14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 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.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

        Jesus relocated to Capernaum (4:13) on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, which was a large lake about 13 miles long and 7.5 miles wide (present day Sea of Tiberias). Much of Jesus’ pre-Jerusalem teaching took place at various locales on the shores of this lake. Capernaum was situated on a common travel route about 83 miles directly north of Jerusalem, which made for a multiple day journey by foot.

        This land was historically occupied by two of the less significant tribes of Israel, comprised of descendents of Zebulun, the 6th son of Leah, and Naphtali, the 2nd son of Rachel’s maid. Largely overlooked in Israel’s history, they figured prominently in the early ministry of the Messiah.

        Matthew quotes Isaiah 9:1-2, which in context leads to Isaiah 9:5, the prophecy of the “Son that would be given.” The people of Israel, beginning with these lesser tribes, would be shown a great Light, that is, a special Son, virgin-born, who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. God saw His people as living in darkness, in the shadow of death, but that darkness would not deter His love for them and His commitment to restore them. His message was to reach the Jews first, and then, through them, the Gentiles (Romans 1:16).

        Such a movement by God must be matched by a readiness of the people, so Jesus preached the same message as John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance is the first action for humans in responding to God’s foray into their lives. It means a person changes his mind about himself and his relationship with God. For the Jews it meant acknowledging their failure to live in holiness as God’s law required. Their failure resulted in “sitting in darkness” and the “shadow of death.” They needed to turn from such carnal, superficial thinking and behavior, and ready themselves for God’s kingdom. For non-Jews it means acknowledging we are sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory, whether through our religious activities or through blatant rejection of what we know to be true. Now is the time to repent!

Lord, though at times I feel insignificant, nevertheless I am a sinner, just like everyone else. Thank you for sending a great Light in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.