As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #7: Ministry in Capernaum

 

(This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6)

After leaving His hometown, Jesus continues His ministry by going down to Capernaum. This town was a trading village and, being on the Sea of Galilee, attracted many fishermen as well as supporting industries. Jesus spent more time in Capernaum and the nearby region than in any other area, but we will see on this first recorded visit that His actions align with the Greek meaning of the city's name: "Village of Comfort." 

Jesus Visits Capernaum (Luke 4:31-41; Matthew 8:14-17)

Luke's account gives us a chronological account of Jesus' time in Capernaum. Entering the village, He begins to teach on the Sabbath. People recognize the authority of His teaching. He casts a demon out of a man without harming the man, and reports spread throughout the area - an easy task in a trading port. Yet just as His fame begins to increase, Jesus does the opposite of what human nature would suggest. Instead of finding a place for a large crowd, Jesus goes small and gets personal - He enters the home of Simon (Peter) and heals his mother-in-law. 

The woman immediately begins to serve those present, including Simon, Andrew, James and John. Apparently this miracle is shared as well, for we then see people coming to Him for healing and for casting out demons, fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah as Matthew's version below tells us. Jesus is comforting many in the "village of comfort." His ministry is growing and His fame is spreading. And then He goes small and gets personal again.

Jesus calls four disciples (Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11; see also Mark 1:16-45)

Two calls are mentioned in the Gospels - one by the side of the sea and another in the boat out on the Sea of Galilee. Rather than see this as different calls, it seems the Gospel writers view them as part of the same call. This should not be surprising; most of us who walk with Him can relate different stages of developing a relationship with Him and hearing His call over our lives. What seems most significant to me is that Jesus called them at all! He could have ministered alone, completing the work without the distractions that fallen humanity brings. He could have avoided the inevitable conflicts that would come with a diverse group of people from various walks of life. But He doesn't. Instead, He begins to build His church's foundation with four unlikely, rough, burly men who knew how to do one thing well: Fish. 

He also calls them together. These two sets of brothers, these four men, are called together. From the beginning, Jesus meant for His church to be built by people who rely on each other - whose differences become essential, despite all the challenges that brings. At the same time His call is deeply personal. He calls not in a generic, distant sense but in a personal, intimate one. We see this most obviously in the call to become "fishers of men" - calling them where they were, asking them to do something they knew how to do, in a different context. We see it also in a less obvious way. Jewish fishermen knew the size of the crew required to catch the hopefully half-ton of fish the boat held: Five. Four to row, and one to steer, supervise the catch, and watch for inclement weather. Based on Jesus' command to "Follow Me", these four fishermen would have known immediately that He would be the one commanding the boat. 

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

His identity and character were revealed in the practical things He did for people (healing Peters' mother-in-law, casting out demons, healing others). He had a message - "repent and believe" - but never expected that message to be heard without corresponding actions. He entered the "village of comfort" to bring the comfort only He can provide.

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 
He has authority over demons, including when and what they say. And yet He is intimately personal - at every stage, in every way, I can expect Him to speak and lead me in ways that sometimes only I will understand. I can expect the voice of my shepherd to be personal and, ultimately, comforting.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image?
Gospel proclamation must be partnered with Gospel actions. Jesus cared for people's spiritual needs without ignoring the physical (such as when the demon did not harm the man when Jesus cast him out). 

Additionally, just as He is personal with me, I should be personal with others. He didn't call with a formula - He didn't minister with a formula - and neither should I.

Finally, but perhaps most significantly to me, He saw the one. As His ministry grew, He intentionally chose at times to go small and focus on an individual or very small group of people. Years ago, God took me through a season where I had to learn lessons from obscurity. I've noticed that many people who have the deepest walks with the Lord have learned similar lessons. I'm learning again through this passage to keep my eyes open for the one.

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

He called us to walk with Him together. The apostles were from different backgrounds, sects of Judaism, social classes. But they followed Him as a group, not separately. Their differences would become essential to the mission of the church as time went on. Whatever He calls me to do, I should look for those He is partnering with me. He doesn't intend me to serve in isolation. He has someone to come alongside - even if it is just one, it will be sufficient for what He calls me to do in His strength and not my own.

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #6 - Jesus in Galilee

  (This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4, #5)

As we proceed on the timeline of Jesus' life, the period between Jesus' baptism and His public ministry included not only His temptation, but another significant event: The arrest of his cousin John the Baptist. John himself knew that Jesus' public presence would mean the end of his own ministry - "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30 NASB95). Our journey with Jesus through the Synoptic Gospels begins with Jesus' response, one many of us can relate to in times of family tragedy - He went home.

Jesus in Galilee and Nazareth

(12) Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; (13) and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. (14) [This was] to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: (15) "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES-- (16) "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED." (17) From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:12-17 NASB95)

(14) Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, (15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15 NASB95)

(19) But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, (20) Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison. (Luke 3:19-20 NASB95)

(14) And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. (15) And He [began] teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. (16) And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. (17) And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, (18) "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, (19) TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." (20) And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (22) And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?" (23) And He said to them, "No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.'" (24) And He said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. (25) "But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; (26) and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, [in the land] of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. (27) "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." (28) And all [the people] in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; (29) and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. (30) But passing through their midst, He went His way. (Luke 4:14-30 NASB95) 

Jesus' public ministry began in the region of Galilee. Two cities are mentioned - Capernaum, a coastal town, and Nazareth, his hometown about 60 miles inland. Nazareth's reputation definitely preceded it - the apostle Nathanael captured the sentiment well when he asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:45-46). Nazareth was a small, poor town, not thought much of even within the Jewish community. Capernaum, by contrast, was a well-known and prosperous trading port - and the home of five of the men Jesus would ultimately call to be apostles. 

Piecing together the timeline from these passages and stories in John not covered in this Synoptic study, we see that Jesus initially traveled back and forth between these towns, and word spread about His message and ministry. While it is important to note this, our focus will be on the passages in the Synoptic gospels listed above. 

Jesus came first with a message - "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel" (Mark 1:15). Mark likes to boil things down to the basics, so it is possible that Jesus' message was more detailed, but Mark includes the most significant "need-to-knows": 

• "The time is fulfilled" - What "time"? The word here is kairos, a Greek word meaning season or period of time as opposed to an exact time. If I ask you "what time is it?", you might say, "10:30". But if I say, "It's time" you would rightly want to know, "Time for what?" Just as there is a "time" for each season of the year, or each season of life, there was also a "time" that had arrived, or been fulfilled. What time would that be? Jesus tells us Himself in the next phrase.
• "The kingdom of God is at hand" - God's kingdom - His rule and authority - is now "at hand". The phrase can also be translated, "has been brought near." The time that had arrived was the time for the kingdom of God to be brought near - for God to be present and in authority. 
• "Repent" - The next phrase seems surprising in light of an announcement of God's authority and presence. To Jews living under Roman rule, a logical command from someone claiming the kingdom of God was present might have been, "Take up your swords and let's go show those Romans there's a new sheriff in town." Instead, the first command to humans that we see recorded from Jesus' lips is simply, "Repent." What is repentance, and why is it so important that Jesus made this His first command to people? "Repentance" was a well-known concept in Judaism. Israel's historians, poets, and prophets had all referred to repentance in the Old Testament writings. At its core, repentance is a turning from sin combined with a turning toward God. Have you ever walked out of your house, felt the air too cold or the weather too dangerous, and then turned around and went back inside? Spiritually speaking, that is what repentance is. In asking them to respond to the news of the kingdom of God by repenting, Jesus is asking them to "turn around" and begin living in a way that is consistent with life in God's presence.
• "Believe in the Gospel" - Finally, Jesus' first message asked them to put their faith, their trust, their confidence in something called "the Gospel". While we do see this fleshed out more fully in the Epistles as believing in Jesus' atoning death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, at this point Jesus hasn't died. So, what is the "good news" (the meaning of Gospel) which He wants them to believe? In his powerful book, God is the Gospel, John Piper puts it this way:

Those last words define one foundational part of the good news that Isaiah foretells. “Your God reigns.” God’s sovereign rule is essential to the gospel. Isaiah foresaw the day when God’s sovereign rule over all things would break into this world in a more open way and bring great blessing to the people of God. So when the promised Messiah came into the world, this is the primary way he spoke the gospel. “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14). In other words, the reign of God has broken into this world to set things right for the sake of his people; therefore repent and believe this good news. In fact, if you do, you are part of his people. In a world so full of brokenness and sin, there simply can be no good news if God does not break in with kingly authority. If God does not come with sovereign rights as King of the universe, there will be only hopelessness in this world. (God is the Gospel, p. 27, emphasis mine).

Jesus next speaks in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:14-30 above). He had healed a centurion's son who was in Capernaum with just a word while in Cana (John 4:43-54) and this became part of the curiosity that people had around Him. "What do you think He will do next? Will that happen here?" they may very well have asked. With Nazareth being His hometown, there may have even been a sense of expecting special favor - after all, He's the "hometown boy" everyone is talking about. We might expect Jesus to walk into Nazareth with words of encouragement, telling them that something very good had indeed come out of Nazareth, and they should hold their heads up high as the hometown of the Messiah. As you can imagine, we would be quite wrong. 

Jesus instead directly challenges them with a reading from Isaiah (which would have been selected for Him) and a direct claim to be the fulfillment of the passage. Their unbelief is palpable; every small town-raised man or woman can hear the derision in the question, "Is this not Joseph's son"? (And there was probably sarcasm as well, as some present would have remembered Mary's scandalous pregnancy while engaged to righteous Joseph.) Rather than believe, they mocked. Jesus doesn't back down. He goes deeper into the text by way of two examples: The widow to whom God sent Elijah, and a leper named Naaman who was healed. In both cases, He pointedly calls out their status as non-Israelites; the widow was "of Sidon" and Naaman was "the Syrian." The reaction of the people was swift and shockingly threatening: They wanted to throw Him off the cliff!

Why did Jesus start His ministry with such a confrontational message? There are many theories, but to me the simplest is to connect this story with His overall message simplified by Mark: The message of Good News that God has reached into our world with His presence and His authority is not restricted to one group of people. This truth is made more explicit by Matthew's inclusion of Jesus settling in Capernaum after this episode as a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-7 - a promise that goes on to include the prophecy Jesus had already fulfilled, as a "child born to us". The Servant who brings the Gospel and sets people free also brings Light to the Gentiles - to all nations, not just Israel, and for all people, not just Nazarenes. Jesus' kingdom is for all who will repent and believe.

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

First, let's not lose sight of the fact that Jesus withdrew when John was arrested. He didn't take it lightly, with platitudes about suffering. He cared enough to be concerned and to "go home", as we noted above. 

Second, Jesus wasn't focused on gaining a following before speaking uncomfortable truths. While we can be sure His message was full of love (because God is love) He didn't shrink back from proclaiming what Scripture makes abundantly clear. 

