Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Growing



Luke 2:40-52[i]

Luke 2 gives the account of the childhood of Jesus.  Verse 21 starts with the account of His circumcision, and then the purification offering as required by the Law of Moses.  As an infant of only eight days old, Jesus was taken to the temple and dedicated to God as was required by the Law.  The offering would have been a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

While Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were in the temple, a man named Simeon prophesied over Jesus.  Simeon was full of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord had promised him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s anointed One. 

Simeon said of Jesus:
He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!  (Luke 2:32)

Luke 2:33 says, “Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.”

Everything about Jesus’ birth was unusual.

Jesus’ birth was announced by angels to both Mary and Joseph.  Then on the night He was born, shepherds came in talking about angels announcing His birth to them.

Mary and Joseph marveled at all that was happening.

After His birth, Matthew 2 tells us that wise men from the east came to visit Jesus.  Matthew 2:13-23 tells us that when the wise men had returned to their home countries, Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to protect the baby Jesus from King Herod, who was trying to kill Him.

Mary and Joseph knew that Jesus was no ordinary child.

The angel told Mary, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:32, ESV)[ii]

His birth and the events of His infancy were extraordinary.

Luke 2:40 tells us about the young childhood of Jesus with two sentences.  “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.  And the favor of God was upon him.”  (ESV)

Luke 2:41-51 gives an account of an incident out of the life of Jesus from when He was twelve years old.  Then verse 52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”  (ESV)

Verse 40 and verse 52 of Luke 2 summarize the childhood of Jesus as growing.  He grew in three areas: Physically, Mentally and Spiritually.  These, of course, correspond to the three parts of the human person: Body, Soul and Spirit.

As extraordinary as He was, Jesus also had ordinary aspects to His life.

Isaiah 53:2 says of Him, “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”  (ESV)  This describes an ordinary childhood.  However, we must qualify this by saying He never sinned.  He was normal except without sin, which is, of course, not normal.  In fact, He is the only one who never sinned.  I realize that I am contradicting myself by saying He was normal but not normal.  However, it is important to understand that Jesus was fully human.  While we understand that Jesus is fully God and fully man, how this can be is a mystery.

One of the normal things in Jesus’ early life was an annual trip to Jerusalem.  Luke 2:41 says, “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.” 

This reference lets us know that Jesus grew up with Jewish traditions under the Law of Moses.

Luke 2:42 tells us, “When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual.”  (NLT)

This visit proved to be different from the previous eleven trips.  Verse 43 tells us that after the festival was over, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.  The expression “stayed behind in Jerusalem” leads me to believe it was intentional on the part of Jesus.  His response to Mary reinforces me in this opinion when Jesus says, “But why did you need to search?”  However, there is much speculation on this point since Jesus apparently did not inform Mary and Joseph of His intentions.

When they found Jesus, after searching for three days, they found Him in the Temple “sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.”  (Luke 2:46, NLT)

Luke 2:47 gives us insight when it says, “All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”

Throughout His ministry, Jesus amazed people with His understanding, wisdom and teaching.  At the age of 12, He is showing the beginning of the wisdom and understanding that drew large crowds to follow Him.  However, this understanding and wisdom were something that grew.  Up to the point of this visit to the temple, Mary and Joseph had come to view Jesus as their child.  Luke tells us that when Mary and Joseph found Jesus they were astonished.  (verse 48, ESV)  The NLT translates this “they did not know what to think.”  They were seeing a side of Jesus that they had never seen.

Jesus progressed from an infant to a twelve-year-old and then from a twelve-year-old to adulthood growing all the way.

In the process of growing up under the care of Mary and Joseph, a parent/child relationship had developed.  When they found Jesus, Mary’s first word to Jesus was “why?”  Jesus turns her inquiry on its head and begins His answer with “why?”  Because Jesus was going through the normal growing process, Mary and Joseph came to view Him as a normal child.  Therefore, when Jesus said, “Didn’t you realize that I should be involved with my Father’s affairs,” (verse 49 NLT marginal reading) they did not understand what he meant.  This was a transition in their relationship.  Jesus was no longer the little boy, but the growing young man.  He had reached the age where Jewish boys were accepted as full members of the religious community.

Verse 51 says, “Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.”  (NLT)  We do not know how long Jesus continued in subjection to Mary and Joseph.  The only comment the Scriptures give on the ensuing years is that He continued to grow in wisdom, stature and favor with God and man.

