SCRIPTURE:
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” Matthew 4:17
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5b
REFLECTION: (written by Dan Baker)
As we focus our thoughts more deeply on this Lenten season, consider today’s text. Matthew 4:17 states: “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” So, “from that time …” what exactly did happen?
Matthew has given us some beautiful details of Jesus and His ministry. Many key events including John the Baptizer having been arrested, Jesus had just spent 40 days being tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and lastly, Jesus’ ministry was now beginning. As Jesus begins his earthly mission, Matthew takes us back to a prophecy from Isaiah found in chapter 9, verse 2: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Early in my Christian experience, I associated repentance with guilt, fear, and shame. You may have had some of that same experience and perception. Repentance is a “turning back.” A turning back toward the God of love. In the act of repentance, we also allow God’s “Light” to reveal our shortcomings and our sin. John writes in chapter 1, verse 5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” He states in 1 John 1:5b “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” We are children of Light, and we live in the Light of transformation. Darkness cannot overcome the Light. As we allow the Light to shine deep in our hearts, the Light will reveal our dark places for the purpose of reflection and confession. It is not meant to lead us to despair, but rather to have us be transformed into living and loving like Jesus.
John also reminds us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Yes, Jesus was fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy by bringing Light to those living along the sea of Galilee in Capernaum. That same Light is ours today, breaking through our darkness, transforming us, and allowing His Light to reflect on those around us. We are to be Light to the world.
RESPOND:
- Can you think of a time in your life when you felt overpowered by darkness?
- Are you still living in that darkness?
- Darkness has no power over the Does your view of repentance include the purpose of transformation?
PRAYER:
Father of Light, I open my dark places to You. Please, allow Your Light to shine into those spaces, revealing my darkness in places I have never seen. Give me the grace to agree with You and allow Your transforming power to change me, letting Your Light shine brightly through me to those around me. I ask in the powerful name of Jesus, the Light of the World.
