December 31, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Global Rebuild Begins

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Sovereign Lord, I thank You for help given during the year that is closing. You are my hope for the year that is coming.

Read Matthew 4:12-25

[12] When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. [13] Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali- [14] to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: [15] “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles- [16] the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” [17] From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” [18] As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [19] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” [20] At once they left their nets and followed him. [21] Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, [22] and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. [23] Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. [24] News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. [25] Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Turn, follow, fish”: this is the summons of the King!

Jesus now sets up base in Capernaum (Mark 2:1; 9:33), fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa. 9:1,2) of a light shining in the darkness in Zebulun, Naphtali and Galilee of the Gentiles (15). The light of the world has now come (John 8:12). God is shaping history.

Jesus begins preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (17). Matthew ends his quotation from Isaiah’s prophecy just before the passage foretelling Jesus’ birth: a just and righteous Davidic king, one called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). Why? Perhaps because Isaiah 9:3-5 is full of war and violence. Matthew wants no misunderstanding. For those with eyes to see, however, in Jesus this king has arrived. His kingship will not involve war, but small beginnings (an embryo), love, healing and restoration: a servant kingship. This kingdom is God acting in history to make the world right, through Jesus. It is not a kingdom based on status, image, power, wealth or charisma; rather, it is one of service and humility. It would start small and insignificantly, but would permeate the world like salt in a stew, and grow to be the greatest of all belief systems. Jesus did not confront Pilate, Caesar or Herod, or woo Israel’s leaders; rather, he called the insignificant, the more insignificant the better! His team (us) is not an army for war, but for love.

He begins with four fishermen, crying, “Follow me!” This, with the summons to repent, is the King’s call to us too. The kingdom enters each human heart as one by one people repent, follow, and, as loyal subjects, yield to the King. He grants a new vocation, fishers of people. What does fishing look like? Jesus demonstrates. He goes among the oppressed, shares the Word and heals. This is our mission. What an honor to be summoned.

Apply

Take a moment. Reflect on the year. What have you learned? Are you following? Are you fishing? What needs to change for the year to come? Rise, and do it.

Closing prayer

Lord, I go forward into the new year with a new resolve: to follow Your simple marching orders. “Turn, follow, fish”! To You be the glory.

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