Jesus - The Promised Messiah

- one of the aspects of Christmas that most of us enjoy is reviewing the familiar stories surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ…

- every time we set up the Living Nativity, those memories flood back about the angelic announcements to Mary and Joseph, and the journey to Bethlehem, and no room at the inn, and the babe in the manger, and the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night…

- each of those events is so unique, and so splendid, and so surprising, and so delightful that it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known them…they carry a special place in your heart…

- there are also other events surrounding Christ’s birth that may not be as well-known, but they are equally compelling…

- like the story of a man named Simeon…do you remember him?...

- Scripture tells us that…Luke 2:21 - And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

- that’s stunning – who else was ever named…by an angel…before He was even conceived in the womb…and given the name Jesus, or Savior?...then we read…

- Luke 2:22–24 - And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

- that’s a touching detail – because the book of Leviticus instructed that the parents were to bring a lamb and either a dove or a pigeon…but there was a provision in the OT law for those who were poor…they only had to bring the doves or pigeons if they couldn’t afford the lamb…

- of course in this case – maybe they were bringing the lamb?...

- what happens next is astounding…Luke 2:25–26 - And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

- that statement leaves us with all sorts of questions…

- like, if he was already righteous and devout – we even read that the Holy Spirit was upon him…

- well, why did he need consolation?...why did he still feel like he was missing something?...

- maybe he was waiting for additional truth – for a prophet who could teach him – that would be consoling

- or maybe he was waiting for more complete forgiveness – for a priest who could forgive him…

- maybe he wanted guidance and direction – for a king who would lead him…

- we could ask this – if a devout man like Simeon still felt he needed something else – where does that leave people like you and me?...

- there’s another question here…was Simeon talking about a thing (a substance, an entity) or was he talking about a Person?...was the consolation of Israel a “what” or was the consolation of Israel a “who”?

- you also wonder – do we find this concept anywhere else in the Bible?...is Simeon making reference to anywhere else in the Old Testament?...

- maybe one of the most pivotal chapters in the book of Isaiah…chapter 40…where we read…

- Isaiah 40:1–3 - “Comfort, O comfort My people,” [that sounds a lot like consolation] says your God. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God...”.

- now wait a minute…we know who that is…that’s talking about the forerunner of the Messiah…

- in fact, the OT ended with a promise about him – do you remember?...

- Malachi 3:1 - Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me…

- well, several hundred years later, who does the NT clear identify as the forerunner of the Messiah?...

- John the Baptist…

- and even though he didn’t want to at first – what did John the Baptist do to Jesus Christ as the beginning of his public ministry?...he baptized him…

- or maybe in this case – he was anointing him as the promised Messiah of Israel…

- we need to talk about that this am…

- with all of that in mind, please open your Bible to Matthew chapter 1…page ____ of the back section of the Bible under the chair in front of you

- to wrap up our theme this year of Being Careful How We Build…we titling our Christmas series Building on the Promises of God…

- this is going to be a verse by verse study of the first two chapters of Matthew’s gospel…which stands at the beginning of the New Testament on purpose…

- the first verse of this book make a stunning and spectacular claim…and then begins to lay out systematic and surprising evidence to believe his claim is true…the Consolation of Israel has come…

- we’re talking this morning about how Jesus was The Promised Messiah…and please get ready for some very interesting names…but also look for the three times the word Messiah is used…

- read Matthew 1:1-17…

- what a fascinating passage of Scripture…and with the time we have remaining, let’s consider 3 reasons to celebrate that Jesus is the promised Messiah.

I. From the Meaning of the Word “Messiah” – Celebrate Christ’s Purpose.

- most people who walk into one of our campuses today would know that the Bible affirms that Jesus Christ is the Messiah…[whether they actually believe that themselves is another question entirely – we’ll get to that in a little bit]…but it’s at least generally known that’s what the Bible proclaims…

- the question now is – what does that word mean?...and why was that such an important promise?...and how is that information consoling/comforting?...and how does all of this enhance our celebration of Christmas…and why does it fuel our passion to be involved in our various Christmas ministries together?...

- that’s a lot of questions…let’s start with – what does the word Messiah mean?...

A. Literally “anointed one.”

- this concept of anoint or anointing is woven throughout the Bible…and it means…

1. To set something apart as special

- here’s the first time the concept occurs in Scripture…in Genesis 28 …perhaps you remember the story…

- Isaac [the 2^nd great patriarch of Israel] and his family are living in the land of Canaan…

- and it’s time for his son Jacob to be married…and we read - Genesis 28:1–4 - So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. “Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and from there take to yourself a wife from the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. “May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. “May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham.”

- those verses are dripping with theological significance…because God’s promises to Abraham are one of the most important themes in Scripture…

- but now you have this young man on a journey…[and I’m skipping for sake of time the fact that Jacob’s brother Esau – when he heard this command to his brother – purposely went and married a woman from where?...the daughters of the Canaanites – an act that has implications to mid-east relationships even to this day]…

- but back to Jacob…Genesis 28:11 - He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place.

- and you read that and say…what a strange detail…and what a strange pillow…

- what happens next?...he has a dream of a ladder coming down from heaven with angels ascending and descending…and God reaffirms the Abrahamic covenant…and then he makes this marvelous promise…Genesis 28:15 - “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

- so when Jacob wakes up in the morning and realizes the significance of what has happened…he does something to his pillow…do you remember?...did he fluff it up for his next night’s sleep?...did he stuff it into his knapsack and keep on moving?...no, he anointed it…Genesis 28:18 - So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on its top.

- that rock was never going to be the same…he anointed it…and by the way, he gave that place a name---do you remember?...Bethel…[house of God]…

- several years later, God appeared to him again and said…Genesis 31:13 - ‘I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’ ”

- now I realize this concept is practically foreign to us – we don’t generally anoint things…but please remember this – it is of crucial importance when studying God’s Word to interpret it in its historical context…

- and if you take out a concordance and look up the word anoint…it is amazing how important that concept is in Scripture…

- and if the word Messiah means anoint – knowing this background helps us understand why Matthew began what is now our NT with this all important claim…so where else do we see this concept?...

2. A special emphasis during the inauguration of the Tabernacle

- the tabernacle was used during the wilderness wanderings to represent the visible presence and power of God to His people…

- and there is a significant amount of biblical data dedicated to all the details about the construction and operation of the tabernacle…

- and when you study that – it’s amazing how many people and things had to be anointed…here’s just a few examples for sake of time…

• Exodus 40:9 - Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall consecrate it and all its furnishings; and it shall be holy.
• Exodus 40:10 - You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, and the altar shall be most holy.
• Exodus 40:11 - You shall anoint the laver and its stand, and consecrate it.
• Exodus 40:13 - You shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister as a priest to Me.

- if something or someone is going to represent the power and presence of God, it has to be anointed…

- well, now your mind might be turning to other events where this concept is found…

3. To empower someone to mightily serve God

- remember when it became apparent that Saul could no longer be king, that God told the prophet Samuel to go to the house of Jesse a Bethlehemite – because God had chosen one of his sons to be the next king…

- and so Jesse brings out seven of his sons for Samuel to examine…and it’s nope, nope, nope…and finally what does Samuel say?...do you have any more sons…

- 1 Samuel 16:11–13 - And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

- are you starting to see the themes?...David was being set apart as special, he was being empowered to serve God mightily…he was anointed…that concept became so important that….

4. The focus was not only one who/what was anointed, but who it was that was “doing the anointing”…

- I realize that’s pretty clunky grammar…but many can probably guess the point here…

- in multiple places the Scripture says thinks like 1 Samuel 26:11 - The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed…”

- that was David talking about King Saul who was trying to kill him…and in that particular passage, David and one of his mighty men came upon Saul and his men when they were sleeping…and Saul’s spear was stuck in the ground right next to him…

- and Abishai said – God has given him into your hand…[trying to make things sound as spiritual as possible]…

- and David said – no way – not so much because of my respect for Saul…but because of my respect for the one who anointed Saul…

- see, the way you treat something/someone who has been anointed…says much about your view of the God who did the anointing…

