1) Where did Jesus choose to live for his 3 year ministry? Why? v13-16

Jesus moved from Nazareth to Galilee. He went and lived most likely in Peter’s family’s house. He did this to fulfill prophesy of Isaiah that those living in darkness in Naphtali and Zebulun would see a great light, the light of the person of Jesus.

2) What was Jesus message that he was preaching? v17

Jesus was proclaiming for people to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This was his message. He was saying that the kingdom of heaven had begun to come to earth. Jesus was the one who was beginning that new kingdom. He called people to respond rightly to the command to repent because the judgment and salvation of God was near.

3) How did Jesus call four of his new disciples? What did he tell them they would be doing? v18-22

Jesus was standing beside the Sea of Galilee when he called them. They were all fishermen. two were fishing and two were mending their nets. He called Simon Peter and Andrew and told them that instead of catching fish for their living, they would catch men for God’s kingdom. Specifically, Jesus said they would be “fishers of men”. This goes back to Jeremiah 16 where the prophet says “behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them”.

4) Why do you think great crowds began to follow Jesus? What was Jesus doing around Galilee? v23-25

Great crowds began to follow Jesus because of the authority of his words and the signs that he was doing. Some of them were true followers, some were curious, some were expecting a physical deliverer from Rome, and some just had great need and the believed that Jesus could restore and heal them. Jesus was teaching and healing people with sickness, deformities, evil spirits, and more.

5) What does this teach us about who Jesus is and what kind of kingdom he was bringing?

This story shows us the kind of kingdom that Jesus was bringing. He was bringing heaven to earth. Where Jesus went, the demonic spirits were subject to him. Where Jesus went, those who were oppressed by all kinds of diseases were healed. Sickness and disease were a result of the fall of man and sin entering into the world. This passage shows us a glimpse of the coming of Jesus and what his ministry would eventually do, it would bring forgiveness of sins to all who trust in him and give the hope of eternal life. One day, Jesus will fully unite heaven and earth in him when he returns to destroy all demonic forces, death, and sin, and make a new heavens and a new earth where there is no presence or effects from sin. What a great day that will be!