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

God has always had a heart for the Gentiles (the non-Jewish nations), as His promise to Isaiah makes clear. Jesus' message wasn't a new one; it simply revealed what the Jewish Scriptures had been saying all along.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? 

If I truly want to be conformed to His image, I have to be focused on His priority: the Gospel, specifically the Gospel for all nations. This amazing message of His kingdom and authority is not just for Jews or Nazarenes or Americans - it is for everyone. 

Secondly, I have to be bold where truth is clear, not focusing on pleasing people but on pleasing God. Now, I'm not talking about opinions or areas of genuine differences that are still within the limits of Scripture. And I'm certainly not talking about using the Bible as a club to beat people with. Jesus didn't do any of that. He didn't weigh in on the political issues of the day except when He used them to turn people toward eternal truths. And He always spoke truth in love, because He is love.

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

Relationships matter. Invest in them and let God build them. Again I am drawn to Jesus going home when John was arrested. While some see this solely as an incident that indicated the time had arrived to begin His public ministry, I see it as more. Jesus cared about His cousin and family at a difficult time. He went home. 

At the same time, His experience in His hometown teaches me that fellowship requires unity and takes two sides, not just one. Those who were angry at Him didn't desire fellowship. Sometimes we fight for unity and fellowship and still have to acknowledge that the other person doesn't have the same desire. That's ok. Keep loving, and follow Paul's admonition to be at peace "at much as it depends on you" (Romans 12:18).

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #5 - The Temptation of Christ

 (This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3, #4)

As we studied in the last section of Scripture, Jesus began His public ministry with an outward sign identifying with the sinners He came to save and demonstrating utter submission to His Father's will. With the divine seal of approval that followed His baptism, we might expect His next step to take Him into a prominent location from which He would correct all misconceptions about the Messiah and the Kingdom, and call people to follow Him. 

We would be so very wrong. Instead, Jesus first ministry assignment would take place solely before the face of God.

The Temptation of Jesus

(1) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (2) And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. (3) And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." (4) But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" (5) Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, (6) and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU'; and 'ON [their] HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" (7) Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'" (8) Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; (9) and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." (10) Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" (11) Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and [began] to minister to Him.  [Matthew 4:1-11 NASB95]

(12) Immediately the Spirit impelled Him [to go] out into the wilderness. (13) And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. [Mark 1:12-13 NASB95]

(1) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness (2) for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. (3) And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." (4) And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.'" (5) And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. (6) And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. (7) "Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours." (8) Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" (9) And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; (10) for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU,' (11) and, 'ON [their] HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" (12) And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is said, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'" (13) When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. [Luke 4:1-13 NASB95] 

The Gospel writers all emphasize the divine nature of Jesus going into the wilderness. He was "led" (Matthew & Luke) or "impelled" (Mark) by the Holy Spirit to go into the wilderness. Luke, our chronological historian, tells us that the temptations were ongoing during these 40 days. He also provides the detail that Jesus was "led around" in the wilderness - He wasn't just sitting under a tree, He also wasn't taking a pleasant hike through a forest, what we might think of as a "wilderness" in the West. No, He was walking around a hot, dusty, unforgiving environment. A modern tour company prepares people for the experience today with this description: 

The Judean Desert is marked by barren wilderness, mountains, terraces and escarpments rather than rolling sand dunes. The final escarpment drops steeply to the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley. The desert is criss-crossed by a number of valleys (wadis) and has deep ravines cutting through the rock. (https://www.beinharimtours.com/judean-desert/, emphasis in the original)

Matthew and Luke are also consistent in telling us that Jesus only became hungry after the 40 days ended. God obviously miraculously sustained Him. Reading Matthew alone, we might think the temptations didn't begin until the 40 days ended. However, a parallel reading of Luke informs us that the temptations were ongoing throughout the 40 days. Both Matthew and Luke emphasize three specific temptations, but Scripture is clear that Jesus was tempted in ways beyond the three selected by the Gospel writers for emphasis: 

(14) Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. (15) For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. (16) Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help. [Hebrews 4:14-16 NET, emphasis added]

Jesus was tempted in every way that we are - either during the 40 day period through temptations we do not see in Scripture, or over the course of His ministry as Satan found other "opportune times" (Luke 4:13) we also are not given. These three, however, are considered relevant enough for God to inspire Matthew and Luke to include them in detail. Jesus Himself is the only possible source for these details, and so we are on the right track if we envision Him pulling aside some of His disciples and telling them, "Let me tell you what happened during those days after my baptism." He was constantly teaching them, preparing them for the calling and ministry He had for them and helping them understand the challenges they would face, both internal and external. Here, we see He isn't asking them to walk through anything He hasn't already faced. 

Temptation #1: Physical Need

Matthew and Luke both tell us that at the end of 40 days Jesus became hungry, and Satan then put forth a temptation related to that physical need. Hunger is an inescapable reality of being human; all people everywhere have to eat. Satan's temptation puts forth stones and suggests that if Jesus is really who He says He is - the Son of God - He can command them to become bread. It is apparent that Satan is casting doubt on Jesus' core identity. Jesus, however, fights the temptation with Scripture, specifically quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. Matthew's account quotes the verse more fully than Luke's - "Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." 

The Deuteronomy passage refers back to the manna that God provided in the wilderness. Moses, on the edge of the Promised Land, recalls Israel's history in the wilderness. He reminds them that God humbled them with hunger and gave them manna to teach them that physical needs are not ultimate - we have a deeper need, a spiritual need for the word of God. Jesus, the Word made flesh, fights the temptation by prioritizing the need for the word of God. In so doing, He also underscores that His identity as Son of God is not based on physical realities but on spiritual ones.

Temptation #2: Earthly Power

Matthew and Luke's second and third temptations are flipped, so we will use Luke's chronological account as the second temptation.  Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain and shows Him "all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time," claiming that he had been given the authority over them and could give it to anyone he wished. All Jesus had to do was bow down and worship Satan. 

Before addressing Jesus' response, a word must be said about Satan's claim. Some teach that Satan truly was given this power and so those nations have to be "reclaimed". (Some do teach that they were "reclaimed" through the cross.) These teachings fail to take two facts into consideration: 

1) Satan is a liar (John 8:44). We can assume that whatever he says is false, even when mingled with truth twisted to his own purposed.

2) God gave His Son the authority to ask Him for the nations as an inheritance (Psalm 2). Even allowing for the fullness of this promise to only be in place after the resurrection, Jesus was standing on that mountain knowing He had been promised exactly what Satan was offering - and knowing, as He would later teach, that Satan was, and always had been, a liar. (And indeed, Matthew's gospel ends with Jesus asserting that "all authority in heaven and on earth" had been given to Him - far more than Satan's false offer (Matthew 28:18-20.)

Jesus doesn't address these two facts, however. Instead, He cuts to the heart of what Satan was wanting - worship. He goes back to the first commandment - again quoting from Deuteronomy (Deut. 6:13). He refuses to worship and serve anyone but God.

Temptation #3: Testing God

Finally, Satan takes Jesus into Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and quotes Psalm 91. Again challenging Jesus' identity, Satan suggests that He throw Himself off the temple and let God catch Him. In this temptation we hear a foreshadowing of the mocking Jesus heard at the cross (see Matthew 27:40). Jesus resists the temptation to use Psalm 91 in a self-protective way. Instead, He again pulls from Moses' words, this time quoting Deuteronomy 6:16. 

In this passage Moses is reminding the Israelites of when they tested God at Massah, demanding water and questioning whether Moses led them out of Egypt just to die in the wilderness. In Deuteronomy, Moses reminds them of that sin and implores them not to repeat that when they cross into the Promised Land. Instead, they should just focus on doing right in the sight of the Lord (Deut. 6:18) and let Him take care of their enemies. (See Deut. 6:16-19). In quoting this verse, Jesus is telling Satan that He isn't going to be presumptuous and "test God" just because of a few verses taken out of context; instead, He is going to focus on doing what is right and allow God to be his protector as He sees fit. 

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

As the Hebrews passage above reminds me, Jesus was tempted "in every way" as we are, yet without sin. This passage tells me some of what that temptation looked like - but not all. As John Piper has said, Jesus' temptations were stronger than ours, not weaker, because we don't resist to the degree He did. We often give in to sin, ending the temptation; He never did. This story tells me I have a Savior who truly has been tempted, and can walk with me through any temptation I might ever face.

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

While Mark doesn't include the details of the temptations, he does tell us Jesus was "with the wild beasts". Matthew and Mark both tell us that after the temptations, angels came to minister to Jesus. The sense that is given is that God was watching and just waiting to minister to Jesus, healing Him from the challenges He faced physically from "wild beasts", the wilderness, and Satan himself. This shows the Father's heart toward His Son. He could have caused Jesus' certainly-sore feet, fatigued body, and exhausted spirit to heal with just a word, but He sent angels - angels from the realms of glory where Jesus had lived in eternity with the Father. Angels that had to be a reminder of Home in a desolate place that was nothing like the glory He had left. What an amazing portrait of the heart of God. 

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? 

Jesus fully relied on God and His word during times of temptation. This reliance was so thorough that even the passages He quotes are  reflective of His present experience. All come from Deuteronomy, when the Israelites were encamped in another wilderness awaiting entrance into the Promised Land. As a Jewish man, Jesus would have known these stories by heart. He would have memorized the Psalms from which Satan drew two of the temptations. Similarly, I need to be steeped in His word to face any temptation. Satan was looking for an "opportune time" to tempt Jesus further, and I can be assured he is always on the lookout for such an opportunity with me. It's not a matter of if, but when, I'll need to apply what I know of His character access His word to a time of temptation. 

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

Leaning on God and knowing His word well will draw me into closer relationship with Him during my times of temptation. It is easy to focus on Satan and the attack during times of spiritual warfare. Jesus' temptations show me that I should keep the emphasis on God and His word. Knowing the He is who He says He is, that I am who He says I am, and that His word is sufficient, will only increase my fellowship with Him. 

Physical presence enhances fellowship with others. The fact that God sent angels to minister to Jesus demonstrates that even the God-man Himself benefitted from physical presence. 

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #4 - John the Baptist and Jesus' Baptism

 

(This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2, #3)

As we turn the page from Jesus' boyhood, we have a gap of several years where we do not have a Biblical record of what He was doing. Based on what we know about Jewish culture, Joseph and Mary, Nazareth, and carpenters of the day (which actually functioned more as builders or stonemasons than the woodworkers we think of today), we can reasonably assume that He grew up in a poor, but devout family, learning the Scriptures and Joseph's trade. We know from Scripture He had siblings, so imagining Him working or playing alongside other children is also reasonable. Essentially, He grew up as so many Jewish boys did - and yet as the Biblical record continues into His adulthood, we are faced immediately with the reality that He was not "just" another poor, devout Jewish man.

