What Jesus Did! 'Starting Signals' — Matthew 4:12-13

"Runners take your mark ... get set ... BANG!" At the firing of the starter's pistol, the runners burst out of their blocks and the race begins. Lying behind the start of the race are years of training, qualification races, hours of practice and conditioning, and preliminary heats that brought the runners to the starting line. Once there, they are ready to hear the signal for the race to begin. As Matthew tells us the story of the Good News of Jesus, he spends the first four chapters giving us background information on Jesus and helping us see how Jesus prepared for his ministry. Then suddenly, Jesus hears the signal: "John had been arrested." Jesus first goes back to the obscure hamlet of Nazareth, his hometown (Matthew 2:19-20, 23), then moves to Capernaum, the bustling commerce city of the northern Sea of Galilee. It is now his time to start. Jesus goes where he is needed - where there are many people. He identifies himself with people seeking God's great work of deliverance through the Jews - as a Jew he previously took part in John's baptism of expectation and preparation. He is ready to faithfully serve both his Father and those who need him, no matter the cost. His ministry begins.