LOC – 025 – Jesus Settles in Capernaum

Lesson Objectives:

It is important to hear and obey God.

God compensates abundantly for services rendered.

The Kingdom or Reign of God is beginning (with Jesus’ ministry).

Jesus calls His first Disciples. Jesus doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called!

When Jesus calls, we must follow!

Lesson Commentary

Read Matthew 4:13-22; Mark 1:14-20; Luke 4:31a—5:11

From the autumn of AD 27 to April, AD 28, Jesus settles in Capernaum. This is the earlier portion of His Galilean ministry. Matthew is not so concerned with Jesus’ precise movements as he is with how they fulfilled God’s plan as announced in Scripture. He also notes that Jesus does not publicly start His ministry until John the Baptist has been put in prison. Matthew introduces Jesus in Part One (Matthew 1-4) as the Messiah of God. In Part Two, Matthew presents Him as the Messiah of word (Matthew 5-7) and deed (Matthew 8:1-9:35.) Then in Matthew 9:36-11:1, he extends Jesus’ Messianic word and work through the Twelve. Note how Matthew 4:23 and Matthew 9:35 are almost identical. These verses enclose the intervening material Matthew 4:24-9:34.

Mark emphasizes discipleship in his Gospel. He expects his readers to become learners or students of Jesus. Jesus’ call will pose two questions in the minds of the Romans towards whom Mark’s Gospel is directed: “Who is this One Who calls?” and “What does it mean to follow Him?” Mark provides them and us an answer! We will want to pay close attention to Jesus life and teachings because He is our role model!

Luke tells us a fishing story as one of the many signs that Jesus did in the presence of His disciples, which had not been written in Matthew and Mark. Let's go fishing for some more information on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as we continue “Walking With Jesus!”

Jesus Settles in Capernaum

Mt. 4:13; Lk. 4:31 – Matthew shows Jesus moving from Nazareth to Capernaum to establish the fulfillment of prophecy for the Jews. Capernaum is the headquarters for much of Jesus’ ministry. It is a city that is located on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. Before being called as an Apostle, Matthew used to work as a tax collector there. Jesus will spend much time, preach many sermons and do many miracles while He is in Capernaum.

Mt. 4:14 – Matthew quotes from Isaiah 9:1-7 to show that Jesus is fulfilling another Old Testament prophecy. A new day is dawning! Matthew will often quote Old Testament prophecies because he seeks to show the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah that has been prophesied from the beginning of time.

Mt. 4:15 – The land of Zebulun and Naphtali is just west of the Jordan adjacent to the Sea of Galilee. It forms about half of the region now known as Galilee with the land of Asher on the western border and the Jordan River on the eastern border. Zebulun was the second son of Bilah, Rachel’s maid. Naphtali was the sixth son of Leah, Rachel’s sister. They were given this area as a part of their inheritance in the Promised Land.

Mt. 4:16 – Darkness is the absence of salvation. The light of the world is Jesus! We will see repeated references to Jesus as “light” that dispels darkness and provide security as we can see the path that we are to follow on this earth. The promise of eternal hell is illustrated by the shadow of death. Matthew is saying, “God said the Messiah would come, and here He is.” Are you striving to walk in the “light?”

Mt. 4:17, Mk. 1:15 – Jesus’ message is close to being identical with the message of John the Baptist. The Kingdom of God is here, now, today! It is in our presence! “Kingdom,” as it is used in the New Testament, is more in the context of a reign than of a territory. In fact, the Bible never speaks of it as a territory. That “Kingdom” references the Salvation of God through Jesus Christ. That was accomplished through His death on the Cross and consummated in the Church. It is not a future thing, but a here-and-now Kingdom of which all Christians are subjects. Access to that “Kingdom” only comes through repentance. We cannot continue in what we know is wrong if we want to dwell in God’s eternal Kingdom. In order for God’s salvation to be applied, we must turn away from all sin, which separates us from Him. Is there any sin that you need help overcoming so you can experience the light of Jesus more thoroughly in your life? Matthew uses “Heaven” whereas Mark uses “God.” The Jews would be hesitant to invoke the name of God. On the other hand, Mark is trying to point out to the Romans that THE GOD of heaven and earth has come to establish His reign on this earth.

