Jesus goes public

Have you seen the light?

used to describe suddenly seeing everything differntly, rightly, being changed..

copernicus - literally saw the light - the sun was the centre -

have you seen Jesus the light is the centre? -

broader context: God has shown up - Jesus - to take charge - people begin to meet him here in ch4

Jesus, the light turned on in shadow-death-land

Matthew 4:12–13 NIV

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—

Capernaum

fishing, cosmopolitan and multicultural,

synagogue, centurion, tax office,

Larger context

long way from Jerusalem, major route to Egypt in south and Syrian capital Damascus in the north

Matthew 4:14 NIV

14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

Jesus deliberately relocates - because of Isaiah. Also because of political sensitivity (John the Baptist just imprisoned). Jesus knows who he is -

Matthew 4:16 NIV

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.”

He’s the light -obviously in contrast and benefit to the dying, the darkness -

Darkness, shadow of death..

It wouldn’t have looked like a dark city. It would have looked progressive, aspirational - enlightened in many respects.

What looks enlightened may actually be death and darkness -

// waited for an expert - help to fish for barramundi - never got one

Jesus, Fishing Master

Jesus, as God taking charge -

Matthew 4:17 NIV

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

This is the one who is the expert on life - he’s the great light.

Do not lose sight of this overarching summary - everybody has to turn to God. God is taking charge - implicit in John’s message earlier - and will come up again and again in Jesus’ message - there’s a final separation that will take place. Those not turned to God will be thrown away and destroyed.

Matthew 4:18–19 NIV

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.”

Ordinary people.

Jesus will make them into fishers for people. (THey are to repent, and follow him)

Called to be his disciples - trained by him, under his authority

Who is this call for? Just back then, just these 4?

Always a mix, always disciples and a crowd, and the crowd are invited too -

Matthew 4:20 NIV

20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

It’s total commitment. Leaving potential ladder climbing, job security. Leaving family. Leaving the known enlightenment.

This isn’t only recorded for us to watch them. There is a call, and a cost and a goal- have a look and listen to Jesus at the very end of Matthew’s Gospel:

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Risen from the dead. Obviously Jesus is God in charge. They were to fish for people who would fish for people etc - till it got to you - and you and I are to:

repent, follow Jesus and fish for people

follow me, change allegiances, fish for people

Maybe you’ve done this. Maybe you’re afraid to do this. Maybe following has brought turmoil into your home/family/workplace -

If you’ve turned to Jesus who is God (repented) , and you’re following Jesus who is in charge, do you notice that you are trying to fish for people who also need to turn to Jesus and follow him.

It is not for the experts, the religious ones, the ministers, - remember Jesus takes and turns ordinary people into fishers -

// my first anglican minister role - a town named after an anglican minister

// truth or love? - truthless love, loveless truth -

// I’m a proclaimer of the good news - the evangelion (in greek, gospel as god-story in old english)

// I am sure God made the world, all humans have turned away from him - any who have turned away from him are subject to certain judgment and final destruction - the good news is that God has provided a rescue in Jesus the Son of God in charge - available to everybody, bringing both forgiveness and membership of God’s family. It’s an offensive message - you can’t fix yourself, you are not god, you deserve a death sentence from God - and it is good news - you can be rescued - God has done something - this is the most important thing every human on earth needs to know

// The danger in ignoring this or minimising this is that people don’t find out about the rescue

// but there’s a danger in ignoring other aspects of Jesus’ life and work:

// it should never be either-or -

Jesus, good news bringer, good-doer

So easy to read this summary of what Jesus did and not notice the details:

Matthew 4:23–24 NIV

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.

He was calling people to turn to God, to repent - he was teaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom.

[Preach, if necessary, use words - wasn’t said by Francis and isn’t true - the good news is a message - people in darkness need to hear it

[Our town - makes the news right now - there are all kinds of actions which will help our town - but we need to know something deeper - everybody in this town, from violent offender to successful self-satisfied civic minded atheist needs to turn to God. That is the solution for sinful hearts - turn to Jesus because he can rescue you from your sins.

Our next weeks will be Jesus’ masterclass on how to repent - for the rich, and greedy, the haters, the religious, the performers, grudge keepers -

[cf Mt 11:20-24] - re Capernaum, not repenting even after miracles - worse judgment than Sodom

But we also need to notice what Jesus did - this is new and amazing too - Jesus, the Great Light, let light shine from the perfect future into the present lives of suffering people and healed them. Life is not supposed to be under the curse of disease, pain, demons -

Yes- Jesus healing is a sign that he is God come to be in charge.

But he could have just stuck to turning water into wine and controlling the weather - he did good for people.

As people who follow Jesus, are we following him in this respect too?

As light bringers - not especially the church as a group (though there are options here too), but for each of us, (not the government or the police or the schools or the welfare workers) - how are we seeking to do good - ?

have you seen the light? in turning to Jesus and following him who is in charge, are you fishing for people,

calling them to turn to Jesus and follow him who is in charge,

and are you doing good...

Matthew 4:25 NIV

25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Capernaum didn’t repent at Jesus’ coming.

Crowds from everywhere followed Jesus, just like the disciples - but in the end, not all the disciples (Judas?) and not all of the crowd stayed -

For you, this week, what will turning to God require?