Matthew 4:12-17

This year we are covering the four Gospel Accounts together in chronological order.

In the previous post, we covered Luke 4:22-30. Here was the conclusion:

The crowd questioned Jesus' authority. Jesus responded by telling them He would be unable to do miracles because of THEIR unbelief. Jesus simply passed through the crowd as they attempted to kill Jesus.

Today's post presented a Big Picture summary for the previous posts...


Matthew 4
"12 Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee;"

(Matthew's Gospel Account stated that when Jesus heard John was imprisoned, Jesus withdrew into Galilee. Remember, John 4 began with Jesus and John the Baptist baptizing at the same time...and then Jesus leaving before the Pharisees confronted Him. It looked like John the Baptist was imprisoned shortly after Jesus left.)

(In the previous posts, we've seen that Jesus came to Galilee after John the Baptist was imprisoned. We've seen that Jesus did His second miracle during this visit to Galilee: Jesus healed a nobleman's son while Jesus was in Galilee and the son was in Capernaum. We saw that Jesus spoke in the synagogue and the people from His hometown wanted to kill Him...)

"13 and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali:"

(Jesus left His hometown and went to Capernaum.)

"14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
16 The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up."

(Here was how Isaiah 9 began:
"1 But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.")

(Zebulun was the last child of Leah. Naphtali was the last child of Bilhah...Rachel's handmaid. Zebulun meant "gift". Naphtali meant "my struggle". According to Genesis 49, here was what Jacob said to each before he died...
"13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; And he shall be for a haven of ships; And his border shall be upon Sidon."
"21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: He giveth goodly words.")

"17 From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

(This was the same message as what was stated in Mark 1:15.)


CONCLUSION
Jesus dwelt in Capernaum after coming to Galilee and doing His second miracle.

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