Jesus Begins His Ministry
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Last week we saw the beginning of Jesus’ Ministry. I have to return to that as we get started this morning. We often think that entering into ministry or service to God in any capacity is going to be filled with such ease and comfort. We look at teachers and preachers and can think that they have the good life. They get to read the bible and study everyday. As we see Jesus enter into His ministry we get a real incite to real ministry. It is not all easy and in fact for those who are beginning to serve God or who want to be used by God in more ways we should expect some attacks and set-backs. If I could for a moment elicit your prayers. Please I ask that you would pray for me and my family. Not because we are better then you but because we have a specific role and one I believe Satan wants to stop. I ask you please to pray for us as well as the other leaders here. We need you to stand next to us in the battle.
Jesus not only shows us that ministry work is going to come with hardships but He shows us that through the power of the Word we can overcome all temptation and struggles. We can at times forget that we have all we need in order to overcome all things. We have the power of the Word of God. Now I am not speaking about us being able to speak it into existence, or some idea that if we speak the word it will fix everything. I am reminding you that by the power of the word of God we can overcome the evil one. I cannot but help to think of 1 John:
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (, NKJV)
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (, NKJV)
“I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.” (, NKJV)
Jesus not only shows us that ministry work is going to come with hardships but He shows us that through the power of the Word we can overcome all temptation and struggles. We can at times forget that we have all we need in order to overcome all things. We have the power of the Word of God. Now I am not speaking about us being able to speak it into existence, or some idea that if we speak the word it will fix everything. I am reminding you that by the power of the word of God we can overcome the evil one. I cannot but help to think of 1 John:
“I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.” (, NKJV)
When the word of God is in us we have already overcome the wicked one. It is finished by His word. Jesus defeats everyone of these temptations by the power of His word, we need to keep this in mind as we do can do the same. Now as we enter into out text we see that Jesus is continuing the ministry that John started:
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.” (, NKJV)
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” (, NKJV)
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.” (, NKJV)
Jesus hears that John is placed in prison. I love that Matthew does not dwell on the prison time of John. He is focused on the message of the life of Jesus. He has a very specific task and He stays to it. Of course this was a sad thing. John is thrown into prison for honoring God. Yet Matthew shows that the message of the Gospel of the Lord is not going to be stopped by one man being placed in prison. The brothers of Joseph though they could stop His message by selling him into slavery. The leaders in the court of Babolyn thought they could silence Daniel by having the laws changed. The Jewish leaders thought they could silence the apostles with beatings and threats. Yet the message of God is not silenced now or ever. The power of God is greater then any one person or any one ministry.
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” (, NKJV)
I do not want any of us to think that the salvation of anyone is hinged on our proper wording or work of evangelizing. We are not who saves. It is only through the word of God and His Spirit that any are saved. It can be so overwhelming to think we need to do all we can to being that person to Jesus Christ. When if fact we need to first do all we can to honor Jesus Christ. We need to live our lives in a way that is about Him first and not about the work. At times we can get so focused on all that needs to get done that we are overwhelmed with it. But it is not for us to fix everyone and everything. We are to just work and live as the Lord leads. For some our work, or ministries will have the appearance of larger then others. But the bottom line is that if God is in the work the size it not about Him, it is about the heart of following the calling that He has set on us. I want us to understand it is not about the visible work it is about the heart that God looks to. Paul talks about the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians:
“For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” (, NKJV)
The Body of God is all needed in order for it to work right. We may think that one portion of the body is more honorable then another, but who are we to dictate that. The body of Christ is all needed in order to be most effective. The reason I say this and remind us of this in light of our text is because the message was not stopped my the strong hand of this world. Today we may get frustrated with all that is seemingly trying to stop the message of the gospel of Jesus. But God’s hand and plan are greater then any work here on this earth. Remember they are all in power not of their doing but by the allowance of the Lord. We need to be encouraged that we have already one, we are fighting from victory not for victory. These are very different. Morgan puts it like this:
Matthew 1. Fulfilling Prophecy, Jesus Brings Light to the Region of Galilee (12–16)
Thus it has ever been, and still is. Evil may silence a voice, but it cannot prevent the proclamation of the Word. If John is imprisoned, then Jesus takes up the message.” (Morgan)
As we move
As we continue Matthew also shows us that Jesus preaches this same message of John in fact we read that in the Gospel of John that He continues what John was doing We read this in :
“Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.” (, NKJV)
1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.
