Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19951119.htm

MATTHEW: JESUS AS ISRAEL'S MESSIAH AND HIS MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Part VI: Authenticating Introduction Of Israel's Messiah: A Lesson In Blooming Where We Are Planted
(Matthew 4:12-25)
  1. Introduction
    1. What if relationship conflicts have caused a believer to relocate geographically? What if he ends up being away from his kin or in an out-of-the way spot? Is he still in God's will? How does he know for sure?!
    2. Where Jesus began to minister as the Messiah provides a great lesson for us in answering these questions.
  2. A Lesson In Blooming Where We Are Planted, Matthew 4:12-25.
    1. The people of Israel expected their Messiah to come from Bethlehem and minister at the temple:
      1. The leaders of Israel told Herod the Great that Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, Mt. 2:6.
      2. Israel thought Messiah would work at the temple, Edersheim, Life & Times of Jes., The Mes., v. I, 293.
    2. However, difficulties en route made this location unworkable, and Jesus ended up beginning His presentation as the Messiah from Capernaum on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee:
      1. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, Herod sought to kill Him, and Joseph was warned of God in a dream to flee with Mary and the infant, Jesus into Egypt, Mtt. 2:13-14.
      2. When God cleared Joseph to return, Joseph did not feel comfortable settling back in Bethlehem as cruel Archelaus reigned in Jerusalem, 2:22. Rather, God warned him in a dream against staying there, so he returned to his homeland in Nazareth, Mtt. 2:22-23.
      3. However, it was not expedient for Jesus to minister even in His parents' home town, either:
        1. When Jesus was about to begin His ministry, John the Baptizer who had announced Jesus as the Lamb of God to Israel, was imprisoned, putting pressure on Jesus' ministry itself, Mtt. 4:12a.
        2. Besides, we learn from Luke's Gospel that Jesus was sought for execution by His own parents' townspeople as He claimed to be the Messiah in fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1-2a, cf. Luke 4:14-30.
      4. Accordingly, Jesus left even Nazareth to begin His ministry in Capernaum, Mtt. 4:13 with 4:17.
    3. Nevertheless, it was the Father's will for Jesus to begin His ministry in the unexpected Capernaum.
      1. Matthew shows how this move to Capernaum was God's will as to the location of Christ's presentation:
        1. Matthew documents this move of Jesus to Capernaum as a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-2, Mtt. 4:13-16.
        2. That passage states that the region of Naphtali and Zebulun by the Sea of Galilee would be where a great light of God would shine on people who were sitting in darkness.
        3. The reason for this location is rooted in Israel's need for its Messiah: (a) the invading Assyrians made this area into a province of Assyria under Tiglath-Pileser III. This move dishonored the area, putting the people into gloom, B.K.C., O.T., p. 1052. Messiah's coming to this neediest of all areas in Israel would signal a great deliverance for Israel from her past devastations! (b) Isaiah noted in Isaiah 8:19-20 that Israel's turning to spirit mediums and away from the Word of God was a main cause for her apostasy, leaving th e people Galilee in great darkness. However, where such evil had afflicted Israel, to that area of great spiritual darkness would come the Word of God Incarnate to be a Shining Light for the truth of God, Isa. 9:1-2!
      2. Thus, at Capernaum, Jesus announced the need of repentance for people to enter the Kingdom, 4:17.
      3. Thus, at Capernaum Jesus first called disciples to follow Him to disciple others, 4:18-22.
      4. Thus, He went throughout all Galilee preaching the gospel and healing in accord with Isaiah 61:1-2!
Lesson: Negative experiences one has leading to a geographical relocation or in the relocation itself are NOT NECESSARILY indicators that one is out of the will of God! Christ had negative factors both leading to and involved within his geographic al relocation to Capernaeum. We need to follow the Word of God and bloom wherever God's Word lead us as being the BEST location available!

Application: Like Christ, do not be upset if God permits relationship conflicts to push us into a relocation! Like Christ, do not be upset if we cannot minister among our own kin! Like Christ, do not be upset if the location we are assigned seems to be the darkest, neediest, most out-of-the-way location! Bloom where we go if obeying Scripture means we go there, for that is where we should be!