We are told that Jesus was confining His activities to Galilee. He did not want to go to Judea and the vicinity of Jerusalem because there were people there who wanted to kill Him. Jesus does not expose Himself unnecessarily to danger. He knows that a time is coming when the final conflict will be inevitable but that time is not yet. It is the time of the Feast of Tabernacles and Jesus had gone quietly to Jerusalem but then began teaching openly in the Temple to the amazement of His listeners: "How does he know scripture without having studied?" (Does the Word of God - Jesus - not know God's word?!) They are also amazed that he appears so openly without fear. But Jesus would not be Jesus if he were to keep his message to himself. The Word of God cannot remain silent. On the other hand they are also confused about the identity of Jesus. How can someone from Nazareth be the Messiah? But, of course, Jesus is not just from Nazareth. He is sent by His Father, whom they do not know. They wanted to arrest Him but cannot because "his time had not yet come". The time of His arrest will only be in accordance with His Father's plan.

Do we really know who Jesus is? There are many conflicting opinions out there. We can only know the real Jesus by reading the Scriptures and by prayer and contemplation. Lent is an excellent time for us to do both and, better still, to begin making it a practise that goes far beyond Lent.