The Healing of Many
JASON MARTIN / General Adult
Jesus in the Gospels / Luke 4:31–5:11
After being rejected in Nazareth, Matthew wants us to specifically know where Jesus goes
1. Read Matthew 4:13-16 - Capernaum becomes the center of Jesus’ Galilean Ministry.
a. Matthew specifically ties this to Isaiah 9 - but changes the dwelling from future prophecy to current tense
i. Isaiah 9:1-7 deals with the arrival of the Messiah
ii. Isaiah 9:8-21 deal with His Judgment against Israel’s pride, rebellion, and refusal to repent - “for all this His anger has not turned away, and His hand is outstretched still” over and over
b. Before the judgment and exile that led Daniel into Babylon - there was wave after wave of judgment from the Assyrians against the Northern Kingdom of Israel and they were taken into exile - which would happen within a few years. Isaiah had told them this would happen because they wouldn’t repent.
c. Isaiah also gave a word of hope that there would be a Deliverer that would eventually come save them - the Messiah
i. Modern Judaism waits for Him still
d. the Northern Kingdom is where the idolatry started in Israel and that’s why the judgment starts there
i. It’s no coincidence that Jesus starts there too
1. this is where Jesus will do the majority of His works and be rejected leading to more severe judgment
Matthew 11:23–24 ESV
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
a. there will be several cities under judgment for rejecting the ‘mighty works’ that they witnessed there from Jesus
2. Rejecting the Manifest Image of God was a worse spiritual rebellion than that of Sodom.
a. “for all this His anger has not turned away, and His hand is outstretched still” (Isaiah 9-10)
ii. The arrival of the King and His Kingdom brings light and salvation - but also judgment
1. water
2. stone
3. harvest
4. fire
5. Kingdom
a. Matthew 4:17 “17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””
2. What else is significant about Jesus making His home base by sea Sea of Galilee?
a. Fishermen / fishers of men
b. Travel access
c. Good preaching platform
1. Crowds are starting to surround Jesus to hear His teaching
2. Sea of Galilee = Tiberius = Gennesaret
3. They were done fishing, already pulled their boats out and were washing their nets.
a. These guys toiled all night and caught nothing. But they were being prepared to have their lives changed
4. Simon had a bad night and now Jesus wants him to get back into the boat so He can teach - and Peter obeys
a. Peter’s workplace turns into Jesus’ pulpit
5. How did the fish get into the net? The King has Authority over creation
6. ‘depart from me’ echoes Isaiah 6:5
Isaiah 6:5 ESV
5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
a. Like Isaiah and Peter, we might want to hide from the Presence of the LORD, but the lesson is that He wants us to draw near
James 4:8 ESV
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
7. ‘do not be afraid’ - they were all astonished by the miracle
a. Jesus doesn’t just announce the Kingdom - He starts gathering the people who will announce it after Him.
b. when Jesus called them, they left their old lives behind
8. In the O.T., fishing was often a sign of catching people
a. Jeremiah 16:16 God sends fishers to catch rebellious Israel
b. Habakkuk 1:14–17 Humanity is compared to fish caught by Babylon’s hooks and nets
c. Jesus is reversing this by having his disciples catch people for life instead of death - the upside-down Kingdom
1. The people are amazed / astonished - but the unclean spirit knew
a. the spiritual realm recognized the King before the people
2. ‘be silent-come out’ - if we encountered an unclean spirit we would want to pray fervently for it to leave. Jesus just says shut up and get out with Ultimate authority.
a. no ritual, incantation, no appeal to a higher authority, no magic formula
b. Jesus commands - the spirits obey
1. married pope?
2. Jesus healed & she served
3. now the whole city gathered
4. He wouldn’t let them speak - Authority
1. praying in solitude is common for Jesus
2. town to town preaching and Authority over darkness & unclean spirits
3. The healings and exorcisms aren’t detached from the preaching
a. He is demonstrating His Authority to say what He’s saying - which is
i. Mark 1:15 “15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.””
1. the leper recognizes Jesus’ authority even over leprosy
2. in the upside-down Kingdom leprosy doesn’t spread to Jesus, it submits to Him
3. ‘show yourself’ - Leviticus 14 details the ceremony that went along with when a leper was cleansed.
a. this examination would allow the man back into the community and synagogue
b. Jesus is healing this man physically, socially, and ceremonially
4. Jesus traded places with the leper who was back in town while Jesus could no longer openly enter the towns because of this miracle
Recap / Closing
1. Light enters the darkness - Matthew
2. The King’s arrival brings salvation and judgment - Isaiah 9
3. He calls fishermen to help announce His Kingdom
4. He confronts spiritual powers
5. He commands sickness and unclean spirits
6. He traveled throughout Galilee preaching and casting out demons with authority
7. He makes the unclean, clean
This Authority theme will continue next week in Mark 2
Exported from Logos Bible Study, 1:16 PM August 21, 2026.