3. =Capernaum=, named only as a place of a brief visit by Jesus at this time, but later more prominent in the history (John 2. 12). Situated on the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee. 4. =Sychar=, the place of the Samaritan ministry (John 4. 5, 40). This was formerly supposed to be the well-known city of Shechem, but is now more accurately fixed at _Askar_, a small village near to Jacob's well. 5. =Jerusalem.= During this period two events took place in Jerusalem--the cleansing of the temple (John 2. 14, 15), and the conversation with Nicodemus (John 3. 1-21). [Illustration: _YEAR OF OBSCURITY._] III. =Journeys.= We begin in the wilderness of the temptation. 1. From the wilderness to Bethabara. 2. From Bethabara to Cana. 3. From Cana to Capernaum. 4. From Capernaum to Jerusalem and Judea. 5. From Judea to Sychar, and thence to Cana. IV. We place in order next the =Events= of the Saviour's life during this period. 1. =The first followers.= Read John 1. 35-51 and ascertain the names of four, with hints of two others; for one of two in ver. 40 was John, and the language in ver. 41 implies that each sought his own brother. Notice what traits of character each disciple showed. In this little company, the band out of which grew the Christian Church, we find: 1.) A man who brought people one by one to Jesus. 2.) A deep, spiritually-minded mystic. 3.) A born leader. 4.) A plain, simple-minded believer. 5.) A man of pure, spotless character. What a combination of qualities for the founding of a church! 2. =The first miracle= (John 2. 1-11). In this miracle we find an apt symbol of what Christ came to do among men. He found water, and he turned it into living, spirit-quickening wine. 3. =The visit to Capernaum= (John 2. 12). Why he went we have no means of knowing, and it is idle to speculate. 4. =The first Passover= (John 2. 13). The mention of these passovers is important, for they enable us to know how long was the ministry of Jesus, and they give us dates for its events. This was the first passover of his ministry, not of his life. 5. =Cleansing the Temple= (John 2. 14-17). This was the first public act of his ministry in which he claimed the authority of Messiah in the house of God. See the prophecy, Mal. 3. 1-3. At the close of his ministry he found that the same evils had crept again into the temple, and purged it a second time (Matt. 21. 12). 6. =Conversation with Nicodemus= (John 3. 1-21). This conversation was remarkable: 1.) From the rank and character of the man (Vers. 3, 10). 2.) From the theme (Ver. 3.) 3). From its results (John 7. 50; 19. 39). 7. =Ministry in Judea= (John 3. 22.) 1.) Its precise place is unknown. 2.) Its relation to John the Baptist (John 3. 26). 3.) Its success (John 4. 1).