Matthew 4:12 – 17
Jesus made a clean break from Nazareth when he began his
ministry. He left Nazareth and
went to Capernaum, in the fertile Galilee region – very populated and people
were likely to hear him and hear about him. 204 villages with 15,000+ people.
Places are characterized in various ways. I just taught a class in Del City and
most of my students were military or former military and worked at Tinker. It’s generalizing, but most (all?)
people there are open to protecting the second amendment (right to bear arms)
and are politically conservative.
Laguna Beach in Southern California? Artsy; people there are very open to various forms of beauty
reflected from life and nature.
People in Galilee were open to new ideas. Characteristics of Galileans:
·
“Fond of innovations, and by nature disposed to
changes, and delighted in seditions” _Josephus
·
o Who was Josephus? Josephus was born in Jerusalem in
A.D. 37/38 and became a historian writing principally about the Jewish people
up until his death ca. 100. Four of his works are extant: 1) The Jewish War; 2)
The Jewish Antiquities; 3) Vita (life) and 4) Against Apion. These works
provide us with knowledge of the New Testament era which we otherwise would not
possess. In short, Josephus has contributed to our understanding of the social,
political, historical (incl. chronological data) and religious backgrounds of
the New Testament.
·
ready to follow a leader
·
ready to begin an insurrection
·
quick in temper
·
given to quarreling
·
brave
·
honorable
·
courageous
·
wanted honor more than gain/wealth
Jesus considered his audience. He went to a highly populated
area where his message would disseminate quickly.
I think about people who just throw
that message out there and do it in the name of being courageous or obedient. For example, Windsor Hills Baptist
preachers or walk-ups. I have had a walk-up witnesser. I was the witnessee. In a mall, when I had a stomach virus
and had had too much coffee to drink while studying. I am sure the Evangelism
Explosion person did not believe me when he asked if I knew where my soul would
go if I died that very night. I
really thought that dying that very night was a distinct possibility, so I
truthfully answered that I would go to heaven. I could tell he didn’t believe me, but I was too sick and
tired to convince him otherwise.
What do we learn about
Jesus as God? Jesus as man? in this passage?
Matthew 4:18-22
Jesus called these men to be his disciples – to be fishers
of MEN. What were their
characteristics? NOT scholarship, wealth, social status or influence. They were
not poor but were simple, hard working, but with no great future ahead of them.
The qualities that made them good at catching fish also made them good at
catching people.
Example of
Socrates from Barclay p.90. A poor
man said to Socrates that he was poor and could only offer himself. Socrates responded the poor man was
giving his most precious gift of all.
That is exactly what God needs of us -- ourselves. Our very
self.]
Whether you are a good fisher of men or a good fisher of
fish, you need:
o Patience
o Perseverance
o Courage
o Eye
for the right moment
o Bait
to fit the fish (often we cannot be the bait for our own family)
o Keep
self out of sight
Do you have a story –
an example of any of good fisherman characteristics?
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