“Advent Beginnings”
Midweek Advent 3, December 14th
2011
Matthew 1:1-25
Jesus the Fulfillment of Prophecy
Savior of the nations come, Virgin's
son, make here your home. Marvel now, O heav'n and earth, that the
Lord chose such a birth. Amen.
We've been looking
at the beginning of each Gospel this Advent series, and examining how
the evangelists begin their accounts about Jesus. Mark's beginning
is abrupt, and he emphasizes the call to repentance preached by John
the baptist. In John's Gospel, the deep and profound mystery of the
Word made flesh is revealed, and we see Jesus' as divine with eternal
origins.
Today we consider
Matthew's beginning, and as Christmas draws nearer so does a more
familiar Christmas Gospel. Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus,
though not as extensively as Luke does. And as each Gospel writer
brings a certain emphasis to the story, a unique perspective, we can
see the same with Matthew. Here Jesus is presented as the
fulfillment of messianic prophecy.
First Matthew
offers a genealogy of Jesus. Luke contains a genealogy, too, which
goes back to Adam, and to God. But Matthew's genealogy traces Jesus
as far back as Abraham, Issac and Jacob. Matthew is likely written
primarily to Jewish Christians, or at least to those early Christians
who knew their Old Testament scriptures well. And so Matthew pays
attention to show how Jesus is the promised Messiah, the seed of
Abraham, the one whose coming has been so long awaited.
He is also
descended from David, another giant of the Old Testament, a king and
man after God's own heart. Jesus is later hailed as the Son of
David, and rightly, for David's son is David's Lord. Though Jesus'
kingdom is not of this world, King David pointed forward to the birth
of this king of kings.
Why is all this
important? Do we really need to know the names of Azor the father of
Zadok, the father of Achim, etc? Well, for one, it sets Jesus in a
real historical context. These things actually happened. But it
also shows how faithful God is in keeping his promise to Abraham that
all nations would be blessed through his offspring. And how faithful
believers clung to that promise through the generations.
So for us. Though
we are children of Adam, conceived and born in sin, we are children
of Abraham, by faith in Christ, the promised and fulfilled offspring
of Abraham. We are part of the “all nations” who have found
blessing in Jesus Christ. And just as the Old Testament believers
waited in faith for the fulfillment of God's promises, so do we hold
fast to the promises we have yet to see come due. Jesus will come
again. We will rise to live in glory. This broken world will pass
away, and a new heaven and earth will come forth. These, and so many
other promises, we can believe – because we've seen how God kept
his promises all along.
And then take
Matthew's narrative account of Jesus' birth. He summarizes the key
points which we'll see fleshed out even more in Luke. But Matthew
relates the virgin birth, and Joseph's dream about it. Very simply,
Matthew shows again how Jesus fulfills the word of the prophet (from
Isaiah chapter 7) that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Was it unbelievable
that God could bring any descendants from old Abraham and Sarah?
Sure. Even nations? More unbelievable. Even the savior of the
world? Nigh impossible. Except with God, who keeps his promises.
Was it unbelievable
that a virgin could conceive a child? Sure. That the child would be
from the Holy Spirit? Amazing. But that the child would be the very
son of God, God made flesh, God with us – Immanuel? Only possible
if God keeps his promises, which he does.
Jesus, too, would
fulfill all prophecies. Everything laid out for him to do, he did.
Even down to his declaration, “I thirst”. Matthew's Gospel
contains some 68 references to fulfillment of scripture, by one
count. Maybe there's even more. The wise men, the flight to Egypt,
the slaughter of the innocents, John the Baptist, Jesus ministry in
the North, the many healings and miracles, even his triumphal entry
to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. All of this was promised, and fulfilled.
He foretells Peter's denial in dramatic fashion. He even foretold
the destruction of the temple, which would happen within a generation
from his prediction.
But best of all,
was his primary work – also promised and fulfilled, by his own
mouth. That the son of man would be handed over, that he would
suffer, be crucified, and rise on the third day. All of this Jesus
does, just as he promised, it is fulfilled. All of this, for you,
dear sinner now saint.
And yes, his
promises continue. He will come again, like a thief, with power and
great glory. He will gather his elect from the four winds, he will
welcome his people, the sheep, into their rest.
And Matthew's
Gospel ends on another note of promise, “I will be with you always,
to the end of the age”. That promise is fulfilled when he is with
us in Baptism, when we gather around his word, and when we kneel
together at his altar. He is with us, in real ways, fulfilling his
promises, and strengthening us in faith to look for the fulfillment
of them all.
Though he may seem
far off, though he may seem deaf to your prayers, though it may
appear that God has forgotten or cast you off – remember his
promises. Remember how he brought them to fulfillment in Christ.
Look to history, and see him working, for years, centuries, even –
and he still did what he said he would. And know that he will not
forget his promises to you in your short life.
Jesus was born.
Son of Abraham. Child of a virgin. Fulfillment of prophecy. He
would continue, and still continues to bring his promises to
fruition. And one day he will bring them all to conclusion, when he
comes again in glory. Come, Lord Jesus. Come and fulfill your
promises in full. We await and watch in faith. Amen.
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