When Jesus heard that John had been handed over, he withdrew and went to Galilee.
This passage marks a new phase in Jesus’ ministry. John’s arrest was a sign that the authorities, especially Herod Antipas, were beginning to apply pressure against those who had great influence over the people through their preaching. Jesus, understanding the danger arising from the authorities, withdraws from Judea and goes to Galilee, a region farther from Jerusalem’s political center and comparatively safer. Yet this step is not merely an avoidance of danger, but the fulfillment of divine providence. Galilee was to become the place where, according to Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa. 9:1–2), the “great light” would dawn upon those who were in darkness. Thus, Jesus’ going to Galilee shows the continuity of the divine plan. After John’s silence, Christ’s preaching ministry begins, bringing new light and hope to people.