Jesus, the Lord of the Great Sabbath (who releases Israel (and the nations) from their sins), pays for their sin and initiates the proclamation of forgiveness to the nations through the disciples beginning at Jerusalem.

Geographically there are three significant areas in the book, Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. In the first three chapters, the story goes between the three areas, Mary’s home in Nazareth of Galilee, Elizabeth’s home in Judea (along with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea) and then the temple event when Jesus was a young boy in Jerusalem.

The book then moves in a major pattern, beginning in 3:24 from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea in 9:51 and finally into Jerusalem in 19:29. That the geographical intensity toward Jerusalem is valid is seen from the major marking verses of 9:51, 13:22, 17:11, 19:11, 19:28, where it is clear that Jesus is headed purposefully and intensely toward His destiny in Jerusalem. However, it should be noted that the geography is not perfectly defined as there are times in the Judea section when He is in Galilee or Samaria, and there appear to be times in the Galilean section where He is in Judea. However, once in Jerusalem there is no deviation back into Judea or Galilee. Thus, it is very relevant that the book is directed geographically toward Jerusalem and the Temple.

The disciples are also major intensification subjects in the book. Jesus chooses them, sends them out, and then becomes the example of self-sacrifice for the cause of the gospel.