From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 9/29:

“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’”

Jesus performs His second miracle after a nobleman, who traveled about twenty miles from Capernaum, approaches Him and asks Him to heal his dying boy. Jesus responds to the nobleman, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” However, this desperate dad does not give up. When he asks a second time Jesus responds, “Go your way; your son lives.” And the man believes Jesus, proving that his faith is genuine. When the nobleman’s household saw that the boy was healed, they too believed in Jesus as the Messiah. 

Afterwards, Jesus travels to Nazareth where He was raised. There He reads in the synagogue from the Book of Isaiah where Isaiah prophesied of His arrival as the One to preach to the poor, heal the broken-hearted, free the captives and oppressed, and give sight to the blind (Isaiah 61:1-2).

The people in His own home church do not believe that Jesus, the carpenter and son of Joseph, is God. Therefore Jesus says, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.” Jesus then gives them two examples from the past: 1- Elijah and the widow (1 Kings 17) and 2- Elisha and Naaman (2 Kings 5), where God’s chosen people ignored His prophets. Therefore, the prophets ministered to Gentiles. When those in the synagogue heard all that Jesus said, they “were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.” 

After being rejected by His own home church, Jesus teaches elsewhere to those who will accept Him. And anyone who encounters Jesus and believes He is the Son of God is welcome into the Kingdom of God.

As Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee, He calls four fishermen, the brothers Peter (Simon) and Andrew and the brothers James and John, to follow Him. They go to Capernaum where Jesus immediately begins preaching in the synagogue. “And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Jesus not only teaches, but He also casts an evil spirit from a man and the people are amazed by His power and authority. “And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.”

After they leave the synagogue, they enter the house of Peter where his mother-in-law is lying sick with a fever. Jesus touches her hand and heals her. And that evening, many come to Jesus who are sick and demon possessed. “Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.”

In the morning, Jesus finds a quiet spot to spend time with His Father in prayer. “And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.’”

“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… Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.”

Jesus’ ministry expands further tomorrow, so keep reading. (Mark 1:14-15, Matthew 4:12-17, John 4:46-54, Luke 4:16-30, Mark 1:16-20, Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:21-28, Luke 4:31-37, Mark 1:29-34, Matthew 8:14-17, Luke 4:38-31, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44, Matthew 4:23-25)