There, in the temple, “in the midst of the doctors,” all that heard him were
“astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:41, etc.).
Eighteen years pass, of which we have no record beyond this, that he
returned to Nazareth and “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour
with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
He entered on his public ministry when he was about thirty years of age.
It is generally reckoned to have extended to about three years. “Each of
these years had peculiar features of its own. (1.) The first year may be
called the year of obscurity, both because the records of it which we
possess are very scanty, and because he seems during it to have been only
slowly emerging into public notice. It was spent for the most part in
Judea. (2.) The second year was the year of public favour, during which
the country had become thoroughly aware of him; his activity was
incessant, and his frame rang through the length and breadth of the land. It
was almost wholly passed in Galilee. (3.) The third was the year of
opposition, when the public favour ebbed away. His enemies multiplied
and assailed him with more and more pertinacity, and at last he fell a
victim to their hatred. The first six months of this final year were passed in
Galilee, and the last six in other parts of the land.”, Stalker’s Life of Jesus
Christ, p. 45.
The only reliable sources of information regarding the life of Christ on
earth are the Gospels, which present in historical detail the words and the
work of Christ in so many different aspects. (See CHIRST.)
- JETHER surplus; excellence. (1.) Father-in-law of Moses (Exodus 4:18
marg.), called elsewhere Jethro (q.v.).
(2.) The oldest of Gideon’s seventy sons (Judges 8:20).
(3.) The father of Amasa, David’s general (1 Kings 2:5, 32); called Ithra (2
Samuel 17:25).
(4.) 1 Chronicles 7:38.
(5.) 1 Chronicles 2:32; one of Judah’s posterity.
(6.) 1 Chronicles 4:17.