Matthew 4:12-17
Jesus Begins His ministry
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned 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 to the sea, along 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 is near."
John the Baptist was just put in prison...John has completed his message of preparing the way for the Messiah...Jesus, like John would give us the message to repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near...The time is now right for Jesus to start His ministry and spread the good news...
In Luke 4:14-30, we are told that Jesus is rejected in Nazareth and leaves and moves on to Galilee...The opportunities of a bigger ministry, a bigger area to serve, larger challenges would face Him...For one man, His challenges would be daunting...God sometimes wants us to take on bigger challenges in our lives...
Jesus may have left and moved on because He would not stay where He is not welcome...He may be going on to Galilee to preach to more people...Nazareth was a small town and Galilee and Capernaum offered Him more access to a larger group of people....We know God was behind Jesus and the good news... God was going to be spreading the gospel to all of the Israel and eventually all of the world...
Jesus fulfills Isaiah 9:1-2, where the Messiah would go to Galilee and preach to the people living in darkness...
From the small inconspicuous town of Nazareth to all over the world, His message would spread...Jesus would reach a larger audience...God wanted His message to spread...His message would spread...His word is now heard all over the world...
A new word came out of Jesus teachings, Christianity...His sacrifice on the cross, would replace the old Mosaic sacrifices...A new religion had started...No one had ever seen or met the Messiah...A religion from God who sent a Messiah, to forgive us and save us from our sins...People called Him Immanuel, which means God with us...God would be with us through the Holy Spirit...
One man left a small town and changed the way mankind looks at God and life...When we are challenged, think what Jesus might have been thinking when He took that first step (and as He walked) from Nazareth to Galilee...One man can make a difference...