Background information or context is important. It gives us the setting and an important understanding. Without, I am afraid we wander in darkness…
We are talking about the northern kingdom in the land of Zebulum and Naphtali, only much later is it – to be called “Galilee of the Gentiles.”
It is around 732 BCE (Before the Common Era) …the people are afraid. They fear for their very lives.
You watch in fear as the enemy comes to your home, your city, comes to you! They come to take control over your life. They come to oppress and to enslave you.
It is the army of Tiglath-Pileser who comes to enslave. The people will become exiles, living in a foreign land.
It is a dark, dark day!
To those who sat in darkness, with fear and trembling came a word of promise and hope. It comes from that great prophet of old, Isaiah…
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in a land of deep darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. They rejoice before you as with joy before the harvest. For the yoke of their burden and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. You have broken as on the day of Midian.”
Then, this most memorable word – again coming from Isaiah, “For a child has been born to us, a son is given to us.”
There is a promise of light coming in the midst of the darkness. There will be a defeat of the enemy who has camped out in your community – in your own home. The enemy who has held you hostage! The days of darkness will end. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
What is surprising – is that – that the light is going to come in the form of a child, the Son of God, Emmanuel, called “wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, Prince of peace!” Now – more than 700 years later the people in that very same region of Zebulun and Naphtali will again hear those words of promise.
Jesus of Nazareth defeats the Evil One in the wilderness and steps into the light of day to begin his ministry.
Jesus begins his ministry in a place and for a people rooted in darkness.
Going into Galilee means that Jesus is moving into the territory governed by Herod Antipas, the very ruler who arrested John. He is headed into the lion’s lair into the midst of the den.
So leaving Nazareth, Jesus came to dwell in Capernaum. It is not a region of safety…just the opposite. He comes…
He comes to dispel the darkness in your life! The darkness of guilt! The darkness of regret… The darkness of resentment and anger… The darkness of broken relationships… The darkness of fear and anxiety… The darkness of self-indulgence… The darkness of sadness and despair… The darkness of self-deception… The darkness of grief and loss, the darkness of addiction, the darkness of boredom…he comes to eradicate the darkness in your soul…
He comes for you and for me. He comes to make things right again! He comes to make us whole. He comes that he might reverse the order of darkness and bring you some light. He comes…
…Not like some Assyrian King to occupy, control and enslave, but to set free…
So he comes to Capernaum. Capernaum was the largest town on the Sea of Galilee and it had the largest harbor. Boats came and went regularly, plying their trade…and spreading all kinds of news throughout the region. It was an excellent communication center. Word always spreads quickly…from here…
Fishing was the most popular trade around the Sea of Galilee. Fishing villages dotted the shores of the 7 miles wide, thirteen miles long freshwater lake.
It made sense to call fishermen to follow him. People would be able to relate to them. Here there was an abundant supply of fish. In all of Israel there was an abundance of people in need. Whole towns were into “fishing.” Whole communities were in need of hearing some “Good News.”
So Jesus chose common every day men to be his first followers. They were not the educated elite of Jesus’ day. They were not rabbi’s or rabbinical school trained.
Their first job was that of simply “following”…and then much later on, bringing others to Jesus…but first, they were to accompany, learn from, respond to, imitate, be loyal to, bond with and abide in…That is something we can all do, each at our own level.
Following alone, speaks volumes…first off and foremost we are called to simply follow…and to go, where Jesus leads the way…
We are his followers today…follow him!