​ 2412 Griffith Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011  

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Second Baptist Church LA

Inspirational message for Sunday April 19, 2020
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee


12 Now when Jesus[a] 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.”[b]  Jesus Calls the First Disciples.  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 fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for 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. Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People  23 Jesus[c] went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news[d] of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.  Matthew 4:12-23 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
 
Life has twists and turns.  Sometimes you plan the changes that occur.  Other times they are thrust upon you with the uncertainty of circumstances that evolve.  It has been said that we are all bound to experiences of twists and turns, some expected, others unexpected and some just outright detested.   Circumstances are always providing the environment in which we live requiring that we do what we can to make the best of what is evolving.  We are all bound to experience twists and turns in life.  
 
This passage comprises four sub-scenes as the Gospel positions Jesus in Galilee (Matthew 4:12-16) and narrates the opening acts of Jesus' public ministry (Matthew 4:17-23).  12 Now when Jesus[a] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.  Herod the tetrarch's silencing of John means Jesus replaces John in Galilee.   That caught my attention as I reflected upon it because decisions are not made in a vacuum but in the context of evolving circumstances.   
 
First scene Herod the tetrarch silences John the Baptist / Jesus filled the void created by Herod's silencing of John. 

Herod is always wanting to silence people. You remember Herod.  You see Herod will always be aggrieved when threatened by someone who may be applauded more than he is appreciated.  Image creating the chaos, confusion, and contention with contemptuous behavior to verify the supposed reality you want to convince people to accept.  Image designing a distraction that is destructive to deter attention from the real motive for putting in jeopardy the lives of others to substantiate the claim you want to make.  Imagine promoting untruths and falsehoods to mask inadequacy, ineptitude and insensitivity to continue abusing the authority, integrity and oath of leadership.  Herod had a reputation for being quite ruthless.  He was a clever politician backed by the Romans.  There was no length to which he would not go to protect his own interest and insure his own security.  As a matter of fact he executed one of his wives and two of his sons.

 

The second scene has Jesus withdrawing to Galilee and his ministry begins.  Jesus replaces John and fills the void created by John being silenced.  As followers of Jesus our voice should be activated by the silencing of practical, prudent, principled voices.   Jesus is the light that dispels the darkness that had engulfed people.  Jesus begins with his ministry voicing what was needed at the time. 

 

The third scene Jesus calls other to come with him to be involved with what he was voicing to fill the void created by the voice that was silenced. 

 

As followers of Christ we should find our voice to address the unprincipled, impractical, imprudent activity of lives with the light that has come from his life to illumine our understanding to fulfilling the Lord's expectations of us. 

 

The fourth scene is what Jesus did and led his followers to do.  Jesus brought good news in a bad situation and providing healing of hurts and deliverance from life's diseases (dis-eases).
 
As followers of Jesus we heal hurts and deliver one another of what diminishes the quality of people's lives.  
 

Sure I must fight if I would win, increase my courage Lord.  I'll bear the toil, endure the pain supported by thy Word.. 



Monday April 20, 2020

4 At dawn the disciples saw Jesus standing on the beach, but they couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Friends, have you caught any fish?”  “No,” they replied.  6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get plenty of fish!” So they did, and they couldn’t draw in the net because there were so many fish in it.”  John 21:4-6  (The New Living Translation)

As you fill the emptiness of your life with constructive activity something strange happens.  You are brought to the realization that there is still more to life than you could have imagined.  There is help to get you beyond the immediate moment.  There is someone to steer you in the right direction.  There is much more to be had from this experience to get you through to where you can go on productively.

Consider how participating in constructive activity can help you in times of difficulty.

 
Tuesday April 21, 2020

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

Jesus continues to make himself know to us by meeting us where we are.  They were trying to figure out what to do and Jesus shows us.  They were trying to recapture the purpose that had seemingly evaporated and Jesus shows up.  When Jesus manifests himself, you discover what you have toiled to acquire and could not get.  Your exercise in futility now becomes an exercise in faith and obedience.  Notice before they know who Jesus is they did what Jesus said.  The Lord becomes known as we are directed to achieving what we are unable to achieve on our own – cast you nets on the right side.  It was in obeying what they were told that they were made aware that the Lord was present to them remedying their situation.  

Consider how you have received what you needed to do when it seemed that what you were doing was an exercise in futility.   
 

Wednesday April 22, 2020

9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

The Lord made provision in advance for their need symbolizing the power of the Lord to meet the needs of the world.  In times of distress rely on the provisions the Lord makes available to you.  The Lord is present in your predicament.  The Lord has given you the assurance that you are not alone.  The Lord provides opportunity for them to share what they have been privileged to acquire.  Remember when your efforts do not yield the results you desire and yet you received what you wanted to attain. 

Consider when your efforts did not achieve the desired result but provisions were made available to you to be sustained.    

Thursday April 23, 2020

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
 
Jesus nourishes us with what he gives to us to awaken in us our responsibility to maintain what we receive in loving loyalty.  The Lord engages us in a dialogue about devotion with a question, "do you love me?"  If you do, then there is something for you to do.  You are given the responsibility to nurture your confidence, faith and trust by doing what the Lord ask you to do. 

Consider your dialogue about devotion to the Lord's question "do you love me."  


Friday April 24, 2020

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Jesus continues to ask us the same question again.  Here is a conversation about commitment.  Repetition is a part of life that reminds us that we are continually confronted with circumstances that can stretch us beyond what we think we are capable of doing.   However well intentioned we are at times, we find ourselves bombarded with what tends to diminish our ability to honor our commitment to do what loving the Lord requires.  There is always something for us to do that will benefit others as we continue to fulfill our commitment to the Lord.   
 
Consider your conversation with the Lord about your commitment to the Lord's question, "do you love me."
 

Saturday April 25, 2020


17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Once, twice and now thrice (three times) the Lord asks the same question.  Maybe it is something in the way we respond that lets the Lord know that he has to continue to ask until we come to the awareness that the Lord is not talking about friendly affection or familial attachment but faithful familiarity that binds persons together regardless of the circumstances.  
 
Ponder whether you love the Lord with friendly affection (brotherly or sisterly affection for human beings), or familial attachment (immediate family attachments) or faithful friendship (Jesus calls us friends so we can become the kind of friend to the Lord that the Lord has been with us John 15:15). 

Consider how the Lord has been a faithful friend to you through all of the changing scenes and seasons of your life and answer the Lord's question "do you love me."