By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph. D.
Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Mobile
INVITATION
Matthew 4:12–25
The content of this passage focuses on the inauguration of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, His invitation for others to become His apprentices and the infiltration of His preaching and powerful works into Galilee and beyond. Lest we view this text as merely another story in the life of Jesus, let us ask the Lord to teach us how to apply its content to our lives.
Starting Out (12–17)
Jesus left His hometown of Nazareth around the age of 30 (Luke 3:23) and moved to Capernaum on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. Seven centuries prior, the Prophet Isaiah anticipated the coming of the Messiah. “The people who live in darkness have seen a great light.”
The light that Matthew highlights in this quote from Isaiah 9:1–2 immediately precedes one of the great nativity prophecies in verses 6–7. Every Christmas season, I look forward to listening to choirs singing “For Unto Us a Child is Born” from Handel’s “Messiah.” The words that Isaiah prophesied were fulfilled with the coming of Jesus.
As the Lord grants us witnessing encounters in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we must be faithful to present an uncompromised gospel. Jesus calls listeners to repent (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3) and believe. And what we believe matters. The Christmas story of Bethlehem must be told with the anticipation of the Passover Lamb who faced Gethsemane, Golgotha and the grave. The infant who had been placed in a manger grew to be the holy Man crucified on a Roman cross and whose body was placed in a borrowed tomb before He arose from the dead.
Calling Out (18–22)
Jonah’s sons Simon and Andrew worked with their dad as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Andrew had already introduced his brother to Jesus. (See John 1:35–42.) Jesus called them out to a new task, and they followed Him immediately.
James and John, the boisterous or argumentative sons of thunder — Jesus’ nickname for them (Mark 3:17) — were actually sons of Zebedee and were fishermen like their father.
What about the family business? How would they provide for their families? How long would they be walking in the dust of this rabbi from the hill country? All they knew was that Jesus was calling them to fish for people.
Answering the call to tell others about Jesus requires sacrifice and commitment and faith. A call to ministry is a call to preparation. This calling to serve Jesus is an invitation to hallelujahs, hardship and heartache. Some who hear will repent and turn to Jesus. Many will reject and trust their own path. Unlike the fish stories of the big one that got away, when people remain lost after a passionate witness to follow Jesus, there is no exaggeration — just brokenness.
Reaching Out (23–25)
Jesus began His ministry with three main activities: teaching, preaching and healing. As more people heard about His authority over diseases and the demonic, His fame grew.
From the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus was modeling for His disciples how to make disciples who would make disciples. He began with fishermen whom He trained to fish for men. Through His multifold ministry that reached people far and wide, He was preparing them for the mission He had for them after His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus was equipping them to make disciples of all the nations.
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