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John Decreases, Jesus IncreasesThe Greatest Man Who Ever Lived
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FOLLOWING the Passover in the spring of 30 C.E., Jesus and his disciples leave Jerusalem. However, they do not return to their homes in Galilee but go into the country of Judea, where they do baptizing. John the Baptizer has been doing the same work for about a year now, and he still has disciples associating with him.
Actually, Jesus does not do any baptizing himself, but his disciples do it under his direction. Their baptism has the same significance as that performed by John, it being a symbol of a Jew’s repentance of sins against God’s Law covenant. However, after his resurrection, Jesus instructs his disciples to do baptizing that has a different significance. Christian baptism today is a symbol of a person’s dedication to serve Jehovah God.
At this early point in Jesus’ ministry, however, both John and he, although working separately, are teaching and baptizing repentant ones.
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John Decreases, Jesus IncreasesThe Greatest Man Who Ever Lived
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When Jesus hears about John’s arrest, he leaves Judea with his disciples for Galilee.
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Teaching a Samaritan WomanThe Greatest Man Who Ever Lived
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Recall that it is four months before the harvest—evidently the barley harvest, which in Palestine occurs in the spring. So it is now probably November or December. This means that following the Passover of 30 C.E., Jesus and his disciples spent eight months or so in Judea teaching and baptizing.
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