LifeLink Devotions

Friday, December 8, 2023

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

This may be the most well-known prophecy of Jesus that we find in the Old Testament. It is rich with meaning. It describes in concise fashion who the Messiah would be and what He would accomplish. It is far too important to summarize in one day. We will be richly blessed if we take the time to study it carefully.

At the age of 30, Jesus came to John the Baptist in the wilderness and was publicly identified as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” The angel Gabriel had declared 31 years earlier that John would be the one called to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the forgiveness of sin that would be provided by Jesus. Eight days after the birth of his son John, Zechariah spoke these words – “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” In a prophetic utterance from the Holy Spirit Zechariah affirmed that the baby boy still in the womb of His mother Mary would be the great light – the rising sun from heaven – and would shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death.

The time had now come for Jesus to be revealed to the world as the Messiah. Jesus came first to those whose hearts had been brought to repentance of sin by the preaching of John. Even though He had no sin, He identified with those who did by asking John to baptize Him. Jesus made a public statement that He was going public with His ministry. His baptism was not for the forgiveness of sin – He had none. His baptism was not to initiate relationship with God – He was God. His baptism was the starting point of fulfilling all righteousness. It was His public commitment of obedience to God’s will for His life, as it is to be ours.

Immediately after His baptism, Jesus went up into the wilderness to be alone with His Father. His commitment would be severely tested for 40 days. After passing the test by resisting all attempts of the Enemy to shift His focus away from obedience to God and onto satisfying the desires of the flesh, Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum. This city was by the Sea of Galilee in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, the land described by the prophet Isaiah as the land of darkness (Isaiah 9:1). In the first Gospel of the New Testament Matthew writes that Jesus moved there specifically to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy. “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matt. 4:15-16) Jesus is declaring that He is the great light that will shine on those living in this land of darkness.

We live in a land of darkness today. Maybe some of you are experiencing that darkness in some aspect of your life right now. Sin has darkened your eyes to the light of God. But unto you a child has been born. Unto you a son has been given. Jesus has intentionally invaded your darkness. He did not come to bring light where it is already light. He came to specifically invade the darkness. If He had come first to where it was already light, they would not have noticed. But when the light shines in the darkness, it is obvious. Maybe the reason you can’t see the light of God right now is because you’ve convinced yourself that your situation is already light. You’ve been convinced by the Enemy that your current choices and circumstances that satisfy the desires of your flesh are as light as it gets. You can’t see Jesus because you won’t admit darkness. Once you do, you will discover something incredible – Jesus has been there all along. He came specifically and personally into your darkness so that His true light could shine on you.

From the moment of His arrival in Capernaum, Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” That’s what He wants you to hear today – “Repent.” Admit the darkness and turn from it. When you do, you will see the Light.

Pastor John