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Learn Evangelism

Mt. 4:18, Mk. 1:16; Lk. 5:1 – The Sea of Galilee is a warm-water lake about seven miles wide and thirteen miles long. It is 685 feet below sea level, varies in depth to 150 feet, and is the scene of a thriving fishing industry. It is geographically central to Jesus’ Galilean ministry. Peter and Andrew will be called as full-time students of Jesus from Capernaum. They are going to be trained to become fishers of men. This is not a part-time calling or a second job. It is a new life. This is not the first time Jesus has met them, either. The first time, John the Baptist pointed Jesus out to them, and they followed Him (see John 1:35ff). But this time, Jesus is calling them to a special purpose. Jesus did not call them without them having heard of Him. He has built up to this calling by degrees. Now, He calls them for a full-time discipleship program. How has Jesus built up a call in your life to serve Him? In what capacity are you called to serve Him?

Luke goes into more detail regarding how Jesus calls them and takes his Greek audience deeper into the details of this event. Jesus preaching is much sought after. The Lake of Gennesaret is the same as the Sea of Galilee, or Sea of Chinnereth. Lake is a more accurate description than sea. Gennesaret is the name of the plain on the northwest side of the lake.

Lk. 5:2 – Fishing is finished for the night. Peter, Andrew and their partners Zebedee and his sons, James and John are cleaning up from their work to get ready for the next fishing night’s work. The best fishing is when most people are sleeping. The fish come to the surface and are easier to catch in their nets. They are also fresher for the markets that will be opening shortly. Fishermen, in Jesus day, are usually poor and uneducated. They are also very hard working businessmen who are diligent and accustomed to many hardships.

Lk. 5:3 – Jesus feels the crowd growing and pressing on Him. He knows how to use His surroundings to amplify His voice and to get away from the “squeeze” of the crowd. So He gets into a boat and has them get just far enough from shore so He can address the crowd. He sits, which is the Jewish custom for teaching and so He won’t rock the boat.

Lk. 5:4 – No mention is made of how long Jesus speaks, but I will guess that no one leaves to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water. When He is done, He says to Simon, the owner of the boat, “Let’s go fishing. Let down your nets.” It is as if He knows something more about fishing than an expert fisherman does.

Lk. 5:5 – Peter is an accomplished fisherman. He knows this is not a good time to catch fish. He is also tired from working all night and frustrated from having caught nothing. No fish, no income. How is he going to pay his bills? In calling Jesus “Master,” Peter is suggesting that they have known each other for a period of time. He also recognizes Jesus in a title of honor and respect as one who has power or authority over another. Considering your personality, how do you think you would have responded to Jesus? Is this the way you would prefer to respond?

Lk. 5:6 – The result of Peter obeying Jesus’ instruction is a catch of fish so large that the nets are so full they are about to break. This is more than a coincidence. They do not break, however, and Peter is amply paid for letting Jesus use his boat. What would have happened if Peter had not obeyed? Jesus is here to show that He has dominion over the land and the sea. When Jesus calls us, it may not always be what or when we want it. If we obey, we will receive ample reward. The race is not always to the swift, but to him who endures or obeys.

Lk. 5:7 – Notice the results of God’s power and man’s obedience. Peter isn’t tired now. He’s re-energized by the blessings of God through His Son, Jesus of Nazareth. The size of the fishing boat is relatively small (at least big enough to hold thirteen men). To have the nets so full and not break is one thing. To fill two fishing boats almost to the point of sinking, yet they don’t sink is equally astounding. God paid them well for letting His Son use the boat. When God provides, there is no short-changing. His supply is beyond our needs!

