Message: Dawn at the Margins / Matthew 4:12-17 & Isaiah 9:1-4

In today’s Gospel reading, Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.”

This is a powerful statement of faith that both Matthew and Isaiah share. It reminds us that God does not forget the dark places. God does not ignore people on the margins. God brings new light first to those who feel overlooked, pushed aside, or forgotten.

The focus here is Galilee, in northern Israel, including the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. In many ways, Galilee was a land of abundance. The Sea of Galilee provided rich fishing, the soil was fertile, the climate mild, and the rainfall steady. A major trade route, the Via Maris, ran through the region toward the Mediterranean. Galilee was a place of travel, business, and opportunity.

Over time, however, this abundant land became a place of suffering. After the time of Solomon, the kingdom was divided into two kingdoms: the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel. Galilee belonged to the northern kingdom. In 722 BCE, the northern kingdom fell to the Assyrian Empire. After that, Galilee was almost never free from foreign rule. People lost security, and cultures mixed and overlapped.

Because of this history, people in the south looked down on Galilee and called it “Galilee of the Gentiles.” It was a name meant to shame. It shows how those at the centre often speak about the margins with prejudice and disregard.

But Isaiah spoke hope directly into that wounded place. In the first Scripture reading today, he said, “In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” Even though the northern kingdom had fallen to the Assyrian Empire, Isaiah did not give up. He trusted that God was still leading history, and that restoration could begin where everything seemed ruined.

Isaiah’s hope was not empty. It was seen in King Hezekiah in the south, who worked to restore unity through political and religious reform. He invited people from the north to come to Jerusalem and celebrate Passover together. Through acts of belonging and welcome, God’s hope became visible. Even in dark times, light appeared through shared worship and renewed community.

Centuries later, in Jesus’ time, Galilee was still on the margins, and the darkness felt even heavier. Under Roman rule, people suffered under high taxes and constant oppression. Herod the Great, who killed his own wife and son, ruled with cruelty. After his death, a revolt broke out in Sepphoris, a major Galilean city. The Roman governor crushed it, and many people were executed. According to Flavius Josephus, the Jewish historian of the first century, about two thousand people were crucified there.

After Herod the Great, his son Herod Antipas ruled the region, keeping tight control. He built the city of Tiberias, forcing the people to labour and pay for it. He also imprisoned and executed John the Baptist for speaking truth against his immoral behaviour.

In this sense, Galilee is more than just a place on a map. It is a symbol of unjust systems that strip away human dignity. It is a wailing prison for the victims of those in power, where violence turns life blood-red. It is a cold iron cage under the shadow of Satan, where despair spreads through discrimination and oppression. Sadly, Galilee is not only a place from two thousand years ago. There are “Galilees” today, in our world, in our nation, and even in our communities.

Yet God does not forget such places. God does not abandon those who suffer. God begins something new right there. 

Jesus began his ministry in Galilee. When he heard that John had been arrested, Jesus did not hide. He stepped forward. In the darkest place, he proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus became light for those in darkness. He brought the dawn to the margins.

The first thing Jesus did in his ministry was build a community. He called disciples, most of them from Galilee. They left their work and their families to follow him. People who have experienced hard times know the value of hope. People who have suffered can recognize true light when it appears.

That is why, when Jesus called the fishermen, they left their nets without hesitation. They were ready. The darkness had made them long for something different. Suffering often makes a person withdraw. It can become a trap of despair. But it can also sharpen our senses. It can help us hear the voices of those suffering in similar ways and move us to offer true hope. In the people of Galilee, Jesus saw eyes that refused to give in to the darkness. In Peter, Andrew, James, and John who were fishing by the Sea of Galilee, he recognized a longing to follow the light and the courage to take a new path.

Through today’s Scripture readings from Matthew and Isaiah, we are asked: Where are we today? 

Do you feel like you are on the margins? If so, remember this: God has not forgotten you. God is with you in the long night. Share your burden with others who understand. Do not let suffering isolate you. Keep waiting for God’s light to rise. And when you come through the night, your story may become hope for others.

Or do you feel safe and comfortable with privilege, close to the centre? Then remember, being in a comfort zone is not always a sign of God’s blessing. God called Abraham to leave what was safe and familiar. Through that journey, Abraham became a blessing to many. Faith is not meant to stay behind safe walls, ignoring the pain around us.

So how do we move our hearts and spirits into the margins of the world? Today, I would like to suggest three things.

First, do not turn away from the world’s pain. The news can be heavy: war, hunger, injustice, disasters, and violence. It can be tempting to look away. But for us, as people of faith, these realities show where care is needed and where God may be calling us to act.

Second, take one step toward helping. Volunteer, visit, listen, support. Serving is not just a kind thing to do. It changes us. It moves us out of comfort and into real human stories. It is one way we join Christ in bringing dignity and healing.

Third, keep praying. Do not let prayer slip away. When we pray for people and places where God’s grace is needed most, our hearts grow wider. Prayer does more than calm us. It shapes us. It aligns us with God’s love and justice. For this, use the weekly Prayer Cycle. Pray for the nations, the churches, and the people in our congregation according to the Prayer Cycle for at least three minutes during the week. In doing so, we can connect spiritually with the people in the margins and witness the dawn rising from there.

Galilee was one of the darkest places, yet God did not forget it. Jesus made it the starting point of his mission, and from there, light spread into the world. From a land that was mocked and dismissed, God opened hope for all people.

If there is darkness in your life today, do not lose heart. That may be exactly where Christ is coming to meet you. Let us also look for today’s Galilees around us. May we carry Christ’s light into those places and become part of God’s new dawn.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang