A Light Has Dawned

Matthew 4:16-23

Jesus is the light of the world and shows us the way out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God. Every kingdom has a king, and if we want to enter into his kingdom, we simply listen to him and do what he says. He will lead us out of darkness and into his kingdom of light.

Introduction

Today we are in the book of Matthew, chapter 4.

It’s the start of his message that the kingdom of God is near. It’s the start of his calling people to follow him and learn from him. And it’s the start of his healing ministry, demonstrating that he has all authority over sickness and disease.

Sometimes the hardest part in life is just getting started. We live in deeply engrained routines, whether we’re conscious of them or not. Our daily habits, repeated over and over again for a long period of time, shape us into who we are. That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the habit.

The thing about starting something new, whether it’s a new job, a new habit, a new diet, a new exercise program, or a new relationship, is that it’s often clunky and messy at the beginning. It’s uncomfortable and awkward. Sometimes we avoid starting something new because we don’t like the discomfort involved. We don’t like feeling awkward. We feel like we might be criticized or laughed at. Or, maybe we’re afraid of failure. And because of that it’s easy to stay in the comfortable world of the familiar.

What I like about Jesus is, he just starts. He just gets going and steps into his calling. He aligns his life — his routines, his habits, and his activities — with his identity. Let’s look at his identity.

Main Teaching

Read Matthew 4:16-17

Matthew 4:16–17 NKJV

16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew, the writer of this gospel, reiterating the words of the prophet Isaiah, describe Jesus as the light. “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16).

1. Darkness is the absence of light

Jesus, the light, comes to us. ONCE AND FOR ALL VIA THE CROSS!

Notice how we are described? We are: living in darkness; living in the land of the shadow of death. Darkness and death. Those are terrible words. And even worse, they are terrible conditions to be in.

Do you ever feel the words darkness and death describe the season you’re in?

Do they ever describe your demeanor?

Do they ever describe what you’re feeling in your heart or thinking in your mind?

There is a pervasive sense of fatality and despair in this world.

This is the prevailing attitude of most people most of the time.

Feeling a sense of hopelessness, a sense of being stuck, or overwhelming feelings of anxiety, worry, or fear.

Feeling that everything is bad, everything is broken, and nothing can be done about it. It’s the belief that bad things overpower good things, that evil is stronger than good.

Another part of living in darkness is societal darkness: crime, murder, exploitation, wars, systemic injustices, ungodly political leadership. The list can go on and on. We live in a dark world scarred by sin and evil.

What is darkness? Darkness is simply the absence of light.

Darkness itself is not a thing to be studied, but an absence of something.

Darkness is simply the absence of light, just as cold is nothing more than the absence of heat.

We don’t really study darkness but we do study light.

Darkness is the emptiness, the void, and the absence of the goodness and love of God in this world.

And into this darkness a light has dawned.

Jesus doesn’t curse the darkness, he just shows up and gets going. He is the light who comes into the darkness and demonstrates the love and goodness of God.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” (John 8:12).

The life, ministry, teachings, death and especially the resurrection of Jesus — his entire life and work on planet earth— is the light of mankind.

Jesus is the source of light where we can see God truly for who God is (infinite love and goodness).

Jesus is the source of light that provides guidance and direction for our life.

Jesus is the source of light that dawns inside our hearts and minds and makes us new people, transformed more and more into his image.

Jesus is the source of light that cleanses our lives from sin.

2. God rescues us from darkness

Matthew 4:17 NKJV

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Now this is some good news! The people who are living in darkness, in the valley of the shadow of death, now have another option. They have been stuck in the kingdom of darkness but the kingdom of light (kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven) is now available to them, if they want it. HOPE IS AVAILABLE IN JESUS CHRIST!

Here’s how the apostle PAUL put it many years later:

Colossians 1:12–14 NKJV

12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

When Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven has come near, he means it’s immediately available.

He doesn’t mean that it’s almost here. He doesn’t mean that it’s coming soon. He means it’s here, now. Today. It’s near, and all you have to do is decide that you want in.

We have a choice: we can remain in the kingdom of darkness or we can enter into the kingdom of light, the kingdom of God.

Let me ask you, which kingdom do you want to live in?

The kingdom of darkness is marked by immorality, impurity, lust, greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language, worldliness, idolatry, witchcraft, deceit, manipulation, intimidation, power seeking control and domination, etc… A FOCUS ON SELF, ON THE I, I, I,

(see Colossians 3), among other things.

