Before the ministry of Jesus began, John the Baptist was preaching repentance and baptizing in the Jordan. Jesus came to be baptized by John. After he was baptized and came up out of the water, the Spirit of God descended on him and God the Father spoke from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Then Jesus goes into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights to be tempted by the devil. Three times the devil tempted Jesus and Jesus always answered from Scripture. Then Jesus came into Galilee, he moved from Nazareth and settled by the sea in Capernaum as his base, which fulfilled the word of Isaiah 9:1. From that time on Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus called Peter, James and John from their occupations as fishermen by saying, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” When Jesus called them, they immediately left everything and followed him. Lastly, “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.” The people were coming to him to be healed.
In this text there are three examples of Christ to emulate:
- Jesus was baptized in the water by John before beginning his ministry. Baptism is the outward expression of an eternal calling. It was time for Jesus to begin his earthly ministry; therefore, he was baptized by John at the beginning of his ministry.
- Jesus answered the lies and the tricks of the devil from Scripture. Even when the devil used Scripture, Jesus knew that the devil was misquoting Scripture because he knew what the Scripture truly says; therefore, we should know the word of God.
- Jesus went throughout all of Galilee teaching about the kingdom of heaven and healing people of their various diseases; therefore, we should be preaching about the kingdom of heaven and seeing to the needs of the people.
In this text there are two commandments of Christ to observe:
- Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance is turning away from what you are presently doing. It is a change of course and a change of mind.
- Jesus called Peter, James and John saying: “Follow me.” Peter left his fishing business, James and John left their father and followed Jesus.
So, repent and follow Jesus Christ. Emulate his example and observe all that he commanded.
