12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went away to Galilee. 13 He did not stay in Nazareth, but went to live in Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was done to make what the prophet Isaiah had said come true: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,on the road to the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee, land of the Gentiles! 16 The people who live in darkness will see a great light. On those who live in the dark land of death the light will shine.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach his message: “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” 18 As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew, catching fish in the lake with a net. 19 Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.” 20 At once they left their nets and went with him. 21 He went on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat with their father Zebedee, getting their nets ready. Jesus called them, 22 and at once they left the boat and their father, and went with him. 23 Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom, and healing people who had all kinds of disease and sickness.
We begin with a mini geography lesson to help us understand who was where and why. John the Baptist preached in Judea, where we find both Jerusalem and Bethlehem, in the southern part of Palestine. John ministered in the east near the river Jordan.
Herod Antipas had John the Baptist put in prison because he publicly criticised him for living with his brother Philip’s wife, breaking Jewish law (Leviticus 18:16). Eventually Herod’s wife engineered Herod to have John put to death (Matthew 14).
Matthew doesn’t explain the connection but simply says that after John’s arrest Jesus moved north to Galilee. Jesus doesn’t return to Nazareth where he grew up but chooses instead to live in Capernaum. Matthew interprets this as a fulfilment of Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-2.
At that time most of the people living in Zebulun and Naphtali were Gentiles, so by choosing to start his ministry in this region Jesus gives a clear sign of the universal nature of his mission.
In this passage Matthew tells us about two aspects of Jesus’s ministry. First, he preached the Good News about the Kingdom and healed people of all kinds of illness. Secondly, he calls the first four of his disciples in order to train them to “catch people” rather than fish.
Matthew gives us very little detail about Jesus’s encounter with these four fishermen. Jesus must, however, have made a remarkable impression on them because they were willing to leave their jobs so they could follow him.
MEDITATIO
Why do you think Peter, Andrew, James and John were prepared to leave their jobs to become Jesus’s disciples? What qualities do you think Jesus saw in these four men that led him to choose them to be his disciples?
What is the Good News of the Kingdom? What does it mean for you personally? How would you feel if Jesus appeared in your workplace? In what ways is Jesus calling you to follow him? Are you prepared to obey him, like the disciples, whatever the cost?
ORATIO
Psalm 27 offers many words of encouragement, not least to hold firm to the Lord and hope in him because he is our light and stronghold. Invite the Holy Spirit to minister to you using the words of this Psalm to build faith and confidence in God.
Jesus still brings healing to broken hearts and bodies today, although we don’t always understand the way he works. Ask him to help those you know who need his healing touch.
CONTEMPLATIO
Consider the “great light” in verse 16. What makes Jesus a great light for all people and for you personally?
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