The Ministry of John

(1) Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, (2) "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (3) For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'" (4) Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; (6) and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. (7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; (9) and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. (10) "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (11) "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (12) "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."  (Matthew 3:1-12 NASB95)

(1) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (2) As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; (3) THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'" (4) John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (5) And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. (6) John was clothed with camel's hair and [wore] a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. (7) And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. (8) "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:1-8 NASB95)

(1) Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, (2) in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. (3) And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; (4) as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. (5) 'EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; (6) AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.'" (7) So he [began] saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) "Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. (9) "Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (10) And the crowds were questioning him, saying, "Then what shall we do?" (11) And he would answer and say to them, "The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise." (12) And [some] tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" (13) And he said to them, "Collect no more than what you have been ordered to." (14) [Some] soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And [what about] us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse [anyone] falsely, and be content with your wages." (15) Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, (16) John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (17) "His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (18) So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people. (19) But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, (20) Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison." (Luke 3:1-20 NASB95)

John bursts onto the scene and causes quite a stir - not only did he dress funny, but people had to go out of their way to see him. What was the attraction - and more to the point of this study, why did God choose to include this in the Gospels about Jesus? 

First, we must remember that very few people had heard Zechariah's prophecy over John and Jesus. As far as public prophets go, there hadn't been one since Malachi- 400 years earlier. As the prophet Amos had promised, Israel had experienced "a famine of hearing the word of the Lord" (Amos 8:11-13). Though much had happened during this time - spiritually, historically and politically, this was not a wasted season for the people of God - one thing that did not happen was the public proclamation of words from God by prophets. John's witness would have been as rare to them as seeing the aurora borealis in New Orleans! 

Second, John's ministry was one of preparation. As promised by the prophets, he came to "prepare the way of the Lord" by preaching the need for repentance and the promise of forgiveness. Yet John's message was incomplete, as even he realized. He was not the light, but came to point people to the light. Unlike other prophets, who gave specific messages pointing far into the future, John's prophetic ministry was different. He was telling people that the long-awaited Messiah wasn't far away - He had arrived! John's ministry thus bridges the Old Testament prophets and the ministry of Jesus - through whom the Lord would now speak (Hebrews 1:1-3).

The Baptism of Jesus

(13) Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan [coming] to John, to be baptized by him. (14) But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" (15) But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit [it] at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him. (16) 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, (17) and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." (Matthew 3:13-17 NASB95)

(9) In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (10) Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; (11) and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."  (Mark 1:9-11 NASB95)

 (21) Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, (22) and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." (Luke 3:21-22 NASB95)

After centuries without a prophet, John came preaching the need for repentance. Many went out to him in the desert, fighting rough terrain to see a rough-looking prophet. Suddenly, the scene zeroes in on one particular candidate for baptism - Jesus Himself, the One about whom John is prophesying, the One for whom John leapt for joy in his mother's womb. 

The perfect lamb of God, asking for a baptism of repentance. 

Of course John balked! He recognized Jesus' righteousness and authority. And yet, at the command of the Lord Himself, John baptized Jesus. The facts are clear in Scripture. But the question remains - why was Jesus asking to be baptized? 

He tells us the answer Himself in Matthew's account: "Permit [it] at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."  At this time, the right time for Jesus to begin His public ministry, baptism was the appropriate way to "fulfill all righteousness." Knox Chamblin fleshes out this phrase beautifully: 

The supreme work that the Father requires of the Son (that which above all else is right for the Son to do and which will entail utter submission to the Father’s will) is that He, the Lord’s righteous Servant, save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21) by Himself bearing their iniquities (Isa. 53:11). Jesus’ death for sinners is foreshadowed Here at the Jordan River, as John the Baptist recognizes (John 1:29). Unlike the others who came for baptism (Matt. 3:6), Jesus had no personal sins to confess. Yet He willingly received “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4), a sign that He identifies with the sins of those He came to save (2 Cor. 5:21). (https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/fulfill-all-righteousness, accessed 2-2-2022)

Jesus, then, was baptized by John to demonstrate identification with sinners and utter submission to the Father's will, even unto death. That this humble beginning was accepted by God is evident in the next few verses, recorded in every Gospel in some form. The Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, came from heaven, descended on Jesus, and spoke - apparently once to Jesus ("You are My beloved Son") and once to eyewitnesses ("This is My beloved Son"). we know that at least John saw the dove and heard the message, because he declared it himself after pointing Jesus out and calling Him the Lamb of God: 

32 John testified saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' 34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God." [John 1:32-34 NASB95]

Whether or not others besides Jesus and John heard the voice is not the point. John is giving his own testimony of what he saw, and pointing others to Jesus. From this point, John's ministry would decrease as Jesus' would increase - and John found this completely appropriate. 

What's the point of God saying He is pleased with Jesus? First, let us not forget that, according to Mark and Luke, Jesus heard the voice as a personal word - "in You I am well-pleased". Jesus' ministry would be defined by always doing His Father's will. He was assured that He was doing what pleased God (John 8:29) and that God always heard His prayers (John 11:42). To start His ministry with a personal word from God, the Father who had loved Him before the world was ever created (John 17:24) must have given Jesus, in His humanity, much comfort during the challenging, lonely times.

Secondly, God testifying publicly (at least to John) that "in Him I am well-pleased" is the first of three publicly-heard "voices from heaven" in which God says something significant about Jesus. (The others are found in Matthew 17:5-6 and John 12:27-30). Here, the emphasis is on identity - this One (not someone else) is My Beloved Son - and I am pleased with Him". 

Notably, this same phrase is used later in Matthew  12:18 to show how Jesus fulfilled one of Isaiah's prophecies (Isa. 42:1):

"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles." (Matthew 12:18 ESV)

Matthew's use of the same phrase from the Old Testament prophecy makes a direct connection to Jesus as the Messiah, long-promised to the Israelites to whom he writes. It is a reminder to Jews who knew the scriptures that Messiah was chosen, loved, delighted in, and empowered by God's Spirit to bring justice and righteousness not only to Israel but to the nations.

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

John spoke of Jesus baptizing "with the Holy Spirit and with fire". This speaks of a promise of the Spirit that the New Testament will ultimately reveal to be an indwelling that empowers us for a life of holiness and service in doing the will of God. Jesus' life will show us what that looks like, but the story of John the Baptist and Jesus' baptism teaches me that just as Jesus did not walk with God in His own strength, neither am I expected to do so. With the call to salvation and mission comes the empowerment through the Holy Spirit. 

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

God calls people to repentance and offers forgiveness. His heart truly is for all to be in relationship with Him, and He makes the way for that relationship very clear. He also expects fruit consistent with repentance - anything less is hypocrisy. John's message then - and the Gospel message now - isn't about easy believism or behavior modification, it's about life transformation. But the beautiful thing is, just as John's message prepared people to encounter the incarnate Jesus as the Word made flesh, so today God still prepares people to encounter Jesus.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? 

Jesus walked humbly, and stayed focused on pleasing the Father. If I am to walk as He walked, I cannot focus on what others would think ("They are all going to stare at me if I go down to the water") or on people-pleasing. While my life should be above reproach and I should live in an exemplary manner because of the new heart God has given me, my motive should be to please Him in all I do. In case we are tempted to think that "pleasing God" has a ring of legalism to it, let us remember Paul's admonition to the Ephesians: 

8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light - 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth - 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. [Ephesians  5:8-10 NET, emphasis mine]

This tells me that I don't seek to please God to earn His favor. Instead, because I am ALREADY a child of the light, I have the ability to "try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." My old, incurable, sin-sick heart didn't have this ability - and I found so many ways to run away from even trying, often out of fear that it would be an impossible quest. My story has a lot of darkness in it - and yet Paul reminds me that I am "light in the Lord". I can now learn what pleases Him - not because of me, but because I am in Christ and He now looks at me and sees His Son, the light of the world.

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

Repentance restores us to right relationship with God, and only then is it possible to be in right relationship with others. Understanding John's call to repentance and the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit is transforming in my relationship with God and others. 

As Jesus Walked: Christ Revealed in the Synoptic Gospels, #3- Jesus' Birth and Early Years

(This post is part of a series. For previous posts in the series please see #1, #2.)

If you've been reading the Bible very long or even just attending church regularly, the passages we are looking at today will have a ring of familiarity. This is, after all, the Christmas story! It's tempting when reading such a familiar passage to skim through it, assuming we know the story and the doctrinal truths included in it. That's why I have found a framework or lens for a study to be helpful at times, slowing me down and making me ask more questions as I observe the text. I hope you find these nuggets as rich and encouraging as I did!

The Birth of Jesus 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard [this,] he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'" Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found [Him,] report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him." After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over [the place] where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned [by God] in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. (Matthew 2:1-12 NASB95)

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were [some] shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This [will be] a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds [began] saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.  (Luke 2:1-20 NASB95)

We see in these birth narratives far more than just the historical record of Jesus' birth. Our pristine nativity scenes and children's plays capture the beauty of the moment, but the Word of God goes much deeper. As we read these narratives, we see a series of people who encountered Jesus and responded in various ways: 

• The shepherds realized the revelation was truly from God, and quickly obeyed. They responded in worship and proclamation. 
• The magi recognized Jesus for who He was - giving Him gifts befitting a king - and responded with worship. 
• Mary responded in a way every mother understands - she treasured everything in her heart and pondered it. Although it was the Son of God laying in that manger, Mary's heart responded with a mother's love - a bond that would persist to the cross. 

Let's drill down a bit into the magi. 

Matthew obviously wasn't writing to impress anyone. By all accounts the most Jewish of the Gospels and likely written for a group of Jewish Christians, Matthew had nothing to gain, and much to lose, by reminding his audience of the pagan Gentile magicians who traveled far to worship Jesus. Coming as it does on the heels of the shocking genealogy of chapter 1, Matthew's worship emphasis flies in the face of Jewish notions of the day: Hold those Gentiles who do keep the Law and become "God-fearers" at a distance. No closer than the Court of the Gentiles - that was the practice. Never mind that the Law prescribed that the Gentile who adopted fully the religion of Israel fell under the same religious laws as Israel (see for example Leviticus 17:8) and that Solomon had asked God to hear their prayers (1 Kings 8:41-43). First century Jewish religious leaders excluded Gentiles. Matthew gives them a special place in his Gospel.

The parallels between the magi's authentic worship and Herod's selfish request to worship are obvious. What's less obvious is how shocking the magi's visit really must have sounded on first century ears. Writing to believers who were still learning how to be the church, what it meant to have Jew and Gentile together in one body, Matthew tells us something significant about worship - something shocking.

Look at Matthew's story again. First, the magi were, well, magi. They were basically astrologers. They observed the stars and in this case, saw something unique. Second, the magi hadn't studied the Scriptures closely - they were "in the neighborhood", going to the capital city of Jerusalem, but didn't know that the prophecy for Messiah was that he would be born in Bethlehem. Finally, they don't have offerings that would normally be considered acceptable - no grain, no animals, no blood. They weren't even priests! They would likely not be allowed even in the Court of the Gentiles and would never see the holy of holies.

What they had was an earnest desire to see Jesus. Look again at the only words recorded from their lips, in verse 2: "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."

This is worship?

Oh, absolutely. And this is where Matthew has much to teach us. He uses the more liturgical term for worship here - proskyneo. It's the Greek word used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) for "worship" or "bow down" - the formal worship in the temple, the bowing down before visible majesty. Interestingly, this word is rarely used in the New Testament. Only in the Gospels (where Jesus was physically present), Revelation (where the throne of God is present), Acts (where the temple was still a place of "worship"), and only twice in the epistles, both referencing the presence and power of God. The New Testament favors the word latreuo for worship - a word meaning serve, perhaps seen most clearly in Romans 12:1: "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."

Why the change in emphasis? John Piper fleshes this out beautifully in the revised edition of Let the Nations be Glad (a must-read for missions enthusiasts). He draws from John 4 to show that "in the New Testament worship is significantly de-institutionalized, de-localized, de-externalized." He summarizes:

In Himself He would fulfill everything the temple stood for, especially the "place" where believers meet God. He diverted attention away from worship as a localized activity with outward forms and pointed toward a personal, spiritual experience with Himself at the center. Worship does not have to have a building, a priesthood, and a sacrificial system. It has to have the risen Jesus. (p. 217)

The magi didn't know much, but they knew they were looking for Jesus. Matthew uses the formal word for worship,  as they bow down before His visible presence, but the heart and soul of Jesus' later teaching to the Samaritan woman is pictured here with these magi: their shocking worship was just what He came to bring about. He came to create worshippers from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people group.

None of this is to diminish the role of Scripture and sound doctrine. Regular readers of this blog know how much I emphasize in-depth study of God's Word. Even the magi were sent in the specific right direction (to Bethlehem) by God's Word, not their astrological readings. But I believe we can learn from Matthew that God will meet people where they are, and when they sincerely are seeking Jesus, He will make sure to get them to Him. And He will welcome their worship with open arms as they continue to learn more about Him.

We often treat worship like a task, salvation as a transaction. Matthew's story of the magi reminds us that at the heart of worship lies a heart that seeks to find Jesus. And Matthew lays the groundwork here for a salvation that is a lifestyle - a process that starts, grows, and bears fruit as we continually are drawn to "Him who has been born King of the Jews".

The Dedication in the Temple and Flight to Egypt

After the visit of the magi, Scripture records two key events: Jesus' dedication in the temple in accordance with the Law, and Joseph taking his family to Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod's destructive plans and to fulfill a prophecy. These divergent stories in Matthew and Luke have caused confusion and raised questions in the minds of some readers. How could Jesus be taken to the temple if He was in Egypt? How could He be taken to Egypt if He was taken to Nazareth? This is where I believe that the different purposes of the books can be helpful, as well as remembering Luke's uniqueness as the chronological Gospel.

First, only Matthew records the Magi and flight to Egypt. Why? Remember, he is writing (sometimes polemically) to Jews. He wants to make sure Jesus is recognized as King of the Jews as well as a Savior for all peoples, not just Jews. He also is very focused on pointing out ways Jesus fulfilled prophecy. 

Second, Luke is interested in telling the story of Jesus as a light for the Gentiles, and of the supernatural work of God in His ministry. The references to the Holy Spirit throughout these early chapters of Luke demonstrate Luke's emphasis from the beginning, and this comes out in the dedication in the Temple. Luke isn't focused as much on their fulfillment of the Law (though he points that out) as he is on the fact that God Himself has now entered His temple, and the Holy Spirit bears witness through Simeon's prophecy. 

Luke's reference to "returning to Nazareth" doesn't necessarily mean they immediately returned, nor does it mean that they arrived at Jerusalem from Nazareth (that would make no sense, actually, since Bethlehem was so close and Mary would not have been able to make a long journey just 8 days after giving birth). Matthew actually adds more insight to the story about their return to Nazareth, along with another miraculous warning in a dream. 

If the Magi did not appear at the time of Jesus' birth, but some time (within two years) later, then the order of events was likely: Jesus' birth and visit by the shepherds; Dedication in the Temple (returning to Bethlehem); Visit by the Magi; Joseph's dream & Herod's destructive plan (illustrated by the murder of children recorded by Matthew); Flight to Egypt; Return from Egypt and settling in Nazareth. That is the order I have included the passages below.

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. 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." 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. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 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." And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 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." And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with [her] husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and [began] giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:21-38 NASB95) 

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. [This was] to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON." Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE." But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead." So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned [by God] in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. [This was] to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matthew 2:13-23 NASB95)  

When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:39-40 NASB95)

Again, these passages show people's responses to encountering Jesus: 

• Simeon saw Jesus as an answer to a promise from God. He realized He was the Messiah, and responded in worship and praise, speaking prophetic words over Jesus and Mary (another type of proclamation).
• Anna recognized Jesus for who He was, responding in worship and proclamation. 
• Herod, however, responded with anger expressed in murderous intentions. He didn't deny the existence of Jesus, but perceived Him as a direct threat and so rejected Him, killing untold numbers of innocent children. 

