Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“Now after they had gone away, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him.” So he got up and took the child and his mother during the night and went away to Egypt. And he was there until the death of Herod, in order that what was said by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”” (Matthew 2:13-15)

Matthew was written between 50 and 70 A.D., only about twenty to thirty years after Jesus died. Many of the people who witnessed the events were still alive and could attest to them. Also, while that seems like a long time to us, many of the biographies of historical figures (like Alexander the Great) which we trust implicitly were written HUNDREDS of years after the deaths of the people they were about. It was written to the Jews of Antioch, but circulated widely among the early church. Matthew was a tax collector who answered Jesus’ call. He was one of the Twelve disciples and later the Twelve apostles. He preached in Judea and then travelled further afield. It is unknown how he truly died, but tradition says he suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound. The purpose of his Gospel was to show the MANY ways that Jesus fulfilled Old Covenant prophecies. That no one ELSE could be the promised Redeemer and therefore the promised Messiah.

Chapter one is one of the two genealogies of Jesus. Its focus is on Jesus connection through Joseph – as his adopted son – to the throne of David. Mary had a miracle conception through Holy Spirit and Joseph thought she had been unfaithful. But an angel spoke to him in a dream and told him the truth. In spite of reputation or hardship, Joseph believed the angel and took Mary as his wife – but they only had sex (and their own natural children) AFTER she had given birth to Jesus.

Chapter two is the visit of the Wise Men and the events their visit kicked off. Led to the home where Joseph and Mary were living, this event was almost two full years after Jesus’ birth. King Herod, determined not to share his throne, tried to kill every child in Bethlehem who could be the child (males two years and younger were slaughtered). It was not the worst thing he did in his life. Joseph was visited by an angel, and although it is doubtful they were living in Bethlehem at the time, they fled to Egypt to be out of the reach of Herod. After Herod’s death they were told they could return, and they did.

Chapter three is the baptism by John of Jesus. John was calling for repentance and a return to proper worship in preparation for the coming of Messiah. Thousands of people were drawn to where he preached and responded. Jesus came as well. Before this time Jesus was sinless, but Holy Spirit was not living within Him. Jesus had grown up exactly like you and me, unable to perform mighty works. But upon His baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on Him and STAYED with Him – imbuing Him with power and enabling Him to perform the signs and wonders that He did during His ministry.

Chapter four shows the beginning of His ministry. As Jesus later told His disciples to wait until they had received power from on High, Jesus had waited until He had received power too. The first thing was the devil tempting Him. Jesus did not use His new power, but instead fought with the Word. Jesus stood on the Word, refused to move, and the devil fled. Jesus then called His disciples and started teaching in the synagogues of Galilee and preaching the Gospel message. Accompanying this were signs and wonders including healing miracles. People brought their sick to Jesus and Jesus healed ALL who were brought to Him without exception. No one was EVER turned away. He began to be followed by great crowds.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Joseph, Herod, John the Baptizer, the devil.

Key Verse(s): Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13-15; 3:13-17; 4:1-11