2023-01-29 Matt 4

Now notice when Joseph came from Egypt with Jesus as a young boy the Bible says in Matthew 2 he withdrew to Galilee and he withdrew to Galilee to escape the danger. Jesus did not withdraw to Galilee to escape the danger that was going on that he learned about through the arrest of John but he withdrew to Galilee to run straight at the danger.
He didn't seek a safe place to start his ministry go to the nice people and preach the nice gospel in a nice comforting way he went to the place where he knew he'd be opposed he knew he'd be sought out and he knew he'd be in danger.
But his priority was not the people or the place sorry that was the people. His priority was the people not the place.
Look how Isaiah describes Capernaum in this passage. The people living in darkness those living in the shadow of death.
Wow that sounds like a weird Lord of the Rings style scary environment with weird shadows flying around terrorizing all the locals doesn't it.
But it's not is I imagine Capernaum was actually rather nice by the seaside there's little bars fishing industry going on. I don't think it means that kind of dark weird land.
What this passage does remind us is that despite outward appearances the darkness is very real.
And I think we get a clue on that in verse 15 of this passage where Isaiah is quoting Matthew is quoting Isaiah and he calls Galilee or the region of Galilee Galilee of the Gentiles.
Gentiles of those who don't recognize Yahweh as Lord.
There seems to be a link here between the Gentiles and the darkness. Without Jesus death is just hopeless it's a final end.
And death casts its dark shadow over those who are walking in darkness.
But with Jesus death is not the end. There is hope. It is victorious. The shadow of death that is cast over us by death is destroyed by light.
And our understanding of this passage and why Jesus went to Capernaum lie crucially in why Jesus went there. And he went there for this very reason so that the people walking in darkness can see a great light.
And so that in that land of the shadow of death a light condorn. He went to Capernaum because it was full of people who were walking in darkness.
And he went there to bring his light. And in verse 17 we read from that time on Jesus began to preach repents for the kingdom of heaven is near.
So he didn't just go to take a prophetic box. He didn't fix it. He didn't try and manipulate prophecies to his own end. He went there to bring light to people walking in darkness.
So this passage is not about moving house but about lighting up lives. It's not about sunshine but sunshine.
See what I did there. It's worth it just for that wasn't it Terry. It's not about relocation but revelation. Not about escaping but reckless abandonment.
He was not letting anything get in his way. He was not deterred by the political mood. He was not deterred by John's arrest. He was not deterred by the darkness.
All this challenge and opposition is exactly what spurs him on. So there we have it. Lots of really useful information about what's going on in this passage. Fantastic.
My best guess is at what Matthew is getting on about. My best guess is at Jesus motivation. But we don't come to church to have a lecture.
We don't come to church to receive information. There is one more question I have to ask myself. And this is the most important question of all.
I need to get this right. Hang on. Let me just check and get the wording right here. So what?
That is one of the most important questions you can ever ask when you read the Bible.
Otherwise it's just really great stories that have a moral sort of hinge to them.
But so what? What difference does this make to me? What is this passage teaching me about, rebuking me for, correcting me or training me for?
What is this passage doing to thoroughly equip me for every good work?
Well, there is one big idea here, which I think is the one that I'd like to pull out this morning.
That is Jesus shines his light of life in our shadow of death.
He shines his light of life in shadow of death. And he does that for two groups of people. One, he does it to all those who are walking in darkness.
And he does it to all those who are clinging on still to dark parts in our lives.
So to those walking in darkness, we live in a world where we're surrounded by comperniums.
People blissfully unaware of the reality of the darkness they walk in.
And also, sadly, people blissfully unaware of the joy of Jesus' light that can get rid of that darkness.
Anyone living outside of Jesus needs light. And we know that because we all need light.
And these days, Jesus chooses to bring his light through you and me through his church.
We are bearers of Jesus' light. And we can take example of Jesus here.
We don't do that by just going short term missions, although there's nothing more than short term missions, but that isn't the box to tick.
We don't do that by going to small places and preaching a word and running back again.
Jesus walked with fishermen and called some of them to be his disciples.
Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons. He paid temple taxes. He preached the sermon on the mount in compernium.
He did his life in the shadow of death. And we are called to do the same.
We are called to pray for the sick. We are called to support the grieving.
