Aneel Aranha's video: January 4 2021 - Rescue from Death - A Reflection on Matthew 4:12-17 23-25

Paul said, “I do not understand what I do, for I do what I don’t want to do! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” What’s the answer? https://youtu.be/3cn9V2Z6DHM Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. Reflection In today’s passage, we find Jesus calling people to repentance. He wasn’t the first person to invite people to repent. Every prophet of note in the Old Testament called people to repentance, which typically involved two things. One: a turning away from sin to righteousness. Two: a renewed obedience to God’s will. Sackcloth and ashes were the recommended prescription as signs of repentance. In the New Testament, John the Baptist introduced a new note. “Repent,” he said, “for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). After John’s arrest, Jesus echoed the same message, as we heard today. However, although his message was the same, the context was now different because the “kingdom of heaven” was contained in Jesus himself. And the signs were there to indicate this. He went about curing people “who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics,” showing them that the days of living in darkness were over. The light was here, just as the prophets of old had prophesied. As Jesus declared, “I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness” (John 12:46). Earlier, Jesus said that those who walk in the darkness do not know where they go (see John 12:35), which is so true, isn’t it? Most of us don’t know where we are going anymore, stumbling blindly as we journey through life. But this need not be so. As Peter says, we “are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that (we) may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called (us) out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). And as God’s people, we need to live like people of God. We need to abstain from the desire of the flesh that wage war against the soul. As we all know, this isn’t easy. As Paul said (I paraphrase), “I do not understand what I do. For I do not do what I want to do, but I do what I hate” (Romans 7:15). Then he cries out, almost in desperation. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24). It is a cry we all echo, but fortunately, there is an answer to the question which Paul himself gives. “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25). This is what Jesus has come to deliver us from — not only the penalty of sin but the power of sin. All we need to do is stay yoked to Jesus (see Matthew 11:28-30) and allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:16). May God give us the grace to do both. ........................................................................................................ Today's devotional — Rescue from Death — is based on Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25, the gospel reading for the day. The reflection is by Aneel Aranha, founder of Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI). Follow him on Facebook: fb.com/aneelaranha Subscribe to Daily Reflection with Aneel Aranha and receive this every morning to your WhatsApp account. Save +91 9321456817 to your contacts. Message SUBSCRIBE to this number. It’s FREE!