A Light has Dawned

Text: Mt 4:12-25; 5:17-20

Main Point/FCF:

Application:

4:12-17 "A light has dawned"

Matthew 4:12–17 ESV

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

1. Look at a map of Israel (in the back of your Bible). Where is Capernaum located?

 On the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.

2. Find a map of the tribal allotment of the 12 tribes of Israel. In what tribe(s) land was Capernaum?

 Naphtali

3. What significant town was in the tribal area for Zebulun?

 Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. Jesus spent a large portion of his ministry in the area of Naphtali and Zebulun, aka “Galilee.” (There is a village called Bethlehem in that area as well, but this is not the same town where Jesus was born—that one is near Jerusalem)

4. Where is it foretold that the Messiah would live in Galilee? (4:14)

The Propet Isaiah, in Isaiah 9:1–2

Read Isaiah 9:1-7

Isaiah 9:1–7 ESV

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Matthew says that Jesus’ move to Capernaum “fulfilled” this prophecy from Isaiah. We've talked about four different ways that prophecy is fulfilled:

A. Direct prediction-fulfillment--a unique set of circumstances that directly corresponds to a specific prediction. (E.g., in Micah 5, it is foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. This prophecy has a direct fulfillment in the birth of Jesus in Mt. 2:6)

B. The revelation of the intended or hidden meaning of Scripture.

C. The completion of a command or requirement.

D. A divinely orchestrated typological correspondence to Israel’s history (multiple fulfillment). (E.g., “out of Egypt I have called my son.”)

5. Isaiah prophesies that the Messiah would be from the area of Napthali and Zebulun. Which of the four types of fulfillment do you think this most closely fits?

 1. Direct fulfillment. In the context in Isaiah 9 (esp. 9:6), it is clear that this is an explicitly Messianic prophecy that uniquely applied to the future Messiah.

6. Isaiah says that the Messiah would spend his time in “Galilee of the Gentiles.” Why does he refer to Galilee in that way, and what does this imply about Jesus’ ministry?

 There were large amounts of Gentiles living in the Galilee area, in towns like Capernaum and others. Jesus’ ministry was first to Israel, but his ministry opened the door to include Gentiles in the people of God.

7. A recurring theme in the preaching of Jesus and John the Baptist is “Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is here!” Both frequently use what would today be called “fire and brimstone” imagery and speak very strongly to their audience and opponents. Does this bother you or make you uncomfortable?

 (Discussion)

8. Have you ever witnessed someone preach or evangelize in a way that you found offensive or off-putting? Where is the line between boldly proclaiming the truth and being obnoxious and judgmental?

  (Discussion)

9. Put yourself in the shoes of a first-century Jew. In what ways would it have felt like they were “dwelling in darkness…the region and shadow of death”? In that context, what would the arrival of the Messiah feel like?

(Discussion. Talking Points: Can talk about Roman oppression, the silence from the prophets for 400 years, feeling like God has forgotten you and your people and abandoned you. The arrival of the Messiah would have brought unimaginable hope!)

10. How does this compare to the situation of unbelievers today? What “light” does Jesus offer unbelievers today?

Unbelievers may not be in physical bondage, but they are in spiritual bondage. Their life is devoid of the hope and comfort offered by Christ. They live in darkness.

4:18-22 The Calling of the Disciples

Matthew 4:18–22 ESV

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And 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, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

11. Why does Jesus pick such uneducated, common people like Simon and Andrew as his disciples?

 The Kingdom of Heaven is an upside-down kingdom. The humble are exalted, the weak made strong in Christ’s power, etc. By selecting uneducated, lowly commoners, Jesus showed that it is his power, not ours, that advances the kingdom.

12. How long did Simon and Andrew deliberate over Jesus’ offer? (4:20)

 Not long at all!

13. How risky was it for Peter, Andrew, James, and John to drop everything (jobs and families) to go with Jesus?

 (Note that they left their family businesses. This could be extremely costly to both them and their families.)

14. What possessions, goals, dreams, or relationships are keeping you from following Jesus wholeheartedly today?

 (Discussion.)

4:23-25 Christ’s ministry

Matthew 4:23–25 ESV

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

15. What did Jesus do at the synagogues of this region? (4:23)

 Teaching, preaching, and healing

16. Which is worse in your opinion and why: to be physically ill, or to be spiritually sick?

  (Discussion.)

17. Why did Jesus do so many healings?

1. He had genuine compassion for the people that he ministered to. 2. His mercy ministry reinforced the message he preached, that the Kingdom of Heaven was dawning. His healings demonstrate an “undoing” of the curse in Genesis 3. 3. His miracles were signs that pointed to his identity as God and as Messiah.