February 14, 2021
Morning Service

We are on a journey with Jesus with a goal to know Him better and also learn some things about ourselves as well.  We were there at the Jordan River and heard Jesus tell John to baptize Him to “fulfill all righteousness.”  This seems to be a theme for Him.  He is seeking perfection and He achieved it fulfilling every prophecy that was foretold about Him.  As we follow Him it is already obvious that doing His Father’s will is His top priority.  Last week we went with Him into the desert and witnessed Him overcoming every temptation by quoting scripture.  He faced temptations just as we do on many fronts but refused to change His priorities in regard to His circumstances.  He placed the goal of “fulfilling all righteousness” above His physical needs as well as the desires pride instill within us without yielding.  For each of us we have learned that we too need to “fulfill all righteousness” in our lives as well beginning with an initial commitment to follow Him.  That is done by accepting Jesus as your Savior, repenting of your sins, and entering into the waters of baptism to begin your journey.  It is not an easy road that lies ahead as we found God will lead us into deserts and purposefully test and try our faith.  We like Jesus need to “seek first the kingdom of heaven” and make following Him faithfully our greatest desire.  My goal in this study is to strengthen that resolve to be faithful by deepening our relationship with our Savior.  In our journey today, we see Jesus’ ministry and work begin.  This is the time that God chose to showcase His love for us by living among us and leading us along the path that leads to Him.    

 Mat 4:12-17 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.  (13)  And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, (14) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: (15) "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES: (16) THE PEOPLE WHO SAT IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT, AND UPON THOSE WHO SAT IN THE REGION AND SHADOW OF DEATH LIGHT HAS DAWNED." (17) From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Upon Herod’s arrest and imprisonment of John the Baptist, Jesus returned home to Nazareth and began His ministry teaching in the synagogue there (Luke 4).  His home town quickly rejected Him so He moved to Capernaum and that became His base for His ministry in Galilee.  We see Matthew again quote OT scripture (Isa 9:1-2) that was fulfilled with this action; building his case to convince his Jewish brothers that Jesus is the Messiah.  Jesus is indeed a Light to those who were dwelling in darkness and death for the whole world.  His initial message was simple; “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  God was moving and it is time to wake up and take account of where your relationship with Him stands.

Mat 4:18-22 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  (19)  Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."  (20)  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.  (21)  Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, (22) and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

            This is one of the points that Matthew skipped ahead a bit.  In the first chapter of his gospel, John tells of a previous time that these men had been listening to Jesus’ teachings.  This call to follow was not the first time they had encountered the Savior.  Jesus calls them to “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”  These two sets of brothers who made fishing their career, “immediately left their nets and followed Him.”  There was no discussion but only quick and decisive action that changed their lives forever.  They had watched Him and knew that He was unlike anyone they had ever met and were willing to leave everything to follow Him at the very second of His invitation.  They were “in it to win it” right from the start.  Everything about life that they felt comfortable with changed in that moment.  Notice Jesus only called them to be obedient and follow, with no other strings attached.  “Follow Me” was his command and they obeyed.  They followed in blind faith not knowing what would lie ahead of them, but knowing only who it was that they were following.  The second part was a promise to them and to us; “I will make you fishers of men.”  It is Jesus’ promise to them and us to make us successful fishermen.  He doesn’t call the qualified, but qualifies the called.  He did not call religious leaders or scribes of the law to change the world, but ordinary fishermen (people like us) to do it. How does He do that?

            Let’s look at an example we can all understand.  How many of you have cast out a bait and tried to catch a fish?  If you have had some success, I will bet that somewhere along the line someone invested in you and taught you what they knew about fishing to help make you successful.  Take Bobby here for example.  He is a successful fishermen and loves doing it.  It all started for him with his grandpa taking him out in a boat at the age of 5 years old.  His grandfather invested in him, teaching him where to look for the fish, the right lure to use, how to be patient, and how to handle struggles along the way like getting your line hung up in a tree and the ever changing weather.  He taught Bobby first by example, telling him to “watch how I do it” and then by instructing him along the way to keep his focus in the correct place.  Through this process of watching and doing, Bobby became successful and created a passion for fishing that originated and was cultivated by his grandpa.  He worked hard to learn in order to please his grandpa and imitate his success.  Some lessons came easy, but others took time and effort to master and understand, but it was worth the effort.  He simply had to be willing and obedient and follow his grandpa’s leading and teaching.  Do you see where this is going?

            If we are willing and obedient to watch Jesus and be taught by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word, we too will become successful fishermen.  These two sets of brothers walked with Jesus, watched where He went, listened to the words He said, witnessed the miracles He performed, and saw Him endure great pain even to death upon the cross to attain His success.  They had no idea what they were getting into that day, but learned as they watched their Master walk among His people.  They faithfully followed and allowed the Spirit to guide them into the where the fish were, what to say to them, to be patient and steady in their efforts, and to handle all the troubles that were thrown their way.  Jesus investment in them allowed Peter to catch 3,000 souls in his first sermon in Acts 2; I would call that success.  He simply faithfully did as he was taught and allowed the results to be up to our Heavenly Father.  I want our study in Matthew to create in us the same desire to follow and imitate Jesus as Peter had; similar to how Bobby followed the lead of his grandpa as well.  Our calling is to just “Follow Me.”  Jesus will make us to also be “fishers of men.”           

 Mat 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

            Jesus is calling you to go fishing; cast your net out to those around you pointing them to the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  We are called to be obedient and cast our net and into the water hoping to help someone not enter into the boat, but into eternal life.  It is up to Him whether we catch anything or not.  How is that going with you?  Are you out there fishing every day?   Who are you investing in to get them into the boat of salvation?  You have been shown, taught, and commanded to get out there and offer to this dark world that there is Hope and His name is Jesus.  Invite them to join us in this journey that we are on with Him.