The amount of time that Jesus spent with his disciples is a topic that has been debated for centuries. While some believe that he spent only a few months with them, others argue that he spent up to three years. In this article, we will take a closer look at the evidence and try to determine exactly how many days Jesus spent with his disciples.
The Early Days
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus’ ministry began with his baptism by John the Baptist. After this event, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and praying. It was during this time that he was tempted by Satan and emerged victorious.
After leaving the wilderness, Jesus began gathering disciples around him. The first two he called were Andrew and Peter, who were fishermen by trade. He then called James and John, who were also fishermen.
The Three-Year Theory
Many scholars believe that Jesus’ ministry lasted for three years based on several pieces of evidence. First, there are three Passovers mentioned in the Gospel of John during which Jesus visited Jerusalem (John 2:13; 6:4; 11:55). Since Passover occurred once per year, this suggests that Jesus’ ministry lasted for at least three years.
Additionally, there are several events mentioned in the Gospels that could not have occurred in just a few months. For example, in Luke 8:22-25, Jesus calms a storm while he and his disciples are on a boat. Later on in Luke 9:51-56, they travel through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem.
Finally, some scholars point to the fact that Peter’s denial of Jesus is said to have occurred before the rooster crowed twice (Mark 14:30), which suggests that they had been together for an extended period of time.
The Shorter Timeline
Despite these arguments, there are some who believe that Jesus’ ministry was much shorter. One piece of evidence for this is the fact that several events in the Gospels seem to happen in quick succession. For example, in Mark 1:21-28, Jesus casts out a demon and then immediately goes to Simon’s house to heal his mother-in-law.
Additionally, some scholars point out that there are only two Passovers mentioned in the Gospel of John (2:13; 6:4), which would suggest a shorter timeline.
The Verdict
So, how many days did Jesus spend with his disciples? The truth is that we may never know for sure. While the three-year theory seems to be the most widely accepted, there are certainly arguments to be made for a shorter timeline.
Regardless of how long he spent with them, it is clear that Jesus’ impact on his disciples was profound. They went on to spread his message throughout the world and continue to inspire millions of people today.