The kingdom of God is marked by love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (see Colossians 3, 1 Corinthians 13).

The kingdom of God is available to you, if you want it.

Read Matthew 4:18-22

Matthew 4:18–22 NKJV

18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

3. We follow Jesus out of darkness and into the kingdom of God

Here we have a picture of Jesus walking along the water and calling his first disciples Andrew, Peter, James, and John. His invitation was simply to “follow me.” Follow him where? Out of darkness and into the kingdom of God. And as a bonus, he would teach them to “fish for people” so that they would rescue others out of darkness and into this new kingdom as well.

Jesus says the same thing to us today: “Follow me.”

Why should we follow Jesus? Because he leads us into the kingdom of God. In this life!

The kingdom of God isn’t just something “up there” that we go to when we die. It’s something “down here, right now” that we can live in and experience in this life. It’s possible. And the way we get there is simply to follow Jesus one step at a time.

How do we follow Jesus, practically?

Every kingdom has a king. In the kingdom of God, Jesus is the king and the king has all authority over their subjects and territory. This sounds scary that one person would have so much power, but the good news is that our king, Jesus, is full of goodness and love. This means we can trust him and he has our best interests in mind.

The early church called him, “Lord.” Lord means “absolute authority.” When we pray, “Lord Jesus,” we are confessing that Jesus has all authority. Did you know that’s what the word “Lord” means? It’s not a formal version of “Mr.” as if we’re saying , “Mr. Jesus.” To say Jesus is Lord is to say he is the absolute authority over everything, including yourself.

So, back to the question, how do we follow Jesus out of darkness and into his kingdom? It’s a two-step process: we listen to him and then we do what he says.

A. Listen to Jesus

How do we listen to Jesus? The simplest way to do this is to read his teachings. Spend time in prayer .... be still… be quite.... know that He is God.... seek Him and listen!!

What Jesus taught then, he teaches now. His words and teachings are more relevant than ever! Jesus shows us THE BEST way to live!

B. Do what he says

After we listen and hear what he’s saying, then what?

Then it’s time to put his words into practice and actually do what he says. Remember, Jesus is Lord, he is the absolute authority, and he knows what’s best for us. We need to then put his teachings into practice because it’s the best way for us to live.

This means we try to obey. We do our best. We practice. We fail, we stumble, we mess up, and then we simply try again. Jesus does not expect perfection from us, only our best effort. The Holy Spirit will help us obey and give us the power to become true sons and daughters of God.

Someone might say, but we are under grace not law! Obedience sounds very legalistic! Jesus does not ask for my obedience, only my faith.

To those feeling that way, I’d like to share a thought by George MacDonald (1824-1905). MacDonald addressed this exact concern, saying: “Do you say it is faith that Jesus requires, and not works? Yes, I agree! But faith in what? Faith in what Jesus is; faith in what Jesus says. A faith can have no existence except in obedience — a faith which is obedience.

To do what Jesus wishes is to put forth faith in him.”

To put the teachings of Jesus into practice is to put faith in him.

And, anyone who lives out his teachings automatically lives a radical, counter-cultural lifestyle. To love God with all of our heart, mind and soul.

To love our neighbor as ourselves. To love our enemies and those who hurt us, oppress us, dismiss us, wound us. To pick up our cross and follow him. This is all radical stuff that anyone can do if they listen to Jesus and do what he says. We cannot do it by ourselves, the Holy Spirit helps us.

Jesus teaches us the best way to live. This is how life is lived in the kingdom of God. We follow him step by step, by listening to him and doing what he says. This is our way out of darkness and into light.

Conclusion

After calling his first disciples, “Jesus went through Galilee,.....

Matthew 4:23 NKJV

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Instead of cursing the darkness, Jesus gets going. He just starts living and acting in accordance with his purpose and identity.

To the sick and the poor, he showed them a way out of darkness. Jesus’ healing ministry demonstrated the triumph of goodness and love over sickness and disease. His successful ministry demonstrated the power of the king in the kingdom of God. He demonstrated that, as Lord, he has all authority — even over sickness and death.

The kingdom of God dawned in the midst of the kingdom of darkness. It’s available for all of us. The question is, do you want it? I encourage you to listen to Jesus and do what he says. His words are life and he shows us the best way to live. Amen.