Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14a, Luke 4:14, John 4:1-3 (The journey into Galilee)

Rachel Workman:

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.	14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News.	14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.	4 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. This seems to contradict the other gospels. According to John Jesus left for Galilee because he knew the Pharisees had heard he was baptizing and making more disciples. According to Matthew and Mark he left for Galilee because he heard John had been arrested. But I think that John just had more details than the other gospels. Jesus left for Galilee after he heard that John had been arrested and because he knew that the Pharisees had heard he was baptizing and making more disciples.

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John Burnett: 4 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John ² (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), ³ He left Judea and went away again into Galilee.

The one purpose for Jesus’ ministry early on was to make disciples that would share the Gospel.  Luke adds that Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit’s job is to glorify Jesus and when new disciples were baptized, they were given the Holy Spirit to help them in their ministry. 

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Mike Grimm: 

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. John's imprisonment-which foreshadows Jesus' own suffering-becomes the signal for Jesus to begin public ministry. The forerunner, John the Baptist, has completed his mission of preparing the way.	14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. This was the beginning of Christ’s public ministry.	14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Galilee is where Christ had been brought up, and from where He came to John at Jordan. Christ did not return to Galilee from a natural love to his country or a strong desire of being there again; but was owing to the powerful impulse of the Holy Spirit, which was in him, and moved him to return there; where he was to begin his ministry, and work his miracles, and so fulfil a prophecy of Him.	4 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. Christ would apply himself more to the preaching and teaching work, which was the more important. He would put honor upon his disciples, by empowering and employing them to do baptism.