Title: Jesus is the Light
jesus is the light
Matthew 4:12-22, Third Sunday after Epiphany, January 23, 2011
There are two stories in today's sermon. One is the story of Jesus’ activities that began after John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod based on the words of the prophet Isaiah (Matthew 4:12-17), and the other is that Jesus made four young fishermen as disciples. This is the story that is sung (Mark 4:18-22). This story connects to the overall theme of chapters 3 and 4. It is mainly about the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus. Here is a list of incidents that appear there. Proclamation of the words of John the Baptist, the event that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the three temptations Jesus faced before the beginning of his public ministry, two stories from today’s sermon, and finally, in verses 23-25, Jesus’ full-fledged activity throughout Judea It is reported that it has started.
The proclamation of John the Baptist and the proclamation of Jesus are the same. John also proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2), and Jesus also declared, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). The reason the writer of Matthew explicitly mentions this is to show that the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus is special. According to the Gospel of Luke, there was a special bond from the moment of birth. Both births were foretold by angels. John's mother Elizabeth and Jesus' mother Mary met each other during pregnancy. John the Baptist first went to church and proclaimed the kingdom of God, and Jesus began his activities in earnest after John the Baptist was imprisoned. John the Baptist and Jesus were inseparable. This is what all evangelists testify equally.
darkness and light
follow me
The writer of the Gospel of Matthew recounts such a life in the second event. This is the story of calling brothers Peter and Andrew, James and John as disciples. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19) They say that they left their daily lives and family and followed Jesus. If Jesus was about 30 years old at the time, the disciples would have been younger than that. I wouldn't have called you right away the first time I saw you. Whatever happened along the way, the Bible doesn't say. What is important is the fact that the disciples followed Jesus. This is a very natural story. If you know that Jesus is the light, you must follow it. A disciple is such a person. It's not just emotional, impulsive. It's not like a woman or a man who falls in love at first sight is attracted to each other. It is important to know that Jesus is the light of life. Only then is the life of a disciple possible.
Today is the third Sunday after Epiphany. It is a season to remember that Jesus came as the light of life. Don't take this as a clich . There has never been a more surprising and great event for us than this. The Lord of the Resurrection is life, salvation, and light to us. Listen again to Isaiah's prophecy quoted by Matthew. “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and to those who sat in the land and shadow of death a light has shone.” That's right. Jesus is the light of salvation. Amen.