We sit on the cusp of Jesus ministry. In the next chapter, Jesus will burst onto the scene, and we will be working hard to keep up.
As I pause to reflect before lunging forward, I note my last comments were a bit pointed. Rebel or receive is the question I asked. I want to bring that back to what is one of the arcs of Matthew’s Gospel—family.
God’s family: you and I are a part of it. The only question is whether we are rebelling against the Father, or if we have returned to Him.
We are all connected to, in relationship with, family. It is merely a question of the quality of that relationship.
And so, before we launch into Jesus’ ministry, I want to reflect on how God has shown up in these first two chapters—how he works in and around us in relationship.
We read that Joseph takes his family back to Nazareth. It will be another twenty to thirty earthly years for Jesus to grow to manhood. Joseph, Mary, and even Jesus must have been reflecting on God, and God’s plan.
Point one is that God’s timing is very different then ours. Ours is a “drive-through” world, where if the french-fries take more than a minute to arrive, we lose our patience.
Michael Green in The Message of Matthew cites an additional three points or themes that emerge from this Gospel.
There is continuity in God’s plan, and surprise. In the brief text that we have read, we see God’s plan stretching back to Abraham—to the patriarch to whom God promised he would be the Father of many Nations.
The Gospel makes a point, like no other Gospel, that Jesus connects to God’s Covenant with Israel.
Yet, with all this continuity, there is surprise. Jesus’ arrives in the most remarkable of ways. You and I have the benefit of hindsight and God’s Word. You and I can get to see how all the bits of Scripture are fulfilled in Jesus.
They, living in the moment, had to walk with God, to trust Him, to believe His intention for them was good—all in the middle of surprises, you might say challenges (an unplanned pregnancy, followed by fleeing to a foreign country, only to return to Galilee).
We, in our lives, must disabuse ourselves of thinking that God works in some linear straight-line fashion.
Don’t forget the Jews.
When this Gospel was written, the growth of the Church among non-Jews was huge.
People were coming to faith in this Jewish Messiah—they just were not Jewish.
Matthew reminds the Jewish community of the family story. That from them, the savior would come. This savior was more than the savior of the Jews; he is the Savior of the World.
We non-Jews are adopted, grafted into this family. We too must realize and remember the special place this people hold in God’s heart. God’s Word tells us to pray for Jerusalem.
Be encouraged: opposition will never quench the mission.
Consider all the obstacles placed in the way of Mary and Joseph.
These events were not merely human coincidences or random moments of the universe. These were efforts by Satan to destroy Jesus and God’s mission to restore all people, in fact the entire creation, to Himself.
Satan wants us all to die—eternally. God desires we live with Him forever.
Jesus is the path and person to this eternal life.
If you are walking this path, following Jesus, expect obstacles, but be of good cheer—God’s mission, you, will be with him forever.
It is not just me saying that. Check out some of Jesus’ last words to his followers here.
How are you doing following him?
Remember he is faithful. He will provide you surprises. You are part of a very big family. And expect obstacles.
Offer any obstacles and challenges you are having right now to Him.