The King Arrives

Context: Matthew 1:1-25

Memory Verse: Matthew 1:21

Main Idea: Jesus’ miraculous birth fulfilled Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah.

FIRST THOUGHTS

     “I promise.” That statement flows freely in conversation. A promise is an assurance that a specific thing will happen. Some retail establishments post “Promises to Our Customers.” Parents make promises to children. Teachers offer promises to students. Friends dole out promises to friends. Making promises, however, is always easier than keeping them. A broken promise can do great damage to a relationship. But a promise kept often lifts your spirit.

How did you feel when someone followed through on a commitment to you?

     God proved Himself to be a promise keeper. His greatest promise was that a Messiah would come to save His people. Throughout much of the history of the Old Testament, God’s people anticipated that Messiah’s arrival. That history included times of trouble and depression. This heightened their longing for God’s Anointed One. They expected Him to bring relief to their desperate situation.

     The Messiah, however, did not appear on a human timetable. In fact, many wondered if God forgot His promise. Some gave up on the Messiah ever coming. Still others latched on to every charismatic figure who arrived on the scene and considered that person the messiah. These would-be messiahs always let people down. As time passed, hope gave way to despair.

     God never forgot His people or His promise. He simply waited for just the right moment in history. Matthew wrote to explain how God finally fulfilled His promise of a King. That Messiah, Jesus, arrived on the scene in a most unusual way. The birth of a special Child brought centuries of waiting to a climax.

I. UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT

Matthew 1:1-25

     A good writer grabs the attention of readers from the start. You might consider a list of names to be the least effective way to get the readers’ attention. But not if the reader happened to be of Jewish descent. Names established origin, and origin mattered greatly to the Jews. The first readers of Matthew’s Gospel hailed mainly from Jewish roots. Names helped illuminate a major purpose of Matthew. Names identified the subjects of the Gospel as Jesus, from whence He came, and even the focus of His life.

     The first verse of the Gospel states its purpose to provide a historical record and its subject as Jesus. The record gave the early church a greater sense of how it fit into God’s plan. The subject, Jesus, reminded the church that its life centered on Him and His work. Matthew 1:1-25 established two essential and connected truths about Jesus Christ. He was both fully human and fully divine. The writer established that fact in verse 1. Matthew verified the human origin of Jesus as “Son of David” and “Son of Abraham.” As “Christ” (“anointed one”), Jesus existed as God’s divine Son.

     The genealogy of verses 2-17 explains the human origins of Jesus and connects Him with Old Testament history. The movement of God at work in Jewish history is summarized in this list. Matthew outlined the genealogy in three blocks of names. From Abraham to David highlighted a time of prosperity and growth. From David to the Babylonian exile exhibited a period of rebellion and decline. From the Babylonian exile to Jesus led to God’s fulfillment of His offer of salvation. The prominence of Abraham and David signified God’s use of selected individuals to achieve His purposes. God promised to bless all nations through Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). To David God promised to establish his throne forever (2 Sam. 7:16). God fulfilled both of those promises through Jesus.

     Details about the divine origins of Jesus appear in Matthew 1:18-25. His names connect Him with God and the divine work of salvation. Matthew emphasized how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies of a coming Messiah. As both fully human and fully divine, Jesus brought unique qualifications to His role as King and Savior.

II. EXPLORE THE TEXT

A. SUpernatural conception (Matt. 1:18)

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

VERSE 18

     Having chronicled the historical record of Jesus’ heritage (1:1-17), Matthew began to explore relevant information from Jesus’ life. The birth of Jesus and the circumstances surrounding it set the tone for the rest of the Gospel. The uniqueness of Jesus’ beginnings provides readers with insight that allows them to be fully aware of His special nature as divine and human.

     When the time came, Mary gave birth like any other woman. Certainly God performs a miracle every time a child comes into the world. What made Jesus’ birth unique was His origin. How Mary came to be pregnant made Jesus and His coming different from all other births. The supernatural nature of her pregnancy sets Jesus’ birth apart from all others. Mary’s pregnancy occurred in a way that had never happened before or since.

     Mary became pregnant before she and Joseph came together. They had no intimate sexual relationship with each other. They were betrothed at that point. Jewish wedding traditions of that day involved three stages leading to the completion of a marriage. The first stage took the form of an arrangement made by the parents of a couple. Both were too young to marry at that time. A second stage, betrothal, took place about one year before the marriage became final. The bride continued to live in her father’s house during this period. The girl was considered the wife of her husband even though they did not live together. The third stage, marriage, completed the process. A public ceremony marked the occasion, and the couple began to live together as husband and wife.

     Prior to the finalization of the marriage of Mary and Joseph, she became found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. She conceived without a sexual relationship with a man; she was a virgin. Divine activity existed as the only possible way for that to happen. This highlights the supernatural, divine origin of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.

     Greek myths depicted gods impregnating virgins through sexual intercourse. Mary’s conception differed in the sense that God made her pregnant miraculously. No physical encounter took place. God does not need to use actions that humans can explain to accomplish His purpose. He creates life in the way He chooses. Luke also noted the Holy Spirit’s role in the conception of Jesus (see Luke 1:35).

How does the supernatural origin of Jesus enlighten your faith? In what ways does the Holy Spirit continue to exert the creative power of God today?

B. promised messiah (Matt. 1:19-23)

¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
²³ “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

VERSE 19

     The Gospel writer identified Joseph as Mary’s husband. When the couple entered the year-long second stage of marriage called betrothal, they formally consented to follow through with the earlier agreement. At that time the couple legally became husband and wife even though they did not live together. Ending the relationship during that period required divorce.

     Joseph faced a dilemma when he discovered Mary’s pregnancy. He did not father the child. By all appearances Mary had been unfaithful to him. The law permitted the stoning of an adulteress (see Deut. 22:13-30). Joseph, a just man, preferred another course of action. The righteous nature of Joseph meant that he adhered strictly to the law. And probably he knew the law well. In this case, however, just may mean that Joseph had a heart of mercy and kindness. He showed this by not wanting to put her to shame. Certainly the law gave him the right to humiliate her openly. Her pregnancy eventually became public knowledge. This presented potential embarrassment for Joseph and his extended family. As a righteous person, however, he wanted to do things in a way that honored God.

     The decision to divorce her quietly was within his rights (see Deut. 24:1). Exercising this option in secret emphasizes Joseph’s compassionate character. He willingly put himself in a position to take part of the blame for the failed marriage, though he did nothing to deserve that blame. A quiet divorce gave Joseph the ability to follow the law, which he wanted to do as a righteous person, and to be merciful at the same time.

VERSE 20

      Joseph undoubtedly struggled with the decision about what to do with Mary. He considered all the options. He reached what seemed to be a reasonable plan. The Lord, however, had other ideas and interrupted Joseph’s strategy.

     An angel came to Joseph in a dream. God often communicated through dreams in the Bible, and He often used angels to be His messengers. He sent them on missions to convey His word. The angel, as God’s representative, demonstrated God at work in this process. The angel presented another option for Joseph related to Mary’s condition. God intervened to give Joseph a divinely approved plan.

     The angel told Joseph, do not fear to take Mary as your wife. The law supported Joseph’s decision to divorce Mary. But God presented Joseph with the alternative to complete the impending marriage in spite of the pregnancy. This suggestion probably stressed Joseph. His long-held adherence to the law made divorce legally acceptable. What would the religious authorities think if he did not follow a legal solution? What would his family and friends think if he married an already pregnant woman? The angel’s words encouraged Joseph not to fear the consequences of marriage to Mary. God approved it.

     This unique solution offered by God provides a new perspective on righteousness. Joseph previously fulfilled righteous behavior by doing what the law allowed. If he accepted God’s answer to his dilemma, Joseph became righteous in a new way. He discovered God’s direction and followed it in spite of the allowances of the law.

     The angel revealed the origin of Jesus to Joseph. The child conceived in her came through God’s active work. This wording indicates that God did the conceiving. No human effort made it happen. This information assured Joseph that Mary had not been unfaithful to him.

