(Text only for Ch. 1,2,3 Audio available for most Matthew sermons from Chapter 4-28)
Title: Putting the Pieces Together
Did you ever ask yourself this question: How did Jesus become “Jesus of Nazareth?” He wasn’t born there, so how did he end up there? Have you ever wanted to just sketch out a timeline from Scripture of the whirlwind of events that surrounded the first two years of Jesus’ life? Well, if you answered “yes” to either of this morning’s questions, I hope to help you this morning to put some of the pieces together in a fashion that makes it easy for us to understand not just the historical events surrounding Jesus’ life, but why even some of the tragedy was fulfilling of prophecy about the life of Jesus and the return of God’s Kingdom to prominence.
(pray/read)
- Herod’s drastic response
We read in verse 16 that Herod eventually realizes that in his attempt to trick the Magi, they have indeed tricked him.
Let me pause for a moment here. I am in no way saying that I understand what Herod’s reaction was, but is there ever a time when we get more angry than when we are thinking that we are tricking someone, and indeed is us who are being played as the fool.
When I think of Herod’s wicked response to discovering the news that he has been duped, it makes me think of the quote by Abraham Lincoln that says: “Any man can handle adversity. If you want to know the character of a man, give him power.”
Herod is the chief ruling Roman officer on the edge of the Roman Empire. There isn’t a whole lot that he isn’t allowed to do. Judea is a volatile region. From the Western boarders there are always threats of attack from tribes and countries outside the Empire. That is why Judea always had such a strong military presence, and why the Roman Military plays such a role in the life and ministry of the first century Church.
Herod has very little accountability to start with, so making such a drastic step as to ordering the execution, the murder of every male under two in all the districts of Bethlehem was drastic, but it was, sadly, not beyond the scope of power for Herod.
II. Even such a tragic sin fulfills O.T. Scripture
Even in ordering such an awful sin, Matthew points out that Jeremiah 31:15 is being fulfilled. What is interesting about the connection that Matthew makes is the subject of Jeremiah 31:5. It is a prophecy about the return of Israel from exile.
Rachel represents Israel in weeping for the lost children, and Jesus departing to Egypt is like Rachel’s sons, Joseph and Benjamin, departing her.
POINT: If you were a first century Jew, who was reading Matthew’s gospel, this would definitely catch you eye because it gives depth and meaning to such an unthinkable act of man. It also offers hope that God is still working His plan to deliver Israel.
Application: Our God reigns! Over tragedy. Over Cancer. Over even death itself. Our God reigns!
- How Jesus became “Jesus of Nazareth”
(read v. 19-23)
We see in this passage how it was, from two separate warnings from God, the family ends up living in Nazareth. Now, what is very interesting here is that Matthew makes a claim that the prophets have said, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
There’s just one problem with this: There is no direct O.T. quotation that says this about the messiah.
So there are a couple of explanations possible:
- This was a well known saying of the prophets, though it was not ever formally recorded in one of the O.T. books.
- Matthew is making a loose reference to Isaiah 11:1, which refers to the Messiah as a “Branch) (Hebrew root word: netzer.)
Either way, it was an accepted statement by Matthew’s audience, and they had no problem with him making that connection. Matthew’s point was that the Messiah would come to be despised, just as people from Nazareth were.
Closing: A Potential Working Timeline
Last week after service, Mike Ringler approached me and asked, “How long to you suppose that Jesus and his parents were in Egypt before they received word that Herod had died and decided to return to Judea?”
Certainly a worthwhile question, so the last thing I want to leave you with, combining what we learned in all five of our teachings in Matthew, is a timeline up to this point, of the events we’ve covered:
- Jesus is born in 6 B.C.
- Shortly thereafter, the Magi visit Herod.
- The Magi visit Jesus somewhere near Jerusalem about 6-12 months later. (5 B.C.)
- Magi/Joseph are warned, Jesus’ family flees to Egypt.
- Word gets back to Herod, who orders the deaths of all 2 years old males in/around Bethlehem.
- Herod dies in 4 B.C.
- Jesus’ family returns after about a year in Egypt. (late 4 B.C.)