Pastor Brooks continues to work his way through a group of questions submitted by students who are studying how to defend their faith around their peers. This is part of the “Great Defenders” program, in which the children are also 
asked to submit in writing any questions they might have.
Question: How old was Jesus when he died?
Dr. Brooks responds: We believe that Jesus started his public ministry at about the age of thirty. This thought is based upon the historical evidence of the dates of the rule of prominent leaders mentioned in the Bible story of Jesus’ life.
Augustus Caesar was emperor and Herod the Great was ruling over Israel when Jesus was born. We also know who was in charge of the country when Jesus was crucified: so one of Herod’s sons was in charge of Israel and Pontius Pilate reigned as a Roman governor.
Based on the dates of their reigns, Jesus would have been between 30 and 35 when he started his ministry. The custom was that a Rabbi began his work at the age of spiritual maturity, 30 years of age. John writes in his gospel about three different Passovers during Jesus’ ministry, extending over three years.
So if we add those numbers we come to the conclusion that Jesus lived to be about 33 years of age, very young by today’s standards. This is the historical interpretation of the length of Jesus’ life, though some say he lived to be as old as 37 or 38.
