How Long Did Jesus Teach His Disciples?

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was a teacher and a mentor to his disciples. He spent a considerable amount of time teaching them the ways of God and helping them develop their faith.

The question that often arises is how long did Jesus teach his disciples? Let’s delve into this topic and explore it in more detail.

The Early Days

Jesus’ ministry began when he was around 30 years old. He called his first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, while they were fishing by the Sea of Galilee. From that day onwards, Jesus spent a lot of time with these men teaching them about the kingdom of God.

Three Years

The Bible doesn’t give us an exact number of days or hours that Jesus spent teaching his disciples. However, we do know that Jesus’ public ministry lasted for three years. During this time, he traveled extensively throughout the region preaching the gospel and performing miracles.

The Teachings

Jesus’ teachings were focused on love, forgiveness, and salvation. He used parables to explain complex spiritual concepts to his followers.

His teachings were not only theoretical but practical too. He modeled selflessness by washing his disciples’ feet and feeding thousands with just a few loaves of bread and fish.

The Final Days

In the final days leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus spent even more time with his disciples preparing them for what lay ahead. He predicted his own death and resurrection which left them perplexed but he reassured them saying “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:1)

The Great Commission

After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and before ascending into heaven he gave his disciples what is known as The Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20). In this commissioning statement he commanded them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This became the foundation for spreading the gospel to all corners of the earth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jesus’ time with his disciples was not just a matter of days or months but years. We know that his public ministry lasted for three years, but he continued to teach his disciples even after that until he ascended into heaven. His teachings were transformative and continue to inspire people today to follow him.