After being baptized by John and fasting for 40 days, Jesus goes to Capernaum to start his ministry. 

“And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬, ‭17‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

In Capernaum he calls the first few of his disciples. 

“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. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭22‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

Before beginning his ministry of teaching and miracles, Jesus gathers people to disciple. Not only would he teach these guys in a more in depth way than he could the masses of people, but he also had men of high quality, high caliber people surrounding him to support him in this endeavor. Jesus knew the importance of not doing these things alone. He knew he created people to be in communities, and not live as islands. As a man, Jesus needed community just like you need community and I need community.  

The Start of Public Ministry

Jesus began his public ministry in the region of Galilee. In this region we find Nazareth, the place where he grew up, Cana, the place where he performed his first miracle, and Capernaum, where he first called men to be his disciples. 

Mark 1 tells us right after he called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be his disciples, he goes into the synagogue on the Sabbath. Jesus began to teach them and the people were astonished at his teaching. What was it he was teaching that was so astonishing? 

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬ (‭ESV)‬‬

Time is at Hand

Let’s break this down. Jesus is saying time is fulfilled. The word for time here is the Greek word kairos. It’s a measure of time. So there was a predetermined measure of time that needed to be spent before the kingdom of God could be at hand. 

Fulfilled

Similarly, the Greek word for fulfilled is the word pleroo which can mean to fill up. Imagine an empty cup and a pitcher of water. Water in this case is time and when the water/time has filled the cup to the top, then the predetermined amount of time had passed and now the kingdom of God was at hand. 

What is a Kingdom

What does Jesus mean when he said “the kingdom of God is at hand.”? 

What is a kingdom? A kingdom is a government. It is rulership, dominion, and power. This means that God’s rulership, dominion, and power is at hand. 

What Does “At Hand” Mean

What does it mean to “be at hand”? The Greek word for this is the word engizo. It means to bring near, to join one thing to another. So God wants to join his power, his dominion, and his government with us. This is 3rd Heaven coming to Earth! You know, like, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”?! 

Repentance and Belief

How can this power and government come to earth? Jesus says it’s by repentance and belief in the gospel. Repentance is simply changing the way you think about something. You thought one way – the wrong way- and now you think the opposite way – the right way. 

You once thought that heaven and earth are two completely separate places, and they can never intersect with one another. Now, you know that if the kingdom aka the government of heaven is at hand then it has to intersect with earth because, surprise, you currently, physically live on the earth. This means that though you once thought that miracles were only something that happened in the Bible, now you know that if God’s government is here, then miracles have to happen. It’s just the result of God’s power and dominion on this place. 

Believe in the Gospel

This leads me to the “believe in the gospel” part. To believe means to think to be true, to place confidence in. When you believe the gospel you also believe the things we just discussed. This is very good news, aka the gospel. 

Are you astonished yet? Can you see why the people in the days of Jesus were? This had never been said before Jesus walked on the earth. It couldn’t have been taught because the measure of time had not been fulfilled until right then. 

Just as the minds of everyone listening to Jesus was about to explode, Jesus did something none of them had ever experienced before. A man with an unclean spirit came up to Jesus. 

“And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.” Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬-‭28‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

Right before their eyes, they witness what it means for the kingdom of God to be at hand. Only God’s power could do such a thing. This one event starts an avalanche of healing in the ministry of Jesus. 

We all Need Healing

Let’s face it, we all need healing from Jesus. Everyone one of us needs to experience the power, dominion, and rulership of God. 

That evening we are told that Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law. Later that night the people in the town bring Jesus lots of other people who needed healing. 

“That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

The people in Capernaum received Jesus well the first time he came to this town. They were amazed at Jesus’ ability to teach and heal. 

Jesus Goes Throughout Galilee 

Matthew tells us that Jesus went throughout all of the region of Galilee teaching in the synagogues and healing. 

“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. 

And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬, ‭25‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

Samaria

Let’s head to the city of Samaria next. How did the people react to Jesus the first time he came? 

Samaria is in the region of Judea. The first time Jesus came to Samaria during the time of his ministry, he spoke to a woman. We know her as The Woman at the Well. This is the woman who proclaimed that Jesus, “told me all I’ve ever done!” 

This woman was absolutely convinced that this man, who stopped to ask for a drink of water, spoke of a mysterious living water that allows you to never be thirsty again, and confronted her with the truth of her life, is the long awaited Messiah. 

She is the very first evangelist! She goes into the city and brings a big group to talk to the savior. How do the other Samaritans react to Jesus? 

“Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word.” ‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭39‬-‭41‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

The Samaritans eagerly accepted Jesus as the Messiah. The excitement of the Woman at the Well was contagious, and spread to many others in the town of Samaria. 

We’ve looked at two places where Jesus was initially accepted. Did every place react this way? Sadly, the answer is no. Next week we will take a look at two places where Jesus wasn’t initially accepted.