Translations:DEV 05FN Life of Christ/246/en


 * With John the Baptist’s imprisonment, Jesus withdraws from Judea and travels north to Galilee. He returns to his hometown of Nazareth, is rejected, and relocates his center of activity to a new home in Capernaum on the shores of the Lake with a focused Kingdom message.  (Luke 4:14-31; Matthew 4:13-16; Mark 1:14-15)  Why did He go to Capernaum when he could have gone anywhere? It was the home town of a few key followers: Peter, Andrew, James and John (two sets of brothers in a partnership of family fishing businesses).
 * Jesus intentionally seeks out and challenges these four core disciples to increase their availability and commitment to be specifically trained to become “fishers of men”. (Mk 1:16-20) This is a strategic priority to focus on: building a core ministry team and equipping them to become disciplemakers.
 * Jesus models and equips his team through on-the-job training in the field and through expanded outreach. Immediately after their call to be “fishers of men”, we have the record of at least 6 “fishing” expeditions. 
 * Jesus conducts a tour around the whole region of Galilee with this team.  A few examples of how Jesus trained his initial team: Luke 4:31-37; 4:38-41; 4:42-44
 * There begins to be exploding popularity accompanied by escalating conflict with religious leaders who begin plotting to kill Jesus: Mark 3:1-12 (Matthew 12:15-21)