We are called to lift up the weary. We are called to comfort those who are anxious, to preach the truth and to love people.
The question I've got for you is where is your compernium?
Is your family your compernium? Is your friendship group where people are walking in darkness?
Your colleagues, your neighbors, your sports team, your fellow students, your hobbyists that you hobby with, is that your compernium?
Wherever we have been called, we are called to bring our Jesus light into that place and let him shine.
But also, Jesus wants to bring his light into the darkness that we cling on to.
We know none of us has ever really, completely and totally given our lives over to Jesus.
We want to, but all of us have got areas of our lives where we cling on to bits.
We cling on to bits that we are ashamed of. We cling on to bits that we don't want people to know about.
Maybe we've got a bit of unforgiveness or bitterness, habits or sin.
Mental health can be a severe black cloud hanging over us.
Depression, worry, anxiety, weariness, tiredness, ill health.
So often these dark patches are obvious in our lives and we cling on to them too much.
Like we hope Jesus doesn't notice.
Like we hope other people don't notice.
Well, I've got news for you, Jesus does notice.
No matter how much you try and keep these things hidden or you don't want to talk about that,
we don't want to resolve them, Jesus does notice.
But I've got even better news for you.
He running straight for them like he ran to compernium.
And he's going to bring his light into those areas.
He wants you to open up every part of your life so that you can be a light with him.
And then when you go into your compernium, you shine brighter the love of Jesus in that place.
I think one's about this this morning, not giving your life totally to Jesus.
It's like lighting one of those little tea lights.
And you can run with that little tea light into the darkest of places and a little glow all around it.
You can't see anything though.
You haven't really brought any light into there.
You just brought a little bit of light into the darkness.
Whereas if you give everything you've got over to the Lord, everything, all the dark areas you try and hold onto,
all of that darkness, then you will bring the sun into those dark places.
There will be no shadow because Jesus will shine through you in that place.
Now I want to lead us in a time to respond to this, just to think about this before the guys come up to lead us.
And I would just request everybody just close their eyes.
And this isn't because I'm going to do some articles asking people to cartwheels down the island and jump around or stand up or whatever.
I'm not going to ask any of that. That's not going to happen.
But closing your eyes just helps focus.
I want you to think about parts of your life that you cling on to, that you need to give over to Jesus.
You will know what they are.
And without any drama, quietly just ask the Lord to come shine His light in those places.
Bring His light to spell the darkness.
Father, I pray that as we become aware of those things in our lives, that we keep hidden from you in the dark,
I pray that you will bring your light into each area, get rid of that darkness, and shine your light in our lives for your glory.
And now I want you to think about your Capernaum.
What parts of the world, what parts of your groups of friends people you interact with, could you call Capernaum?
Where people are walking in darkness that desperately need the light of Jesus?
How can you bring light into those areas?
Well, just ponder that for a bit.
And ask the Lord to send His Holy Spirit to empower you and lead you into your Capernaum.
Father, God, bring your Holy Spirit to our side, pray.
We need your power because without your power and your light, we're just dark shadows ourselves, really.
And Lord, when we go out into the world, into our Capernaum, our offices, our schools, our families, wherever it might be, sports teams,
Lord, may we shine with your light for your glory.
Amen.
I've got a couple of questions that are very predictable because we just talked about them for about half an hour.
To whom do you need to bring Jesus so he can shine your light, i.e., where is your Capernaum?
And what areas of real life are still hidden in darkness, i.e., where can Jesus shine His light more brightly in you?
For real this time.
So we'd like to keep going with that actually.
We'd like to, I'll play quietly, I might sing quietly, but just wonder whether you can continue with Max invitation to search your own hearts, as I play quietly.
And let the Holy Spirit minister to you, because we know that there's nobody here who hasn't got a dark part of their heart,
may not withstanding at all.
There's a lot of darkness in my heart, a lot of darkness.
And I know I'm not alone, and I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
And I thank Him for that that I've made right before Him, but as Max said, there's still lots of darkness, there's still lots of healing to be done in my heart to make me whole.
So I just encourage you to, don't pretend that's not the case for ye now, but let the Holy Spirit minister to you.
Not so you beat yourself up, but so you can let the Holy Spirit heal you and move in you as you cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
And then also think about where the Lord's going to use you.
And just let the Holy Spirit minister give just a few minutes.