Looking back at the last three chapters it seems Matthew is building a good case for Christ (long before Lee Strobel gave it a crack... Have you read his book by the same name?)!
Chapter 1: Matthew uses the genealogy of Jesus to link Him with the Davidic line - the line prophesied to be the origin of the Messiah.
Chapter 2: Matthew records the conception and birth of Jesus. Here Jesus' divinity is confirmed; He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. His Divine Kingship is recognized by both lowly shepherds and high born wise men as they all fall down before Him in worship.
Chapter 3: Matthew further expands his proof that the man Jesus is the Saviour by introducing another fulfillment of prophecy: the man born with the unique purpose of preparing the way for the Messiah. Not only does Matthew record John's message, he relates Jesus' baptism to us as if describing Jesus' dramatic entrance into the public stage of ministry. The concluding sentence of Matthew's third chapter clinches Jesus' divine identity by recording God's claim of Him as 'my Son'.
It's a dramatic progression! It seems quite clear that Matthew's purpose is to convince the Jews of Jesus' identity so that they would accept Him as Messiah. What I've been finding intriguing the more I think about this is that it is God's plan that resulted in all these "proofs" taking place.
It was God's design long before Bethlehem that Jesus would be born as part of the Davidic line. The fact that the prophets foretold about a suffering servant, about One who would come to serve, to heal, to set free shows that Jesus' arrival on earth was not a spur of the moment idea but a well thought out plan. Here is one sample of Isaiah's prophetic words:
Isaiah 11
The Branch From Jesse
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
God had a plan!
Jeremiah reminds us that God had a plan for the Israelites when they were stuck in Babylon: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
God is a god who plans and who continues to plan, for the immediate and distant future! Isaiah proclaims God's plan:
17 "Behold, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
will be heard in it no more. Isaiah 65:17-19
God's in control. He's got a plan. I find that both inspiring and comforting. What will that future be like exactly - how brilliant and joyful will it be? I can't wait to see!! And when life here is uncertain I can rest in the knowledge that God sees it all - the past, the present and the future - and that He has a plan.
I'm encouraged by Matthew's first three chapters because not only does it show God had a plan - it's proof that He made it happen. God is able! Amazing!
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