Matthew 4:12-25.  Jesus moved from his home town of Nazareth to the great city of Capernaum.  From there he launched his year-long great Galilean ministry.  The region had a reputation of spiritual darkness and physical danger.  It was the perfect location from which to proclaim the message because the need was so evident there.

1. Jesus’ message was exactly the same as that of John the Baptist (3:2; 4:17).  Evidence of the need for repentance was all around them.  They were far away from the bastions of hypocrisy and political power.  Here there was only fear and need.  He would have an audience here (12-17).
2. Jesus’ chosen disciples were not people of standing or influence.  They were fishermen.  The only strong point on their resumes was that they were learning how to do something.  This was the kind of student that Jesus wanted.  He wanted people willing to learn how to do what he was doing.  He could make them fishers of men (18-22).
3. Once news got out that Jesus was preaching the same message that John did AND he was backing up that message with demonstrations of God’s healing power – they came.  People came from everywhere.  The darkness came to the light.  Jesus was preparing to go into some of those other regions, and to send disciples there with his message.  But first, he will send some locals who had been healed or delivered from demonic bondage to prepare the way (23-25).

LORD, bring the light of your gospel message to our land.  The need is great here.  Teach us, so that we might reach others.  Empower us so that people might be drawn to you.