Matthew 4:17-25

     Jesus made Capernum His home and began His ministry from there.  Read v.17 a couple of times.  What a message He had to begin His ministry!  Those words came from His heart and He still feels that message deep in His spirit.  He wants us all to be genuinely sorry for the sins we have committed against God (repent).
     How close is the kingdom of heaven for those who have repented?  It could be 2 seconds; it could be 80 years.  We don't know when the kingdom of heaven will be our home.  We must be repentant of our sins and live a new life for "the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Read the verse again.  Jesus put His whole ministry into that one sentence. "Repent: the kingdom of heaven is at hand,"
     After speaking those words of warning, and being filled with compassion, Jesus began to gather His disciples so He could begin His ministry.  This group of men walked with Him throughout the last 3-4 years of His life.  They learned while sitting at His feet or while walking by His side. They witnessed His death and His resurrection.  They saw Him ascend into heaven and sit on the throne of David at the right hand of God.  What a gathering of men it was !
     While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He spied His first two disciples hard at work, fishing.  They were named Simon and Andrew.  This was the Simon who was later called Peter or Simon Peter. All He had to say was, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men."  These two men immediately stopped what they were doing, left their fish and their boat and followed Jesus. Did they know who he was?  Had they heard of the Messiah? What kind of power did this man called Jesus have over these two fishermen?
     Then it happens again!  Jesus finds His next two disciples, James and John.  They were mending their fishing nets with their father, Zebedee.  James and John dropped the torn nets, left their boat and their father to immediately follow Jesus.  This man, whom they had never met, never heard of, called to them and they followed Him without so much as a, "By Dad."
     This group of men walked all over Galilee with Jesus, learning about the kingdom of heaven, and the role Jesus and His followers had in it.  Jesus taught about heaven and repentance and the Father.  He healed all who came to Him, knowing that He could heal them.  His fame spread to Syria and they brought their sick, their demon filled and mentally ill friends to be healed.  People believed in Him by merely hearing the stories about Him. Great multitudes followed Him.  People from Galilee, from Decapolis, from Jerusalem and even from as far away as Jordan.  Why?  Jesus, the Messiah, gave them hope.