- Joined
- Jul 13, 2015
- Messages
- 19,194
- Location
- Western Australia
- Gender
- Male
- Religious Affiliation
- Catholic
- Political Affiliation
- Moderate
- Marital Status
- Single
- Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
- Yes
Jesus Begins to Preach
John [the Baptist] is arrested and only after that event does Jesus begin to preach and teach - he begins his public mission. His message is repent - turn away from your sins and turn towards God to follow him - because the kingdom of heaven is near. Jews in Jesus day, and many Jews today also, do not speak God's name (YHWH) nor utter words like God and The Lord in conversation choosing rather to use circumlocutions such as heaven, The Power, or The Glory. It appears that the gospel according to saint Matthew follows this ancient Jewish practise. Luke and Mark do not follow it and refer to the kingdom of God. But what is this phrase 'kingdom of heaven' intended to mean? Many think it means God's action as King to save his people or the final and complete salvation of God's people, Israel. What do you think it means?
The First Disciples
The next question is to ask what does repent mean. Here in the calling of Simeon and Andrew, James and John we see a practical demonstration of repentance and conversion. Have you seen that aspect of the calling of the disciples before?
• 4:12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, a town by the lake of Galilee, at the border of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 In this way, the word of the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled: 15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, crossed by the Road of the Sea; and you, who live beyond the Jordan, Galilee, land of pagans: 16 The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in the land of the shadow of death, a light has shone. 17 From that time on, Jesus began to proclaim his message, “Change your ways: the kingdom of heaven is near.”
John [the Baptist] is arrested and only after that event does Jesus begin to preach and teach - he begins his public mission. His message is repent - turn away from your sins and turn towards God to follow him - because the kingdom of heaven is near. Jews in Jesus day, and many Jews today also, do not speak God's name (YHWH) nor utter words like God and The Lord in conversation choosing rather to use circumlocutions such as heaven, The Power, or The Glory. It appears that the gospel according to saint Matthew follows this ancient Jewish practise. Luke and Mark do not follow it and refer to the kingdom of God. But what is this phrase 'kingdom of heaven' intended to mean? Many think it means God's action as King to save his people or the final and complete salvation of God's people, Israel. What do you think it means?
The First Disciples
• 18 As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come, follow me; and I will make you fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them. 22 At once they left the boat, and their father, and followed him. 23 Jesus went around all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing all kinds of sickness and disease among the people. 24 The news about him spread through the whole of Syria; and the people brought all their sick to him, and all those who suffered: the possessed, the deranged, the paralysed; and he healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee and the Ten Cities, from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan.
The next question is to ask what does repent mean. Here in the calling of Simeon and Andrew, James and John we see a practical demonstration of repentance and conversion. Have you seen that aspect of the calling of the disciples before?
