Let’s take another look in the following weeks at the story of Jesus, his brief life here on earth, his teachings and his relationships. We will begin with Matthew’s testimony but we must realize, of course that the story of Jesus doesn’t begin with Jesus. God had been at work for a long time. Salvation, which is the main business of Jesus, is an old business. Jesus is the coming together in final form of themes and energies and movements that had been set in motion before the foundation of the world. We must wrap our heads and hearts around this fact as we read and study THE STORY.
Matthew opens the New Testament by setting the local story of Jesus in its world historical context. He makes sure that as we read his account of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we see the connections with everything that has gone before. “Fulfilled” is one of Matthew’s characteristic verbs: such and such happened “that it might be fulfilled.”
“Better yet, Matthew tells the story in such a way that not only is everything previous to us completed in Jesus; WE are completed in Jesus. Every day we wake up in the middle of something that is already going on, that has been going on for a long time: genealogy and geology, history and culture, the cosmos–God! We are neither accidental nor incidental to the story We get orientation, briefing, background, reassurance.” –Eugene Peterson
“Matthew provides the comprehensive context by which we see all God’s creation and salvation completed in Jesus, and all the parts of our lives–work, family, friends, memories, dreams–also completed in Jesus. Lacking such a context, we are in danger of seeing Jesus as a mere diversion from the concerns announced in the newspapers. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Peterson
We will not merely be impressed with our Savior, Jesus Christ but we will embrace Him as LORD of our lives! We will learn that the story of Jesus is greater than we can possibly think or imagine. So we will take it in, one bite at a time and relish the flavor of the story, digesting the Truth, and living well on the teachings of the Truth of the Person of Jesus.
“There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, another fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and yet another fourteen from the Babylonian exile to Christ.” Matthew 1, Msg
Dear Heavenly Father, You made a way for us to have a deep and abiding relationship with you from the beginning of time and creation. “In the beginning…” was You. It’s always been about you loving us first, providing a way for us to be forgiven of all that you cannot allow in your Presence, so that we can come to you, through Jesus Christ, and relate to you, on Your terms. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen
