No Messenger Newsletter UFN (see News Section)

"Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you fish for people'"
(Mark 1:17)

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry

Mark 1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,
Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

Mark 1:16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen.
Mark 1:17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people."
Mark 1:18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Mark 1:19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.
Mark 1:20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

[Mark 1:14] Cities of the Galilean Ministry (see map). See Matt 4:23-25. Jesus began His public ministry at Cana, where He graced a wedding ceremony with His presence and turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). In the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus announced that He was the fulfillment of prophecy from the book of Isaiah (Luke 4:16-22). But His hometown rejected Him, so He went to Capernaum, a prosperous fishing town situated along an international trade route. There He established a base of ministry.
In Capernaum He called Matthew to be His disciple (Mark 2:14) and healed the paralyzed servant of a centurion (Matt 8:5-13), as well as Peter's mother-in-law (Matt 8:14, 15). The Sea of Galilee, with its fishing industry, was the setting for many miracles. At Nain, Jesus mercifully raised to life the only son of a widow (Luke 7:11-17). Chorazin and Bethsaida were cities Jesus chastised for their unbelief (Matt 11:21). The area of Gergesa was possibly where Jesus healed the demoniacs (Matt 8:28-34).

(vv. 14, 15) The coming of the kingdom of God is the initial, the central, and the final burden of the Master's proclamation. Jesus' preaching began with the challenge, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 4:17). In His most extensive teaching pericope, the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), Jesus described the righteousness of the kingdom. Then as His days of earthly sojourn drew to a close, He instructed the apostles concerning the course of this age and the dawning of the kingdom of God (Matt. 24:14ff.). In order to understand the "kingdom of God," or "heaven," motif, one must recognize its seven aspects which are unfolded in God's revelation: (1) God, by virtue of being Creator of all things, is also the Proprietor and Ruler of all (Ps. 10:16; 24:1, 2, 9, 10). (2) More particularly, God is the King of Israel, although, in reluctant response to the nation's insistence during the era of the judges upon having an earthly king (cf. Judg. 8:22, 23; 1 Sam. 8:4-9), the theocracy was set aside. (3) Having allowed a human line of kings to reign, God, through His spokesmen, the prophets, proclaims the reestablishment of the theocracy -- an everlasting kingdom through the Davidic line (cf. 1 Sam. 13:14; 2 Sam. 7:15, 16; Ps. 89:21, 36-38; Isa. 11:1-9; Dan. 7:13, 14). (4) Jesus Christ, who comes from the Davidic line (cf. Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:32, 33), offers the kingdom promised by God through the prophets, but the Jews reject the King (cf. the parable of the minas in Luke 19:11-14). (5) Jewish rejection opened the door to the inclusion of the Gentiles in the kingdom, but this new aspect of the kingdom took the form of a mystery in the church. Christ reigns in the hearts of subjects who have experienced the New Birth and who thus make up the church (cf. 10:15; John 3:3, 5; Rom. 14:17; Col. 1:13). (6) The phenomenon of the kingdom hidden in the hearts of men is temporary because Jesus shall once again appear physically, ushering in the apocalyptic kingdom and reigning on the throne of David for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4-6). (7) God's reign is forever, but the earthly kingdom terminates after the thousand years in order to give way to the eternal kingdom in heaven (1 Cor. 15:24-26, 28; 2 Tim. 4:18; Rev. 22:3, 5). From all of these aspects, one gathers the fact that the kingdom of God is that perfect reign of God wherein He destroys His enemies and bestows His blessings upon His subjects. Very often, two or more aspects of the kingdom are realized at one period in time. Despite the varying aspects, however, two factors are constant: (1) it is God who ushers in the kingdom, and (2) Jesus is His appointed King.

Readings for week of January 31st
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
First: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20
Psalm 111
Second: 1 Corinthians 8: 1-13
Gospel: Mark 1: 21-28

Sunday Worship Services at 9:00am and 11:00am (see News Section for details)
Adult Sunday School 9:45am to 10:30am Classroom 5
Youth Sunday School Suspended UFN

Tuesday & Thursday Bible Study (Academic Bldg, Rm 5 & Online) at 10:30 a.m. (see News Section for Details & Online Instructions)
Wednesday Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) Noon [Suspended UFN]