Lk. 5:8 – Peter is so overcome, that he asks Jesus to leave. He knows that he has been in the presence of someone very great and he doesn’t feel worthy of what he has just received. The large catch of fish is far more than the cost in time and use of the boat. We are all inclined to feel and display humility when in the presence of a significantly greater power. We should be thankful that God doesn’t always do as we ask. How would you have responded if you had been one of those on the boat with Simon Peter?

Lk. 5:9 – How many people from the shore are also witnesses to this? If the hired servants are still there, they also will have been astonished at this catch. This is not the first time these men have seen Jesus, but this is the first time they have received a direct blessing from Him. How has God blessed you (materially, emotionally or spiritually)?

Lk 5:10 – Jesus calls them to a greater calling. Not only have they previously become acquainted with Jesus, the Christ, but now they have become directly affected by Him. He wants them to become a part of His ministry team and learn how to catch men instead of fish. Is there any greater business you can be involved in than helping others to come into a dynamic, personal and intimate relationship with Jesus? How can you do that on your job, or in your neighborhood?

Mt. 4:19; Mk. 1:17 – “Leave it all behind now and follow Me.” Jesus has something more important for them to do. Consider that Jesus chose not to go to the religious leaders in the Temple for His disciples. He doesn’t even select from the citizenry in or near Jerusalem. Instead, He goes to Galilee and chooses most of His future leaders from common citizenry. They are not educated or eloquent, but they are hard working and willing to follow. Indeed God chooses the common people and things of this world to accomplish His will and confuse the wise. He changes the direction of their occupation. They will still be casting a net, but they will be bringing in the souls of people instead of fish. Jesus frequently uses common things to illustrate or communicate spiritual points. Do you feel that God has asked you to leave something behind to follow Him? Would you like for us to pray for you to help you to let it go and obey God?

Mt. 4:20; Mk 1:18; Lk. 5:11 – At Jesus command, they immediately leave the fishing business and walk off to follow Him. What do they do with all of those fish? Do the people who are there buy some of them? These fish are very fresh and the “Catch of the day!” Are Zebedee and the hired servants left alone to process all of those fish before they spoil? James and John are following in their father’s footsteps and helping him with the family business. Like all fishermen, they value their property and keep it in good repair for the job at hand. Yet, no questions are asked, they immediately leave their nets and their family and co-workers and follow Jesus. The same thing happens with James and John when Jesus calls them. They leave their boat and their father to follow Jesus. Has God ever asked you to give up something or someone to do something He wants you to do?

Mt. 4:21; Mk 1:19 – Jesus calls James and John to join Peter and Andrew and follow Him. He doesn’t tell them what it is about, for how long, where they are going or what they are going to do beyond the statement that they will now become “fishers of men.” What does that mean to them? What does a statement like that mean to you? To become fishers of men, they must leave their comfort zone and follow Jesus. They will not be able to effectively speak for Christ until they have had some in depth exposure to Him and His teachings. The word “disciple” means “a learner of...” The men Jesus called will be learners of Him. You, too, are disciples of Jesus through “Walking With Jesus.” What are you going to do with this knowledge?

Mt. 4:22; Mk 1:20 – Peter, Andrew, James and John respond with no second thoughts, no looking back, no asking their father or friends if it is all right or explaining. They simply do what Jesus has told them to do. It suggests that they don’t even say “good bye.” How ready are you to obey Jesus and follow His will for your life? Are you still holding back?

Read Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:21-34; Luke 4:31b-41.

“Walking With Jesus”

Lesson Commentary

LOC – 025 Jesus Starts a Fisher’s of Men Business!

How to Fish more Effectively

On the one hand, it is sometimes fun to launch out on an adventure not knowing where you will spend the next night. You have heard someone say, “I’m going to see the world”, without any agenda as to where you are going, how fast you will get there or how long you will stay.

However, after a while, this running around gets old and it is good to have a place that one can settle down in and call “home”.

