Key verse: The people
walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the
shadow of death a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2& Matthew 4:16
Jesus prepared to begin His ministry in a difficult place. While Jesus was in the wilderness, John had
managed to infuriate Herod, Tetrarch of Galilee, and the religious leadership,
enough that he was closely watched for any sign of trouble. John, you see, had been outspoken about
Herod's illicit affair with Herodia, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Under such circumstances, you might think
that Jesus would choose to go to a safe place to avoid some of the controversy
that John had evidently stirred up. But
instead, in Galilee, just a few short miles from Herod's palace and the seat of his
government, Jesus began his ministry in the teeth of a real political storm. This dangerous situation was only amplified by
Jesus’ close association with John, who was his cousin. He was nowhere near hiding.
Besides that, as mentioned on an earlier day, Feb. 5, Galilee was not very well respected by the pure Jews who lived nearer to
Jerusalem. Galilee was not only
surrounded by Gentiles but had many Gentiles living among them. This was something that no self-respecting,
good Jew would tolerate, let alone understand.
Also, the people of the region of Galilee were considered
weak and cursed. They were part of the
region that God had let go of seven hundred years earlier, through an Assyrian
invasion, because of their blatant disobedience. You can read more about that in 2 Kings 17. At any rate, these people were not known as
the deeply religious, dedicated Jews to whom God was supposed to appear. They were called "a people walking in
darkness" that God had rejected.
Yet, to fulfill prophecy, while Isaiah tells us that they
are rejected, Isaiah also promises that they will be given honor. They were given that honor first when Joseph and
Mary chose to come back home after fleeing to Egypt, for Jesus protection, when
He was a toddler. Now, Jesus continues
to honor them. He has come, to bring the
knowledge that, "the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." And the "people walking in darkness have
seen a great light." He brings his best, to the "worst" place first.
Much of Jesus' ministry would focus on this area of densely
populated fishing villages. Most of His
disciples would come from this area, ignorant fishermen who were blessed by the
light of Christ.
Jesus came to make all things new, beginning with the
rejected, despised, region of Galilee. How
like God to go where He is least expected and most needed. How like God to go where the religious would
not go. How like Him we can be when we
choose to do the same.
Prayer:
Prayer:
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