Who will save your soul? (Matthew 4:13-16)

Matthew 4:13-16 And leaving Nazareth, Jesus came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. ¹⁴ This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ¹⁵ "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- ¹⁶ "The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, And to those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a light dawned."

Galilee was a place that was looked down upon.  It was a multicultural port town controlled by the Romans where people lived however they wanted.  Think sailors and merchants and pirates!  It was also the place where Jesus was from.  And in these verses it is where the Messianic light first dawned on the darkness.

I think God sent Jesus to the dark places first, because these people of Galilee didn't need convincing that they were in need of help.  They knew they weren't living with integrity and in abundance.  Contrast them with the religious rule-following Pharisees in Jerusalem who couldn't imagine they even had a need for Jesus.  They thought that they needed a political figure - someone to overthrow the Roman government and get rid of the tax collectors!    And Jesus wasn't that guy.  Jesus is preaching that his followers should pay their taxes, give away their belongings, and go an extra mile every single time.  Mind blowing stuff.

But the people in Galilee, they were different.  They knew they needed salvation.  They knew they hadn't earned it.  So maybe they were ready to see the light when it dawned.

What will save your soul?  Your good deeds?  Your right theology?  The rules you keep?