Matthew 4:12-25
Invitation
Let’s read Matthew 4:12-17
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
If you remember from last we talked about John’s was the forerunner preparing the way to Jesus. His was preaching repentance. Jesus had been tempted by the devil and Jesus rebuked him and angels came and attended to Jesus.
I read that most scholars suggest it was likely a few months between last week’s lesson and today’s lesson (Matthew 4:11 and Matthew 4:12).
Now we see where John has been put into prison.
To know why John was put into prison we read Matthew 14:3-5 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He left Jerusalem went up to Galilee.
I read this: Upon hearing of John's imprisonment, Jesus returned to Galilee and began preaching, fulfilling prophecy.
We find that prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-2 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
To understand why Jesus did that we need to read John 4:1-3 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
It seems from reading this that Jesus went to Galilee for two reason, to avoid the jealousy of the Pharisees and to encourage John’s disciples to continue the preaching of repentance.
We know that by we read in verse seventeen from our lesson scripture, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
That was the exact same message John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
I believe the lesson for us hear is the importance of repentance.
Let’s read Matthew 4:18-22
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
We know that Jesus had met Andrew before this time by reading John 1.
One day John the Baptist saw Jesus passing by and said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When two of John the Baptist disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, being one of them, heard what John said and he followed Jesus and spent that day with him.
Andrew found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” and he brought him to Jesus.
On another occasion Jesus is walking along the shoreline where he found the four fishermen and called on them to follow Him. Now notice what happened.
It says that all four of them immediately left the family business behind and followed Jesus who told the what the new job entailed.
I share it from the ERV Bible, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish.”
Here is a former carpenter, calling four fisherman to be His first disciples.
Three of the four, Peter, James and John would be Jesus’ closest companions
Peter, James, and John would witness Jesus bring back to life the daughter of synagogue leader. They would experience the transfiguration of Jesus, saw both Moses and Elijah and heard the voice of God on top of a mountain. And they would accompanying Him while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane
James and John, who were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” because of their boldness. Peter was called the "Rock" symbolizing his role in leadership as Peter was always listed first among the Twelve.
Jesus would spend the next three years teaching them and the other disciples how to fish for men.
The lesson here, always be busy as calls those to work, and when the Lord calls you, don’t hesitate, go immediately. Trust the Lord to lead and show you what to do for His ministry.
Let’s read Matthew 4:23-25
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good ,news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Notice the four main characteristics of Jesus’ public ministry. 1.He taught. 2 preached, 3 healed, 4 He went to the churches and wherever people had needs. The Bible says that if all the miracles that Jesus did were written in a book, there would not be enough books in the entire world to hold them.
Because of this the news about Jesus spread and large crowds followed him
We read that Jesus healed every kind of diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and He even healed the paralyzed to walk again.
We know that when Jesus took the five small barley loaves and two small fish, that about five thousand men were there not including the women and children were following Him. It’s believed that fifteen thousands people were fed that day. I think we can say this is the fifth characteristics of Jesus’ ministry, to feed or care the people.
Wherever Jesus traveled His “Invitation” was always the same, "Come, follow me.”
Just as He invited Peter, James, and John to leave their old lives for a new path of discipleship, He is inviting us to fully commit to Him, and learn from Him to become a "fisher of people,"
I close with this, Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.