Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause - Thursday, 232 January 2013 – Mattityahu 4

Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause - Thursday, 232 January 2013 – Mattityahu 4:12 Now, having heard that Yochanan was arrested, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach departed into the Galil.

13 And having left behind Natzeret, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach headquartered in Kfar-Nachum by the sea, in the environs of Zvulun and Naftali.

14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Yeshayah HaNavi,

15 ARTZAH ZVULUN VARTZAH NAFTALI (To the land of Zvulun and to the land of Naftali, Isa 8:23-9:1 [9:1-2]), the way to the sea beyond the Yarden, Galil HaGoyim,

16 the people sitting in CHOSHECH RAU OHR GADOL (darkness saw a great light), YOSHVEI V’ERETZ TZALMAVET (the ones living in the land of the shadow of death), a light has dawned among them.

17 From then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to proclaim, saying, LAlter LiTeshuvah (Immediate Repentance ), for the Malchut HaShomayim has come near.

18 And walking beside Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw two achim, Shimon, the one being called Kefa (Petros), and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were daiyagim (fishermen).

19 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says, Come, follow me, and I will make you daiyagei adam (fishers of men).

20 And immediately, leaving their nets, they followed Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

21 And having gone on from there, he saw two other achim, Yaakov Ben Zavdai and Yochanan his brother, in the sirah (boat) with Zavdai their father, repairing their nets, and he summoned them.

22 Immediately, leaving the sirah (boat) and their father, they followed Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach [Mt 19:29].

23 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went about in all the Galil, exercising the ministry of moreh (teacher) in their shuls and of darshan (preacher) of the Besuroh Tovoh (Good Tiding of a Joyous Event), the Besuras HaGeulah (the Good News of Redemption) of the Malchut Hashem, and Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went about bringing refuah (healing) to every disease and every illness of the people. (Orthodox Jewish Bible)

When my son Andrew was a little boy he asked a neighbor, "How come you don't go to church?" She shrugged her shoulders; then he closed the door part way and put his hand over his mouth so I wouldn't hear, "I think you are real lucky that you don't go. All you do is get dressed up, just to sit there!" And with that wonderful invitation to church our neighbor was standing by our van to go with us to church the next Sunday morning. Many weeks later on the way home from church Andrew said to our neighbor, "Can you see Jesus?" She shrugged her shoulders again. He said to her, "I can see him. I can hear him. I can feel him in my heart." Then he called her by name, and went on, "Even if you can't see him, Jesus sees you and he loves you."

Thank you Lord Jesus that you use our most ordinary words to tell the story of your love. Amen.

Elisa Schafer Richardson

Pastor, Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Mounds View, Minn.

Master of Divinity , 1983

Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.

13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 "Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--

16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

18 As he walked 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.

19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. (New Revised Standard Version)

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