Matthew 4:13-16

http://biblehub.com/parallelgospels/The_New_Home_in_Capernaum.htm

It is a wonderful thing to be able to spend time with the Lord.  Those who lived at the same time as Jesus had a unique opportunity in history.  The people of Nazareth had the creator of the universe living in their community but failed to recognize it.  Not only did they fail to worship Him; they tried to kill Him.  This was a tragedy they would regret for all of eternity.  Every generation has its opportunities, and ours is particularly blessed.  We have the Word of God so readily available.  Many tools for study are at our disposal and we have the indwelling ministry of the Spirit of God at work in our hearts.  Unfortunately, many continue to miss the privilege of worshiping Him.

JESUS RELOCATES TO CAPERNAUM: Once Jesus slips through the mob of people who were trying to throw Him off of a cliff, He relocates to the region of Capernaum.  This was a region near the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.  Apparently, this territory had come to be inhabited by many Gentiles.  Once again, we can see the progression of the ministry of Jesus starting in Jerusalem, moving to Judea, then Samaria and now He is in a place heavily populated by Gentiles.  Later the apostles would follow this same pattern.  There are consequences to rejecting Christ and failing to recognize who He is.  God loves all people and has a mission He is working to accomplish in this world.  It is foolish and tragic to fail to take advantage of being a part of that mission.

JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF TO GENTILES: All men without Christ are lost.  They live in darkness and their destiny in death or eternal separation from God.  Every person has been born into that reality.  We are all born into darkness and are destined for death.  Those who reject Christ will experience eternal death and eternal darkness.  Very few Gentiles had the opportunity that these people had when Jesus came to stay in their region.  Jesus is Light and His Word has come to light the path of eternal life for all men in all nations.  This is the mission of God for the world.  It was foretold by the prophets.  It was demonstrated by Jesus and it continues to be the mission of God for the church today.  So much of the world today continues to live in darkness.  Our mission is to take the light of the Gospel of Jesus to these nations so that they too might have eternal life in Him.

APPLICATION: Take full advantage of every opportunity we have to hear and obey the Word of God.  Recognize and participate in God’s mission to shine the light of the Gospel in all nations.  Do not allow the death of sin to continue to abide over those who do not know Christ.

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