The Boyhood of Jesus

We know precious little information about Jesus' boyhood, which has led to a lot of speculation and spurious writings over the years. The limited scope of Scripture on this subject is quite significant, though, and provides ample information for us to study.

Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He became twelve, they went up [there] according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they [began] looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's [house?]" But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all [these] things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:41-52 NASB95)

Here we see Jesus demonstrating His uniqueness at a young age. Mary and Joseph's frantic search finds Jesus in the temple. He is not preaching; instead, He is listening and asking questions, dialoguing with teachers and giving His own answers. Yet His wisdom and knowledge of the Word were evident. Luke ties this event back to the use of "Son of God" in chapter one, when Jesus responds, "Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" The little we know about Jesus' childhood, then, underscores that He is indeed the Son of God. Yet in this final vignette, we see one more response to Jesus; the teachers in the temple were amazed at His words, but did not recognize Him for who He was nor respond in worship. 

At the same time, we see that Jesus was indeed fully human. He is not an adult - though as with most 12 year olds, we can start to see the man He will become showing through. He still has growth left - both physical and spiritual. Luke tells us He "continued in subjection" to His parents - submitting to the authority God gave them over Him. Later He would marvel at a centurion's faith, in part because the man, well-versed in both being in authority and under authority, recognized Jesus' authority over sickness. For now, though, He had to experience the reality of living under the authority of imperfect humans.

Lessons Learned

As noted in the previous posts,  I am seeking to frame my lessons learned, the "what does it mean for me" around four questions to help my theology meet my reality: 

• What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? (1 John 1:1-2)
• How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? (2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 2:6)
• How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? (1 John 1:3-4) 

What does this story teach me about Jesus and the life He gives? 

When we encounter Jesus, we must respond. We must ask God to help us understand the revelation. When we do, we either accept it and worship Him, proclaiming who He is to those around us, or we reject it and fight against Him. The shepherds and magi, Simeon and Anna, Mary & Joseph, show us what responding in worship and proclamation look like. Herod shows us what rejecting Him looks like. The temple teachers show us what it looks like when we fail to recognize the revelation He gives us. 

The first missionaries about the Messiah were not the apostles, and missions didn't start at Pentecost. Instead, Luke records that God chose a simple group of people - shepherds - to carry His message that was heralded by angels.

God could have had the angels proclaim the birth of Christ throughout the world. He could have let everyone see the glorious light and the shining star. Yet He chose to reveal truth to a few, who would spread the word to so many more.

The shepherds were no different than you and I, really. Simply people who were recipients of revelation - and they passed that revelation on to others. "And all who heard it wondered".

How does this story about Jesus reveal God to me? 

Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor.  - Zechariah 7:10 NLT

This verse captures God's heart throughout the Old Testament - His "special classes" of widow, orphan poor, and foreigner. In the passages we are looking at today, we see that God chose to record encounters with Jesus with three of these four groups - the widow (Anna), the foreigner (magi), and the poor (shepherds, and Mary & Joseph themselves). God's heart is  for the weak and marginalized, so much so that He revealed Jesus to them first and entrusted them to share the news that Messiah had been born.

What does this story teach me about walking as Jesus walked, being conformed to His image? 

Jesus had to be in His Father's house - about His Father's business. If I am going to walk as He walked,  I too will need to be focused on what my Father is doing. Additionally, Jesus' example with the temple teachers is one of humility. He although He had to grow in wisdom, He obviously still had an impressive level of knowledge and understanding. Yet Scripture records that Mary & Joseph found Him  "listening to them and asking questions". How often do I try to have the answers instead of ask the questions? How often do I speak instead of listen. Jesus' boyhood example calls me to humility - especially when I see Him then returning home, submitting Himself to His parents despite their human limitations. 

How does this story increase my fellowship with God and others? 

Some say that the Magi's own faith led them to the manger where nobody forced them to worship Jesus. They say this shows the ecumenical nature of all religions and the importance of recognizing the good in them all. The logic of this argument falls apart when we wonder, if all religions are equal, why the magi would need to come to Jesus at all. If he is right and the magi's own belief system pointed them to Jesus, does this not underscore the supremacy of the Babe, rather than the similarities of all faiths? Simply put, if all religions are equal then there is no need for them to point to Jesus.

And yet we see, in many traditions around the world, in many cultures, traces of the Gospel. The villagers who believe that only by drawing a cross on the dirt can they ward off evil spirits. The "peace child" that must be offered to settle disputes between two parties. Don Richardson calls these the "keys" within cultures and religions that point people to Jesus. Often, when these people groups hear the message of the Gospel, they respond eagerly because of the preparation God has put within their cultures. (I'm sure some of you could tell far more stories than I could about this topic!)

It is true that no one forced the magi to worship Jesus. But worship Him they did, as Matthew 2 makes clear. They didn't worship Him because He was equal to their traditions. They worshiped Him because He was supreme.

Jesus is unique. He draws shepherds and magi into the circle of His love and places them on equal footing. And because He is supreme, He can use people's own traditions to point them to truth, preparing them for the message of Scripture. But let's never confuse that preparation for the ultimate message. Always remember that Jesus is unique and supreme. The magi didn't travelup to two years to worship someone equal to their faith. They traveled 2 years to worship God Incarnate, Immanuel, God with us.

When I recognize and embrace His revelation, I am drawn deeper into fellowship with Him. As I speak of Him to others, I am drawn deeper into fellowship with those who believe or who are being drawn toward faith by His cords of love.