The Family of Jesus Matthew 1:1-17
Notes
Transcript
I love a good movie. Back in 2008, a fresh superhero movie hit the big screen and it kicked off a string of consistent hits. Iron Man became the first entry in what has come to be known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the content has been flowing for 16 years now. The movies draw on characters and story lines from old Marvel Comic Books written by Stan Lee. In the first Iron Man film, as a small tribute to Lee, he was given the opportunity to make a cameo appearance. It was such a hit that it became a tradition and with each film, audiences looked forward to his latest appearance. There is just something about that moment, when the author enters his creation that gives you pause.
I love a good movie. Back in 2008, a fresh superhero movie hit the big screen and it kicked off a string of consistent hits. Iron Man became the first entry in what has come to be known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the content has been flowing for 16 years now. The movies draw on characters and story lines from old Marvel Comic Books written by Stan Lee. In the first Iron Man film, as a small tribute to Lee, he was given the opportunity to make a cameo appearance. It was such a hit that it became a tradition and with each film, audiences looked forward to his latest appearance. There is just something about that moment, when the author enters his creation that gives you pause.
At Christmas, that is exactly what we are considering: The author has entered His creation. He has not come to play a bit part or to simply make an appearance. Instead, He is the main character and His presence will bring the solution to the central problem of man. We who were separated from God by our sin may be reunited to Him by Christ’s righteousness.
-Jesus fulfills the promises of the Old Testament
-Jesus fulfills the promises of the Old Testament
I. A Story of a Covenant vv. 1-6a
I. A Story of a Covenant vv. 1-6a
Matthew begins the story of the birth of Christ with the beginning of things, highlighting the genealogy of Jesus
The story of Jesus is a true story, set in a real place and time, and involving real people
Even more, it is the culmination of a long work that God has been working through Israel in the Old Testament that grows to include the whole world
In fact, it’s a story that involves each of us gathered today
First, we see that it is the story of a covenant between God and Abraham
God came near to Abraham and chose him out of all people to make him a great nation
God did this so that all people could be blessed through Abraham
There are two themes that become apparent throughout this story of covenant: the frailty of man and the faithfulness of God
It is the story of:
The failed- Tamar who is left as the victim of the disobedience of the men in her life. She resorts to dubious action, yet God includes her in the story of His people
The flawed- Rahab is a Canaanite prostitute. She seems like an unlikely deliverer for God’s servants, but she becomes more than that; she becomes a part of the covenant
The foreigner- Ruth is a Moabite from a foreign land, yet she chooses to serve her mother-in-law’s god and is welcomed in to the story of God’s people
All of them experience the faithfulness of God
However, there is a problem. These people never live up to the expectations of the covenant
They are disobedient to God and frequently forget Him, rebel against Him, and go after other gods
In spite of His grace and faith, they are prone to wander and break the terms of His agreement with them
Jesus will come onto the scene as a son of Abraham to fulfill what Abraham could not. He will keep the covenant and fulfill God’s righteous expectation
Romans 5:18–19
[18] Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (ESV)
II. A Story of a Kingdom vv. 6b-11
II. A Story of a Kingdom vv. 6b-11
Next, there is a shift in scene. God raises up a King for Israel
For generations, they had lived chaotically and they saw the need for a leader
They demanded a king and God gave them the kind of king they wanted, Saul.
However, in the wake of Saul’s failures, God raised up a new king, one after His own heart, named David
David becomes the paradigm of kingship and God promises to give the rule of Israel to David’s family
However, the kings do not measure up:
David becomes an adulterer and a murderer
Solomon enters into foreign marriages and idolatry
Rehoboam rejects wise counsel and loses the kingdom
Manasseh becomes more wicked than any king that came before him
The best of human leadership did not lead them to life but to death and ultimately to Exile in Babylon
They were separated out from the blessings that God intended for them
Instead, they were sent to a foreign land and suffered great loss
Again, we see Jesus fulfill what David could not. He is a Son of David who reigns over His people in righteousness and who always leads them to God’s intended blessing and never leaves them in Exile
Isaiah 9:6–7
[6] For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[7] Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (ESV)
III. A Story of a Restoration vv. 12-17
III. A Story of a Restoration vv. 12-17
Finally, we see a third movement. God restores His people from Exile in Babylon, returning them to the land of Israel
Only one character appears in this section of the genealogy that is noteworthy, but he and his partners lead a great work:
Zerubbabel rebuilds the Temple in Jerusalem, establishing a house of worship
Ezra restores the teaching of God’s Law in Jerusalem, establishing a community of the faithful
Nehemiah rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem, establishing a border of protection for the people
For a brief time, God grants the people a glimpse of what life in a renewed kingdom might look like, but even it is not enough
We know that the restoration does not last.
There are new powers that arise and the kingdom falls again
Beyond Zerubbabel, the names are not noteworthy. Silence has fallen on the story of God’s people and they are in darkness, waiting for the hope of restoration
Jesus does was Zerubbabel could not. He offers a hope of restoration that lasts forever.
When Jesus arrives on the scene, He comes to fulfill what the others could not:
He keeps Abraham’s covenant in righteousness
He fills David’s seat with wisdom
He completes Zerubbabel’s restoration for eternity
We could not fix it ourselves, so God stepped into our story!
You can experience all of God’s intended blessing if you will place your trust in Jesus!
Charles Blondin was a famous tightrope walker and stunt artist in America. Some years ago he stretched a wire rope across the top of Niagara Falls and walked across it several times, always with a different theatrical variation: He walked across blindfold; he went across on stilts, he carried a man on his back and he even sat down mid-way across while he cooked and ate an omelette! A newspaper reporter came up and asked him what he proposed to next. Blondin said he was going to wheel a man across in a wheelbarrow. “Do you think I can do it?” Blondin asked. “Oh yes, said the reporter. “You are the greatest tightrope artist of all time. I believe you can do it.” Blondin replied, “You do; you really think I can do it?” “I know you can,” said the reported. “Well then,” replied Blondin, “you get in the wheelbarrow!”