Jesus is clearly continuing the work of John. Yet in Jesus it was a finished work. John was pointing to the Messiah who was to come. Jesus was that Messiah. I also want to point out what Jesus’ first recorded message was, “Repent”. Jesus’ first message is repent for the Kingdom of God/heaven is here. Jesus comes to us today with the same message, repent. As we have already covered this in great detail in previous studies I am not going to stay here to long but I cannot leave this without reminding us of our great need to live repentant lives. Our salvation starts here as we come to God and repent of our sins. We all are imperfect, no one is born good at heart no matter what anyone says. God’s word tells us different:
“As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”” (, NKJV)
We are all born in need of a Savior, all born in need of the Lord’s redemption gift which is Jesus Christ. Next we read that Jesus left the place he grew up:
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:” (, NKJV)
Jesus leaves His hometown and begins His ministry in the Galilee region. This is an area that is very beautiful. It is filled with fertile ground and it was estimated that about 3 million people lived in this region in this day. Josephus says this about the region:
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew A. Introduction, 4:12–17
Josephus observes that it had all been cultivated, that there was no waste land, and that the smallest village had more than 15,000 inhabitants (War 3.43).
When the word of God is in us we have already overcome the wicked one. It is finished by His word. Jesus defeats everyone of these temptations by the power of His word, we need to keep this in mind as we do can do the same. Now as we enter into out text we see that Jesus is continuing the ministry that John started:
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.” (, NKJV)
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” (, NKJV)
Jesus hears that John is placed in prison. I love that Matthew does not dwell on the prison time of John. He is focused on the message of the life of Jesus. He has a very specific task and He stays to it. Of course this was a sad thing. John is thrown into prison for honoring God. Yet Matthew shows that the message of the Gospel of the Lord is not going to be stopped by one man being placed in prison. The brothers of Joseph though they could stop His message by selling him into slavery. The leaders in the court of Babolyn thought they could silence Daniel by having the laws changed. The Jewish leaders thought they could silence the apostles with beatings and threats. Yet the message of God is not silenced now or ever. The power of God is greater then any one person or any one ministry.
I do not want any of us to think that the salvation of anyone is hinged on our proper wording or work of evangelizing. We are not who saves. It is only through the word of God and His Spirit that any are saved. It can be so overwhelming to think we need to do all we can to being that person to Jesus Christ. When if fact we need to first do all we can to honor Jesus Christ. We need to live our lives in a way that is about Him first and not about the work. At times we can get so focused on all that needs to get done that we are overwhelmed with it. But it is not for us to fix everyone and everything. We are to just work and live as the Lord leads. For some our work, or ministries will have the appearance of larger then others. But the bottom line is that if God is in the work the size it not about Him, it is about the heart of following the calling that He has set on us. I want us to understand it is not about the visible work it is about the heart that God looks to. Paul talks about the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians:
“For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” (, NKJV)
The Body of God is all needed in order for it to work right. We may think that one portion of the body is more honorable then another, but who are we to dictate that. The body of Christ is all needed in order to be most effective. The reason I say this and remind us of this in light of our text is because the message was not stopped my the strong hand of this world. Today we may get frustrated with all that is seemingly trying to stop the message of the gospel of Jesus. But God’s hand and plan are greater then any work here on this earth. Remember they are all in power not of their doing but by the allowance of the Lord. We need to be encouraged that we have already one, we are fighting from victory not for victory. These are very different. Morgan puts it like this:
. Fulfilling Prophecy, Jesus Brings Light to the Region of Galilee (12–16)
Thus it has ever been, and still is. Evil may silence a voice, but it cannot prevent the proclamation of the Word. If John is imprisoned, then Jesus takes up the message.” (Morgan)
As we continue Matthew also shows us that Jesus preaches this same message of John in fact we read that in the Gospel of John that He continues what John was doing We read this in :
“Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.” (, NKJV)
Jesus is clearly continuing the work of John. Yet in Jesus it was a finished work. John was pointing to the Messiah who was to come. Jesus was that Messiah. I also want to point out what Jesus’ first recorded message was, “Repent”. Jesus’ first message is repent for the Kingdom of God/heaven is here. Jesus comes to us today with the same message, repent. As we have already covered this in great detail in previous studies I am not going to stay here to long but I cannot leave this without reminding us of our great need to live repentant lives. Our salvation starts here as we come to God and repent of our sins. We all are imperfect, no one is born good at heart no matter what anyone says. God’s word tells us different:
“As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”” (, NKJV)
We are all born in need of a Savior, all born in need of the Lord’s redemption gift which is Jesus Christ. Next, we read that Jesus left the place he grew up:
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:” (, NKJV)
Jesus leaves His hometown and begins His ministry in the Galilee region. This is an area that is very beautiful. It is filled with fertile ground and it was estimated that about 3 million people lived in this region in this day. Josephus says this about the region:
Josephus observes that it had all been cultivated, that there was no waste land, and that the smallest village had more than 15,000 inhabitants (War 3.43).[1]
I also love that once again Matthew shows us that Jesus fulfills prophecy in where He moves His focal point of His ministry:
(NKJV)
13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
The Galilee is a place that no one would have thought the Messiah would set up His headcounters. Here He is in a place that is now predominantly Gentiles. Jesus does focus on the Jewish population but this shows from the very beginning that Jesus was about the entire world. Bringing all the lost to salvation. He is in a land that is a dark place. In fact as we read verse sixteen it is very clear:
(NKJV)
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
They are sitting in a dark place. Which means it is not a fast movement they have set themselves in darkness. Jesus enters the darkest land with His light. The Jews think of the Galilee as some Hibilly location filled with those who are not of God. Yet Jesus sets Himself right in the middle of those who are in need of Him most. This is our Lord He has brought light to those who sit in Darkness, you and I are set free from this darkness. We are no longer under the shadow of darkness. The light has dawned.
As He enters this land He starts by preaching the gospel message, Repent! This message is one that he delivers as a herald or one shouting to save lives. This is what Jesus does to bring us to Him.
Then we are moved to the calling of the first disciples. But before we move, I want to point out that Matthew is not necessarily doing all this in order. He is working in priority of his message. We see that only a few are called here and not the entire 12. Matthew also does not focus on the early Galilean ministry he jumps right into this. Let’s read on:
(NKJV)
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
Jesus, we are not sure from this account exactly what he was doing but it seems He is searching those who would follow Him. Jesus call to Simon and Andrew and says follow me. Jesus puts himself in the place as a Rabbi here. He is a teacher and most in this area would have known of Him as he would have been in the Synagogue at this time. We also know that this is not the first encounter with Simon and Andrew so even though it may seem that way as we read the other gospels, we know there has been other, brief interactions. We read of them in and .
Either way at this point there is a clear call to follow Jesus leave everything they have to follow this Rabbi. This is not an abnormal thing. Many in this day would follow Rabbis and learn under their wisdom. The biggest difference is that normally people would go to the Rabbi and learn under them as a disciple. But here Jesus goes to those who He wants to learn under Him. He is calling them to Him.
The other thing that is interesting is who He is calling. Why would He choose these fisherman? They are normally not the what many would think of as scholars, so why these men. Jesus wanted to use the everyday person I believe. What we see is Jesus took those who would be genuen of heart and not living a fake facade of a religion. He did not need that, there was enough of that in the land already. He wanted men who would follow after Him with their mind, heart, and soul. That may not look like what the religious world wants. But these men are exactly what Jesus wanted.
That is great news for us. He wants to not only come to the most common area but to you and I who are the most common. He will use us to confound the wise. We just need to be willing to let the Spirit of God work in and through us. Also, these men are men that were already working. They were not idol sitting around waiting to be used. God uses those who are already at work moving and not idol. David Guzik points this out for us:
• Saul was looking for his father’s donkeys.
• David was keeping his father’s sheep.
• The shepherds were guarding their flocks.
• Amos was farming in Tekoa.
• Matthew was working at the tax collector’s table.
• Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock.
• Gideon was threshing wheat.[2]
Spurgeon says this:
“They were busy in a lawful occupation when he called them to be ministers: our Lord does not call idlers but fishers.” (Spurgeon)[3]
Are you already moving or are you in an idol place. God wants you to be in motion. He will redirect you as you move. Maybe you do not know what you are called to do, then do something and let God work in you. Children’s ministry, sound, cleaning, Hospitality, bulletin, bible study, encouraging others, prayer time, all these are something. Commit to them and let the Lord work from there.
