When we read the four gospels, we must not imagine that each of the evangelists recorded things in the same chronological order. They did not. Each one wrote out the history our Lord's earthly life and ministry as he was led by the Holy Spirit, to best serve the purpose of his own gospel narrative. So the fact that Matthew's history is not consecutive is of no concern to us. It was not his design to make it so.
Several things happened between our Lord's temptation in the wilderness and his appearance on the shores of Galilee preaching the gospel.
1. His Appearance to John (John 1:29).
2. The Calling of His First Disciples (John 1:39-51).
3. The Marriage Feast at Cana (John 2:1-11).
4. The Passover at Jerusalem (John 2:13-22) – "The Scourge!"
5. The Discourse with Nicodemus (John 3).
6. The Samaritan Woman (John 4).
Many months had passed, probably more than a year, since our Lord's temptation and the calling of his first disciples. At any rate, Matthew begins his account of our Lord's public ministry in Galilee. In the verses of our text we see the Lord Jesus preaching in the synagogues and along the streets of Galilee after the imprisonment of John the Baptist.
Proposition:Our Lord Jesus was the first Preacher of that great salvation which he accomplished (Heb. 1:3); and as such he is held before us as the great Pattern and Example all true gospel preacher must follow.
Divisions:I call your attention to three things in this passage of Holy Scripture.
Unlike the religious world in his own day and more especially in this day, the Lord Jesus began his public ministry with the utmost simplicity, without pomp and pagentry, without press conferences, advance men, and announcements, he just began to preach. Without calling attention to himself at all, he just began to preach!
A. The Time when he began to preach was "when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison." (v. 12).
When John had done his work, he was laid aside. Like the two witnesses in Revelation 11:7, when he had born his testimony, John was slain, and not a moment before. As we like to sing,
NOTE: God never leaves himself without a witness. He never leaves his church in the wilderness without guides. He who raised up Moses can raise up Joshua. There is no lack with our God.
B. The Place where our Lord began his ministry was in Capernaum, in Galilee of the Gentiles. (vv. 13-16).
1. He left Nazareth because the people there rejected him (Luke 4:29). 2. He came to Galilee because God's elect were to be found there – "He must needs go through Samaria!"
NOTE: God's purpose will not be defeated by man's unbelief! (Rom. 3:3-4).
3. He came to Capernaum because the Scriptures had to be fulfilled (Isa. 9:1-2).
Like the inhabitants of Capernaum, like the Gentiles of Galilee long ago…
4. He came to Capernaum because Capernaum in Galilee, the place of Gentile "nothings" and "nobodies" was the place from which he would fetch the trophies of his grace – (I Cor. 1:26-31).
C. The Message our Lord preached was the same as that of John the Baptist – (v. 17).
Our Lord Jesus could have dazzled the brains of men with deep, profound theology, or by unraveling the hidden mysteries of prophecy, or by opening up the intricate complexities of the law. But he chose not to do so.
1. He preached one message – The necessity of Repentance (Acts 20:21).
2. He preached that message constantly (Luke 13:1-5).
3. He preached that message urgently – "For the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
"There is no office so honorable as that of the preacher. There is no work so important to the souls of men. It is our office which the Son of God was not ashamed to take up. It is an office to which he appointed his twelve apostles. It is an office to which Paul in his old age specially directs Timothy's attention. He charges him with almost his last breath to "preach the Word" (II Tim. 4:2). It is the principle means which God has always been pleased to use for the conversion and edification of souls. The brightest days of the church have been those when preaching has been honored. The darkest day of the church have been those when it has been lightly esteemed." J.C. Ryle.
The Lord of glory was a preacher. Let all who claim to be preachers follow his example and reiterate his message!
II. Our Savior's Selected Messengers (vv. 18-22).When our Lord began to preach he began to gather disciples. In these verses we see our Lord's calling of two sets of brothers to himself. Here we have…
Peter and Andrew and probably James and John to, had been called to Christ earlier (John 1:40-41). They were now called to be preachers of the gospel.
A. Who were they?They were taking care of business in their given sphere of life and responsibility.
"They were busy in a lawful occupation when he called them to be ministers. Our Lord does not call idlers, but fishers!" C.H. Spurgeon.
C. What Did The Lord Call These Men To Do? – "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (v. 19).
As ordinary disciples they had been following the Lord, as such it was proper for them to continue in the pursuit of their careers. But now the Lord calls them to the work of the gospel ministry. He separates them to the work of the gospel.
1. God's preachers are fishers of men.3. In order for a man to be a fisher of men, in order for a man to be a gospel preacher he must be separated unto the gospel (Rom. 1:1).
That means…
a. He must follow Christ – (Word – Direction – Example).
b. He must drop all earthly interest and concerns – These men left their boats and their nets!
NOTE: God's preachers are to be supported by the free gifts of God's people. (II Cor. 8:9; Gal. 6:1-6).
c. He must leave his family – As James and John left their father Zebedee sitting in the boat, bewildered I imagine, so God's servants must not allow their dearest relations to keep them from obeying him!
NOTE: I challenge any infidel to explain the phenomenal success of Christianity while denying that it is of God. The gospel of Christ has literally spread over the world.
Concerning the cures which the Lord Jesus wrought among men, let me simply point out four things about them.
A. They were Many!The Lord Jesus was no religious charlatan. He cured every desease known to men.
All were wrought in such a clearly public and open manner that no one questioned their supernatural power.
C. They were Merciful.The cures of Christ's hand were all acts of mercy, free and gratuitous.
D. They were Mysterious. Our Lord's healings of bodily desease were meant…
1. To Teach us His Power!
2. To Typify His Works of Grace!
3. To Show us The Tenderness of His Heart!
4. To Prove His Messiahship – (Luke 4).
Remember, Our Lord Jesus is The Same Today (Heb. 13:8).
1. He is yet able to heal.
2. He is yet able to save (Heb. 7:25).
3. He is yet moved by the needs of his people.
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