Lesson 4040

 (Lesson 4040)(02-12-23) Matthew 4:12-17

    “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

    In today’s quote, Jesus fulfilled yet another prophesy. It is also very important to note that, when Jesus began to preach, He preached the very same message that John the Baptist had preached. That being, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. (Matthew 3:2)

    That information is important because Jesus did not, as some contend, preach Christianity, He preached that Christianity was soon to come. And He, like John, preached that message expressly to the Jews.

    The doctrine of Christianity could not come into being until AFTER Jesus had completed His divine mission and had ascended back to heaven.~