Sunday, January 25, 2026
Third Sunday after Epiphany (Epiphany 3A)
Text: Matthew 4:12-25
Sermon Audio
As we gather… Wherever the Kingdom of Heaven is, there is redemption and new life. Jesus’ ministry brought the Kingdom of Heaven because Jesus Himself is the King! We see life in the Kingdom as Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow him in this adventure. We see life in the Kingdom as Jesus teaches in the synagogues and heals the sick. So too today, the Kingdom of Heaven is near in the preaching of Christ, the delivery of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and when we work to restore to whole those things that sin has made broken. Jesus also calls us to take part in this wonderful ministry.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we read through our Gospel reading from Matthew today, it is hard not to notice the emphasis placed on different cities and regions. So who is up for a geography lesson?! I know I am. Nazareth, Capernaum, Zebulun, Naphtali, Galilee, Syria, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan are all mentioned in these 14 verses. Why? There has to be a reason that Matthew mentions all of these places. There has to be a reason that it was so important for Jesus to set up shop in Capernaum. Let’s take a stroll through the ancient Holy Land.
There were certainly pragmatic reasons for the mention of these regions and the significance of Capernaum for Jesus to begin His earthly ministry. Matthew was writing this Gospel to real people that lived at the time. If they had any doubts about what was written, they could go and talk to the people who saw everything happen. The entire Holy Land heard the message of Jesus and saw the acts that He performed. This was all verifiable. Capernaum was important since it was fairly centrally located on one of the most used trade routes in the ancient world. It was also on the Sea of Galilee and was a major commerce hub for fishing. Capernaum was a hopping city. It would have been an ideal place for the news of the arrival of the Christ to spread throughout the area. These reasons certainly give proof to us of the historicity of the Bible, but so what? This could have been true of lots of places. Why must Jesus begin His ministry here?
And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” Nazareth was a city of Zebulun and Capernaum was a city of Naphtali. Beyond that, the ancient borders of Israel had long been mingled. This region was just known as Galilee of the Gentiles when Jesus began His ministry. Isaiah gave this prophecy originally to the Northern Kingdom of Israel before they were sacked by Assyria. For roughly 750 years this region had dwelled in darkness and in the shadow of death. They were destroyed because of the unbelief that had spread amongst God’s chosen Israel. The few who remained faithful to God had been scattered and were waiting for the great Light. The Messiah would bring a new day for Israel. Ok, the fulfillment of Scripture is a great reason to mention this region in Matthew, but why the immediate reach into Syria, Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan?
It is all about uniting Israel again under King David’s greater son, Jesus. The promise of the deliverance of Israel through King David and his lineage must be kept. God is faithful even though His people were not. He promised them an eternal kingdom. The united kingdom of Israel reached its greatest earthly abundance under David’s son, Solomon. At Israel’s peak, Solomon had control of the land as far north as the River Euphrates, which was Syria’s border at the time of Christ. After Solomon the kingdom of Israel was split in two. Israel would never again see the glory that it had under Solomon. When the fame of Jesus went throughout Syria, Matthew might as well have told us that all of the faithful united kingdom of Israel was coming to the Christ, its true King, for healing. When Matthew tells us, “great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan,” he might as well have said, “great crowds followed Him from all 12 tribes of Israel” Israel may have been unfaithful to God, but God was faithful to His promise to them. At the proper time and the proper place He sent His Son, the promised descendent of Israel and David, to draw His chosen people out of darkness and the shadow of death and reunite them in His light. Israel was being united in a kingdom that was not of this earth.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”… And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. Jesus began by bringing the same message that has echoed from old. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This is the message that John the Baptist preached to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the message that Isaiah brought to Israel, warning them of the coming Assyrian invasion. Now the very kingdom of heaven Himself, Jesus Christ, is preaching repentance into Him. He proclaimed the whole truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom revealed in Him and healed the people from their disease and afflictions. He truly is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is truly King David’s greater Son who is come to unite God’s people. He truly is the Seed of Israel. The Word of God and His mighty acts draw His chosen people to the Light of Christ.
Ok, a little more geography. Jesus doesn’t just stay in Capernaum with His chosen people. He leads them south to Jerusalem, to the temple. Since Solomon first built the temple roughly 1000 years earlier, it was supposed to be the center of Divine Service. This is where God’s people were to bring sacrifices. They were supposed to pray towards it when they were in a distant land. The High Priest was supposed to slaughter the lamb without blemish on the Day of Atonement for the sins of all of Israel. All of this was supposed to point the people to the true Temple, Jesus. He also had to be the perfect Lamb of God for the sins of the world. He had to live it. The world had to see that Jesus was the incarnate Son of God. He is the only one that could make satisfaction for all sins. He proves it in His Words, mighty deeds, and perfect life. He offers Himself up as the perfect sacrifice. In the moment of His sacrifice the old temple would give way to the eternal Temple. When the world turned dark while our Lamb was on the cross and the temple curtain tore in the moment of His death, He fulfilled all things and brought all people, Jew and Gentile to His light. This was revealed in victory when Christ sprung from the grave at first light on Easter morning. A new day has dawned and the new Temple was given legs. The Temple that is Christ can now move out from earthly Jerusalem and move toward the heavenly golden Jerusalem.
Ok, you are probably thinking, “that’s all interesting Vicar, but what does that mean for me now?” I skipped a pretty important section of our Gospel reading. Right after Jesus announces, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He takes a little stroll along the Sea of Galilee. There He calls Andrew, Peter, James, and John to be His apostles and eventually make them fishers of men. Before they can be fishers of men, they must learn. They had to be along for this journey through the Holy Land that we just went on. They, along with the rest of the 12 apostles, were about to be the foundations of the new Israel. They were chosen to be the leaders who would bring the light of Christ to an Israel that has no geographic borders. The new Israel is not one of flesh and blood but one who is born of water and the Spirit. When Christ’s holy fire, the Holy Spirit, descended upon the 12 on Pentecost, the light of Christ went with them wherever they went. They went forth baptizing, teaching, and gathering God’s faithful people around the Body and Blood of Christ. They spread the Temple throughout the world into the hearts of all who believe and are baptized. The temple that is not built with hands, Jesus Christ, resides in His faithful people now. Wherever Christ resides is His temple. You are temples of God and partakers in His eternal glory for the sake of Christ Jesus.
Jesus gathered the Old Testament Israel together to Him and brought them to the old Jerusalem and the old temple so they could see the true Temple, Himself. From earthly Jerusalem He establishes His new eternal Jerusalem. He now prepares a place there for all who have been given faith in Him as His new Israel. He will gather all of His faithful remnant to His light on Judgment Day and to His Golden Jerusalem. Because of Christ’s coming first to Zebulun and Naphtali, I can say to you, “The land of La Crosse in the region of Wisconsin in the country of the United States—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.
Jesus Christ has called you out of this darkened world and the shadow of death into His light. He did this by the preaching of repentance for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He has proven to you that He is the light by His mighty deeds: His Sacraments. The mighty work of water and Spirit in your Baptism has made you a temple of God. He continues to place His sacrificial life in your mouth, in His temple, through His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. He has placed His light in you so you will always burn as one drawn to Him and united in Him. Your light will shine among men as you live a life of repentance as one united to Christ. God is faithful. Just as He returned to draw His Old Testament Israel to Him according to His promise, He will remain faithful to you, His New Testament Israel according to His promise. He will keep you in His light until He brings you finally to His eternal Jerusalem. He will bring you into his light that has no end. Thanks be to God!
The peace of God which passes all understanding guard and keep you in the true faith unto life everlasting. Amen.