Where to?

The ministry continues.

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.”[a]

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[b] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.-Matthew4:12-17,23-25

I cannot help but compare the way Jesus withdrew and how we - ordinary people of the world - withdraw. When Jesus withdrew to Galilee, the ministry continues. He preached, taught, proclaimed the Good News, healed the sick, freed the demon-possessed, and so many miracles and wonders. But what about us? When we withdraw from the world or from loved ones because we are pained or hurt, who benefited from it? Did we also learn how to forgive? Does moving on mean carrying the anger and hatred to the grave? Does moving on mean forgetting the circumstances but remembering the pain always? Jesus is teaching us the right way to withdraw - and it doesn't mean shutting everybody out of our life. Rather, it is facing the present with Him to help us.

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