Then we see Jesus say I will make you fishers of men. This is a phrase that would have hit them well. You work hard fishing, let me use what you do for the glory of the Kingdom of God. Let me take all you have been learning and use it. This is what God wants to do with us. He teaching us often in a secular trade and then says are you ready, let me use what you have learned to glorfy me. HE takes our past and redeems it if we are willing to let Him
What I love is this word Immediately. They left it all at this moment. I wonder how long God had been working in their hearts. I wonder how long God had been saying to them, do you trust me, will you follow me. I wonder how often they looked out at the religious world annoyed with all it’s fake living. Here then comes Jesus real, alive and with a message like no other. They wre willing to forsake everything for the kingdom of Heaven. It as immediately. They left it all. We see that they were willing to drop it all. Are you willing to leave everything for the sake of the Lrod. This is a hard question, btu can you set aside your old life and follow Him. This is the true heart of repentance, this is the true changed life. The one who says I will leave it all behind. I will forsake my security for the Kingdom of God.
This may not mean the same thing for you as it did for them. You may not be asked to leave your jobs, but you may be asked to leave behind that old friend. Or stay away from a location or you name your struggle that you cannot let go of. Jesus is asking you to lay it all down for Him. Lay all things aside as you are willing to follow the king of Kings.
Then we come to the work of Jesus:
(NKJV)
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Jesus then begins to teach and preach. Let me explain the difference. Teaching is giving the explanation of the text or the word of God. This would be a big part of our ministry, it is a teaching ministry. We do not have Sunday School because that is what we do on our Sunday morning and Wednesday night services. Preaching is the proclamation of the message of Christ. Barclay puts it like this:
“Preaching is the uncompromising proclamation of certainties; teaching is the explanation of the meaning and significance of them.” (Barclay)[4]
Teaching and preaching are needed in a ministry, but teaching is what builds the saint, preaching brings home the sinner. So, both are needed, but here you will find mostly teaching. As we are focused on equipping the saints of God for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Next, we see that Jesus’ ministry involves not just teaching and preaching but healing as well. First, we see he healed all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. Jesus was able to not only heal the soul and spirit but the physical body as well. He used these miracles to solidify His ministry. Look how I can heal the body, I can also heal your spirit of you are willing to follow me. It was this that lead many from all over the land to come to Him. This is what brought the people to Him. Word spread fast throughout the land. Every type of sick person was healed, and those who were demon-possessed.
I want to pause and look at just a few for a moment. We see this word torments and it can mean tortured or acute pain as well. I wonder what this signifies. I have read the commentaries but I also see the meaning of the word. What was Matthew saying Jesus was doing. I wonder if Jesus was healing those who were tormented with fear, anxiety and other things like this. Imagine all we struggle with and all we are tormented with. Here this Man walks up to them and says your hurt is lifted. Tormented with guilt for a mistake, or tormented with the pain losing a loved one, not about to find peace. Jesus steps in and gives them peace. I do not know for sure of course, but what I do know is God is able to remove all the torment in our lives if we let Him. How we can struggle with so many things, how we can struggle with what we are to do with this situation or that situation. We need to look to the one who can heal us of all torments.
Next I want to look at demon-possession. Is this real today? The short answer is yes. Yet biblically we see that we read mostly of it in the New Testament and especially in the time of Jesus. Many wonder why. There are many suggestions about this for example:
• Some believe that God gave the devil greater allowance to afflict man in this way, to give greater evidence of Jesus’ credentials as Messiah.
• Some believe that God allowed the devil a greater allowance to afflict man in this way to rebuke the Sadducees, who did not believe in supernatural beings such as angels and demons.[5]
There are just two of many. But the I wonder if Satan ramped up his fight knowing that Jesus was on the earth. What I do know is that Satan is real, and Satan can posses those who are not the Lord’s only. A Christian cannot have a demon of any kind. Light and darkness do not dwell together that is clear in scripture. I know some say that people have the demon of this or the demon of the. I say be careful how much publicity you give him. He is not around every corner or at every mistake or hardship. He is attacking but He cannot be everywhere at one time. The bottom line for you and I no matter how powerful Satan may appear, he has no power over us at all. He has been defeated and we are in Christ. Do not fall for the idea that Satan can overcome us, he cannot unless we given to him.
Today as we come to a close, I want us to see a few things here. One Jesus has overcome all things and we are in victory. Also let’s get to work and let the Lord use us in a mighty way. Be avalible, open and ready to be redirected as He leads us.
[1] The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew A. Introduction, 4:12–17
[2] Guzik, D. (2013). Matthew (). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.
[3] Guzik, D. (2013). Matthew (). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.
[4] Guzik, D. (2013). Matthew (). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.
[5] Guzik, D. (2013). Matthew (). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.