Matthew 4:12-23 (lectionary text for Sunday, January 26)
Jesus, because the people had sat in darkness, even the shadow of death, started His mission.
He began by taking up the theme of John after his arrest, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near."
He immediately called disciples (student followers).
He started with fishermen. They had been able to make a living at their trade for generations, but that was different under Rome. It took a lot of food to feed the occupying army. It took at lot of taxes to feed the insatiable greed of the Roman elites. People who were farmers, fishermen and other trades laborers could no longer make a sustainable living. They only worked to feed empire. These men had nothing to lose. Jesus encountered them and they went. Perhaps the fishing for people would offer them some hope for their futures and the future of their oppressed, desolated nation. Perhaps they heard of Jesus or heard His message. The Gospel writer leaves that up to our imagination, but points out that it did not take much persuasion for them to go with this Jesus.
He had four disciples. They were physically strong and spiritually willing
Jesus then went into synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of God's Kingdom and the Shalom in it that Jesus came to restore, thus delivering God's people from their oppression.
Though the lectionary text ends with verse 23, the following verses report the results:
Jesus' fame spread. Great crowds followed Jesus. People from all over came to the one who brought Good News of the restoration of Kingdom of God values and the well-being, completeness and wholeness that comes with that. Lives were being changed. People notice that. The ravages of a long time of military occupation, the collusion of the Temple Cult Leaders and King, exploitation, disenfranchisement and brutality were being reversed and people were being restored to well-being.
It begins, God's Kingdom come and God's Will being done on earth as in heaven. The deliverance promised in justice. Jesus is here now; empire beware.
Pastor Jamie
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