Matthew 4:12-16
‘Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”’
John’s ministry of preparing the way has been completed. Jesus is here and John gave him his blessing. The people know He is something special. They are looking to Him to see what He will do. After John’s arrest Jesus goes to Galilee. This was prophesied. Matthew shares that prophecy. This is wonderful news. While the gentiles could be received if they came to God in the old testament, they didn’t seem to get much attention. This verse is a break from that. Jesus’ coming is a shift.
Those “who were sitting in darkness saw a great light”. Wonderful. I am sitting here, a gentile, writing two thousand years later as one in Christ. This is a pivotal point. The jews were God’s focus in His great plan of redemption. Jesus would die for the sins of the world. Thus would begin the church age, which has a shift to the gentiles. Yes, jews will be saved, but the gentiles will receive the good news.
What a wonderful thing to have the light shine on us. The cold thaws. The warmth of the hope of God’s love is open to the jews as well. It’s open to us all. It’s the dawning of a new day.
Our job as christians is to be His witnesses. We are to live our days like everyone else. However, we have God in us. He pours out His love on us, He empowers us, He gives us joy. We will have difficult times like everyone else. Except we have God encouraging us, making a way, giving us hope. People see us and are encouraged.
Sometimes our witness is with words. We share the good news that’s blessed us. I Peter 3:14 says, “But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect”. I can recall being in a seminar about sharing our faith. We were told to be able to give a brief description in about two minutes. We practiced it with one another. We were asked to think of what burden was lifted upon accepting Christ. This took some thought. I came down with being lonely. It was my senior year of high school. My sophomore and junior years were amazing. However, people were getting jobs and hanging out with their work buddies. They were still my friends, but were busy. There were many weekends nights I had nothing to do. I was lonely. I felt Christ’s call. I would bring up God in conversations. My mom and I began watching christian television. I did go forward at a christian concert. I was probably saved then. I accepted Christ again after a tv program. I knew much more. Christ was in me. God brought Gordon into my life. I went to his apartment every Friday night for bible study. A high school friend, Rick Thompson, had recommitted his life to Christ. We hung out for a a couple of years until he met his wife. I developed friends from the christian club at Santa Ana College.
I had a bigger need than friends. That was part of it. I needed God. I’ve heard it said that we all have a God shaped hole in us. That was it. He filled it. He has ever since. His joy overflows. I still have problems and pressures. However, there’s purpose. He uses the difficulties to fine tune our character.
This is the hope that today’s passage speaks of. Those in darkness saw a great light. Thank You, Lord, for Your light.