The Master's Life
Early Galilean ministry (27 AD) Sections 35-43
35. The ministry of Jesus begins: arrival in Galilee
Two days after he heard that John had been imprisoned, Jesus departed from there to Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country) and proclaimed the gospel of God. So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen all the things he had done in Jerusalem at the feast (for they themselves had gone to the feast).
While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach this message: “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!” So Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years old.
While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach this message: “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!” So Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years old.
36. Jesus announces Himself and is rejected
Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and the regaining of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.”
All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
Jesus said to them, “No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ and say, ‘What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown too.’” And he added, “I tell you the truth, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up three and a half years, and there was a great famine over all the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to a woman who was a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, yet none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, forced him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But he passed through the crowd and went on his way.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and the regaining of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.”
All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
Jesus said to them, “No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ and say, ‘What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown too.’” And he added, “I tell you the truth, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up three and a half years, and there was a great famine over all the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to a woman who was a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, yet none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, forced him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But he passed through the crowd and went on his way.
37. Jesus heals an official's son
Now he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had made the water wine. In Capernaum there was a certain royal official whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come back from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and begged him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe!” “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my child dies.” Jesus told him, “Go home; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and set off for home.
While he was on his way down, his slaves met him and told him that his son was going to live. So he asked them the time when his condition began to improve, and they told him, “Yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon the fever left him.” Then the father realized that it was the very time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed along with his entire household.
Jesus did this as his second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee.
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe!” “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my child dies.” Jesus told him, “Go home; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and set off for home.
While he was on his way down, his slaves met him and told him that his son was going to live. So he asked them the time when his condition began to improve, and they told him, “Yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon the fever left him.” Then the father realized that it was the very time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed along with his entire household.
Jesus did this as his second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee.
38. Four disciples follow Jesus after a miracle catch
Now Jesus was walking by the Lake of Gennesaret (also called the Sea of Galilee), and the crowd was pressing around him to hear the word of God.
Standing there, he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.
He saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets started to tear. So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s business partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people. From now on you will be catching people.” So when they had brought their boats to shore, they immediately left everything – even their nets – and followed him.
Going on a little farther from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. They immediately left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Standing there, he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.
He saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets started to tear. So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s business partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people. From now on you will be catching people.” So when they had brought their boats to shore, they immediately left everything – even their nets – and followed him.
Going on a little farther from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. They immediately left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
39. Jesus heals a demoniac at Capernaum
So then they went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee. When the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people there were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, not like the experts in the law.
Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!”
But Jesus rebuked him: “Silence! Come out of him!”
After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. They were all amazed so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.” So the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee.
Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!”
But Jesus rebuked him: “Silence! Come out of him!”
After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. They were all amazed so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.” So the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee.
40. Jesus heals Simon Peter's mother-in-law and many others
Now as soon as they left the synagogue, they entered Simon and Andrew’s house, with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a high fever, so they spoke to Jesus at once about her. He came and saw her. He stood over her, commanded the fever and raised her up by gently taking her hand. As he touched her hand the fever left her and she immediately began to serve them.
When it was evening, as the sun was setting, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. All those who had any relatives sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus. After sunset the whole town gathered by the door.
So he healed many who were sick with various diseases by placing his hands on every one of them and healing them. He drove out many demons with a word. The demons came out of many crying out, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them, and would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled:
“He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.”
When it was evening, as the sun was setting, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. All those who had any relatives sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus. After sunset the whole town gathered by the door.
So he healed many who were sick with various diseases by placing his hands on every one of them and healing them. He drove out many demons with a word. The demons came out of many crying out, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them, and would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled:
“He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.”
41. Jesus' first tour of Galilee
Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.
Simon and his companions searched for him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.”
Yet the crowds were seeking him, and they came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. But Jesus said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, for that is what I was sent to do.”
So he went into all of Galilee and Judea, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people and casting out demons.
So a report about him spread throughout Syria. People brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, paralytics, and those possessed by demons, and he healed them. And large crowds
followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan River.
Simon and his companions searched for him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.”
Yet the crowds were seeking him, and they came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. But Jesus said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, for that is what I was sent to do.”
So he went into all of Galilee and Judea, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people and casting out demons.
So a report about him spread throughout Syria. People brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, paralytics, and those possessed by demons, and he healed them. And large crowds
followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan River.
42. Healing a paralytic
Now after some days, after getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town. When he returned to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home. So many gathered that there was no longer any room, not even by the door, and he preached the word to them.
Now on one of those days, while he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting nearby (who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem), and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
Some people came bringing to him a paralytic on a stretcher, carried by four of them. They were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus. When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof removed the roof tiles above Jesus. Then, after tearing the roof out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on right in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Friend - son, have courage. Your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the experts in the law were turning these things over in their minds and began to think to themselves, “Why does this man speak this way? Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Now immediately, when Jesus saw their reaction he realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such hostile thoughts, he said to them, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Why are you raising objections within yourselves? Why do you respond with evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” – he said to the paralytic – “I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.” Immediately the man stood up, picked up the stretcher he had been lying on, went out in front of them all and went home, glorifying God.
When the crowd saw this astonishment seized them all. They were all afraid and amazed. They honored and glorified God who had given such authority to men. They were filled with awe, saying, “We have never seen anything like this! We have seen incredible things today.”
Now on one of those days, while he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting nearby (who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem), and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
Some people came bringing to him a paralytic on a stretcher, carried by four of them. They were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus. When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof removed the roof tiles above Jesus. Then, after tearing the roof out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on right in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Friend - son, have courage. Your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the experts in the law were turning these things over in their minds and began to think to themselves, “Why does this man speak this way? Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Now immediately, when Jesus saw their reaction he realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such hostile thoughts, he said to them, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Why are you raising objections within yourselves? Why do you respond with evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” – he said to the paralytic – “I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.” Immediately the man stood up, picked up the stretcher he had been lying on, went out in front of them all and went home, glorifying God.
When the crowd saw this astonishment seized them all. They were all afraid and amazed. They honored and glorified God who had given such authority to men. They were filled with awe, saying, “We have never seen anything like this! We have seen incredible things today.”
43. Jesus calls Levi (Matthew)
Jesus went on from there by the sea. The whole crowd came to him, and he taught them. As he went along, he saw Levi (also called Matthew), the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him, leaving everything behind.
Then Levi gave a great banquet in his house for Jesus. As Jesus was having a meal in Levi’s home, a large crowd of tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting and eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they complained to his disciples, “Why do you and your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Then Levi gave a great banquet in his house for Jesus. As Jesus was having a meal in Levi’s home, a large crowd of tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting and eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they complained to his disciples, “Why do you and your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
