耶稣开始事奉
马太福音四章17至25节
17从那时候，耶稣就传起道来，说：天国近了，你们应当悔改！
18耶稣在加利利海边行走，看见弟兄二人，就是那称呼彼得的西门和他兄弟安得烈，在海里撒网；他们本是打鱼的。
19耶稣对他们说：来跟从我，我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。
20他们就立刻舍了网，跟从了他。
21从那里往前走，又看见弟兄二人，就是西庇太的儿子雅各和他兄弟约翰，同他们的父亲西庇太在船上补网，耶稣就招呼他们，
22他们立刻舍了船，别了父亲，跟从了耶稣。
23耶稣走遍加利利，在各会堂里教训人，传天国的福音，医治百姓各样的病症。
24他的名声就传遍了叙利亚。那里的人把一切害病的，就是害各样疾病、各样疼痛的和被鬼附的、癫痫的、瘫痪的，都带了来，耶稣就治好了他们。
25当下，有许多人从加利利、低加波利、耶路撒冷、犹太、约但河外来跟着他。
信息分享
耶稣基督所传讲的信息，与施洗约翰所传讲的一样(三章1至2节)。我们今天要传的也是同一个信息。可惜，我们并没有好好履行责任，向人传讲悔改之道。当然，人们可能会因着神的爱，或惧怕下地狱而相信神；但有些时候，他们却要首先认识到自己是个罪人，和为罪痛悔，才会接受神的救恩。
耶稣去到任何地方都向人传道，让人明白神的话语和神的心意。在这方面，谁能比神的儿子亲自去传讲神的旨意来得更称职呢？耶稣经常对人说，是父差派祂来的。祂在首次公开讲道中，便表明是神膏立祂去向穷人和有需要的人传讲福音(路四16-18)。
然而，耶稣知道当祂回到天上之后，需要有人来接续祂的事奉。因此，祂在地上工作的期间，便拣选一些人来跟从祂，借着与祂一同生活和听祂的教导，来预备承担将来的使命。
耶稣没有呼召那些显赫的名人，反之，祂只是呼召诸如渔夫这类的平凡人。今天，耶稣同样呼召专心顺服祂的人来承担祂的使命。
耶稣首先在祂成长的地方──加利利──开始事奉。据知在耶稣的时代，加利利的人口众多，有超过200个村庄。而且差不多每条村庄都设有会堂，是村中老少聆听神话语的地方。因此，在宗教领袖公然反对祂之前，这些会堂便为祂提供了方便，让祂可以向众人传讲天国的信息。
耶稣走遍各地，传扬福音，又展示祂的医治大能，治好各种疾病，所以祂的名声很快便传开。然而，耶稣最大的盼望，是医治人的灵魂。这心愿至今不变，我们可以做些甚么，以致能达成祂的心愿呢？
JESUS BEGINS HIS MINISTRY
Matthew 4:17-25
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,
22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Message
His message was the same as that of John the Baptist (see chapter 3:1, 2). It remains the same today. We do not preach the need of repentance as we should. Men and women can be drawn by the love of God or by fear of hell. But sometime they must realise their condition as sinners and express sorrow for their sin.
Jesus preached wherever he went. Preaching is making known God's message and God's Word. Who could do that better than the Son of God himself? He often said God had sent him. His first public statement was that God had anointed him to preach the gospel to the poor and needy (Luke 4:16-18).
However Jesus needed men who would carryon his ministry after he had gone back to heaven. He wanted them to be with him all through his time on earth so they would learn from him and from being with him night and day.
He did not call popular, important men, but ordinary fishermen and others. He still needs those who will give him their undivided obedience and attention.
Jesus began his ministry in the area where he had been brought up-Galilee. It is said that in the time of Jesus, Galilee was thickly populated and contained over 200 villages.
Probably in every village there was a synagogue, which was the teaching centre for young and old. Jesus found an open door for his message in these synagogues before the rulers started to turn against him.
News of his ministry spread through the whole land. He met the need of all who came. He showed his power by healing all kinds of illness. But his great desire was to heal people's souls. That is still his greatest longing today. How can we help him fulfil this desire?