Do We Really Follow Jesus?

The light of God shone in a small fishing village. Some received it. Let’s look at the place where Christian discipleship began, and how they were ready to drop everything to follow the Light of the world, in Matthew 4:12-23.

Capernaum

Matthew 4:12-13 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Jesus spent most of his ministry near “Nahumville” (Caper-nahum) on the north shore of Lake Galilee. There were no paved streets, or public restrooms. The synagogue, reputedly built by the Roman centurion whose servant Jesus healed, was the community center. It was a small fishing village on a main road.

Capernaum was on a major trade route. Peter and his wife owned a house there. Homes were stone with thatched roofs, explaining how a paralyzed man was lowered through the roof for healing there. Jesus chose Capernaum as a center of his early ministry. His first disciples came from there.

Darkness and Death

Matthew 4:14-16 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”

As we read the words, “people who sat in darkness” and “those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,” do we understand the burdens we all carry because of our sins? A prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-4 spoke of One who would shatter the yoke of burden.

We believe that our western democracies are free, but they are not in absolute terms. The truth is, only Jesus can give us true freedom. Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy began to be fulfilled exactly where it was predicted to be, in Capernaum along the border of Zebulun and Naphtali.

A Light has Shined

Jesus’ message is considered to be foolishness outside of Christianity (1 Corinthians 1:10-18). David sang “the Lord is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1-9). Beginning at Capernaum “a light has shined” into this dark world. Most of Capernaum refused that message. Have we seen this “great light”?

Repent and Turn

Matthew 4:17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Some were angered or mocked. A few walked off their jobs to follow him. Are we lost, and desperately in need of this ancient message from Capernaum? In the beginning God said, let there be light, and in the beginning of the new creation, God sheds light into our hearts.

What Jesus wants Preached

Jesus’ preaching began with repentance and the kingdom of heaven. He concluded his ministry preaching repentance and forgiveness (Luke 24:47). Repentance is a continual life-changing experience beginning as a change of heart and brings forth the fruits of an ever changing life, becoming more like God in every way.

Intuitive Decisions

Matthew 4:18-23 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. 23 Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.

Proverbs suggest not making snap judgments (Proverbs 18:13, Proverbs 19:2, Proverbs 29:20). Yet, we make intuitive spur-of-the-moment decisions every day, sometimes long term. We also see people make impulsive decisions which they don’t stick with, like the seed on stony ground without root and no staying power.

The disciples also made a sudden decision to follow Jesus. It is appropriate to make some choices speedily, even decisions with lifelong consequences. Going with our instincts can be the right choice. If we trust that Jesus will lead us to green pastures, why delay following him? What’s your choice?

Do we see Jesus as the Light in a dark world? What hinders us from fully following Him?

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.