The next time we meet Jesus in the gospels, He is around 30 years old beginning His public ministry.  There is an interesting side note on the life of Jesus contained in Hebrews 5:8, which says, “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.” 

Growing and learning is a natural part of life.  Jesus displays for us growth consistent with and appropriate to the various ages he passed through.  We also need to demonstrate growth appropriate to our age.  However, it is very easy to grow in stature, i.e. physically, but not demonstrate corresponding growth in wisdom or in favor with God and man. 

Paul chastised the Corinthians about their lack of growth when he said:
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people.  I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life.  I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger.  And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature.  You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other.  Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature?  Aren’t you living like people of the world?  (1 Corinthians 3:1-3, NLT)

If my life or your life is characterized by quarrels, then we need to reflect on whether or not we have grown in wisdom and favor to the place we need to be.

I do not believe we ever reach perfection.  Paul said, “I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.  But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” (Philippians 3:12, NLT)  The only One who reached perfection was Jesus Himself.

However, we should fear lest people are amazed by us, not like they were amazed by Jesus and His wisdom, but by our lack of wisdom. We should fear lest we are like the Hebrews of whom Paul said:
12You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others.  Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.  You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.  13For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.  14Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.  (Hebrews 5:12-14, NLT)

Jesus shows us how true growth progresses.  When He matured to the point of understanding, He put the things of God first.  Then when He became an adult, He took on the Devil in the wilderness.

1 John shows us an interesting picture of Christian growth stages.  He says:
12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.  13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.  I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.  (1 John 2:12-13, ESV)

Little children in the faith know God as the Father who loves them and forgives their sins.  Young people, adults but still young, have grown to the point where they know what the spiritual battle is.  The mature believer has come to know Him who is from the beginning.  The spiritual infant knows the Father, but does not know His ways.  Maturity comes with time and knowing God’s ways comes from walking with Him through battles. 

Moses had an interesting request of God.  In Exodus 33:13 he says:
Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight.  (ESV)

Moses did learn to know God’s ways, and he did this by leading God’s people through the desert for 40 years.  Just like Jesus, he learned obedience by the things he suffered.

Time grows us physically.  We feed our bodies and they grow.

Time also grows us mentally.  We feed our minds and they grow. 

Time grows us spiritually.  We feed our spirits and they grow.

However, if we feed our bodies junk, they grow unhealthy.  If we feed our minds junk, they too grow unhealthy.  If we feed our spirits junk, they also grow unhealthy.

Notice what Jesus was feeding His mind.  He was asking questions and listening to the religious leaders.  He apparently knew the Scriptures quite well.  Notice what He was feeding His spirit.  He was in the Temple.

Friends, looking at Jesus’ example, we all need to continue growing.

Along with Paul let us say: 
“I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.  But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.”  (Philippians 3:12, NLT)





[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.
[ii] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

The Birth of the Savior



But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  (Luke 2:19, ESV)

What moments and memories do you treasure?

Perhaps you treasure memories of your wedding, the birth of your first child or your first day of school.  We keep pictures of some events to help us remember.

We treasure some events recorded in the Bible.  Many of us have favorite Bible stories and/or characters that we go back to frequently.  We keep holidays to commemorate or remind us of certain of these events – kind of like keeping pictures on the wall.  Christmas and Easter are examples of what I am talking about.

Christmas and Easter remind us we have much to celebrate.

However, in addition to celebrating, we learn and remember much truth in the celebration of these holidays.  In fact, the Scriptures encourage us to fix our minds on things above.  (Colossians 3:2)  Philippians 4:8 tells us:
 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.[i]

I want to look with you at four pictures taken from Luke 2:1-20.  Jesus’s birth brings joy, comfort and salvation to all humanity.  These four pictures taken from this event help us to keep these things fixed in our hearts.

First, we have a picture of a decree from Caesar.

Luke 2:1 says:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  (ESV)[ii]

Let’s look at this picture.

Luke begins with the words, “In those days.”  With this phrase, he refers back to his first chapter, the birth of John the Baptist and the announcement Gabriel made to Mary.  “In those days” Caesar Augustus issued a decree.

Caesar Augustus stands in the forefront of our picture for a brief moment, only important in setting the stage for the entry of the main character.  Caesar provides contrast in our picture, and points to a significant truth.

Caesar ruled the world.  According to Wikipedia.org:
Augustus was the founder of the Roman Principate and considered the first Roman emperor, controlling the Roman Empire from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.

