#PLACES.#--Capernaum, Galilee, Jerusalem, Nain, Gadara, Nazareth.
[Illustration: GALILEAN MINISTRY Copyright, 1898, BY JOHN D. WATTLES & CO.
The figures attached to the journeys refer to events mentioned in the first column on the opposite page.]
#128. The Year of Popularity.#--This was spent in Galilee. The Galileans had heard of his fame from those of their number who had seen him in Jerusalem, so it required but a few deeds of might to arouse them to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. His activity during this year may be studied with relation, first, to his miracles, and second, to his teaching.
#129. His Miracles Multiplied.#--These were multiplied beyond any previous precedent. They sprang from him as sparks spring from the red-hot iron of the blacksmith under the hammer. There must have been single days when he wrought hundreds of miracles. Take that Sabbath day in Capernaum as an example. In the morning in the synagogue he healed a demoniac. In the later part of the day he healed Peter's mother-in-law. Then, as the sun was setting, there came to him all in that city that had maladies of any kind, and he healed them all. A wonderful day that, for Capernaum. No wonder that later on he referred to that city as exalted to heaven. His miraculous power manifested itself over disease of every kind. No malady was unreachable by him. The three characteristics of his healing ministry were, first, it was instantaneous--there was no period of convalescence. Deathly sick one moment--perfectly well the next; this was the history of each patient. (One exception there is to this, and that is of the man who needed two touches to cure his blindness (Mark 8:24.) Was the man's faith at fault?) Second, it was perfect--there were no signs of weakness left and no relapses. How unlike the frequent experience under even the best of modern physicians! In the third place, it was all _without money or price_.
#130. His Power# was equally great over death. He called, and Lazarus came forth; he took the dead maiden by the hand and she arose. He spoke to the young man on his bier and he responded. His power extended to the spirit world, for he commanded evil spirits to come out of men, and they obeyed. Nature obeyed his voice, as when he spoke to the winds and the waves and they were hushed. Man, nature, and the spirit world all recognized his power and yielded swift obedience. No wonder that his popularity was immense under these circumstances. It would not be possible to exaggerate the exciting scenes through which he passed during this year. Men thronged around him so violently, and crushed together to see and hear him so vehemently, that many were thrown down and trampled on. Wild cries must have come from the masses of people who so excitedly pressed near to him. They actually broke up the roof of one house so as to get into his presence the patient for whom they craved his services. He had not time so much as to eat in peace, as they gave him no respite (Mark 6:31).