Text: Matthew 4: 12-17 – “Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 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.” From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus went out to see John in the wilderness near Bethany. Jesus was baptized to identify with us, and we are baptized to identify with Him. Jesus was then led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. The idea here in being “tested” is not to see if He could fail, it is to see that He could not fail. He was impeccable.
So, let us view the beginning of His official ministry as it is recorded here by Matthew.
There have been many stories of the miracles that Jesus performed as a child.
- ·
Bringing life to a dried fish
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Breathes life into birds fashioned
from clay
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Curses a boy, who then becomes a
corpse
- ·
Curses a boy who falls dead and his
parents become blind
- ·
Resurrects a friend who fell from a
roof
- ·
Heals a man who chopped his foot
with an ax
- ·
Carries water on a cloth
- ·
Produces a feast from a single grain
- ·
Stretches a beam of wood to help his
father finish constructing a bed
- ·
Heals James from snake poison
- ·
Resurrects a child who died of
illness
- · Resurrects a man who died in a construction accident
However, these are totally mythological – there is no Biblical basis for these stories. I am sure that it would have been mentioned in the Scriptures if they had happened. Those who were around Him would have known He was special – not just the “carpenter’s son.”
The Scriptures tell us that John chapter 2 records His first miracle – His changing water into wine. John 2: “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”
So Matthew begins to show us the Ministry of Jesus. He will choose things that fit the Kingdom theme. So for the next 2 days let’s see His ministry to the Spiritually darkened and to the Physically disabled.
As you meditate today, consider what other “religious” ideas you may
carry that are not in the Bible.
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