Jesus begins his ministry

Jesus begins his ministry

“When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.  
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—  to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” 
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:12-17

John the Baptist has just been put in prison. So Jesus leaves Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum where he would eventually use the house of Peter as his base.
The area referred to as Zabulun ans Naphtali in the time of Jesus was seen to be an area in spiritual darkness.
The reason seems to have been because of the large number of gentiles that lived there. Although some say it was also because of the distance from Jerusalem.
The distance being so far away that the religious influence of Jerusalem had little effect.
Matthew points out that Jesus in moving into this area also fulfilled a prophesy from Isaiah who states,
“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— 
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
                                          Isaiah 9:1,2.
Here we also see a prophesy about the Messiah that point to Him reaching out to the gentiles. Taking Gods light to non Jews.
Matthew here also points out that the message of Jesus is also the message John was preaching on of repentance.
This is a key theme of the Bible. The need of the individual to repent for their sins.
The Bible makes it clear when Paul writes to the Romans,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”  
                                                                           Romans 3:23.
The apostle John goes on to say,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 
                                                             1John 1:9.
John in his gospel also quotes Jesus as saying,
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 
              John 3:14-18.
In Jesus we have a clear cut decision to make. To follow him and have eternal life or to reject him and perish.
Jesus leaves that decision up to you.
Where do you stand?