Matthew 4:12-25
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.”
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, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
When Jesus began His ministry, what an exciting time...No one would have know what to expect from Him...A carpenter from Galilee...Who could have guessed, what following Him mean?...He literally changes lives, so those who were the first to join Him, would be in awe of Him...He was different...When the first people heard Him say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near", I think many, if not most, and maybe all the people who heard this would have seen, heard, and thought something was unique about Him...Yet, at the same time God, is such a humble ans subtle God, that He can do miracles right in front of us, and we can miss them...He is that great...I think this happened to all those who first met Him...
The first four disciples that Jesus recruited was four fishermen...The first four disciples according to Matthew are Simon Peter, Andrew, John, and James...He told them He would send them out to fish for people...They all left their fishing ways and followed Him...No doubt, His Divine Charisma was seen by the first four disciples...They would be curious in what He could do...
Then He went out after that healing the sick in Galilee...News spread about Him as far as Syria...Crowds from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea came to see and meet Him...People brought to Him all that were sick and He healed them...He throughout His ministry healed Gentiles, worked with Samaritans, and everyone...Jesus came to preach to and save sinners -and that is what He did...He did not exclude anyone in His ministry or Kingdom...