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Daily Bible Studywith SEEDS OF THE KINGDOM

Updated: Saturday, 22 November 2008, 12:06 (GMT)

22 August 2008 | Matthew 4:12-25

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee. But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, "Listen, lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, lands along the road to the sea and east of the Jordan! Listen Galilee, land of the Gentiles! Although your people live in darkness, they will see a bright light. Although they live in the shadow of death, a light will shine on them." Then Jesus started preaching, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here."

While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. Jesus said to them, "Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish." Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him. Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. Right away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.

Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the Jewish meeting places and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. News about him spread all over Syria, and people with every kind of sickness or disease were brought to him. Some of them had a lot of demons in them, others were thought to be crazy, and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all. Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis. They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.

Notes

Jesus takes up John the Baptist's earlier cry: 'Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here'. Here we catch a glimpse of what this kingdom looks like.

It is a kingdom where sickness and demonic powers have no authority. We see the authority of Jesus, the King. He has authority over sickness and over demons. He also has such authority over men that he simply has to say 'follow me' and they will leave everything.

We see here three reasons why people followed Jesus. Some came because they saw their need of repentance. Others came because he invited them to work alongside him to fish for people. Still others came because they had heard about the miracles he performed and needed his power to impact their lives.

What is your motive in coming to Jesus today? All three of these groups had valid reasons. Perhaps you know that you need to repent and to receive his forgiveness. Or maybe you are suffering sickness or pain and need the touch of Jesus. Or perhaps the King is calling you to join him in telling others about the good news of his kingdom.

What will it mean today for you to follow Jesus?

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Today's Writer

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