“Principate” refers to the rule of the Roman Empire by one man.  Luke describes Caesar’s decree as requiring all the world to be registered.  The government of the world fell upon the shoulders of this one man. 

Interestingly enough, the chief priests of the Jewish nation spoke of Augustus’s successor, Tiberius, when they said, “We have no king but Caesar.”  (John 19:15)

Remember with me Luke 1:32-33 where the angel told Mary:
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.  (ESV)

Jesus was born to rule as king.

Isaiah 9:6 says of him:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (ESV)

Our first picture of a decree from Caesar reminds us that Jesus is King.  One day He will reign over all the earth.  However, His kingdom is not of this world.  His kingdom is far greater.  His kingdom is eternal.  He rules over heaven and earth, over great and small, and Caesar Augustus will bow before Him and confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father.  Jesus has a place in world politics.  He is the King.

The second picture we have is of a trip to Bethlehem.

Luke 2:4-5 says:
And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home.  He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.  He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.

Bethlehem was approximately one hundred miles from Nazareth.  In those days, people traveled by foot, rode a donkey or a cart pulled by a donkey.  The wealthy might have ridden a horse.  The Scriptures do not tell us how Mary and Joseph traveled.  However, we can assume that being “great with child,” the trip would have been more than a little uncomfortable for Mary.

Nothing but the most unusual circumstances would ever have caused Mary to make that trip.  However, Jesus had a divine appointment to keep.  He was the “Anointed One” – the Messiah, and it was necessary that He be born in Bethlehem.

In Micah 5:2, God had said:
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah.  Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.

The timing of the decree of Caesar and the trip to Bethlehem remind us that Jesus is the Messiah and He had a divine appointment to keep.

The third picture we see is the birth in a manger.

Luke 2:7 says:
She gave birth to her first child, a son.  She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

Contrast the birth of Jesus in a manger with the palace that Caesar lived in.  Consider the difference in prestige and importance the world placed on every move of Caesar with the lack of recognition or importance the world put on the arrival of Jesus.

This humble beginning reminds us of Philippians 2:6-8.
…who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  (ESV)

He emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant.

Isaiah 52:12 through 53 tells us about God’s servant.  This “Servant Song” is the most complete, accurate picture of Jesus we have in the Old Testament.  Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities…”  (ESV)

Luke’s account of Jesus being laid in a manger reminds us that Jesus is God’s servant.  He has a mission to fulfill.  He came with a purpose…to seek and save the lost.  “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  (Luke 19:10, ESV)

The third picture, the birth in the manger, reminds us that Jesus is God’s servant with a mission to fulfill.

The fourth picture we see is the announcement to the shepherds.

Luke 2:8-20 tells the story of the shepherds and ends with this statement:
The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.  It was just as the angel had told them.  (Luke 2:20)

The shepherds glorified and praised God for the privilege of hearing the good news of a Savior born that very night.

Mary received an announcement from heaven.  Joseph received an announcement from heaven.  And, on the night of His birth, some shepherds, who happened to be awake, received an announcement from heaven.

To be sure, the palace received notification.  The announcement to Herod came somewhat later.  The announcement came by way of some Magi from the east that came seeking the one who was born king of the Jews.

However, the announcement came first to common people whose job required them to be awake at night.  This reminds us that the good news is for everyone, especially the common person.

Jesus gave many invitations calling whoever would to come.  On one occasion, in the middle of a crowd during a festival he stood and cried out in a loud voice:
 “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!  For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”  (John 7:37-38)

This message is so important that Jesus told us to “Go into all the world and make disciples.”

This message is so important that the Scriptures say:
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.  (Matthew 24:14, ESV)

The fourth picture, the announcement to the shepherds, reminds us that we have a message to proclaim.

The events that happened in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago are a family event that we treasure.  The memory of these events has been passed down from generation to generation as good news of great joy for all mankind.

We should be like Mary and “treasure up all these things, pondering them in our hearts.”





[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.
[ii] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Born of a Virgin



The birth of every child is a miracle.  We understand much of the biology and the process by which children are conceived and grow in the mother’s womb, but this does not make it any less a miracle. 

The first man, Adam, was not born but he was formed directly by the hand of God.  All of us have descended from Adam by the natural processes of biology.  There has been only one exception in all of history…the man Christ Jesus, the second Adam.

