When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him. (Mt 4:12-17,23-25)
Jesus began his ministry of preaching and healing after John had been arrested. Does this mean that Jesus waited for John to complete his mission in order that he may start his work or he continued the work of John? Probably John had to complete the preparatory work before Jesus could start his own work. John was only a forerunner; the one who prepared the way of Jesus.
In the work of Jesus the texts of the Old Testament are fulfilled. Old Testament itself is only announced the coming of the Messiah. When the Messiah actually came the scriptures would be fulfilled in him and his activities. Here the author is presenting the fulfilment of the scriptures in Jesus. Jesus is the long awaited Messiah.
His activities and particularly that of healing the people were again signs of his Messiahship. For, he preached about the kingdom of God and was doing the works of the kingdom. There was a great following from all over the places including Syria and beyond Jordan. So Jesus was the one for whom John the Baptist prepared the way, and he is the one who is preaching the kingdom and he is the one who doing the works of the kingdom.