     The angel addressed Joseph as son of David. Joseph came from the lineage of David. Thus when Joseph finalized marriage to Mary, he became Jesus’ legal father. This confirmed the genealogy Matthew recorded that the Messiah would come from David’s line. By the standards of the Jewish law, Jesus came from the line of David.

VERSE 21

     The angel directed Joseph to name the child born to Mary. As the legal father, the task of naming belonged to Joseph. Typically the naming process took place on the eighth day after birth, the day of circumcision for a Jewish male child. Although Joseph declared the name of the child, the actual name originated from God.

     The name Jesus, Joshua in Hebrew, was common in that day. It means “Yahweh is salvation.” The Jews looked for the savior promised by God, but they anticipated a human, political-military leader to save them from Roman domination. Jesus came to save his people from their sins. His name explained His work. Matthew’s Gospel proceeded to reveal the how of that kind of salvation.

VERSE 22

     God intended a greater meaning behind the events that took place surrounding the angel’s appearance to Joseph and the birth of Jesus. His coming fulfilled God’s words by the prophet. The citation from Isaiah 7:14 that follows (v. 23) was the first of many Old Testament fulfillment quotations in Matthew. The Gospel writer presented Jesus as the completion of all the Old Testament. The use of prophetic statements helped Matthew explain Jesus’ messianic nature and mission. A full discernment of God’s revelation of Himself in the Old Testament only occurs in light of Jesus.

VERSE 23

     This verse renders Isaiah 7:14. The historical context is important to an understanding of the verse. Isaiah, preaching in the eighth century B.C., addressed King Ahaz of Judah and the Jewish people. Ahaz faced foreign invasion. Isaiah called for him to ask God for help. Instead, Ahaz sought military solutions from advisers and sorcerers. Isaiah saw God as the only hope to ward off certain calamity. The enemies that Ahaz feared would soon diminish if he relied on God instead of failed human solutions.

     Isaiah described an event that was ultimately fulfilled in Christ. A virgin will bear a son and name Him Immanuel. This name means “God with us.” The child Jesus became “God with us” to deliver people from sin. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament. The long-promised Messiah finally showed up, and He was everything God intended Him to be. Trust in Him provides a hope that sustains in light of life’s crises.

Can you recall a time when you faced a situation in which none of your options seemed good, but God provided a better solution? What is required of you if, like Joseph, you are to receive direction from God in times of trouble or uncertainty?

C. obedience required (Matt. 1:24-25)

²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

VERSE 24

     Joseph woke from sleep. He had received a clear word from God through the angel. But what would he do with it? He faced a difficult challenge common to every believer. Once you know God’s will, are you prepared to follow it? Joseph passed the test. He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

     Through obedience Joseph faced down fear. He stuck with God’s plan even though the stigma of negative public opinion loomed over Joseph’s head. He obeyed God even though the law gave Joseph an easier option. He found that real righteousness equals doing things God’s way.

     Joseph demonstrated obedience when he took his wife. The couple completed the final, formal stage of marriage. This means they began to live as husband and wife in the same house. Joseph fulfilled his responsibility as a husband to his wife. In the case of Mary, that meant taking care of her so that she could deliver a child he did not father. It involved making himself available to become Jesus’ legal and earthly father. Apparently, Joseph accepted that role humbly and willingly. Obedience often requires the sacrifice of personal preferences in favor of the desires of God. But ultimately God rewards submission to His direction.

VERSE 25

     In one area Joseph refrained from his rights as a husband. He knew her not until she had given birth to a son. Mary and Joseph abstained from a sexual relationship prior to Jesus’ birth. This guarded the status of Mary as a virgin. It left no place for the argument that Joseph impregnated Mary. Some contend that Mary remained a virgin the rest of her life. This position is difficult to defend, since the couple did have other children after Jesus. Sexual intimacy, then, eventually became a natural part of their relationship.

     As the Lord intended, Joseph called His name Jesus after His birth. This confirmed Joseph’s legal adoption of Jesus. It placed Jesus directly in the royal line of David, which fulfilled messianic expectation. Matthew’s account leaves no doubt about the association of the name Jesus with the Child conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary. Jesus, as His name asserts, came to rescue people from sin. Although His ministry involved teaching, preaching, confronting sin, and healing, His ultimate mission was one of saving people from sin. That’s work only God can do.

