Prophecies of His Ministry
Preaching in Galilee
Light to Those in Darkness
Description
Isaiah prophesied that Galilee of the Gentiles, the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, would see a great light. This land, first to be conquered by Assyria, would be first to see Messiah's glory. Matthew notes that Jesus' ministry in Galilee—beginning in Capernaum—fulfilled this prophecy. The people who sat in darkness saw great light; upon those in the shadow of death, light dawned. Christ's primary ministry was not in religious Jerusalem but in despised Galilee, bringing light to those considered spiritually inferior.
Key Verses
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.
And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 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.
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.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.