Jesus Christ is the one exception in all of history.  God interrupted biology and natural processes and caused a baby to be born of a virgin.  Romans 5:12, 17 tell us why this was necessary.
12When Adam sinned, sin entered the world.  Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

17For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many.  But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.[i]

This is why 1 Corinthians 15:22 gives this conclusion:
Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.


This is why it is important that Jesus was born of a virgin.

Adam’s race was stained with sin.

As a matter of fact, we are all sinners.  The judgment of God is that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)  

No one is righteous—not even one.  (Romans 3:9) 

We must understand this is not a small problem.  We must not think that sin is insignificant and can easily be passed over. 

When we see pictures of the Nazi death camps, and the piles of corpses that accompanied those, we are justly angered and sickened at the horrendous crimes these represent.

When we read of crimes against children, we are rightly horrified that anyone should hurt an innocent child.

However, we do not consider the envy, jealousy, anger and malice in our own hearts to be in the same category.  This is where we are wrong.  All the crimes and atrocities of history grew out of these very things, which are in all of our hearts.  Every person since Adam, except one, has this sin nature, and this is why we have all sinned, with Jesus being the only exception.  What is more, even things we do not consider as being particularly sinful reflect this sin nature.  This is why Jesus said:
But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  (Matthew 5:28)

It is because of sin that death is a part of the human experience, and it is through the miracle of the virgin birth that God addresses the problem of sin and death in us, the descendants of Adam.

What does it mean to be sinless, perfect and pure? 

We cannot know except for Jesus.  He is the only one who lived and never sinned.  Through the miracle of the virgin birth, Jesus was born free of the curse of sin.  Because of the virgin birth, Jesus was born free of the stain of sin.  Since His mother was of Adam’s race, Jesus could represent Adam’s race, but since His Father was not of Adam’s race, He could be free from the curse of sin.  By this means, He became a second Adam.

According to Luke 1:27, Mary was in Galilee, in a town named Nazareth.  She was a descendant of David, engaged to a man named Joseph, who was also a descendant of David.  Mary was a virgin.  We can assume she was not the only virgin in Israel, and most likely was not even the only virgin in Nazareth.  As far as we know, she was a normal person.  This is important because Jesus came to save all people.  Mary was an exceptional person.  However, she was human, remained human and her salvation was bought for her by her Son just as your salvation and mine was bought for us by her Son.

Nowhere in the Bible does it suggest that we should pray to Mary, or that she is divine.  In Luke 8, the Scriptures tell of a time when Jesus’s mother and brothers came to see Him, but they could not get to Him because of the crowds.  When Jesus was told this, He said, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”  (Luke 8:21)  The key to being heard by Jesus is hearing God’s word and obeying it, not appealing to Him through His mother.

Jesus said of prayer, “In that day you will ask nothing of me.  Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”  (John 16:23, ESV)  Jesus taught us to pray directly to the Father in His name.

Saying that we are not instructed to pray to or through Mary does not mean that she was not favored.  The angel’s greeting included the fact that she was favored.  She received grace from God.  Gabriel said, “Greetings, favored woman!  The Lord is with you!”  The word Gabriel used is translated in other places as grace.

Mary herself says:
Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.  How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!  For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.  For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.  (Luke 1:46-49)

This is part of the meaning of the virgin birth.  God has done great things for us.  This praise and thanksgiving of Mary’s is appropriate for all of us.  John 1:16 says, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”  (ESV)[ii]

God chose Abraham, and passed His blessing and grace down through Abraham.  God chose Mary and made her a vessel of His grace.  God continues to choose individuals and make them vessels of His grace.  God gives His favor to pour out His grace on all people.

How God pours out His favor is often a mystery.  In Mary’s case, it is uniquely so.  It is a mystery how God and man can be united together in one person for all of eternity.  And yet, this is exactly what happened in Jesus.  It is a complete impossibility that a virgin should conceive.  And yet, this is exactly what happened. 

Mary herself addresses this mystery.  Gabriel told Mary, “You will conceive and give birth to a son…”  (Luke 1:31)  Mary responded, “But how can this happen?  I am a virgin.”  (Luke 1:34)

The angel explained what would happen and how it would happen.  His explanation is the only explanation we have.  Gabriel said:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”  (Luke 1:35)

This is as technical as the explanation gets.  The biology behind the growth of Jesus in the womb was the same as that of every baby.  However, the conception itself was completely miraculous.

Two things stand out in this explanation. 

One, “the baby to be born will be holy…”  He was born without the sin nature we all inherit from Adam.

