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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 19 : The Public Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ

Text: Matthew 4:12-17
8 May 2022

INTRODUCTION

1. The Lord Jesus had been anointed
Matthew 3

2. He had fasted 40 days and nights

3. He had defeated Satan when He passed all the tests/ temptations given to Him

CHOICE OF AREA OF MINISTRY

1. In direct relationship with the Ministry of John the Baptiser

Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.

Matthew 4:12

a) John the Baptiser was arrested and jailed by Herod Antipas
b) The region where John was would, of course, be unsafe
c) The Lord Jesus exercised:
i) Understanding
ii) Prudence (wisdom)

2. Not choosing Nazareth

And leaving Nazareth

Matthew 4:13a

a) Matthew did not disclose the reason why the Lord Jesus did not minister in Nazareth
b) We need to read Luke 4 to understand why He did not minister in His hometown

3. What happened at Nazareth?

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marvelled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum,[k] do also here in Your country.’ ” 24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Luke 4:16-30

a) The Lord Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah
b) He read the following text:
18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
Luke 4:18-19
c) He declared that He had come to fulfil this prophecy
d) He outlined His Ministry:
i) It will be a Spirit-filled Ministry
ii) It will centre on the Gospel
e) The focus of people in Ministry:
i) The poor
ii) The broken-hearted
iii) The captives
iv) The blind
v) The oppressed

THE REACTION OF THE PEOPLE IN NAZARETH

1. Some were astonished at the gracious words He spoke

2. They knew His family but could not explain how He had become so knowledgeable and skilled

3. Others were negative and violent

a) They were filled with wrath
b) They wanted to throw the Lord Jesus down a cliff

4. God protected Him
He escaped from their wicked design/ desire to kill Him

HOW DID THE LORD JESUS KNOW WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO?

14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Luke 4:14-15

1. The Spirit of God was upon Him

2. He was empowered

3. He taught in the synagogues

4. He was glorified by all who heard Him

CONCLUSION

1. Have a deeper appreciation of the Ministry of the Lord Jesus

2. And of the Power of the Spirit of God

3. Understand the place of the Gospel (the word of God)

4. Feel for the many needs of people