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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Amy Boucher Pye and are based on Matthew 4:12-25 (NIV)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Isaiah 40-46
12 ...Jesus... withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum... 14 to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah: ‘...16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the17 shadow of death a light has dawned.’ From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
18 ...he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew... 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his
brother John... Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and illness among the people. 24 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 paralysed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
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Sunday December 1 - Good news for all
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in theareaofZebulunandNaphtali... Matthew4:13
We pick up Jesus’ story after he’d fasted for forty days and was tempted in the wilderness. After he heard that John, who had been spreading the gospel, was thrown into prison, he decided to make his home in the bustling city of Capernaum, the most densely populated area of the Middle East at that time. There people were influenced by the Greek language and culture, including pagan customs, and not the Jewish faith. By choosing this location, we see how Jesus wanted his freeing message of good news to reach into other people groups and cultures.
We might easily skip over how Matthew, the writer of this gospel account, mentions the place where Jesus settles, but when locations are named in the Bible, the writer often wants the reader to notice their importance. Of the four gospels, Matthew’s is the most Jewish in character, drawing on its culture and language to show Jesus’ Jewish roots. The fact that Jesus spent time in Capernaum, a centre for non-Jewish people, reveals how Jesus’ mission was to reach not only Jewish people but all those outside the Jewish faith too. His good news wasn’t limited to only a particular set of people – it’s good news for all.
How might you share the story of Jesus, and his unfailing love, today?
Lord Jesus, thank you for reaching outside of the culture you grew up in and spreading your good news of freedom far and wide. I receive you! Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY