The rock upon which he would build his church
1. The Scribes and the Pharisees became so despondent about Jesus’ growing popularity with the people that they agreed among themselves the time had come to take extreme measures.
2. Thus it was that the Pharisees, who held fast to the laws of Israel, joined forces with the Herodians, local Jews who carried out such orders that were decreed by their political masters in Rome.
see
Mark 3:6
3. Although the two groups despised each other, they were united in one common purpose: to rid themselves of Jesus.
4. Judas had friends in Capernaum who warned him that the Pharisees and Herodians were secretly working together to plot the downfall of Jesus.
5. Judas dismissed these claims, as everyone knew that they were sworn enemies, until he came across two of them whispering in the Synagogue. They parted the moment they saw him.
6. Judas warned Simon of his fears, and he in turn advised the Master to leave Capernaum until such ill feelings had withered away.
7. Jesus took Simon’s counsel, and departed that day on the long journey for Nazareth, with only those disciples he had first called – Simon, Andrew, James, John, Judas, Philip, Nathanael and Matthew.
8. After they had travelled a short distance, Judas became aware that others were following them.
9. Some simply wished to remain in the presence of Jesus, while others hoped they might witness a new miracle.
10. As Jesus made his way from village to village, the crowds grew larger and larger.
11. Whenever he appeared in a town, he would enter the Synagogue and teach those who had assembled to hear him preach.
12. Jesus would proclaim the good news, preparing them for the forthcoming reign of God in Israel.
13. He also touched those who were sick, curing them of their infirmities.
14. Jesus was aware of the injustices the local people were suffering at the hands of a foreign power.
15. Every town and village was administered by a group of corrupt Jewish leaders who were becoming wealthier by the day, while the Romans remained their paymasters.
16. Jesus told his disciples that the vast crowds were like sheep without a shepherd.
see
Mark 6:34;
Matt 9:36
17. When Judas heard these words, he reminded Simon of the prophecy of Ezekiel: God would raise up a shepherd king, to restore the kingdom of the first shepherd king, King David.
see
Ezek 34:23–24
18. On hearing this, Simon responded with the words of the Prophet Isaiah: He took our infirmities, he bore our diseases.
Isa 53:4
19. Simon and Judas were among the first followers of Jesus to believe that the promises of Isaiah were being fulfilled.
20. After Jesus had finished preaching in the Synagogue, he and his followers departed from that town and made their way up into the hills north of the Sea of Galilee and like a flock of sheep, the crowd continued to follow the shepherd.
21. When Jesus reached the top of the hill, the disciples needed to rest, and one or two of them were so tired that they fell asleep.