Walking with Jesus: Matthew Chapter Four Verses Twelve To Twenty Three

 

 Matthew Chapter 4 verses 12 -23

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. ESV

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested he drew back into Galilee away from Judea. This was the wisest course of action distancing himself from the rulers and Chief Priests as He began His ministry.

Matthew draws a connection to a prophecy from the book of Isaiah chapter nine mentioning that the people of Zebulun and Naphtali by the Sea of Galilee have seen a great light. Jesus now lives in Capernaum where it is said in the prophecy that light had dawned on those dwelling in the region of the Shadow of Death – the way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.

Jesus began to preach a gospel of repentance as John the Baptist had done. This was controversial because the Pharisees and rulers of Israel had made a litany of laws and sub-laws by which they lived and also enforced upon the people. This did not involve true repentance of sin and humility before Yahweh. In fact, the rulers were extremely proud and were unaware of their arrogance at heart before God.

Jesus began to call those who would become His disciples and eventually His apostles. First, He called Simon and Andrew as he passed them by while they were fishing and casting their nets. He said to them ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately ceased their work and followed Him.

Next, He passed by James and John as they were fishing in their father Zebedee’s boat. They also ceased their work and began to follow Jesus. He then went throughout Galilee teaching in the Synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. A gospel of repentance from sin in order to receive forgiveness, restoration and peace in Christ Jesus the only begotten Son of God.

Jesus preached and taught a gospel of repentance and also healed as many as were brought to Him. Crowds gathered where ever He was and they brought the sick to him from all over the region and from as far away as Syria across the Jordan to be healed. Thus His ministry was rapidly established and at this point he remained distant from the Chief Priests and rulers of Israel, safely ensconced in Galilee.