Lenten reflection: Day 2

Jesus, the one who steps into the unknown. 

'When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond 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.” '
Matthew 4:12-16

As a kid, I moved three times. Once when I turned 6, the next when I turned 12, and then the summer after I graduated high school. I absolutely despised moving. My parents always took time to get me excited about a new opportunity, reminding me of why we were moving in the first place (to serve in a new church) but even then, I was afraid that the unknown would never create new life. 
When we look at the beginning of Jesus' ministry as told in the gospel of Matthew, we learn that Jesus was about to begin His ministry in His hometown, but after learning of His cousin John the Baptist's imprisonment, He decided to make His way to Galilee. 
One thing that we often forget sometimes as Christians is that our belief in Jesus as Savior cannot and should not distance ourselves from the humanity of Christ. Just as He is God, He is Man. 
I say this because Jesus made a 40 mile journey from His hometown of Nazareth, leaving behind His mother and father, the friends He grew up around, the families that saw Him grow into a man, and headed for a new life of ministry in Galilee. And this small yet significant fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' life illuminates a beautiful origin story of Jesus, the One who experienced unfamiliarity and the unknown. His beginning, even from birth, is one of constant unfamiliarity under circumstances that allowed Him to learn, grow, and adapt as He grew up. 
Why is this so important?  

'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 unknown and the unfamiliar can seem like a darkness that we can never escape. Encountering the unknowns of this world can make us feel like we have to put our guards up in order to protect who we are. In the dark, we fight with all we have to see a light bright enough to grant us hope. Yet Jesus teaches us that there is something new to look forward to in our journey alongside Him.
If anything, these small verses are a reminder that Jesus' ministry begins where many of us sometimes feel, in the unknown. 
Thanks be to God that He makes all things new and that Jesus, our guiding light, goes before us in that journey.