Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus didn’t just walk around saying, “I love everyone.” He came to show us His love and tell us some important things. He said, “God’s kingdom is here. Repent,” meaning, “I’m here bringing God’s kingdom with me, so now you need to say sorry for going your own way and have a complete change of heart and aim. You need to believe in the great message I bring.” He loved people enough to come to this earth to tell them that they needed to change and trust in Him as their king and ruler.
And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.
There must have been something really special about Jesus for people to stop what they were doing and be prepared to have a complete change of life, following Him with everything they had and were!
Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Jesus knows what He is talking about! He understood the Scriptures and taught with clarity and power. People were amazed by what He knew, by how He explained it and the way that He brought it to life!
Prayer suggestions:
- Ask Jesus to help you to discover if He really is a ruler and king
- Say sorry to Jesus for things you do that you know He wouldn’t like and ask for His help to walk away from them
- Ask Jesus to help you to understand the Bible more as you read some of it each day