Light is Sprung Up (Matthew #12) - Bible Baptist Church

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Text: Matthew 4:12-16

Following Matthew’s pattern from the beginning of his letter, Matthew will give a quick episode in the life of Christ that is the fulfillment of a prophecy and he’ll link the event to the prophecy. This event is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-2 which Matthew gives in verses 15-16.

Warning Light

Certain lights serve as warning.
The Lord Jesus Christ has already been healing and doing miracles. There is probably 10 months between Matthew 4:11 and verse 12. In that time John the Baptist has been preaching repentance as a witness to the Light that would come into the world according to John 1:4-8. The Lord Jesus Christ in these first ten months has turned water into wine, he’s met a few men at John’s Baptism that would be his disciples, he’s talked to Nicodemus about being born again, he healed a nobleman’s son, and many other things.
John the Baptist’s arrest is the turning point for the Lord’s ministry.
- Notice in 4:17 the ministry takes on a grave warning. Look at it in Mark 1:14-15.
- From this point on his ministry will be mainly around the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding cities. The Lord will make trips to Jerusalem during feast days, but for the most part his ministry will be in the northern part of Israel.

Light in the darkness

…Galilee of the Gentiles…
The place the Lord Jesus Christ focuses his ministry is a place that Israel has not been in control of for over 700 years. After Israel was divided into northern kingdom and southern kingdom, the northern was quickly swept away into idolatry and overcome by Gentiles, Assyrians. The southern kingdom, Jerusalem, Judea, would last a little longer, but would eventually be taken away by the Babylonians (Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel). After 70 years the southern kingdom would return with much trouble (Esther, Nehemiah, Ezra). But the northern kingdom would never return to their place. The region of Galilee was a Gentile stronghold throughout Israel’s history.
Gentile cultures sat in the shadow of God’s judgment
- Amos 5:18, 20 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. … 20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
- Ephesians 2:11-12, 4:17-19, 5:8
- 1 Corinthians 12:2, 10:20
- Jesus Christ told a Samaritan woman in John 4 you don’t know what you worship.
- The vain imagination produced behavior contrary to Almighty God. 1 Peter 4:1-5. That culture of work for the flesh is the power of darkness. Men loved darkness because their deeds were evil.
- Colossians 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Luke 1:78-79, Acts 26:17-18 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Light is condemnation of darkness – John 3:19-21. John is in prison, Matthew 14:3-12.
The irony is the nation that was given all the benefits and blessings of God’s law, promises, adoption, glory, covenants, service to God, would also live in darkess.

Sunlight

The picture is of the Sun rising and the day dawning. Jesus Christ is the Sun. Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Light is life – John 1:4-9, 8:12
Light is opportunity to serve the Lord – John 9:4, 11:9-10.
- God offers forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ now. Before there was no forgiveness of sins, even OT saints had to wait for their sins to be forgiven in Jesus Christ before being accepted by God. The dawning of the day, the Sun rising, heralds the time of harvest and labour.

Light of understanding

The Light would make sense of the scriptures – 2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Light gives sight. 1 John 1:7
Light will give direction. John 12:35-36, 46, (Believe in the Light and you’ll be children of the Light), 1 John 2:8-10