MATTHEW 4:12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.

BACKGROUNDER

Jesus knew nothing about fishing when he told the four fishermen that they he would make them fishes of men. Humanly speaking, he was know as the carpenter’s son, probably working closely with his earthly foster father, Joseph as he practised his trade. It’s worth remembering that Jesus spent most of his earthly life as a tradesman, an ordinary worker. He would have lived at home with Mary and Joseph. From what we can tell, Joseph probably died during these years, so Jesus would have been his mother’s sole support. She would have depended on him to provide for the household.

But now, following his own baptism in the Holy Spirit and the arrest of John the Baptist, everything changes for Jesus. He moves away from home and sets up in Capernaum. And he now takes up John’s mission by proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Let’s not underestimate the drama for Jesus himself. We don’t know for sure what happened to his mother, Mary, at this time. But Jesus himself is said to withdraw, almost to retreat and regroup, as his own mission began.

Jesus is, however, bringing about something brand new. The kingdom he is proclaiming is actually here, because he himself is the kingdom, meaning the rule of God, in person. And Jesus is recruiting for a new mission. It will not be enough for people just to repent – that remains a foundational starting point for all who want to follow Jesus. They will also have to accompany him to the cross, and wait for him to triumph over death, return to heaven, and then send the gift of the Holy Spirit.

So, Simon, Andrew, James, and John, who had been followers of Jesus, are now jumping from being disciples of one crazy teacher to an even more incredible journey of faith. They would be the witnesses of everything Jesus said and did. They would become the first to receive the Holy Spirit. And they would truly become, fishers of men, the first to preach and witness to their friend Jesus, and his kingdom, to draw thousands to follow him. Even to die for the sake of his kingdom.