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Jesus Loves you and so do I!
- dr joe
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Nurse Update! I have gotten some response and have a couple of interviews that need to be scheduled. Please pray that the Lord provides the right nurses at the right time. I am looking to hire an office nurse for Wayland and another nurse to do pregnancy confirmation ultrasounds, 20 hours a week, in Bath, NY. Anyone who is interested can reply to this e-mail with information.
Matthew 4:12-25 NIV
(12) When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. The Bible is a fascinating collection of books. The four gospels are not sequential, they are different versions of Jesus' life and ministry from different perspectives. (You can skip this next section for now if your time is short or if your not interested. It's always better to spend time reading the actual words of the Bible than it is to spend time reading about the Bible)
Here is what the Life Application Study Bible says about Matthew:
MATTHEW
VITAL STATISTICS
PURPOSE:
To prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the eternal King
AUTHOR:
Matthew (Levi)
ORIGINAL AUDIENCE:
Matthew wrote especially to the Jews.
DATE WRITTEN:
Approximately A.D. 60-65
SETTING:
Matthew was a Jewish tax collector who became one of Jesus' disciples. This Gospel forms the connecting link between the Old and New Testaments because of its emphasis on the fulfillment of prophecy.
KEY VERSE:
"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose" (5:17).
KEY PEOPLE:
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, the disciples, the religious leaders, Caiaphas, Pilate, Mary Magdalene
KEY PLACES:
Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Capernaum, Galilee, Judea
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Matthew is filled with messianic language ("Son of David" is used throughout) and Old Testament references (53 quotes and 76 other references). This Gospel was not written as a chronological account; its purpose was to present the clear evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior.
AS the motorcade slowly winds through the city, thousands pack the sidewalks hoping to catch a glimpse. Marching bands with great fanfare announce the arrival, and protective agents scan the crowd and run alongside the limousine. Pomp, ceremony, protocol-modern symbols of position and evidences of importance-herald the arrival of a head of state. Whether they are leaders by birth or election, we honor and respect them.
The Jews waited for a leader who had been promised centuries before by prophets. They believed that this leader-the Messiah ("anointed one")-would rescue them from their Roman oppressors and establish a new kingdom. As their king, he would rule the world with justice. Many Jews, however, overlooked prophecies that also spoke of this king as a suffering servant who would be rejected and killed. It is no wonder, then, that few recognized Jesus as the Messiah. How could this humble carpenter's son from Nazareth be their king? But Jesus was and is the King of all the earth!
Matthew (Levi) was one of Jesus' 12 disciples. Once he was a despised tax collector, but his life was changed by this man from Galilee. Matthew wrote this Gospel to his fellow Jews to prove that Jesus is the Messiah and to explain God's Kingdom.
Matthew begins his account by giving Jesus' genealogy. He then tells of Jesus' birth and early years, including the family's escape to Egypt from the murderous Herod and their return to Nazareth. Following Jesus' baptism by John (3:16, 17) and his defeat of Satan in the wilderness, Jesus began his public ministry by calling his first disciples and giving the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7). Matthew shows Christ's authority by reporting his miracles of healing the sick and the demon-possessed, and even raising the dead.
Despite opposition from the Pharisees and others in the religious establishment (chapters 12-15), Jesus continued to teach concerning the Kingdom of Heaven (chapters 16-20). During this time, Jesus spoke with his disciples about his imminent death and resurrection (16:21) and revealed his true identity to Peter, James, and John (17:1-5). Near the end of his ministry, Jesus entered Jerusalem in a triumphant procession (21:1-11). But soon opposition mounted, and Jesus knew that his death was near. So he taught his disciples about the future-what they could expect before his return (chapter 24) and how to live until then (chapter 25).
In Matthew's finale (chapters 26-28), he focuses on Jesus' final days on earth-the Last Supper, his prayer in Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas, the flight of the disciples, Peter's denial, the trials before Caiaphas and Pilate, Jesus' final words on the cross, and his burial in a borrowed tomb. But the story does not end there, for the Messiah rose from the dead-conquering death and then telling his followers to continue his work by making disciples in all nations.
As you read this Gospel, listen to Matthew's clear message: Jesus is the Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Celebrate his victory over evil and death, and make Jesus the Lord of your life.
(13) Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali- (14) to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:1-2): (15) "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles- (16) the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
The
reason I told you about the gospels being from different author's
perspectives is that there is a lapse in history in Matthew from the
temptation in the desert to leaving Nazareth. The other gospels fill
in some details. The following explanation is from John Wesley's
commentary:
"He retired into Galilee - This journey was not immediately after his
temptation. He first went from Judea into Galilee, John 1:43; John 2:1.
Then into Judea again, and celebrated the passover at Jerusalem, John
2:13. He baptized in Judea while John was baptizing at Enon, John
3:22-23. All this time John was at liberty, John 3:24. But the
Pharisees being offended, John 4:1; and John put in prison, he then
took this journey into Galilee. Mark 1:14.
(Wesley's commentary is available for free with E-sword bible study program which is also free - see link on the side panel)"
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Questions?
Please e-mail me with any questions about today's scripture message or anything related to the Bible or Christianity.
I might not know the answer but I'll try real hard to find it. | |
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