Jesus on the Move

Jesus now enters a period of transition in his ministry. After preaching in the synagogue of his hometown, Nazareth, and being rejected by the people, Jesus moves on—and some believe he also moved his whole family with him. Where would he go, and how would the ministry shift? His fame was spreading quickly, and people were coming from all over to find him.

During this season, Jesus makes four significant transitions that are worth noting before we turn to the training of his ministry team and the six “Fishing for Men Expeditions.” Let’s take a closer look.

Questions from your reading

• What is Jesus modelling during this time of transition?
• What do we know about Capernaum and Galilee from these passages (and any others)?
• What do you think might have been some of Jesus’ thoughts during this time?
• What other questions do you still have?

Reflecting on your reading

After investing a year and a half into his first followers, Jesus takes time to make several significant changes in preparation for a season of greater harvest. The first transition is a physical move—from the small town of Nazareth to the more populated city of Capernaum (Matt. 4:13). Capernaum was a bustling centre, closer to the people Jesus longed to reach. (For more insight into why he made this move, read Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 9:1–2.)

The second transition is one of leadership—the passing of the baton from John the Baptist to Jesus. As John is imprisoned, Jesus moves to Capernaum and begins to step more fully into his public ministry (Matt. 4:12). In the coming days, we’ll look more closely at this handover as Jesus attends the second Passover of his ministry and takes the stage before all Israel as the new leader.

The third transition is a shift in message. Jesus begins to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt. 4:17). With John now off the scene, Jesus picks up the same call to repentance (Matt. 3:2) and continues to declare that he is the Messiah, now inviting Israel to turn back to God.

The fourth is a transition in calling. Jesus issues a fresh invitation to his early followers: “Come, follow me… and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). People begin to leave their fishing nets and families to follow him. It’s a call to step closer—to learn how to multiply disciples. They were eager and ready for the challenge. Are you?

Perhaps now is the time to move from simply being a Christ-follower to becoming a disciple of Christ. A follower comes and goes; a disciple leaves everything behind. A disciple is sold out—consumed with Jesus. His thoughts are fixed on him. A disciple clings to every word Jesus says, working to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

We’ll explore this transition from follower to disciple in the coming days as we watch Jesus challenge his earliest followers to become active in the harvest of disciples.

Applying what you’ve read

Transitions in life are important—and so are transitions in ministry. There’s much to learn from how Jesus navigated these changes in his own journey.

Take some time today to share with a friend what you've learned about Jesus’ transitions. Then pause and reflect: where are you in your own relationship with Jesus? Are you a Christ-follower—or a disciple of Christ?