Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Revelation 21:6
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
Revelation 21:6
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
John 1:43-51
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,[The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse] you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 21:24-25
This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Suppose with me the vastness of the Universe is God's Spirit. And Matthew wrote about every Word from Scriptures has a deep meaning. Because this is The Word of God. The first chapter of the Gospel of John explains Jesus is the Word of God brought forth.
The Gospels contain intimate details of Jesus' life.
Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Yet we know Andrew and Peter lived in Capernaum. We know Jesus was from Bethlehem. Jesus was raised in Nazareth. Confusion was mocked by the Pharisees because they said Jesus was from Nazareth, no prophecy said Nazareth would hold the Messiah. Ask Caesar Augustus, Jesus' family was from Bethlehem, and the actual census was found.
And Jesus, from Nazareth - only as a young person
Matthew 4:13
And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtal
So the Word of God tells us Jesus lived in Capernaum. Archaeology tells us Peter, Andrew, Peter's Mother-in-law, Peter's house (resided) and the Sons of Zebedee lived in Capernaum.
What in the world do we think of this Bethsaida thing? No one knows where Bethsaida is...
Luke 9:10
When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida
Jesus continued to tell us about Bethsaida
Matthew 11:21
"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
Bethsaida, Medieval works of travel notice only one Bethsaida. People debate why Bethsaida has disappeared further in history than the now found Sodom and Gomorrah. Tectonic rifting has uplifted et-Tell, water levels drop from increased population usage, land irrigation, and the Jordan delta has been extended. Bethsaida is.... missing.
What about beautiful Capernaum?
Matthew 11:23
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths
The depths of let's all go see Capernaum, the beautiful, beautiful city in the land flowing with milk and honey. Views of the wonderful Sea of Galilee. Jesus had good taste and lived among friends.
Peter, Andrew, James and John did not have lives of poverty and misery. They had reasons to stay where they were. Peter's house is the largest by far in Capernaum. He was well provided for, prosperous in the fishing industry. James and John, Sons of Zebedee are shown in archaeology to have given a pillar in the Synagogue. It is recorded in 1 Samuel, the followers of David, during his pre-kingdom years were the malcontents. Jesus did Not draw the malcontents.
Capernaum was so prosperous, so removed from Jerusalem - it was to remain- Intact for another 13 centuries. An amazing blessing for the town Jesus chose as an adult hometown. The Three Jewish Revolts and the destruction of Jerusalem did not touch Capernaum. Leaving us a city to visit where Jesus chose to live. Not so old as to be wiped away. Beautiful to appreciate.
Peter, Andrew, James and John left a virtual paradise for Jesus. Without much or any... persuasion. Why? They felt something more important in Jesus.
Matthew 13
"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Peter, Andrew, James, John and the 72 disciples wanted to rest in the shade of Jesus and nestle in His branches.
50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,[The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse] you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
This plural you is for you - today. When the trumpet sounds, we shall see. Jesus, who was taken up into Heaven, will come in the same way as He went into heaven.”
Acts 7:55-56
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