Introduction
Every journey has a beginning. The ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ did not start by chance; it began at the appointed time of God, with clear purpose and power. For believers, understanding how Jesus began His ministry helps us know how to live, serve, and walk faithfully in our own calling. His ministry was marked by humility, obedience, power, and a clear declaration of the Kingdom of God.
The Preparation for Ministry
Before Jesus officially began His public ministry, there was a period of preparation. Scripture reminds us that nothing happens outside God’s timing.
Luke 3:21-22 (KJV):
“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
Jesus, though without sin, submitted Himself to baptism. This act was not a confession of sin but an identification with the people He came to save. As He was baptized, the heavens opened, and the Father publicly affirmed Him as His Son. Believers must note that before stepping into ministry or service, there must be a time of divine preparation, humility, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
The Wilderness Experience
Immediately after His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
Matthew 4:1 (KJV):
“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
This was not a mistake. The Spirit of God led Him into the wilderness to test His faithfulness and to prepare Him for the battles ahead. For forty days and nights, Jesus fasted and prayed. During this time, the enemy tempted Him, but He overcame by declaring the Word of God.
Matthew 4:4 (KJV):
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Believers must understand that ministry and calling are always tested. Before stepping into public service, there will be private battles. Jesus showed us that victory is not by human strength but through the Word of God and reliance on the Spirit.
The Power of the Spirit
After the wilderness, Jesus returned in power.
Luke 4:14 (KJV):
“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”
He did not begin ministry in weakness but in the demonstration of the Spirit’s power. Preparation and obedience had positioned Him for effectiveness. Believers cannot serve God in the flesh; we need the power of the Holy Spirit. Ministry without the Spirit is empty.
The Message of the Kingdom
The first message Jesus proclaimed was the gospel of the Kingdom.
Matthew 4:17 (KJV):
“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus did not start by preaching prosperity, success, or comfort. His central message was repentance and the nearness of God’s Kingdom. This call was urgent and life-changing. Repentance is not simply turning from sin but turning fully to God. Believers today must also keep the message of repentance and the Kingdom alive.
The Call of the First Disciples
Ministry was not meant to be done alone. Jesus called others to walk with Him.
Matthew 4:19-20 (KJV):
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”
The first disciples were ordinary fishermen, yet Jesus saw their potential. He called them not only to believe but to follow and to be transformed. The call of Jesus always involves leaving something behind to pursue His greater purpose. As believers, we too are called to be fishers of men—sharing the good news of salvation with others.
The Works of Compassion and Power
As His ministry began, Jesus demonstrated the Kingdom not only in words but in deeds.
Matthew 4:23-24 (KJV):
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”
Jesus healed the sick, delivered the oppressed, and brought hope to the hopeless. His ministry was not limited to words but was full of power and compassion. Believers are called to do the same: to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a hurting world.
Lessons for Believers
From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we can draw several important lessons:
- Preparation is Necessary – Before ministry comes preparation, humility, and empowerment.
- The Word is the Weapon – In temptation, Jesus used Scripture. Believers must know and live by the Word of God.
- Depend on the Spirit – True ministry flows from the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Preach the Kingdom – Our message must focus on repentance and the Kingdom of God.
- Discipleship is Central – Ministry is about making disciples, not gathering crowds.
- Compassion and Power Work Together – Jesus combined preaching with acts of mercy and miracles.
Application for Today
As believers, we are called not only to admire Jesus’ ministry but to follow His example. Every believer has a ministry, whether in the pulpit, workplace, home, or community. Just as Jesus began His ministry with clarity, focus, and power, we too must walk in obedience and faith.
John 14:12 (KJV):
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
This promise shows that Jesus’ ministry was not meant to end with Him but to continue through us. When we live as true disciples, empowered by the Spirit, we continue His mission in the world.
Conclusion
The beginning of Jesus’ ministry is not just a historical moment—it is a divine blueprint for every believer. He showed us the importance of preparation, the necessity of the Spirit, the power of the Word, the centrality of the Kingdom, and the call to discipleship.
As we reflect on how Jesus began His ministry, let us also begin or renew our own service to God with faith, humility, and courage. May we preach repentance, demonstrate compassion, and walk in the power of the Spirit until the whole world knows the hope of the Kingdom.
Philippians 1:6 (KJV):
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
✝️ Final Exhortation
Beloved, as Jesus began His ministry with obedience and power, let us also rise to fulfill our calling. The world needs the light of God shining through us. The Kingdom is near, and the time to serve is now.