     Matthew’s Gospel introduced Jesus as both fully human and fully divine and with a unique mission. He was born to a human woman, existed in a human body, and followed in the human line of Jewish royalty. But He was conceived by the Holy Spirit as God’s divine Son, given a name that reflected His fulfillment of God’s plan, and did the saving work of God.

How do you define obedience to God? What challenges make obedience difficult for you? What do you see as the advantages of obeying God?

KEY DOCTRINE

God the Son

Jesus now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.

BIBLE SKILL

Use a study Bible or one with cross-references to locate Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament.

     Matthew often quoted Old Testament prophecy to demonstrate ways in which Jesus fulfilled those promises. Although the prophets did not know the exact details or timing of Jesus’ coming, they proclaimed God’s promise of a future Messiah. Read the following examples where Matthew quoted Old Testament passages to illustrate Jesus’ fulfillment of Scripture: Matthew 1:22-23; 12:17-21; 21:4-5. Locate and read in your Bible the Old Testament passages quoted by Matthew. How do these passages speak to Jesus’ life and ministry?

The Way Prepared

Matthew 3:1-12

Context: Matthew 3:1-12

Memory Verse: Matthew 3:3

Main Idea: Jesus came to earth as the promised King who provides salvation for those who trust Him.

FIRST THOUGHTS

     Preparing the ground for a backyard garden can be an intimidating task. Sometimes the soil is hard and packed. Weeds are prolific. This first stage of preparing the garden is the most challenging, often requiring tillers and shovels and other garden tools. Once this heavy work is done, the following stages of preparation are less daunting. The removal of weeds calls for special attention. Removing the roots of weeds is imperative, or they will quickly produce more weeds and briars. Then comes the task of preparing soil for the final stage of planting the seed or setting out the plants that will ultimately produce the flowers. The reward comes with the transformation of the ground from a hard, packed earth to a cultivated bed that produces the result of the gardener’s labors.

What kind of preparation would be required to establish a garden at your residence? What obstacles would need to be overcome? Do you think it would be worth the effort? Explain.

     The world into which God was about to send His Son was a moral and spiritual bramble patch. Prophets throughout the generations had warned of the results the people would face because of their refusal to repent. After the prophet Malachi, four hundred years passed without a prophetic voice in Israel. Instead of being alarmed that God was not speaking to them, the people grew more and more sinful. Now it was time, on God’s calendar, for the coming of His Son to provide a way of escape for those who would receive Him as Savior. To prepare for this event, God sent John to warn the people of judgment to come. He would be the herald, the announcer, of the coming Messiah. He would prepare the way for the coming of God’s Son.

I. UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT

Matthew 3:1-12

     A gap of over 400 years existed between the last of the Old Testament prophets (Malachi) and the birth of Jesus (around 4 B.C.). A summary of the events related to Jews during those four centuries offers valuable background to Matthew. After their return from exile in Babylon, the Jews attempted to re-establish their former lives in their homeland. The rise of Alexander the Great saw Greek culture extend into Jewish territory. The Jews became pawns in the power struggles of Alexander’s successors. Finally the Jews gained a hard-fought independence for about 100 years. Rome eventually made inroads into Palestine and gained control. By the time of Jesus’ birth, the Romans held a tight reign on Jewish territory.

     Jewish religious leaders accepted an uneasy peace with Roman authorities. They needed each other to retain control of the larger populace. The religious hierarchy protected their position by instituting rigid, legalistic religious practices that alienated them from the average person. All this led to a sense of hopelessness among the people.

     Against that historical context Matthew presented the hope of a new kind of King who reigned in a new kind of Kingdom. The lives of the people were dominated by political oppression and demanding religious leaders. Jesus offered them something, however, that the human authorities could not control. He provided hope based on a right relationship with God.

     About 30 years passed from the time of Jesus’ birth and early years (Matt. 1–2) to the start of His ministry. Matthew highlighted the ministry and message of John the Baptist as preparatory to Jesus’ public ministry. John’s confrontational preaching of repentance broke the silence of the years when the people heard no word from God.

     The connection between Jesus and John the Baptist preceded their births. Their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, were relatives. Elizabeth gave birth to John six months before Mary birthed Jesus (Luke 1:26,36). Jesus possibly had His eye on John for a long time. The positive reception John received alerted Jesus to the imminence of His own public ministry.

     God ordered the perfect timing of the ministries of John and Jesus. John whetted the appetite of the people for a fresh message from God. He never lost sight of his purpose to prepare the people for the greater One. At just the right time Jesus walked onto the scene to claim His Kingship.

II. EXPLORE THE TEXT

A. Preparing the Way (Matt. 3:1-6)

¹ In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” ⁴ Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
⁶ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

     Verses 1-6 highlight a prominent theme in Matthew: Jesus’ life and teaching fulfilled the Old Testament Law and Prophets. The Jews anticipated the return of one of the prophets as a sign of the coming of the Messiah. Some looked for a prophet like Moses (see Deut. 18:18). More commonly, Jews expected God to send “Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes” (Mal. 4:5). Consistent with this belief, God sent John the Baptist as a forerunner prophet to prepare the way for Jesus.

VERSE 1

     A span of almost 30 years occurred between the events of chapters two and three. John the Baptist burst on the scene preaching. The term for preaching designated a herald or spokesperson with a message from the king or someone of high position. The herald carried the full authority of the king. John preached in the wilderness of Judea. This region sloped down from the Judean hills south of Jerusalem toward the Dead Sea. Desert settings held significance in the history of God’s people. The great prophets Moses and Elijah spent time there. King David also experienced the desert life. It was a place where a person could meet with God without distractions.

VERSE 2

     John the Baptist’s straightforward message urged people to repent. This Old Testament theme recalled the sinful nature of humans and the need to turn to God. Repentance means to turn and go in a different direction. But true repentance also requires a change of behavior.

     John pressed for this drastic change of attitude and actions because the kingdom of heaven is at hand. A kingdom is where a king rules. The Jews anticipated a Messianic kingdom that was geographically and politically based. They expected to see the kingdom. In His sovereignty, however, God establishes His reign in human hearts. The rule of God had arrived already. Thus, John’s preaching stressed the need for urgency.

     More than likely the terms kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God mean the same thing. Why did Matthew prefer to use kingdom of heaven? Dedicated Jews thought the verbalization of God’s name was sacrilegious, so they found words to substitute for the name of God. Heaven was one of those words.

VERSE 3

     John quoted Isaiah 40:3 to explain his own prophetic, preparatory task. This description highlights the prophetic similarities between John and Elijah. John, like Elijah, preached in the wilderness. Elijah spoke with the authority of God. John’s voice also trumpeted God’s message like a herald announcing the arrival of the king.

     Isaiah’s original context for this prophecy possibly revolved around the homecoming of the Jews from Babylonian exile. God removed roadblocks that hindered a return to their homeland. Isaiah compared this triumphant return to the visit of a king. In ancient times the visit of a king required extensive arrangements, including road work. Pot holes and crooked turns on ancient roads made travel uncomfortable. Since the king deserved and expected the best, road workers went ahead to make roads passable. John saw himself as a “road worker” readying the path of the coming Messiah.

VERSE 4

     The stark clothing and diet of John further identified him with the dynamic wilderness prophets of the Old Testament, especially Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt, materials readily available in the wilderness.

     The locusts and wild honey indicate John ate typical desert fare. Some argue that the locusts were pods from a desert tree. The insect, however, also contained useful nutrition. John the Baptist ate and wore basic items found in the desert. What might be considered a hardship for most did not divert John. He kept a sharp focus on the task at hand.

VERSE 5

     To whom did John the Baptist preach? The wilderness population was limited. Proximity to Jerusalem, the main city of the nation and seat of political and religious leadership, placed large numbers of people near John.

     What drove John’s popularity? Certainly his urgent, direct message gained him attention. But remember the era in which John preached. For the first time in 400 years Israel experienced a real prophet. Religion had become stale and stilted. John’s message thrust long-lost hope in front of these people. They craved a genuine word from God, and John delivered.

VERSE 6

     The people responded to John’s preaching by allowing him to baptize them in the river Jordan, hence the name John the Baptizer. John chose this act of water baptism for a reason. Other ancient cultures used it to serve different purposes. The Jews practiced baptism in some contexts. When Gentiles converted to Judaism, they submitted to baptism as a way to wash away their Gentile uncleanness. Some Jews also practiced baptism as a purification rite.

     John took this act known to his hearers and gave it new meaning. His baptism symbolized a decision to repent. It evidenced a heart change. For John, it stood for the cleansing from sin associated with repentance. It served as a public commitment to a changed life that set the person on a new path with God. The word baptism refers to complete immersion in water.

     A crucial act accompanied baptism: the people were confessing their sins. They could not turn from sin until they first admitted to being sinners. Through confession, the people agreed they needed to repent and receive God’s forgiveness.

     Eventually, Jesus came to John to be baptized (Matt. 3:13). Jesus, of course, did not seek baptism to show repentance. He didn’t need to repent. His baptism became for Him a public introduction to His ministry. He took the act of baptism and expanded its meaning further. It eventually became a picture of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. For Christians, baptism symbolizes an acceptance into the life of salvation offered by the forgiveness of sin.

Why is the call to repentance relevant today? What role does confession play in the salvation process?

B. PROCLAIMING THE TRUTH (Matt. 3:7-10)

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

VERSE 7

     Among those flocking to hear John the Baptist were Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees revered the law and sought to protect it. Their detailed interpretations of the law expanded it and led to legalistic tendencies. Few disputed that Pharisees were good people as far as right actions. The Sadducees held closely to the first five books of the Old Testament as their guide. Most of them hailed from the priestly class and served in the temple. Most leaders or rulers of Judaism held membership in one of these two groups. Disagreement over legal interpretations and power issues usually left these parties at odds with each other.

     The visit of the religious elite to John’s venue got his attention. More than likely they felt threatened by John’s popularity. He recognized their hypocrisy and branded them a brood of vipers. John saw in them what they refused to see in themselves—sinners in need of salvation. He declined any sympathy for their self-promoting agenda.

John questioned why they had come out of their dens like snakes. Were they there “just in case” John might be right? Or did his popularity threaten them so much that they feigned interest as a means to get close enough to gather damaging evidence against him? He knew them to be unrepentant. John warned that they would not be able to avoid the wrath of God’s judgment.

VERSES 8-10

     What basis did John have to question the motives of the religious leaders? He saw no evidence that they lived repentant lives. John identified the real test of faith as fruit in keeping with repentance. Good works follow salvation as confirmation of a changed life.

     John explained further the reason for this word of judgment. The religious leaders committed the sin of presumption. They presumed that as descendants of Abraham their heritage as God’s chosen people guaranteed a right relationship with God. They considered themselves special in God’s eyes and above common sinners because of their Jewish ancestry. John challenged that presumption as false.

     The religious leaders forgot that God sets the standard for who His people are. God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. This exaggeration illustrated the fact that God can take a rock and make it His child if He chooses. Heritage does not ensure a right relationship with God.

     John continued the judgment language. In an orchard, unproductive trees got cut to make room for others. The farmer added the useless tree to the pile to burn. Fire often symbolized judgment.

What are some things people might depend on for salvation instead of the grace of God? How can you use this passage to explain the error of those beliefs?

C. Pointing to the King (Matt. 3:11-12)

¹¹ I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

VERSE 11

      John purposed to stir people to repent. His baptism with water for repentance symbolized the heart change God makes in those who turn to Him.

     The phrase he who is coming resonated with the Jews. They would have understood it as a reference to the coming Messiah. No doubt the skeptical religious leaders picked up on the terminology.

     John knew his role. He refused to be caught up in the excitement that accompanied the great wilderness revival. He contrasted Jesus’ greatness with his lowly status when he said: whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. Such duty fell to slaves. John, although great in the eyes of many, considered himself no more than Jesus’ lowly slave.

     The distinctive power of Jesus lay not in water baptism like John’s but in baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. Although Jesus submitted to water baptism and encouraged it for others, He offered an immersion in a new kind of life. To the Jews, the Spirit (meaning “wind” or “breath”) represented the indwelling of God’s living presence in their lives. This linkage of Jesus and the Holy Spirit equated Jesus with Messiah.

