct probability that Jesus' ministry was just 1.25 yrs. in duration-- in part because the references to, & the dates of, the 5 feast-events, are both sequential & chronological. But note also that for 3 of these 4 feasts, Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem in order to observe them (see Deu 16:16; 2ndCh 8:3)! These 3 required feasts are highlighted in peach; highlighted in lt. blue are some of his locations between that feast & the next 1. When his ministry 1st started, after the short time in Galilee (see Cana/Nazareth A.1. & Capernaum1 A.1.), we have Jesus going to Jerusalem for:
- The Passover Feast (Feast of Unleavened Bread) John 2:13; mid-spring in the mo. of Abib/Nisan-- see Exo 12:17; 23:15; 34:18; Lev 23:5; Num 28:16; 33:3; Deu 16:1,16; 1stCh 35:1; Ezr 6:19; Neh 2:1; Est 3:7; Eze 45:21. Then we have Jesus in Judea, Samaria, & Galilee before going to Jerusalem for:
- An un-named feast likely The Feast of Pentecost (Weeks) John 5:1; late-spring in the mo. of Sivan-- see Exo 34:22; Deu 16:9,16; Est 8:9. Then we have Jesus in Galilee before going to Jerusalem for:
- The Feast of Tabernacles (Ingathering) John 7:2; mid-fall in the mo. of Ethaim-- see Exo 34:22; Deu 16:13,16; 1st Ki 8:2; Lev 23:34. Then we have Jesus at the Mt. of Olives (3 mi. NE of Jerusalem)-- otherwise solely in Jerusalem & staying in Jerusalem for:
- The Feast of Dedication (Lights; Hanukkah) John 10:22; winter in the mo. of Kislev-- . Then we have Jesus in Bethany (village 2 mi. from Jerusalem), Ephraim (village N. of Jerusalem & back in Bethany before entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey for:
- The Passover Feast (The Feast of Unleavened Bread) John 12:1,12; 13:1; mid-spring in the mo. of Abib/Nisan-- immediately after the Crucifixion (per Matt 27:52 the tomb was ordered to be secured the day after Preparation Day-- i.e., the Resurrection took place during the Passover Feast).