My Answer(s): Thank you for visiting my web site, and submitting your question. I pray that my God and Father in heaven will bless you and your household with spiritual understanding.

Now, concerning how long Jesus was in the ministry? The Man Jesus of Nazareth ministry began upon His arrival on this evil and adulterous planet (Luke 2 and Matthew 2). For the word ministry means to give service, to care for or give aid to another, and Jesus came to serve and give His body as a ransom for us all. As it is written, "even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45 NIV see also Hebrews 10:5-7). But, if you mean when did the Man Jesus, the Son of Man begin His public ministry then His public ministry begins about three and half years before the leaders of the Jews handed Him over to the Romans to be killed. For Jesus said in John 2:4 to His mother Mary, "My hour has not yet come" (NKJV). This was the beginning of the Man Jesus’ public ministry. And it is written that, "Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age" (Luke 3:23 NKJV see also Matthew 4).

If we count the number of Passovers of the Jews from the time Jesus began His public ministry to His death on the tree then we have how long Jesus was in His public ministry as the Man Jesus of Nazareth. Beginning in John 2:13 it is said, "the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." Now, this was the first Passover of the Jews after Jesus’ public ministry began, which was already into its sixth month. And again, the second Passover of the Jews after Jesus’ public ministry began is mentioned in John 6:4 saying, "the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near" (NKJV). Finally, the last Passover of the Jews during Jesus’ public ministry is the one that they crucified our Lord and Savior. This one is mentioned several times in the gospel of John just prior to the Romans killing the Man Jesus, the Son of Man on the tree. For in John 13:1, it is said, "before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end" (NKJV). Jesus knew this Passover of the Jews would be His last on this evil and adulterous planet before His death on the tree. Jesus spoke these words the evening before the Jews’ Passover, which would begin the following evening at sunset. For the Jews reckon days from evening (sunset) to evening (sunset). Yes, Jesus and His disciples had their Passover meal the evening before the Jews’ Passover that last year of His public ministry.

For on this very same night Jesus said to His disciples, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:15 NIV). Jesus referred to this meal with His disciples as His Passover because the next evening, the Passover of the Jews, Jesus Himself would be our Passover Lamb on that last Passover of the Jews He spent on this evil and adulterous planet. As it is written, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7 NIV). And the next day Jesus was sacrificed with the Passover lambs of the Jews. For at the same time the Jews were killing their Passover lambs to eat that evening on the Jews’ Passover, the Romans were killing (crucifying) our Lord and Savior our Passover Lamb (John 18:28, 38 and John 19:13, 28-42).

Therefore, we see that Jesus’ public began about six months before the Passover of the Jews, and ended on the third Passover of the Jews after He began His public ministry, which was His day of death for our sins. I hope this answered your question. And may our God and Savior in heaven bless you with spiritual understanding. Amen. Praise God.

In Christ love,

Ron Davis, in ministry of Christ Jesus