     John also related Jesus’ baptism to fire. Like wind, fire exerts the power to consume. This probably compared the purifying effect of fire with the cleansing power of Jesus’ work of salvation. Fire represented judgment in verse 10. In this verse, however, fire depicted the hope of changed lives offered by Jesus.

VERSE 12

     John used the agricultural illustration of a granary to explain Jesus’ role further. After crushing newly harvested grain, the farmer took a winnowing fork or scoop and pitched the grain in the air. The lighter husks floated off in the wind. The good kernels fell to the floor. The farmer worked to clear his threshing floor. He diligently saved every piece of grain. A good farmer missed nothing useful. He got every bit of valuable wheat into the barn. The chaff or husks might be burned as fuel. They served no other useful purpose. The unquenchable fire indicates a blistering blaze that consumes everything in it.

     These images of storing the good grain and total destruction of the waste depict two crucial roles of the Messiah. One, He came to save people from sin. He loses none who call on Him for salvation. Two, the Messiah will judge those who reject Him. Jesus became a great separator who makes no mistakes with the souls entrusted to Him. John never claimed that kind of authority. Instead, he pointed people to One with that kind of discernment and power.

In what ways do you think contemporary Christians are to be like John the Baptist? What are some characteristics you see in John that might be incorporated into your life to enable you to fulfill God’s purpose for you?

KEY DOCTRINE

Evangelism and Missions

The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations.

BIBLE SKILL

Use a Bible atlas and Bible dictionary (print or online version) to locate and learn about places mentioned in Scripture.

     Locate the Judean wilderness in a Bible atlas. (Tip: Check the atlas index or search on the internet for Judean wilderness.) Note places significant to John’s ministry, such as the Jordan River and Jerusalem. Use a Bible dictionary to learn more about the Judean wilderness. What other crucial events in the Bible took place in this wilderness? How does the wilderness serve as an appropriate backdrop for the announcement of the coming Messiah?

Life's Longest Journey

Introduction

The account of the sacrifice of Isaac is a dramatic record of remarkable crisis in Abram's life. It is a story without precedent or parallel in Old Testament.

It was without precedent because Jehovah God had never demanded human sacrifice.

It was without parallel because no one else had ever been commanded to do it.

Scene - heartache, brokenness, lack of understanding, illogical - son of promise now to be sacrificed to the God who provided him. Surrounding pagans had regularly offered their children as a sacrifice to their gods, but not to Jehovah. It all seemed so improbable and impossible - and unnecessary. Why? That question must have pierced Abram's heart.

And what would he tell Sarah? How could he face her? No imagination could reveal the tumult and turmoil in Abram's heart and mind as he journeyed into Moriah.

Think what it meant to Isaac. He was young, energetic - now life was to be taken from him. Note vs. 6, 8. "They walked on together." The key is that God was "testing" Abram.

Notice some things about life's longest journey.

I. The Certainty of this journey - v. 1

"After these things." It must and it does come. And for many, it comes often. God cares about your heart. He tests the purity of your love and the consistency of your obedience.

Rom. 14:10-12, "For we must all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."

2 Cor. 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad."

Your testing will come. God is serious about your relationship with Him. What things? Things that are common to men and women of all times and cultures.

·        Relocation: from Ur of Chaldees to Haran and finally to the area near Hebron. At different times Abram lived in Shechem, Bethel, Hebron and Beer-sheba.

·        Sorrow: his father Terah died in Haran.

·        Economic collapse: famine drove him to Egypt for survival.

·        Deception and failure: he lied about Sarai being his wife.

·        Success: he become wealthy and powerful near Bethel.

·        Family argument/disagreement: separated from Lot. Lot, in Sodom, captured by Elamites. Abram goes to rescue. "Blood is thicker than water!" There is magnetic appeal of family! Meets Melchizedek and is blessed by this mysterious priest. Gives tithe to Melchizedek. God promises Abram a son. Lacking in faith, Sarai offers Hagar to Abram. Ishmael born. Transforming encounter with God. Names changed to Abraham and Sarah. Ishmael mocked Isaac - he and Hagar expelled. Then came the test on Moriah.

These are things common to humanity. This journey came to pass "after these things." And it will for each of us.

II. The compelling urgency of this journey: v. 2

"Take your son . . . and go . . . ." It must be dealt with now. It cannot wait! God's time is always "now."

2 Cor. 6:2, "Now is the acceptable time, look, now is the day of salvation."

Heb. 3:7-8, 15; 4:7, "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."

James 4:13-14, "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit. You don't even know what tomorrow will bring - what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes."

Imagine the difficulty of this journey, the heartache and the grief.

III. The consistent provision of this journey: v. 2

"land of Moriah." "Moriah" means "provided by Jehovah." These mountains in Moriah are gifts of His unfailing love and grace. Without this experience we would succumb to the most dread kind of bondage. We would be utterly dependent upon the temporary things around us. Fear of loss would paralyze us. The Mountains of Moriah free us from the cruel chains of fear.

IV. The clear purpose of this journey: vv. 15-18

"Now I know ... bless you." The eternal purpose of God is to bless us and to bring us ever back into His loving arms, freed from earthly fear of loss, danger or failure.

Secure in his presence: Ps. 91:1-2, "The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"

V. The competing priorities of the journey: v. 2

"your only son whom you love . . . offer him as a burnt offering."

The gift of God had become more important to Abraham than the God who gave the gift. Perfectly right and normal for father to love his son, but the great commandment is, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deut. 6:5).

Abraham's son had taken God's place in his life. God will never allow that to happen without whispering in your ear, "Take now thy son . . . ."

This conflicting of priorities happens to us so easily. We confuse His gifts and His possessions with Him, and soon we have left our first love. Rev. 2:4, "I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first." The church at Ephesus made a deliberate choice. Lit. "abandoned their first love." Choosing between priorities, we often make the wrong choice.

Do you remember how it was at first? How sweet, fresh and real your love for Jesus was? Fresh love is willing to give all for Him.

God knows where or when your obedience of love became the obedience of duty, and you went about doing His work, but not His will. Perhaps it first began to show in our speech. We talked about the things of Jesus rather than Jesus: i.e. His house, His children, His kingdom, His interests, His joy, His peace, His blessing, etc.

These things that take His place could be:

·        Family: Mark. 1:20 (James & John)

·        Possessions: Mark 10:21  (Rich Young Ruler)

·        Position: (Job)

·        Church/fellowship: Matt. 17:8 (saw Jesus only)

·        Dreams/Ambitions

There are many mountains in Moriah, and so there are many mountains for you in your journey. When we fail to heed His gentle reminders - suddenly hear that awesome call: "Take now . . . " and you fill in the blank. What is it that stands between you and God today? What is it that is more important to you than Him?

It will be a difficult journey. For Abraham it took three days' journey into the desert. But it was worth it! It will be the hardest journey you have ever made. It must come to pass in order for God to bless you with Himself.

Illustration: Karen Watson, killed in Iraq, wrote a letter to pastor to be opened at her death:

"You should only be opening this letter in the event of my death. When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the Nations. I wasn't called to a place. I was called to Him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected. His glory was my reward. His glory is my reward.

"Care more than some think is wise. Risk more than some think is safe. Dream more than some think is practical. Expect more than some think is possible. I was called not to comfort or success but to obedience."

And that is His call to us all!

VI. The conquering grace of the journey: v. 11-14

"Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me. Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham named that place the Lord Will Provide, so today it is said: "'It will be provided on the Lord's mountain.'"

Ps. 56:3

God never intended to take Isaac - only to test Abraham. And the test was not for God's sake, but for Abraham's. God intended to bring Abraham to full surrender to Himself and to full faith.

Note vv. 4-5 (The boy and I will come back). Note Heb. 11:17-19, "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was offering up his unique son about whom it had been said, 'In Isaac your seed will be called.' He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead, from which he also got him back as an illustration."

And it was on a mountain in the land of Moriah that our Lord became our sacrifice (2 Chron. 3:1). Amazing Grace!