Life Winds Upward for the Wise

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth...” [1]

Jesus filled the void that John’s imprisonment left. He left Nazareth for Galilee.

“Galilee was a fertile area of about sixty by thirty miles; Josephus says that there were some 204 villages with none having less than 15,000 people... a population of more than three million for the region. Galilee was predominately Gentile in its population, but with a large number of Jewish cities and citizens.” [2]

Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy by bringing light to this region. “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” [3]

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” [4] To preach (Greek) is to herald a proclamation from a king. Jesus continued John’s preaching of repentance. John announced the Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah.” [5]

Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him from Galilee. “He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” [6]

“Jesus called the apostles as they were casting a net into the sea or mending their nets. God often calls workers from survival work to work for God. Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock.

Gideon was threshing wheat. David was keeping his father’s sheep. The shepherds were guarding their flocks. Amos was farming in Tekoa. Matthew was working at the tax collector’s table.”

“’They immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.’ Following Jesus means leaving some things behind. The Samaritan woman left her pitcher, Matthew left his tax table, and blind Bartimaeus left his cloak to follow Jesus.” [7]

The ministry of Jesus involves teaching, preaching, and healing. [8] “The difference between teaching and preaching is one of emphasis. Preaching is the uncompromising proclamation of certainties; teaching is the explanation of the meaning and significance of them.” [9]

The teaching of Jesus was aimed at saving people’s souls. As the proverbs says, “The way of life winds upward for the wise, that he may turn away from hell below.” [10]

The wise follow Jesus and their lives go upward. Not so, for the fool, who says their is no god. “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God...” Life does not wind upward for fools who live as though there is no god. “God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” [11] Fools end up in hell.

[1] Matthew 4:12
[2] Morgan - Enduring Word Commentary
[3] Isaiah 9:1-2
[4] Matthew 4:16-20
[5] Barclay – Enduring Word Commentary
[6] Matthew 4:17-20
[7] Enduring Word Commentary
[8] Matthew 4:23-25
[9] Barclay – Enduring Word Commentary
[10] Proverbs 15:24
[11] Psalm 14:1; Luke 12:20