Every trip to Jerusalem has become more dangerous. He is now sending the apostles out, staying on the move, and beginning to avoid the cities. But the press of the crowds only increases — which makes retreating harder and escaping more difficult.

John the Baptist is killed

The news reaches Him in Galilee. Get the feel of this moment: the exploits of Jesus’ disciples have caused such a stir that Herod wonders whether John the Baptist has come back from the dead — and Herod wants to see Jesus.

Mark 6:14–29 · Matthew 14:1–13 · Luke 9:7–9

The feeding of the five thousand — the fourth sign

He tries to retreat, and the crowd follows. When they land there is an enormous crowd waiting — ten to fifteen thousand people, once you count beyond the men. He teaches them, and then feeds them.

This is the one event all four Gospels record, which tells you how it struck them.

Matthew 14:14–21 · Mark 6:30–44 · Luke 9:10–17 · John 6:1–13

Walking on the water — the fifth sign

He sends the disciples away, stays behind, and spends the night in prayer. Then, shortly before dawn, He comes to them across the lake.

Mark 6:45–53 · Matthew 14:22–34 · John 6:16–24

Consider what these months were like

Follow Mark’s account of a single stretch and feel the weight of it. He has sent out the Twelve. After returning from Passover everything becomes more chaotic. He hears that John has been beheaded. They decide to retreat for rest and quiet — and land to find a crowd the size of an arena. He teaches them, feeds them miraculously, sends the disciples off so He can finally get some solitude, and then comes to them on the water before dawn.

Fourteen to eighteen months earlier He was a craftsman in Nazareth. Now He is followed by crowds of fifteen thousand and pressed everywhere He goes, under constant scrutiny from the religious leaders, with several attempts already made on His life — and He knows that both religious and political powers are looking to kill Him.

Hard words, and a turning

In Capernaum He gives the bread of life discourse, and many walk away from Him over it. He heals many; He argues with the scribes and Pharisees.

Then He goes considerably north, to Tyre and Sidon — I think in an attempt to be somewhere safer — where He meets the Syrophoenician woman. He heals a deaf man in the Decapolis, feeds four thousand at Gennesaret, crosses to Magdala, argues with the Pharisees again, and crosses back.

John 6:25–71 · Mark 6:54–8:21 · Matthew 14:35–16:12

Caesarea Philippi — “You are the Christ”

At Bethsaida He heals a blind man. Then, at Caesarea Philippi, Peter confesses that He is the Christ.

Where He asks the question matters. Caesarea Philippi took its name from Caesar. Its temple began with the Baals of the Old Testament, later became a temple of Zeus, and later still was named for the Greek god Pan. There was a cave there they called the gates of hell, and temples built on the rock face. Against that backdrop He asks, “Who do you say that I am?”

And it is here — not in Galilee, not in Jerusalem — that He speaks for the first time about His coming suffering and death.

Mark 8:22–9:1 · Matthew 16:13–28 · Luke 9:18–27

The Transfiguration

Mount Hermon, the highest mountain near Caesarea Philippi. Moses — the father of the Law. Elijah — the father of the Prophets. And they speak with Him about His “exodus,” His departure. Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets, and here the two of them stand beside Him and say so.

Matthew 17:1–13 · Mark 9:2–13 · Luke 9:28–36

Down the mountain

He heals a demon-possessed boy, speaks a second time of His coming suffering, travels back through Galilee to Capernaum, pays the temple tax with a coin from a fish’s mouth, and teaches the disciples about greatness and forgiveness.

Then He sets out for Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, going through Samaria — avoiding the popular route.

Matthew 17:14–18:35 · Mark 9:14–50 · Luke 9:37–62