Upside Down Kingdom: Mission & Message | Week 3 | Mission Launch | Matthew 4:12-25:11

Week 3 | Mission Launch

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. - Matthew 4:18-20

Matthew 4:12-25
 
After his Baptism and Temptation in the Wilderness, Jesus spent additional time in solitude before launching his public ministry and mission. Jesus’ mission of light and life would face great opposition in a world full of darkness and death. Yet when things are darkest the light is most desired. Jesus’ mission begins in obscurity but reaches the masses.

A Light has Dawned (4:12-17) – John the Baptist has been arrested and imprisoned by Herod for speaking out against his decadent sexual practices. The environment for prophetic ministry is quite hostile. Jesus strategically retreats from the area around Jerusalem into Galilee. Leaving his hometown of Nazareth, he uses Capernaum by the Sea as his primary base for mission. Where John’s ministry was focused on baptism, Jesus’ mission is, in part, his message. “Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Times may be dark, but the light of Jesus is beginning to shine.

Men for the Mission (4:18-22) – Jesus’ mission to seek and save the lost is unique to Him and only He can accomplish it. Yet He invites us to participate. While near the sea, Jesus engages several local fishermen directly calling them to leave their current vocation for an eternal mission. Peter, Andrew, and later James and John are the first disciples called by Jesus to be his disciples. Following Jesus can be costly. For these men it meant leaving a lucrative profession necessary to feed their community and join a mission feeding souls. They have been recruited by Jesus to be recruiters for Jesus. Because of their immediate response of obedience and their lives and the world will never be the same.

Growing Influence (4:23-24) – Jesus and His disciples begin taking the mission on the road throughout the region. Beginning with the religious, Jesus spoke in synagogues and preformed miraculous healings wherever he went. People oppressed spiritually and infirmed physically begin to experience freedom and heath. Jesus’ gospel message pared with healing and wholeness are radically contagious as Jesus’ fame begins to spread and great crowds begin to follow.

QUESTIONS: 

1. What part of the text or sermon had the greatest impact on you? Did you learn anything new about Jesus or His disciples?
2. Why is the geographical and sociological context of Jesus’ initial mission significant? What does it tell us about His Kingdom values?
3. What mission has Jesus called you to? What has He called you to leave behind in order to follow him? How is following Jesus costly? How is following Jesus worth it?
4. When have you experienced healing and or wholeness from Jesus? How are both Good News and Good Works essential to Jesus’ Kingdom message? What happens if we emphasize one while ignoring the other?

PRAY – Ask God to given you clarity for the mission He has for you. Thank Jesus for where you have experienced healing or wholeness. Seek the Holy Spirit to continue to work in your heart to bring freedom and peace.