Mark wrote as Jesus, “walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-one of his book, Mark wrote how Jesus and His new disciples, “went into Capernaum” where we read:
And they went into Capernaum;
and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
The verse reads, “And they went into Capernaum;” Mark began words, “and they went” which means “and Jesus, Simon, Andrew, James and John entered” “into Capernaum” which means “into the city of Capernaum” which means “village of comfort” and was “a flourishing city of Galilee situated on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret near the place where the Jordan flows into the lake.” Mark shared how Jesus and His new disciples entered the city of “Capernaum”.
The verse continues, “and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.” Mark added words, “and straightway” which means “and immediately and forthwith” “on the sabbath day” which means “on the the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work” “he entered” or “Jesus made entrance or went” “into the synagogue” which means “into the assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures”, “and taught” or “and held discourse with others in order to instruct them or deliver didactic discourses”. Mark shared how Jesus “immediately” entered the place of worship where He began to give instruction to the people who were in attendance.
When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we learn about Jesus going into this city named “Capernaum” where He would base His ministry, and He went directly into the “synagogue” located there to “teach” the people. Can we imagine what it was like to hear Jesus teach? These people were privileged to hear Him in person, and because His purpose was to bring the “gospel” of God's Kingdom to people, it was only fitting that He begin His teaching ministry. God loves people, and His desire is for every person to know Him, His Son Jesus and His ways. The Gospel according to John records Jesus saying, “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3), and those who listen carefully to the teachings of Jesus should receive Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Mark tells how the people listening to Jesus, “were astonished at his doctrine”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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