Comments on: Matthew 4:12-25

by: Julie

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 20:30:11 +0000

For me this passage illustrates Jesus’ gentleness and his concern for the marginalised and oppressed. But ………… it seems Jesus is also a no-nonsense proponent of “tough love”. Encounters with him are not always easy or convenient. To change our lives is radical and challenging especially when we are normally reminded not to burn our bridges.

I guess burning our bridges is what following Jesus is all about.

by: Steve

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:01:38 +0000

Jesus had just been tested, John had been arrested and Jesus travelled, on his own, away from his family to Caperneum……..

……….and then he chose his disciples. It has just struck me that at that time of vulnerability Jesus himself, in his humaness, had the same need for community as we all do……people not only to disciple and teach….but people to sit down and eat meals with, to travel on the road with, to pray with, to heal with……
As well as feeling like this is a radical place, Ricahrd, it is also feeling like the beginnings of a community place. I love the uncontrolled nature of the thing, the fact that God is revealing different stuff to different people……the vulnerability that is beginning to emerge. If if it was good enough for Jesus!
The challenge for me is, however, how do we draw others into this community that is Dream…both the physical dream and this virtual dream. Jesus needed community…but the challenge he gave to that community is “GO!”

by: Josh

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:13:31 +0000

Poor Zebedee- I wonder if he understood why his sons had to go and leave him to catch all the fish alone!

Too right about the revolutionary, in-your-face etc. nature of the passage Richard. Just noticed how the message John then Jesus stressed is ‘Change your life’, not ‘See if you’re doing anything wrong and then change it’. Theres no compromise, no way out for people who appear to be doing a better job as human beings than others. The command is there regardless, and I for one find it a bit daunting….but then i think the rest of Jesus’ time on Earth was spent showing us practical ways of how to positively change our lives. Guess there’s no excuse then *groans*….

by: richard

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:06:33 +0000

2 thoughts.

1. I resisted the temptation to edit the Americanism of this translation because I love the image of James and John mending their “fishnets” rather than fishing nets!

2. More seriously, I feel a rant coming on. We’re only at Chapter 4 and already its been very clear that this is radical, dangerous, supernatural, revolutionary, in-your-face, scary, all or nothing stuff.
I am so sick of the domesticated, nice, polite, lifestlye-friendly, consumerist, tame, impotent Christianity I see in the church and even more in me.

Jesus picked up where John left off “change your life. God’s kingdom is here”