The Coming of the Light of the World Part 2 of 10
“But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (Isaiah 9:1-2).
What light is going to drive out the darkness for the people of Zebulun and Naphtali? What light is going to shine upon them?
Jesus began His earthly ministry in Capernaum, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. Matthew described it this way, “This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and the shadow of death, upon them a light dawned’ “ (Matthew 4:14-16).
Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9. Notice the people were sitting in the “shadow of death.” Another contrast between light and darkness, saved and lost, is those who possess eternal life and those under the punishment of death. When we believed the gospel, we went from death to life (John 5:24). Jesus transferred us from death to life.
Jesus is the Light of Isaiah chapter 9 because Jesus is the Light of the world!