·
v12: John's imprisonment seems to be a signal to
Christ to become more engaged in His own preaching ministry. His going to Galilee was not to flee danger
but, in essence, to take up increased ministry in John's absence. Both preach
ed the gospel of the kingdom (3:2;
4:17). Which is not to say Christ had not already been involved in
ministry. It is appropriate to fit John
1:19-4:4 in between Matt. 4:11 and 4:12. This means several things have
occurred: |
Sea of Galilee in the background, the beauty and abundance
of Galilee in the foreground.
|
o John
has begun to refer his disciples to Christ.
o Andrew
and Peter had been in contact with Jesus before this encounter.
o Jesus
has performed His 1st 2 miracles in Galilee (Jn. 2, changing water to wine; Jn.
4, healing the nobleman's son).
o Jesus
already has some disciples (Jn. 4:1-4), though He has not specifically chosen
12 apostles.
o When
our passage speaks of moving to Galilee, this happens when Jesus returns from
Passover in Jerusalem (where He spoke with Nicodemus, Jn. 3) going through
Samaria (where He encountered the woman at the well, Jn. 4).
·
v12: Galilee, a region in northern Israel, known
as "Galilee of the Gentiles" (v15) because of the high percentage of
Gentiles. Jews from Galilee (like these fishermen) were considered "hicks"
by Jews in Judea and Jerusalem.
·
v13: Capernaum.
Jesus was rejected by His own home town (Lk. 4:14-30), Nazareth. But the
move to Capernaum also allowed ministry in a busier city. Capernaum was a lakeside city on the Sea of
Galilee or Tiberias (Jn 6:1). From this
time it was His headquarters for ministry.
·
v15: Zebulun was the tribal area to the west of
the Sea of Galilee. Naphtali was to the north of Zebulun.
·
v16: In what sense was Galilee the region and
shadow of death? Many understand
that to refer to the fact it was an area often overrun by foreign invaders.
·
v19: "follow me" is actually 3 words,
literally, "come after me".
The picture is simple: Jesus walking with others following in His
steps. This was the call of teachers to
disciples, to leave their jobs & attach themselves to the teacher. As noted above, these men had been in contact
with Christ and had an infant faith.
Note that the same term "followed" is applied to the crowds in
4:25, though many of them would later turn away from Christ (John 6:66). Further, Judas, an unbeliever, was also
termed a disciple (Mt. 10:1,4). The point is that a disciple is one who is a
learner, has committed himself to considering Christ. A "disciple"
may be on the way to faith, or young in his faith, or of those who come close
but then turn away from faith.
·
v20,22 & 25 all have the same term
"followed". It refers to the two
sets of brothers and to the crowds. We
understand the term then to be applied to people at various stages of their
interest in Christ. Some will stay with
Him (e.g. the brothers); many will not.
·
v23: "teaching ... preaching ...
healing". This is a summary of
Jesus' earthly ministry. The same 3 phrases are repeated in 9:35.
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