Slices
Prepare
How many homes have you lived in? What has moving home meant for you in your lifetime? What were the gains and losses? Where do you think of as ‘home’?
Bible passage
Jesus begins to preach
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali – 14 to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 ‘Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles –
16 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.’
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
Explore
The restoration promised by God is coming! Matthew’s use of just a part of the wonderful passage about the coming Saviour in Isaiah 9 indicates the salvation and renewal of land and people in the northern lands. Nazareth and Capernaum are a 55-minute drive, or 10-hour walk, from one another – far enough to involve a leaving behind when moving to a new place.
We might reflect on what this meant for the very human Jesus, moving away from his home, family and occupation, and embracing a new place to call home, new companions and a new message of promise. The beginning of his three-year ministry, after nearly 30 years in Nazareth, must have required a degree of commitment and devotion from Jesus. It is easy for us to forget the very fully human experience that Jesus, as the Son of God and knowing the Father’s salvation plan, faced at this point, aware too of the dangers of being hunted down like his cousin, John. Calling people to change their ways is never a popular option, but in Christ the promise that the kingdom is near is attractive. And so it begins…
Respond
Read Isaiah 9 and celebrate the promises given there. Which of the titles given to Jesus (v 6) speaks to you today?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Malachi 1,2; Psalms 149,150
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for Nic Findlay (Revealing Jesus Pioneer) as she supports Faith Guides across Merseyside who are working in difficult circumstances and with challenging young people. Pray that these Faith Guides will have strength and perseverance to keep sharing the good news of Jesus even when it’s tough.
