THE GOSPEL: Jesus First Sermon!

Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. (Luke 4:13-15)

Now when Jesus heard that John [who baptized Him] had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles:
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”[Isaiah 9:1-2] (Matthew 4:12-16)

This prophecy was given by God through Isaiah nearly 700 years before Christ was born, and it was fulfilled exactly as He said. Jesus is in the exact place God said he would be and teaching the Truth to the people, taking them out of spiritual "darkness" into spiritual "light", because Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

What was His message, that brought such "light"? From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15) Well, isn't that a simple message, or it is? The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. (Psalms 103:19) For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. (I Chronicles 29:11) And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Reveleations 11:15) See, Satan has been given some power in this world by God (see THE GOSPEL: Jesus Baptized, then Tempted).  He is ...the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves... (Ephesians 2:2-3) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

But thanks be to God, through Christ Jesus first we are ...a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (II Corinthians 5:17) And then one day there will be ...a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. (Revelations 21:1) We have to live in this world and deal with all the good and the bad, but our hope is not in this world.  We are ...sojourners and pilgrims, (I Peter 2:11) For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:24-25) Our hope rests in what God promised and Christ fulfilled, that one day, just as Christ prayed on our behalf, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24) That Day will come, for all of us who believe; “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

The message may appear to be simple, but it serves as an example to all of us.  Jesus didn't come trying to make people like Him; nor did He come asking people what they thought, felt or believed.  He stated the facts, simple and plain, and If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Mark 7:16)  We can't make anyone believe the Word of God, Jesus couldn't and nor can we!  Our job is to simple tell the Truth, and He [who believes] must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. (Titus 1:9 NLT) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17-18) Therefore,  ...I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes... (Romans 1:16)