The next we learn about Jesus is when He begins His public ministry. We aren't told any more about His growing up years.
Luke 3:1-18
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitus, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene--during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, --
This is exactly when, what year, precisely.
the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. --
This is when John the Baptist began to baptize. He is the one who will introduce Jesus.
He says, "One Who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of His sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" ... and with many other words.
This is Jesus' introduction by John: "Ladies and gentlemen, we now present . . ."
Then:
Mark 1:9
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Jesus comes on the scene publicly, with Heaven opening and the Spirit descending and lighting on Him like a dove, and the Father declaring Him to be His Son (see Matthew 3:3-7, Mark 1:10-11 and Luke 3:21-22). Wow, no one can out-dramatize God!
Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the Wilderness where He fasted for forty days and was tested, tempted by the devil (see Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-5).
While Jesus is in the Wilderness, John is still baptizing, and "the Jews," which were the leaders of the Jewish people, questioned John, asking him who he thought he was, anyway, if he was Messiah, Elijah or That Prophet (in the prophesies).
John 1:19-28
He answered, "I am not the Messiah," and "I'm not Elijah" (I'm only John), and I don't consider myself That Prophet; I'm just a voice calling out in the desert, "Make straight the way for the Lord" (see Isaiah 40:3-5).
John 1:29-31
Then, The next day (Day 1) John saw Jesus coming toward him [back from the Wilderness] and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I meant when I said 'A man Who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.' I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel."
John knew Jesus, He was his cousin. But now he knows that Jesus is Messiah, and is introducing Him. The Greek word for "Lamb" here is specifically "lamb set aside for sacrifice," and He would not just "cover up" sin, as the Old Testament sacrifices did, but actually take it away.
John 1:35-37
The next day (Day 2) John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
This passage, the rest of this chapter, has Jesus beginning to gather His own disciples; He acquires at least five right here.
John has given us a preview of the work Jesus completed by dying for us and rising from the dead. We are witnessing the very start of the public ministry of Jesus, presenting the Kingdom of God, that will be rejected by the Jewish leaders.
The third day is the Wedding in Cana. I will cover that tomorrow.
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
