Sitting in Darkness
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Do you like the dark? Most people naturally shy away from it. Some people, especially kids, are scared of it. I think everyone, in certain situations, are apprehensive about what the dark might be hiding. For instance, walking carelessly down a dark alley or into a dark cave is probably not a wise thing to do!
It’s not common or normal for people to gravitate to the dark. When was the last time you shut yourself in a room and sat in the darkness? If we do this, it’s probably for a specific reason. If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know that lying down in a dark room can help with that. Of course, when we go to sleep, we turn off the lights. When developing rolls of film, a darkroom is needed. Criminals use the darkness to hide their deeds, and soldiers may conduct secret operations at night. But aside from specific reasons like these, people don’t naturally seek out the darkness.
But in our text today, we will read about multitudes of people who were sitting in the dark. And this was no ordinary dark; this wasn’t physical darkness. This was the spiritual darkness of sin and the void of truth! This morning we’re going to consider these people who were sitting in darkness.
Matthew 4:12-17
I. Galilee
I. Galilee
“Jesus…departed into Galilee.” What kind of place was Galilee? Why was it in darkness? The Scriptural record gives us some clues.
A. History
A. History
Joshua, during the conquest of Canaan, defeated Jabin king of Hazor. Hazor was located about 10 miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the northernmost part of the region, and at that time was the political and military hub of Palestine. Joshua destroyed the city, and the region of Galilee was divided up among the Israelite tribes of Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali.
Yet Israel’s possession of the region of Galilee did not mean that God was worshiped throughout it.
Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries unto them.
This failure to drive out all the inhabitants wasn’t restricted to Galilee, but we see Israel’s dwelling in it didn’t begin the way God desired. Fast forward in time, and the land became darker.
In 1 Kings 9:11 we read of King Solomon ceding twenty cities of Galilee to Hiram, king of Tyre, as a thank you gift for building materials that Tyre had sent. The inhabitants were not becoming more holy and separated unto God, but less! In the days of the divided kingdom, the land became darker still.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
Long before Nebuchadnezzar defeated Jerusalem and the Jews began their captivity, the region of Galilee was defeated, largely emptied of Jews and was inhabited by Gentiles. But their affliction wasn’t over!
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
Hoshea was found to be making a secret alliance with the king of Egypt, and in retaliation, the king of Assyria came down and conquered Samaria, overthrew the Israelite government, and took Jewish captives. Hoshea was the last Israelite king in the northern kingdom.
I’m reminded of James 4:4, which says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Even while Judea was still in existence, Galilee had become a land of great spiritual darkness. But Isaiah, the prophet of God, spoke words of hope for this region!
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation,
When at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea,
Beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:
They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
B. Time of Christ
B. Time of Christ
As we read in Matt. 4:15, Galilee is known not for pure Judaism, but for her worldly elements.
The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
In addition, Galilee was a backward place. We might call them “hillbillies.” Galilee was a mountainous, fertile area. Jewish legend claimed that it was easier to raise a legion of olive trees in Galilee, than raise one infant in Judaea. The Sea of Galilee was also a profitable fishing spot. The Galilean cities on the coast were the abode of fishermen, and the other cities in the region were home to farmers and herdmen. It was a place of “country” people and “blue collar” people. But it was a spiritually dark place. The people were sitting in darkness. God tells us they were.
II. Why Sit in Darkness?
II. Why Sit in Darkness?
This description makes me wonder, “What a miserable condition! Why were they sitting in darkness?” The Scriptures show us some reasons, and these reasons are present in human hearts today! I have no doubt that there are people here this morning who are yet sitting in darkness. Perhaps you have something in common with these ancient Galileans.
A. It’s all they know
A. It’s all they know
They don’t know any better, or they’ve never known anything different!
Matt. 4:17
What’s the remedy? The FIRST THING Christ did in Galilee was preach the gospel!
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Christ preached this message because people didn’t know it! So many today have never heard of the name of Christ. They have never heard the Gospel. They don’t know anything different than the darkness they are in! Only the Gospel can deliver them!
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Those sitting in darkness didn’t know anything different…until the light shone on them. They heard the Gospel—the way out of the darkness was now apparent to them!
B. The darkness has them in bondage
B. The darkness has them in bondage
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Know this, dear listener. If you are sitting in darkness, that darkness has you in bondage. You are dominated by that darkness; you cannot defeat it. The people which sat in darkness in Galilee were in severe bondage. Consider these examples!
Matt 4:23-25
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Matt. 9:1-8
Matt. 9:18-10:1
Sickness, death, devils, fainting and scattered abroad like sheep…these people were in bondage to the darkness! They didn’t enjoy their miserable condition, but darkness was all they knew. They had never walked in the light, “as he is in the light...” (1 John 1:7)
The poor souls who were bound by the darkness, and oppressed by it, were filled with the hope that the light brought. Not only did they hear the Gospel as the way out of the darkness, they saw the power that would rescue them from the darkness!
C. They prefer the darkness
C. They prefer the darkness
There’s another reason why people sit in darkness: they prefer it. How could anyone prefer spiritual darkness over the Son of God? It’s not natural; it’s not logical; it’s not rational. But it’s all too common.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The Lord Jesus Christ met these people.
Matt. 11:20-24
All three cities—Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida were cities on the north end of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum and Bethsaida were about 2 miles apart, on the coast, and Chorazin was about 2 miles north of Capernaum. The residents of these three privileged cities had seen many miracles of Christ, and had heard Him teach many times. They had sat in darkness, and now they had had a front row seat to watch the Light of the World…and they rejected Him.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
What can the darkness possibly give us that is better than what God can give us? Is it better than life?
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Sin is always a religion of death, not life. As we near the end of October, we see more and more decorations that are not celebrating harmless costumes and candy. Each year it becomes increasingly evident that Halloween is a celebration of death. This world is in darkness, and lost souls are sitting in the shadow of death! Christ has come to give life!
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
III. Will You Sit in Darkness?
III. Will You Sit in Darkness?
The privileged residents of Chorazin and Bethsaida sat in darkness, saw and enjoyed a multitude of miracles at the hand of Jesus Christ, and they refused to believe on Him. The exalted city of Capernaum, who was so blessed as to be the town in which Christ resided, resisted and rejected Christ. They claimed He cast out demons by the power of Satan. They preferred their darkness over the Light of the world! And because these cities were blessed with such rare opportunity, their rejection brought a rare degree of condemnation.
But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
What about you, dear listener? Are you yet in darkness? Perhaps you have grown up hearing the Gospel preached; perhaps you have heard the name of Jesus Christ since you were an infant. Perhaps you have seen Him answer prayer and save friends and loved ones. You have had a front row seat to the Light of the world. Why do you still insist on sitting in darkness?
Perhaps you have never heard the Gospel before today, or perhaps you were taught evil and ungodly things about Jesus Christ; the darkness is all you have ever known, and you haven’t been able to break free from it. But now you are seeing the Christ with the eyes of the heart, and seeing His great light. Will you prefer the darkness?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Don’t sit in the darkness any longer. Come to Christ!