by Doreen Kajulu | 5 December 2020 08:46 am12
Luke 3:23 (NKJV), “Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age…” This is the starting point for understanding the timeline of His earthly ministry and, by extension, estimating His age at death.
To estimate how long His ministry lasted, we can look at the Gospel of John, which records Jesus attending several Passover feasts annual Jewish festivals that allow us to track the years:
First Passover
John 2:13 (NKJV): “Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”
Second Passover
John 6:4 (NKJV): “Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.”
Third Passover
John 11:55 (NKJV): “And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.”
These feasts span about two years, but many scholars believe Jesus likely attended a fourth Passover that isn’t explicitly mentioned in the Gospel of John. This inference is drawn from the numerous miracles, teachings, and journeys recorded between the events. Therefore, most conservative biblical scholars estimate Jesus’ ministry lasted approximately 3 to 3½ years.
Additionally, before His first Passover:
After His resurrection, Jesus continued to appear to His disciples for 40 days before ascending to heaven (Acts 1:3). These post-resurrection appearances also fit within the broader timeline.
So, when you add about 3½ years of ministry to His starting age of 30, Jesus likely died at about 33½ years old.
What Can We Learn From Jesus’ Life and Death?
From a worldly point of view, dying at 33 might seem premature a life “cut short.” But Jesus didn’t waste a single moment. He came with a clear purpose: to fulfill the will of His Father and offer salvation to humanity. He finished His work within a short time, yet His impact is eternal.
As
Philippians 2:8–9 (NKJV) says:
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”
Unlike those in the Old Testament who lived hundreds of years (like Methuselah at 969 years), none accomplished a redemptive work like Christ. The value of life is not in its length, but in the purpose fulfilled.
What Was Jesus’ Secret to Fruitful Living?
Jesus gives us insight into His mindset in several key verses:
John 9:4 (NKJV): “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”
→ Jesus knew time was limited and made every moment count for God’s mission.
John 11:9 (NKJV): “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.”
→ He walked in the light of God’s timing and wisdom, avoiding distraction or delay.
John 4:34 (NKJV): “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”
→ Jesus viewed obedience to God’s will not as a burden, but as spiritual nourishment — His “daily bread.”
This shows that Jesus had a clear sense of urgency and eternal perspective. He was never distracted by worldly ambitions, pleasures, or fears. He knew that time would pass and opportunities would fade, so He lived with purpose fully submitted to the Father’s will.
Can We Live Like Jesus?
Though we live in a noisy, distracted world, we are called to live with the same focus. The Apostle Paul encourages believers in:
Ephesians 5:15–16 (NKJV): “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Like Jesus, we are called to redeem our time to invest our days in things that have eternal value. It’s not about how long we live, but how faithfully we live. And only through the strength of Christ can we live with such purpose:
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Conclusion:
Jesus died at around 33½ years of age, but His short earthly life accomplished more than any other life in history. He is our perfect example of a life lived with urgency, obedience, and eternal significance.
May we also strive to live purposefully, doing God’s will with the time we’ve been given.
Shalom.
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