1-25-2026           Matthew 4:12-23

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
 15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
  on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—16 the people who sat in darkness
  have seen a great light,
 and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
  18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
  23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Deep into a sea of darkness, light has dawned. It is the Light of Christ which will lead you home.  Amen

Jesus left his home in Nazareth and moved to Capernaum by the sea. We are told this, as an indication that there is something new about to happen. John was in prison, his work had come to its end and Jesus is just starting his ministry. There is significance to this seaside residence. We often envision a move by the seashore as a place of rest, a wondrous place to retire. Not in this case! The sea was a symbol of rebellion against God; sin and death resided there. Storms would stir up from the depths, with crashing waves, destructive winds, bringing lightening and heavy rains. You can see how the sea was envisioned as a sinful revolt against God. The church becomes pictured as a ship, a place of safety and survival, since a ship could sail upon those troubled water. Years ago many churches were designed and built in the shape of a ship.  Also the mast which holds up the sail is in the form of a cross. We have visuals then that fill in the meaning of what is happening as Jesus begins his work.

Matthew tells us that Jesus made his home there, on the road by the sea. Galilee was at a crossroads on an active trade route connecting powerful nations, going between Syria and Egypt. It was a rich and fertile land and well populated in those days with a variety of peoples. This was a place where new ideas could get a fair hearing. They had seen many of the famous and powerful come and go; these people would judge for themselves and not follow the party line. 

We hear from that time on, as Jesus began to proclaim: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” That sounds familiar, John the Baptist had that message. So, was Jesus just picking up where John left off? Certainly, the segue way was a smooth one. It was necessary for the people to repent. They had been living in darkness, a place where death ruled and all the while their rulers expected to be adored and blindly followed. Jesus came to bring the light of the heavenly kingdom, so all could see. They would have to turn around to perceive and move into that light. That means (yeah) they would need to REPENT!

Jesus’ message has not changed, for the world has not changed. We are told to stop, turn around; do not accept the world’s goals, rather listen and follow God’s will. Remember whose child you are. Do not claim that your position is secure because the right people know your name and listen to you. Walk in the light and see that your name is written in the book of Life. Do not judge how every action affects you, rather look at how your actions affect others. You heard from Jesus that the kingdom of heaven has come near. And you can and DO hear and see that it is true. Your heart speaks to you as you show love to others. You witness the kingdom in the deeds of a good neighbor, in the sacrifices made by a devoted spouse, in the attention of that dedicated nurse.  You see glimpses all the time, even in your own generosity and compassion. The kingdom of heaven comes close to hand.

Jesus gathered his first disciples to learn and spread that same message. There he was, walking along the shore, when he comes upon Andrew and Peter and then two more brothers – James and John. These men were well acquainted with that treacherous lake and were brave enough to have risked their lives on the perilous waters of the Sea of Galilee. These men had heard Jesus and the good news of his message. Fishing was their livelihood and yet they gave it up to follow Jesus. 

Perhaps Jesus had also been witness to them and saw how they behaved out on the waters. Fishing can provide insight into the human character, a fact to which you anglers may want to pay attention. And I do not refer to the tendency for fishermen to create amazing tales of that great catch about the one that got away! It is said that you can learn the true temperament of a person by taking them fishing. There is a father who revealed his approach to his fatherly responsibility in this way. He said, “I have four daughters. Whenever one of them gets serious intentions toward a young man, I don’t trace his family tree or even inspect his spending habits. I take my prospective son-in-law on a fishing trip. It is not to see how good a fisherman he is, but rather to discover what kind of man he is. I need no surer index of his character than to experience his conduct on a fishing trip.”

If that was Jesus’ approach, Peter, Andrew, James, and John must have shown themselves as solid and dependable men. Jesus invited them to follow him and he would build on their skills and develop their characteristics, making them fishers of people. The first steps of what became known as Christianity were taken that day on the shores of Galilee. The basic goal has not changed. Jesus wants to make disciples who follow faithfully and will rescue people in the nets of his mercy and love. The neighborhoods in which we live are still tossed and disturbed by the violent waves of conflict. We witness the ravages of hatred, evil, and discontent. We are pulled by the tides of prejudice, envy, and greed. We are challenged by the depth of sin and may get tossed overboard into the darkness. Courageous fishermen are required to drop the nets, to draw in the people who are floundering, to bring them into the boat. 

The net is still a good image for us as we see it dropping down into the turmoil below and scooping up whatever it encounters. Anyone and everyone that gets caught in a net is pulled in together. No value judgments are made; no one is worth more or less than another. There is no sorting according to size, shape, or color. This people fishing expedition shows no partiality. Anyone caught in the net is welcomed into the boat of the church because all are worth saving. Jesus continues to call out for us to follow him, sending out crews with nets. You are called to fish for people and you don’t need to bait a hook. There is good news to proclaim. There are people to care for and a hope to share. The net that you use has strands that are unbreakable, as strong as a proclamation of truth and faith, it can draw them in. The webbing may be as soft as woolen yarn that can create scarves, hats, and shawls, to wrap them up in warmth. Toss out that net: good fishing.