Matthew 4:12-25 NIV
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.”[a]
17 From that time on Jesus
began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
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.
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,[b] Jerusalem, Judea and
the region across the Jordan followed him.
Listen! Did You Hear That?
There are always political and religious tensions going on.
John the Baptist is now in prison, for having told Herod his sin with having
his half-brother’s wife in marriage. Honesty sometimes comes with a price. Sometimes
truth comes with a price. So, here we see the end of John’s public ministry of
sorts and the full beginning of Jesus’ ministry to the world. Tension always
seems to exist between religion and politics, even to this day. Jesus will also
face tension and opposition, not only with the political leaders of the day,
but the religious leaders of the day also.
It’s interesting that in the fulfillment of God’s plan of
salvation, that Jesus starts in Galilee. God’s plan of salvation will come to
include ALL people, even those located away from the center of Jerusalem and
God’s Temple of that time. In the end this idea of a Temple will change and
shift meanings to us, but the meaning remains the same to God throughout time
as not a building, but God’s very own Son, Jesus.
So, now Jesus leaves His hometown of Nazareth and moves to
Capernaum, a city by the Sea of Galilee. This is in the northern regions in the
area of Zebulun. In this movement, Jesus is fulfilling prophecy. And that
prophecy from the book of Isaiah is stated in the passage above. Jesus fulfills
prophecies. But I, like so many others, can easily read and read and read God’s
Word and just miss it. I need God to help and guide me along the way. It’s
amazing how all the prophets, ages back, telling the Words of God, fulfilled
God’s Word in Jesus. To me, it’s astounding!
God brings to light the fulfillment of His Word. May that
same Light, ding-ding-ding, in my mind as God shines His Light into my life as
well, to give me faith and understanding, and the clear knowledge that leads me
to free belief in God.
This land of Zebulun and Naphtali was a mixed region of Jews
and Gentiles. We learn how earlier in history these people were the first to
fall to the Assyrians and be whisked away to a foreign land.
How can I not help but to think of my sinful life, when sin has
whisked be away to a lost place. Yet, even here, in this passage, God comes to
these people at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. This plan of God, this
ministry of Jesus, goes way beyond the salvation of the Jews, as God’s Chosen
People. God’s Chosen People become ALL the people who God leads to believe in
His forgiveness and salvation, through Jesus. Simply amazing!
It’s sure that Jesus comes to the land of those in darkness,
myself, and yourself included.
May we all see the Light and live as Children OF the Light.
We ARE called out of the darkness of our sin after all, and freely granted
forgiveness and salvation. Rejoice in this gift and respond! It’s not about
getting what you think you deserve for doing something. It’s about responding
to what you have freely been given. You freely have been given Light, so walk
in that Light to love God and all those God gives to you in your life. Respond!
And with this, Jesus preaches. Jesus preaches and tells us to
repent. Our sin is before us. Our sin is made obvious by what we have done and
what we have left undone. So, don’t be so proud that you think you have nothing
to turn and run from. After all, Jesus just preached the repent word and has
turned you to Himself to lead you out of darkness and into His Light. Follow
Jesus in His Light, not your own dim worn out flashlight of your actions that
you believe will give life. Turn and see the great Light of Jesus. Follow that
Star!
You are in for a big change. Rejoice in that change!
The Sea of Galilee was a busy place. This was a place of trade
and fishing. A place where food was caught and sold. A place to feed people.
Think of that. This is where Jesus comes to call out some of His disciples.
These were working folks. People who knew how to sweat and earn a living the
hard way. These were industrious workers. I’ve always had a special respect for
the working people of the day. Out of the workers, emerges leaders. It’s the
way it should be, in my way of thinking.
Just as God called Abram to follow Him and start a ministry
to a strange place from Ur to Caanan, Jesus calls His first disciples. And, in
my opinion, because these fishermen were hard workers, they notice that Jesus
is something special and they jump at the opportunity to follow Him. There is
something important happening here. Something beyond the normal call of working
for food to feed people. A different kind of work to feed the people in a far
different manner. But first, the call to follow and learn from Jesus.
Yes, here we have a transformation taking place. A
transformation much like how disciples today are changed at baptism. Even as
infants, God chooses to make each His own, to gift them with the Holy Spirit,
and to place wonderful spiritual gifts in our lives to be used in service to
God’s plan and for God’s people throughout the world in which each of us are
set.
And with all of this, like these fishermen by the sea, we
jump and go. This is exciting. This is a transformation that calls us out of
ourself to something strange and something entirely new.
There comes a time when faith builds up and you have to leave
yourself behind and plunge into something new. Why? Because God has chosen you
and wants to use you. That’s why!
This calling of disciples, is just the beginning. Jesus goes
on from there to call others. And, even today, Jesus goes on from there, into
all occupations and regions of this world to call disciples. Jesus calls. It’s
not about us doing something to earn the call, it’s about Jesus’ love and trust
and sure hope that God will be active in the lives of His disciples, no matter
the talents. God will supply all that is needed.
It’s time to jump up and leave yourself behind and follow
Jesus.
Jesus’ teaching was far reaching. He not only taught in the
synagogues, he also went about all the people of that region, Gentile and Jew
alike to teach and heal and come to them. It’s interesting how Jesus comes TO
the people to teach and heal and minister His gift of life and salvation.
And in this widespread ministry of Jesus, people showed faith
in His healing. This was a widespread ministry that reached far beyond what we
think. And that widespread ministry continues on today. But Jesus set the
standard really high. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ church would follow
in His footsteps in the spread of God’s action with and among all people.
So, what are we to do today? I think it’s to listen to the
call of Jesus. He is reaching out for followers to move from the comfort zone
and into something new that God has in store. We are shown, by the disciples,
how to jump at the voice of Jesus to move into something of a different sort.
God placed each one of us in this place, and in this time, to fulfill His call.
But first we need to be aware enough to open our ears to His call.
How does that happen? We have God’s Word before us in the
words of the Bible, in the words from pulpits, in the Sacraments, and through
the mouths of fellow disciples who have responded to God’s call. So, listen and
look and see. Be baptized today! Move out in the new life that God blesses you
with to do His will in His way, each and every day. This is exciting stuff
here. And you really don’t know where it may lead. God may use you to serve, to
love others, to feed the hungry, to clothe the poor, to give shelter, to teach
His Word, to proclaim His Word to all those He gives to you. The ways that God
may choose to use you are infinite. But rest assured, even when you think you
can’t, God gives you the gifts you need to carry out His work in this world. For
a little proof, just take a look in the Bible at all the people God chose to
use, even when they resisted, God still made something of it. So, listen and
respond and overcome your fears. Go out with God. He will always be at your
side to lead and guide.
Jesus’ Light will shine clear and brightly, especially to
those in fear, in sin, in illness, in suffering and in the dark. Look and see,
the Light has come.
You know what? Jesus is THE Light. There is nothing to fear
in that. I’m thankful for Jesus THE Light.
Get is straight. Follow Jesus as His disciple and preach the
Word to all the world… today… here and now… tomorrow… and into eternity. Thanks
be to God!
Enjoy this YouTube Video that I used during this reflection
Hark The Voice of Jesus Calling (Here Am, I Send Me)
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