- now, this is very important…

B. Eventually became not just a verb in the Bible (“to anoint”) but also a noun (the anointed one, or “messiah”)

- so there is a growing expectation in the OT that God would send someone to be the Messiah…

- and we receive hints even in the very beginning of Scripture…

1. hinted at in the Garden of Eden

- remember…Satan’s lie was that Adam and Eve could sin but they would not surely die…

- and as soon as they rebelled against God command, they began dying…death in the Bible is always separation…

- so they hid from God and covered themselves up…their relationship with the Lord was dying…

- when confronted they blamed their sin on each other…their marriage was dying…

- but in the midst of all of that…God made a fascinating but very cryptic promise…

- Genesis 3:15 - And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

- in other words, a Messiah is coming…

- by the time of David, this was a full blown expectation which is why many of the Psalms are known as…

2. affirmed in the Messianic Psalms

- Psalm 2:1–3 - Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!”

- the passage ends with these incredible words…

- Psalm 2:11–12 - Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

- the Messiah is coming…who will be a Son…this was written 1000 years before the birth of Christ…

- then it even becomes more pronounced…because at the time of the prophet Isaiah, 700 BC…we read of the Messiah…

3. celebrated in Isaiah’s servant songs

- each stage of the revelation about the Messiah, this anointed one, becomes more marvelous…

- because Isaiah explains…Isaiah 53:4–7 - Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.

- no wonder someone like Simeon would be waiting and waiting for the appearance of this person…later in this book, the Messiah actually speaks…see if this sounds familiar…

- Isaiah 61:1–2 - The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

- the Messiah was also…

4. included in a fascinating prophecy

- do you remember Daniel’s vision of the end times…

- Daniel 9:25–26 - “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary…

- we don’t have time to unpack all of that other than to say that by the end of the OT…all of God’s people were longing for the Messiah, the one anointed by God Himself…

- now, something else we need to add is – what was this Messiah supposed to do?...

C. The Messiah was anointed to fulfill three primary roles

1. As the chief prophet, He was anointed to teach us.

- and I’m just going to give us Bible references for sake of time, but I would encourage you to look these up later…

- Deut. 18:15, Isa. 55:4, Acts 3:22; 7:37

2. As the great high priest, He was anointed to secure our forgiveness.

- Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 10:12, 14

3. As the eternal King, He was anointed to lead us.

- Psalm 2:6, Zech. 9:9, Matt. 21:5, 28:18, Luke 1:33

- no wonder He would have to be anointed by God…

- like that stone Jacob slept on…or those utensils in the tabernacle…or king David when he was called…

- you would have to have someone anointed by God to function as our prophet, priest, and king…

- and those are the first words of what is now our new testament…Matthew’s amazingly bold claim that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah of the world…

- that He was the promised anointed one…

- that he was selected and empowered to be our prophet, and our priest, and our king

- of course, claims like that have to be backed up…which is why we need a genealogy…and the point is…

II. From the History of the Messiah – Celebrate His Authenticity.

- Matthew 1:1 - The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah…

- now, if you are in the habit of reading through your Bible each year as I know many of you are, you might say – wait a minute…that sounds familiar…

- yes, it does…in fact, we were actually in the neighborhood a little while ago…

- this is the precise language of the very first genealogy in the Bible…

A. Matthew purposely uses Genesis 5 terminology

- Genesis 5:1 - This is the book of the generations of Adam…

- and you might say – oh yes, now I remember…

- I started the year with great intentions of reading through my Bible in 1 year…

- and then I got to January 2^nd and bam…my first genealogy…so and so was born, and he lived a certain number of years, and he died…and so and so was born [develop]…

- why is that in the Bible?...what was it that Satan said – you won’t surely die…because his counsel is always filled with lies…

- and the good news of Christmas is that a Messiah has come, with the power to overturn the effects of the curse…

- that’s why when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus into the temple…this man Simeon…

- Luke 2:28–32 - then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

- you know, we have faced a fair amount of death as a church and a school this year…and some of that is still fairly fresh and our emotions are raw…

- but we haven’t been left without consolation…which is why we can sorrow, but not as those who have no hope…because of Matthew 1:1 - The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

‑ it’s also important to note that…

B. These are real names that could/can be traced.

- you might say – did you really have to read that entire passage this am?...absolutely, some of you may be blessed with children or grandchildren in the future…there are dozens of marvelous potential names here…Jeconiah, Rehoboam, or my personal favorite – Salmon [that’s almost like naming your child – [here it comes] bratwurst…

- one commentator I read this week helpfully explained the significance of all of this…

- “During a preaching mission in India in 1969, I learned of a young Hindu man who came to Christ by reading the first chapter of Matthew. When asked what there was about the genealogy which led to his conversion, he stated that for the first time had found a religion which is actually rooted in history in contract to the mythology of Hinduism and Buddhism. Matthew begins his Gospel with history, beginning with the linage of the King” (Myron Augsburger, The Communicator’s Commentary, Matthew, pp. 23-24).

- you know – this leads us to an important question this morning – who do you believe Jesus was?...have you admitted your need of consolation?...your need for a Messiah?...your need for a Savior?...

- Matthew told you what he thinks…and later in this gospel, a rough fisherman like Peter is going to be asked the very same question…who do you say that I am?...

- Matthew 16:16 - Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

- so that’s what Matthew thinks, and that’s what Peter thinks – but what do you think?...

- I haven’t actually mentioned yet how the story of Simeon ends…it’s with a fascinating prophecy about this very issue…how different people will respond to the message of God’s anointed Son…

- Luke 2:34–35 - And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

- one of the questions this morning is – what does your response to the message that Jesus is God’s chosen Messiah reveal about the condition of your heart?...

- so celebrate his purpose, and celebrate his authenticity…and…

III. From the Humanity of the Messiah – Celebrate God’s Presence.

A. Everyone knows – gods don’t dwell with mortals.

- I’m reading the book of Daniel in my personal Bible reading right now…and I came across this verse when the magicians were complaining to King Nebuchadnezzar because he demanded not only that they tell him the interpretation of the dream he recently had…but even the dream itself…

- Daniel 2:11 - “Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh.”

- that’s the dilemma – what god would want to dwell with mortal flesh?...

- the Messiah of the world…

B. Yet this Messiah entered human history

1. By identifying with an entire list of sin-cursed people

- there’s a harlot in this list…a murdered…a Gentile…what kind of Messiah is this?...

- and more importantly – how could he identify with mortal flesh…or in this case…literally take on mortal flesh… without being tainted by sin and therefore disqualified to be God’s Messiah?...

- there had to be a “by whom”…

2. By entering history in a stunning fashion

- Matthew 1:16 - Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

- why wasn’t Joseph called the father of Jesus?...because biologically he wasn’t…

- this is a clear illusion to the virgin birth which had also been promised in the OT…

- and when Jesus begins His public ministry…the picture is completed with the appearance of the forerunner…John the Baptist…

- and when Christ comes to John for baptism…John hesitates…but Jesus insists…

- and what happened after Jesus was baptized…

3. And anointed in an equally spectacular fashion

- Matthew 3:16–17 - After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

- why are we so excited about our upcoming Christmas ministries at all four campuses?....

- why did the ladies have a fabulous Christmas outreach this past Monday night?

- will we go all out for CFE…and invite everyone we know to the Christmas musicals

- why will we gladly stand out in the cold for the LN…or bring our friends and neighbors to the Candlelight services?...

- it is because we have some marvelous news to celebrate…and some marvelous news to share…

- God keeps His promises…The Messiah of Israel has come…

- and because the curse has been removed, we can enjoy His presence as we let our great prophet teach us His truth…

- and our great high priest secure our forgiveness

- and our eternal king lead us in the way that we should go…

- and friends, there’s great consolation in that…

- do you remember just before Jesus was going to the cross…the disciples were frightened and bickering amongst themselves, so Jesus said…

- John 14:1–6 - Do not let your heart be troubled; [they no longer had to wait for the consolation like dear Simeon] believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going. Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, [Thomas – I am the Messiah] “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.