His fame spread...

 Matthew 4:23–25 (ESV): 

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. 

Reading this, i thought that it was interesting that Jesus ‘fame spread throughout all Syria’, should it not have read throughout all Israel? Syria is not a part of the Israelite nation, so why does Matthew write that Jesus fame is throughout Syria and not throughout Israel?

Jesus had moved to Capernaum after John’s arrest. This busy, trading village sat right on the northern cusp of Israel and Syria on the Sea of Galilee (see map below). Known to be a place of trade with all sorts of people coming and going, it seems that Jesus’ message was more popular with foreigners than his own people. Both Jews and Gentiles would have had the opportunity to hear the message that the Kingdom of God is at hand, yet it seems that predominantly the Syrians were the ones most eager to respond. 

Jesus taught, proclaimed and healed - ‘every disease and every affliction amongst the people’. His ministry was not just words, although the words he spoke were profound and powerful, but he also had the power of God through the Holy Spirit to banish every affliction, pain and disease - No wonder people listened! This was unlike anything they had experienced before, nothing was too big or small for Jesus. He could answer any question effectively, and heal everyone completely. The first to accept and become excited about this were those from Syria. They saw and heard Jesus, and then brought everyone they knew to him to be healed. Those with seizures, troubled by demons and those paralysed were freed. What an incredible thing to have witnessed - seeing many people living in freedom because of Jesus words and power! No wonder he drew crowds from all over the place and his fame spread. I am sure if you had a friend telling you about this man who is preaching that God is near and then he heals people of deadly and life-limiting conditions, then you would be curious to meet them for yourself. Thus is how Jesus’ notoriety spread. People told people, all kinds of people, and they came from all over Syria to see and follow him. His fame was throughout that land, so if you met someone from there at that time, they would have been able to tell you something about this man Jesus. That is not to say that other people did not hear or know of him, for 'great crowds followed him' from Galilee, his popularity also spread to the southern areas of Israel (Jerusalem and Judea) and the Decapolis as well as ‘beyond the Jordan’. Far and wide the news about Jesus spread, and he himself went to various places (throughout all Galilee). He was listened to in the synagogues, and in the streets. 

I wonder what Simon, Andrew, James and John made of it all, they had just become Jesus’ disciples, now they were seeing and hearing things they had never experienced, amongst people who were quite different to them. Jesus certainly was someone worth following, every day must have been an adventure! 

What is your expectation of what Jesus can do? He is willing and able to meet with all people from all places, from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences, to free them and do amazing life-changing work with them. Jesus spoke and people came and listened, Jesus healed and people came and received new life. Have you received his new life? If so, who are you inviting to meet Jesus? He can and will meet with people where they are and begin a life changing work in them if they come and see. Are you giving others, no matter how near or far, how similar or different they are, the opportunity to meet him? 

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand

Jesus, after having had an intense emotional, physical and spiritual experience whilst being in the wilderness goes back home. Although he is not the same as he once was. He was baptised, affirmed by God, then tempted and pressed by Satan, now the intensity of that personal period of trial has stopped. What next?

Matthew 4:12–17 (ESV):  

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 

 15  “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, 

the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 

 16  the people dwelling in darkness 

have seen a great light, 

  and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, 

on them a light has dawned.” 

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

Jesus is having a confusing time. He has experienced the high of being baptised by John and being affirmed publicly by God. Straight after that the Spirit led him into the wilderness to suffer and be tried by Satan. Now, Jesus has discovered that his relative and the one who baptised him, John, is arrested. The same one who was preparing the way for him, who crowds followed, and who pointed towards Jesus as The Son of God, is now in captivity. After such a time of suffering, it would not be surprising if Jesus went back home, broke down, or went into hiding. I am sure some people at the time would have expected that Jesus would take John’s place and tell those waiting crowds, ‘Here I am, the one John told you about’. It seemed like a good time to do that as there were people ready and waiting for The Messiah to be revealed. Yet, Jesus doesn’t do any of that.

instead when Jesus hears about John’s arrest, ‘he withdrew into Galilee… and lived in Capernaum by the sea’. Jesus went somewhere else. Capernaum was a much more populated place than Nazareth, and it was well connected with other nations and people groups due to being in prime position for trading. So, when Jesus started his public ministry and began to preach, a mixture of people heard his message, and most of them were probably people that never heard the message of John. The rich, poor, traders, labourers, young, old, Jews, Gentiles, and even Romans would have had the opportunity to hear Jesus speak in Capernaum whereas John’s message had been primarily for the Jews. Jesus as soon as he starts his public ministry, is preaching to all people.  

So, what did Jesus preach? He spoke the same message John did - “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus picks up the same message, to different people in a different town. Yet, it was the same. The reality of God is true no matter which city, village or country you are in and people need to hear the same thing; There is a God, His Kingdom reigns and is being revealed, and He wants you to be a part of it. Yet there is a problem called sin that separates everyone from God, so there is a need for you to repent and be washed clean from all wrongdoing, so that you can turn your life around and become one of God’s people. Jesus and John taught the same thing, because it is true and people needed to know. People from every position, class, background and location still need to know. 

No matter the highs and lows of life, John and Jesus still presented the truth to people. They both had times of great encouragement and joy, but also of struggle, deep hurt and pain. John’s message remained the same whether he was in prison, at home or in the wilderness for he knew the truth and gave whoever would listen the opportunity to hear about God. Jesus continued this message, he boldly proclaimed that the ‘kingdom of heaven is at hand’ even though his ministry started out of confusion, joy and pain plus John had just been arrested for doing the same. Neither of these men allowed the truth of God to be hidden or muted. Is your life the same? 

Does your life reflect God’s Kingdom no matter what you are going through? God gives you opportunities to tell people about Him in every circumstance, in different locations and situations. John was in prison because of the message he brought, Jesus was in a different area having to deal with conflicting and confusing emotions, yet they both were still faithful to God and still carried on the mission God had given them. Are you?