Two, “He will be called the Son of God.”  Jesus is the Son of God, both by birth and in His person.

Because of these two things, the Scriptures say:
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  (Hebrews 4:15)

This is why the virgin birth is such an important part of our faith.

What is more, because He is holy and the Son of God, the Scriptures tell us:
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father.  He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.  He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.  (1 John 2:1-2)



How can the death of one man pay for the sins of the entire world?

First, because He was sinless, He had no sins of His own for which to pay.

Second, because He was God, the price paid was infinite.

Third, because He was of Adam’s race through Mary, He could represent us and pay our penalty.

This is all the work of God.  It is a miracle and it is wonderful.  We contemplate these things today to remind us of the wonder of it all.  God has truly done wonderful things for us.




[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.
[ii] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

The Turning Point of History



Matthew 1:1-17

We live in uncertain times.  Protesters say, “Not my President!”  ISIS is waging a war of terror everywhere they can.  The world is in turmoil over the civil war in Syria.  Iran is testing missiles, and North Korea is developing intercontinental ballistic missiles.  The list can go on and on.

History is working toward a conclusion.  Great hope and encouragement is available through an understanding of the point on which history turns.  It is all about Jesus.  Jesus said quite clearly, “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”  (Matthew 24:14)[i]

History is about this “Good News.”  I want to look at how history centers on Christ so that we will never lose hope and our minds can be at peace in the Lord.  In John 14:27, Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart.”

First, we find peace of mind in knowing that Jesus Christ is the anchor or turning point of all history.  The world moves inexorably toward its consummation to the glory of God, and it all revolves around Jesus Christ.

The book of Genesis starts with the account of the creation of the world.  We know that it was through Jesus that God created all things.  John 1:3 says, “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.”  In explaining the beginning of human history, Genesis uses a statement, “This is the account of…”  Genesis 2:4 says, “This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.”  Then Genesis 5:1 says, “This is the written account of the descendants of Adam.” Using the same formula, Genesis 6:9 says, “This is the account of Noah and his family.” Genesis 10:1, “This is the account of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  Genesis 11:27, “This is the account of Terah’s family.”

Matthew ties into this history by using the same statement or formula.  Matthew 1:1, “This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham…”  The translators, in trying to make it understandable to us in English, have unwittingly covered up the obvious mimicking of the Genesis formula.  However, there is no covering up the association with David and Abraham.  Abraham and David represent God’s covenant relationship with His people and His promise to send the Messiah.

Abraham’s story is the account of Terah’s family begun in Genesis 11:27.  God chose Abraham out of all the people on earth, and made an everlasting covenant with Abraham.  From Abraham’s children, God chose Isaac, and from Isaac’s children, God chose Jacob.  Genesis lays this foundation and the Old Testament tells the story of God’s dealings with the descendants of Jacob. 

The Old Testament’s history ends with Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in 422 B.C.  However, history was moving inexorably toward the coming of the promised Messiah.  The world scene was shaping up toward its turning point.  Here is a rough outline of what was happening.

Going back to a little before Nehemiah, during the time of Esther, Xerxes tried to expand the Persian Empire.  He was victorious against the Greeks at Thermopylae but was defeated at the battle of Salamis in 480 B.C.  This was the last bid of the East for world dominion.

In 333 B.C., Alexander the Great defeated the Persians at Issus.  This was foretold in Daniel chapter 8 where the united Greek forces are pictured as a goat from the West.
           
In 332 B.C., Alexander the Great visited Jerusalem and seeing the prophecy of Daniel, which spoke of him, he decided to spare Jerusalem.

In 323 B.C., Alexander the Great died and his world empire of both East and West was split between his four generals.  Again, this was foretold in Daniel.

In 320 B.C., Ptolemy Soter annexed Judea to Egypt.

In 203 B.C., Antiochus the Great took Jerusalem and Judea passed under the influence of Syria.

170 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes took Jerusalem and defiled the temple.

166 B.C., Mattathias, the priest of Judea, led a revolt against Syria, beginning the period known as the Maccabees.

63 B.C., Pompey, the Roman, took Jerusalem, and the people of Israel passed under the dominion of the Roman Empire.  They remained under the Roman government throughout the New Testament period.

31 B.C., Caesar Augustus became Roman emperor.

19 B.C., Construction began on the Herodian Temple.[ii]

These and many more events during the 400 years from the closing of the Old Testament to the beginning of the New Testament show a world in turmoil.  However, in the midst of all the wars and struggles for dominion, God’s plan was coming together.

