Changes

After this baptism, according to Matthew, Jesus was brought into the desert by God where he fasted for forty days nights. During this period, the [[Satan]] appeared before him and tried three times to tempted Jesus into demonstrating his supernatural powers as a proof of his divine status; each temptation was refused by Jesus, with a scriptural quote from the Book of [[Deuteronomy]].

After this baptism, according to Matthew, Jesus was brought into the desert by God where he fasted for forty days nights. During this period, the [[Satan]] appeared before him and tried three times to tempted Jesus into demonstrating his supernatural powers as a proof of his divine status; each temptation was refused by Jesus, with a scriptural quote from the Book of [[Deuteronomy]].

<to be finished...>

 

Jesus then began to preach. [[John]] describes three different [[Pesach|passover]] feasts that Jesus attended, thus implying that his ministry lasted three years.

 

The larger part of this was directed towards his closest followers, the [[Apostles]], although all of his followers were considered disciples. At the highest point of his ministry, Jesus attracted disciples and audiences numbering in the thousands; in particular in the area of Galilee. Many of Jesus' most well-known teachings were given during the [[Sermon on the Mount]], such as the [[Beatitudes]] and the [[Lord's Prayer]]. Jesus often used parables in his rhetorical technique, such as the [[Parable of the Good Samaritan]] and the [[Parable of the Sheep and the Goats]]; these teachings encouraged unconditional self-sacrificing [[Shema|love for God]] and [[Agape|for all people]]. During these sermons, he also discussed service and humility, forgiveness of sins, how faith should be applied, the [[Golden Rule]], and the necessity of following the spirit of the law as well as its wording.

 

Jesus also often conversed with social outcasts, such as the publicani ([[Rome|Roman]] tax collectors who were unpopular for their practice of extorting money).

[[Image:Jesus5.jpg‎|right|thumb|300px|Jesus Christ (Conceptualization)]]

[[Image:Jesus5.jpg‎|right|thumb|300px|Jesus Christ (Conceptualization)]]