So It Begins (Matthew 4 - P10)

Today we will finish Matthew 4.  Read Matthew 4: 12 - 25.

God has entered time-space history.  We have observed his birth and the traumatic details that surrounded it.  We know nearly nothing of his childhood ... so perhaps it was an ordinary life for a young Jewish boy growing up in Galilee at that time.  Perhaps it included synagogue school, growing up in a family with multiple siblings, Sabbath observances, apprentice training under his dad and community living in Nazareth.  We watched as he was anointed for his life-work through baptism and was tested and proved righteous in the wilderness of Judea.  It is time.  He is ready.  And so it begins ...

Jesus grew up in Nazareth.  But we see him move to Capernaum.  So when we think of his home town, it is Capernaum.  It is by the Sea of Galilee in a beautiful region of Galilee.  There are mountains, the lake, trees and greenery.  It is a lovely region today and I assume that it was perhaps even lovelier then.  Do you ever wonder why Messiah did not set up "headquarters" in or around Jerusalem?  Jerusalem is the heart of the prophetic hope ... the epi-center of both religious and political power of the day.  But remember Jesus did not come to redeem systems ... he came to redeem humanity.  He came to establish a new kingdom ... a new order.  Michael Wilkins says: 

"It is in Galilee that the hint of the Old Testament hope for all the nations begins.  The incidents unfolding in Galilee require that the people's expectations of the messianic ministry must be adjusted." 

As you observe the events recorded here, the beginning of his public ministry, let's look at two groups of people who respond to Jesus.

First, consider these four men whom Jesus calls to "follow" him.  Two sets of brothers ... fishermen ... living and working on the Sea of Galilee.  They most likely already knew him ... had had interactions with him in Synagogue as well as community life.  But Jesus calls them out of their routine to become 'disciples' of his ... living with, learning from, sharing work with him.  The descriptors in the NIV of their responses encourage and challenge me.  "At once" ... "immediately" ... they respond ... and they follow. 

There is a time for analysis, for hesitancy, for caution.  And there is a time for immediate response.  Perhaps I am so impressed by these words because I tend to be such an over-analyzer!  I can think something to death ... until the moment is past ... the opportunity is gone.  I love the way Peter, Andrew, James and John said, "yes"!  And I want to be more like them.  I want to be so prayed up that when an opportunity to walk with my Lord arises ... the immediate response is "YES"! 

Jesus calls us, too, you know.  He calls us to walk with him, to learn from him, to work with him.  The church, after all, is to 'embody' Jesus to our world today ... to our communities.  Have you responded?  Or are you still thinking about it and analyzing the pros and cons?   We will make mistakes ... so did they.  We will fail sometimes ... so did they.  We will do well sometimes ... so did they.  But their beautiful response was "yes, Jesus, we will follow."  May that be our response as well!

Second, in verse 24 "news about him spread all over Syria" ... and in verse 25 "large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him."  That's the whole country!  North and south and east (west was the Mediterranean Sea).  Crowds 'followed".  Their following will prove fickle.  Their following was fueled by what he was doing for them.  We can fall into that same category if we are not careful.  We can follow Jesus as long as our lives are going as we choose ... as we prefer ... as we like.  We can follow Jesus as long as he is doing FOR ME what I want him to do.  That's a different kind of following.  That's a following that is born of self interest only.  That's a following that has no eyes to see what his work is all about.  

So the question for you and I becomes ... will I continue to faithfully follow when life is hard ... when the sickness is not healed here on earth ... when financial benefits do not come our way ... when my life does not look like I dreamed it would look? 

Let's be the first type of follower.  Let's be the ones that say, "Yes.  I'm all in!"  And then our names can be added to the list ... Peter, Andrew, James, John, and then Gail, ______ (add your own!)  I want to be in that company. 

FOLLOW ME

 

 

Jesus still calls ... what kind of follower will you be?