According to the promises of the Old Testament, Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem.  Literally, hundreds of prophesies came together in the birth of our Lord.  Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” (ESV)  “The fullness of time” refers back to Galatians 4:2, which says, “the time appointed of the father.” 

The prophecies of the Old Testament had foretold the history leading up to the birth of Christ.  None of the turmoil, unrest and trouble of those days caught God off guard.  Men like Xerxes, who claimed to be divine, ended up being significant only in that they advanced the plan of God.

Matthew starts the account of the New Testament by tying in all the history of the Old Testament, and focuses it in on Jesus Christ.  In doing this, he divides Old Testament history into 3 sections:  1) Abraham to David, 2) David to the Babylonian exile, and 3) the Babylonian exile to Christ.

The turning point of all history is the birth of Jesus Christ.  The central point of all history is the Good News. 

Matthew 1:17 says:
All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

From Abraham to David, the focus was on the promise of God to make a nation out of Abraham’s descendants through Isaac.  With the ascension of David to the throne of Israel, in one sense this promise was fulfilled.  During this age, the people of God were under the administration of judges raised up by God.

From David to the exile to Babylon, the focus was on the promises of God to bless or curse the nation based on obedience.  The reign of David was meant to reflect the coming reign of Christ, but the kings of Israel failed in this regard.  During this age, the people of God were under the administration of kings.

From the exile to Christ, the focus was on the coming Messiah.  The people of God were living in darkness, subject to foreign powers, princes and kings.

Fourteen generations in each age allowed time for the people of God to prove they would be faithful.  The period of the judges started out well with Moses and Joshua, but quickly degenerated into a cycle of unfaithfulness and wandering.  The period of the kings started out well with David and Solomon, but quickly degenerated into a cycle of good and bad kings, a divided nation.  The period after the exile started out with reforms by Ezra and Nehemiah, but degenerated into the Sadducees, Pharisees, Hellenists and Zealots of the time of Jesus.  God patiently allows each age to test the limits of their ability to live by faith according to the administration of that age.  Could people direct themselves only calling on judges when they found themselves in trouble?  Could kings faithfully lead people to follow God?  Would God’s people patiently look forward in hope for God’s promised Messiah?

The answer, sadly, to all of these queries is “no.”  Therefore, at the fullness of time, at just the right time, God brought forth His Son.

It is important for us to be patient and wait upon the Lord.  The times may seem uncertain, but God is at work.  We should never give up hope.  We have seen history centers on Jesus, and that God has a plan and an administration for each age.  We also see in this genealogy that God keeps His promises.

It is important that Jesus be both a descendant of David and a descendant of Abraham.  God promised to bless all peoples on earth through Abraham’s seed.  This promise is fulfilled in Jesus.  God promised that a descendant of David would sit on the throne forever.  Jesus is that descendant.

Although Jesus is not the physical son of Joseph, the genealogy of Matthew establishes His legal right to the throne of David, this legal right being passed down through the male line.

However, it is significant that Mary is also a descendant of David as recorded in Luke.  However, there is a difference in Mary’s line.  Jeremiah 22:30 says of one of the descendants of David listed in Joseph’s line:
This is what the LORD says:  ‘Let the record show that this man Jehoiachin was childless.  He is a failure, for none of his children will succeed him on the throne of David to rule over Judah.’

While Matthew shows Joseph as the descendant of David through his son Solomon, Luke shows Mary descended from David through his son Nathan.  So, true to the prophecy, none of Jehoiachin’s children will sit on the throne of David, even though that line secures Jesus’s legal right to the throne.  God keeps His promises.

Matthew’s genealogy is unique.  Most genealogies follow the male line and if it is royalty, goes through the firstborn.  However, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David and many others listed were not firstborn.  Furthermore, the genealogy contains women.  Of the four women listed, all were Gentiles, Rahab was a prostitute and Tamar’s children were born of adultery and incest.  This is significant because Jesus is the Savior for all people.  Just as the Apostle Paul says in Romans 1:16:
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.  It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Jesus ushered in a new period of history.  In this, this Church age, all people can come freely to God through Jesus Christ.  The turmoil of our day signals the end of this Church age.  Jesus will soon sit on the throne of David and rule over all the earth. 

Keep your hope fixed firmly on Him.





[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.
[ii] McGee, J. Vernon, Through the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Copyright 1983.  Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN. Vol. 4, pg. 1-2.

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