The Light is God

Read Matthew 4:4-25, Luke 4:16-5:11, Mark 1:21-2:12
 
Matthew 4:12-16 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”  
 
YOU are confident, aren't you, that when night comes, God has appointed certain nights each month for the moon to shine as a smaller light to govern the night (Genesis 1:16b). In God’s creation, even the “smaller” light is a good light to guide us and mark the time of seasons and of the night. Then the smaller light wanes as the larger one to govern the day brings ample light to help us clearly see each day’s tasks. This is God’s light plan for your daily time on earth.
   God also has a light plan for your timeless eternity! He appointed the patriarchs and the prophets, including John the Baptist to be “smaller” lights. They were God’s creation to form and guide Israel out of spiritual darkness into the larger Light, who is God come to earth. The Light came into the darkness to disturb, deny and displace the darkness to deliver salvation’s glorious freedom. Matthew confirmed Isaiah 9:1 that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever…Galilee of the Gentiles…will be filled with glory. How true was the lesser light to point to the Great Light!
   The Light unto Galilee shone brightly and gloriously throughout Jesus’ wondrous ministry. For example: Galilee was our Lord’s home during at least 30 years of his life. Nineteen of 32 Kingdom parables were spoken in Galilee. In Cana of Galilee came the first of Jesus’ miracles. Galilee was the site of Jesus’ last miracle to restore Peter and establish him as the primary preacher of the early church. Twenty-five of 33 life-transforming miracles broke into the darkness in Galilee. Galileans heard the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus called most of his disciples there. Galilee was the scene of the Transfiguration. Certainly there could be no larger light in the land of darkness than the full expression of God's glorious and holy light!
          Is Jesus your Lord? Then you can truly celebrate and rejoice that God’s Great Light has come into the darkness of your soul! As Jesus’ own, you are his church, transfigured into eternal glory. You daily walk in the land of salvation to know and display Jesus’ eternal light. Remember, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14a) That means you carry his glory. Be purposeful to shine Jesus’ power and truth into the darkness.