Gospel of Matthew - Matthew 4:12-17 - "Light To The Gentiles"

Matthew records that our Lord’s public ministry is about to begin as John the Baptist, had been arrested. Jesus makes his way to the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, west of the Sea of Galilee. It’s not where you would expect Jesus to start His ministry, and many speculate that this area was safe in light of John’s arrest and turmoil in Jerusalem. The significance however is more straightforward. Jesus began His ministry in this area because God said He would (Isaiah 9:1,2). This region is the land of the Gentiles, pagan, and shadowed in deep darkness and death. It is here that Jesus is seen as the sunrise from a deep and long night. Jesus the light of the world has come and is about to shine his light in a dark world. It’s as if God picked the darkest place there was and shinned His light bold and bright on those people. The Messiah has come and He begins preaching in those hopeless and dark places, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."