Grasping for the Wind

Matthew 2:13-3:17

Big Creek Church
Matthew 2:13 - 3:17 (ESV)

2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Egypt and the Return

7. Why would Herod be so afraid of a king being born now?

8. Matthew quotes or references many Jewish texts. What do each of these tell us about Christ?

V. 15 – Hosea 11:1

V. 18 – Jeremiah 31:15

The settlement in Nazareth – Isaiah 11:1 “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch (Hebrew: nazir) from his roots shall bear fruit.”

3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1. The desert had two meanings to the Israelites, punishment and renewal. How does John show both of these concepts?

2. John was calling the Pharisees to real repentance. What sin were they to repent of? How would you define real repentance?

3. What are some ways that we abuse our rights as children of God?

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Baptism of Jesus

Jesus is once again fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. In OT, one has to be washed by water (Exodus 29:4; Leviticus 8:6) and anointed with oil (Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 8:12) represented as the Holy Spirit.

4. John was surprised at Jesus’ request. Jesus was not what he expected. What are our expectations of who Jesus should be?

5. This is our first encounter with Jesus as more than a babe needing protection. What can we learn about his character from this passage?

6. Jesus came once before, and will come again. How can we be John the Baptists and prepare the way?

Posted by John on February 16, 2007 02:40 PM | Posted to Religion
Share: