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Lesson 5 Matthew 2020
Verses | Matthew 4:12-25
Key verse | Matthew 4:23

Jesus proclaiming the good news of the kingdom

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people."

Today's story is about Jesus, who was tested, starting his symbiotic relationship in earnest. What did Jesus do? He taught God’s word, preached good news of the kingdom, and healed the sick. Jesus' words were like light, so they shed light on the hearts of dark people. Jesus' life gave hope to those who sat in the darkness. They experienced heaven through Jesus. I pray that this time will be a time for us to listen to the gospel of kingdom again and enjoy the joy of heaven given by Jesus.

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Jesus did not campaign for the release of John the Baptist. He knew that John the Baptist had done his duty. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah. 15“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 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.”(15,16) Jesus wanted to be fulfill the word of God rather than to realize His will in the world. He lived as a Word’s servant. His word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Then how were the people at that time? Since the northern part of Galilee is a border area, the damage was greatest in the event of a war. The people there suffered from death, disease, and wounds, and lived a poor life due to exploitation. There were many biracial people through victims of war. They were ignored by the Jews. Even saying “What good thing will happen from Nazareth?” sounded as proverbs. They were sitting in the darkness. They couldn't move because they couldn't see. They couldn't move forward because of anxiety and fear. So they had to sit helplessly in one place.

Jesus came to them as a great light. Jesus is the light of the world. The place where Jesus came is bright. Jesus lit the light by teaching the Word of Truth. Psalm 119:105 says. "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." When the light shines, the darkness naturally leaves. And when the light shines, you can see things that you didn't see and you can see your way. Light energizes our hearts and even wakes people who were sleeping. We get to know who we are because of Jesus who has become the light of the world. We discover that we are sinners in front of God and in need of salvation. Jesus gives peace and boldness to those who tremble with anxiety and fear. Jesus shines the light of healing to restore the sick. Those who trust and receive Jesus as their Savior can gain new life and work in the light. “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” They challenge with faith and achieve new things. A person with a light in his or her heart can overcome the difficulties of reality with dreams and hopes.

Look at verse 17. " From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” "The first word Jesus said was, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Jesus worked hard on preaching the word. He did not convey another message by inheriting the history of Baptist John. He proved the same thing as John the Baptist. When John the Baptist preached this word, it means that people must repent, because Jesus, the king of the kingdom of God, will come soon. However, when Jesus said this, it means that people should repent, because He brought heaven. As Jesus began the gospel history, heaven under God's rule began. In order to enter God’s world, you must repent first and accept the king Jesus with your heart.

What was the first thing Jesus did after proclaiming that heaven was near? Look at verse 18 and 19. " 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.” Jesus went to the beach in Galilee and saw Simon Peter and his brother Andrew working hard, throwing nets. They were ordinary fishermen at the time. Fisherman is a job of living by catching and eating fish. If you catch a lot of fish, you are happy, and if you can't catch it, you can’t face in front of your wife and children. It's a life of crying and laughing depending on the amount of fish caught.

Jesus told them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” To follow Jesus is an invitation to be His disciple At that time, a teacher and a disciple had education of apprenticeship. It is to learn the thoughts and lives of teachers by eating and sleeping together. Jesus promised to make them fishers of men. Man is a noble being that resembles the image of God. People live in the sea of pain and futility and die in sin. It means that they are going to save these people and be a spiritual fisherman who lives forever. It means that Jesus will raise them as a shepherd to look after the flock. This work is difficult, but it is more noble and beautiful than anything else in the world. Daniel 12:3 He promises that "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."

What did Peter and Andrew do on Jesus' invitation? Look at verse 20. "At once they left their nets and followed him." As soon as Simon and Andrew were called by Jesus, they left their nets and followed Jesus. They did not conflict or hesitate in Jesus' call. They didn't even calculate the benefits from following Jesus. When they were called, they left the net behind and followed Jesus. They had a clear decision. They would have always listened to Jesus' rumors and loved him. Jesus' call had an irresistible power. They changed the direction and purpose of life. They started to follow and learn the life of Jesus by turning out from the life they lived for themselves. It has changed from a life of working for eating and living to a life of livelihood to a fisherman, a life of mission-oriented. We, too, have been called by Jesus, shifted the direction of life from self-centeredness to Jesus, from self-glorification to God's glory, from possession to existence.
See verses 21, 22. “Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” It seems that James and John were richer than Peter and Andrew. Also, these brothers were working with their fathers preparing their nets. It takes a lot of time to repair or mend the net. The next day they will need to mend the hole to catch fishes. If Simon and Andrew were called while throwing the net, James and John were called while they were mending the net. The church needs people to throw nets and people to fix and repair nets. The church necessitates those people who evangelize and bring sheep to church, and people who help and nurture those sheep as well. Later, the partnership between Peter and John was used to lay the foundation for the Early Church. Andrew quietly prepared the environs and James worked with passion. Jesus started discipleship by calling two brothers.
James and John left the boat and their father and followed Jesus. Peter and Andrew left their nets, but James and John left their boat and their father and followed Jesus. It will be more difficult for those who have more than those who have less to throw away. But how difficult is it for us to throw away small or large things unless it is God's grace? Also, we shouldn't be people who risk their lives on trivial things. We must become people who can live or die for God's kingdom, righteousness, and cause. It is not easy to die for the Lord, but it is also difficult to maintain the center of the balance and keep your position in times of difficulties.
  Simon and Andre, James and John were unknown Galilean villagers. They were meant to live a life of fisherman who fishes in the Sea of Galilee, and all their life that meant to disappear like a bubble. When they were called, they became Jesus' disciples and became the twelve pillars of the new Israeli community. The decisive reason they were able to live this life was because they were called from Jesus and were able to leave behind all their belongings. This courage and determination made them great servants of God. God's call is grace in itself. When they obeyed Jesus’s calling, Jesus taught them with the Word, joined them, served them, loved them, and led them to the world of God's truth. Sometimes, He trained them to evangelize, serve, face the gale, be faithful, and pray. Jesus’s discipleship is about raising people. It’s the way to achieve the history of succession. Discipleship takes a long time. It requires a lot of investment and sacrifice. But discipleship is God's wisdom to save the whole world. Through the pain of dissolution, raising one person as a disciple, the church of God has been established and maintained and has developed. If we had raise one disciple in our lives and pass over, there would be no life worth than that.
  After calling the disciples, what did Jesus do throughout Galilee? See verse 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.” Jesus went from village to village and did three things. He teaches in the synagogue, preaches the gospel of Heaven, and heals all the sick. Jesus worked as the Messiah through teaching and proclaiming and healing by the Word of God. Jesus worked hard to teach God's Word to open people's spiritual eyes and reveal the mystery of the kingdom of God. He taught the truth how to live a righteous life. How good is the gospel of heaven Jesus told for the lives of being in pain due to sin, working hard until the forehead sweats in order to eat and live, but in the end, going back to one slump of earth? It is a grace to be able to hear such news. The gospel of heaven gives life, gives hope, and means to live for those who are in vain due to sin and death, and who have to repeat their meaningless lives with exhaustion. The gospel of Heaven brings real peace to this world. The gospel of Heaven can save and restore this fallen world and build the kingdom of God. The Gospel of Heaven is the good news for everyone to hear.
  Rumors began to spread as Jesus began to work. See verses 24, 25. “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. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” Jesus healed physical illness, mental illness, and helpless people. Where the Gospel of Heaven comes, a history of healing and a history of restoration take place. This is because Jesus handles all our weaknesses and heals us. Malachi 4: 2 says. “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.” Jesus heals and protects our old soul from sickness and makes us run out from the barn like well-fed calves.
  When a person repents and believes in Jesus, the person living in darkness comes out in the light. When we repent and believe in Jesus in the world of sin, death, and darkness, we are transferred to the world of righteousness, life, and light. In the darkness of Corona 19, we live a life of learning, practicing, and preaching the Word. Each family holds one-on-one, team, and various meetings. In my home, 20 teams are face-to-face, meetings and testimonies every week. Sometimes, there is face-to-face online at the same time in each room. It feels like the center has moved to our house. When we study the Word and socialize, we might feel that Heaven has come to our house. The apostle Paul was also imprisoned, but he preached the word by writing a letter. God's Word could not tie up in the prison or into chain. The word of God is being widely spread through online. A history is taking place with YouTube broadcasting where a pastor speaks to hundreds of thousands of people. We pray that the history of repentance, the work of heaven, will come to each family and this country by preaching the Word as we get closer to darkness. I pray that each of us can experience the Heaven day by day and live powerfully as a preacher of Heaven through Jesus.