We are looking at what it means to follow Jesus. He has been “away” from “home” for about six months. Now it is time to establish something a little more predictable and not be out on the road all of the time. Let’s look at Matthew 4:13-22; Mark 1:16-20 and Luke 4:31—5:11 and see how to be better fishermen.

Matthew begins our look into the life and teachings of Jesus Christ with a fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. Zebulun and Naphtali were territories on the west side of the Sea of Galilee where the city of Nazareth is located. The “great light” is a reference to Jesus the SONlight of the world! In contrast to darkness that symbolizes the absence of salvation.

Go to Where the Fish Are! – Matthew 4:13-17, Luke 4:31a

Jesus message to the people is that God’s Kingdom is near and they need to repent and get ready. This is very similar to the message preached by John the Baptist. Notice that the kingdom is entered through repentance! This kingdom is in context of reign, rather than territory!

Get Help! – Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20

Jesus is walking along the shore of Galilee at Capernaum and sees Simon and Andrew fishing. They had spent some time with Jesus earlier just after John the Baptist had immersed him. Evidently, they had either gone back to fishing or were getting back to work after taking time off to follow Jesus for a short period of time.

Simon and Andrew immediately leave their nets and follow Jesus! How has Jesus called you to serve Him? Are you obeying Him?

Jesus merely accepts Simon as he is and calls him to learn how to fish for men! Simon pulls the boat to shore and leaves and follows Jesus from then on. Nothing is said about cleaning the fish and getting them to the market. Evidently the other partners take care of that for Peter.

Jesus also sees James and John working with their father, Zebedee and calls them. They don’t ask dad’s permission or discuss anything. They simply walk off leaving dad with all of the work and they follow Jesus. At least we know that Zebedee also has some other hired help to fill the gap left by James and John. Were Simon and Andrew partners or employees of Zebedee? Just a thought! When God calls, we must obey!

Use Resources Nearby – Luke 5:1-3

Another day, after Jesus had called Simon, Andrew, James and John, our text tells us that He was preaching to a crowd that had gathered on the seashore at Capernaum. Simon and the others had finished a night of fishing and are cleaning up prior to going home to get some needed rest.

To improve His delivery so the people can hear Him better, Jesus climbs into Simon’s boat and has him move back just a little bit from the shore. This improves the acoustics so the larger crowd can hear Jesus better.

I find that I project better to a larger group when I stand. However, Jesus sits down in the boat to talk to the people. It is possible that He doesn’t want to get knocked off balance by a wave and tossed into the Sea, but it is also Jewish custom for the speaker to sit while addressing the crowd. Would you have let Jesus use your boat?

Pay for the Boat – Luke 5:4-11

When Jesus is finished talking, He compensates Simon for the use of his boat! He sends Simon and his partners out into the deeper part (150 ft. deep) of the Sea of Galilee to fish. Simon’s first response is that he is tired from fishing all night and would like to go home and get some sleep. After all, they did not catch any fish, so he’s discouraged and tired. It is obvious that the fish aren’t near enough to the surface to be caught. Would you waste your time to fish one more time when someone who knows little or nothing about fishing tells you to do it again?

Since Jesus insists, Simon complies and the result of obeying Jesus is that he gets such a large catch of fish that he needs help bringing them into the boat. Simon and Andrew have partners (Zebedee, James and John?) who come and help them process this catch of fish. Some Payment!

Simon is so overwhelmed at this “payment” that he feels too unworthy to receive such a blessing. In fear, he asks Jesus to leave him because he knows he is not good enough to entertain the SON of God. How would you feel if this happened to you? What has God called you to do?

CONCLUSION

God compensates those who are willing to allow Him to use them for His purposes and His compensation is not meager or minimum wage! Our focus is not on getting money, but on being obedient and serving the Lord according to the abilities that He has given us! What are you doing to serve the Lord? How has He already paid you?

Next Week: Jesus becomes a doctor without going to medical school. How good of a doctor is He going to be?