6. Incarnation

Matthew 1.1-25

Matthew introduces Jesus to us as the son of David, the son of Abraham. We must try to understand what is the significant of those connections with David and Abraham.

A. Go to Abraham first. God made some promises to that man - very big promises that didn’t just benefit him. They were promises to him, his family, a nation and the whole world. Promises from God are deeply significant. They are not just ‘nice’ favours that God sprinkles on lives to make them happier. They are loud, clear calls to come this way. God’s promises don’t decorate the path of life you have chosen for yourself. They are God’s way of marking out his safe path for you through this world. But most importantly of all, these promises are tied directly to Christ. No Christ – no promises.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaim among you, is not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen (let it be) to God for his glory.(2 Cor 1.19,20)

God is not two-faced or double-minded. When he declares his promises, there is no doubt at all that Jesus Christ can fulfil them and give a resounding YES to them. All we do is say our AMEN to them – that means, our “Let it happen as you have said, Lord.”

The particular promises that Matthew has in mind are the direct promises God gave to Abraham about the coming of Christ into Israel for their sake and the blessing of the whole world. God gave Abraham an amazing set of promises:

Gen 13.14-17 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.”

That promise tells that there will be a nation arise from Abraham’s offspring and that they will be vast in number and live in the land of Canaan where Abraham was currently camping and which then belonged to fierce nations.

Genesis 15.3-6 Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

That promise assured Abraham that even though he hadn’t started a family with Sarah, his wife, and they were getting too old to have children, God would give them a son of their own (Isaac) and through him a vast number of descendants would look back to Abraham as their father. Abraham believed that God could do what he promised and that faith was credited to Abraham as his right standing with God.

Genesis 22.17,18 “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

This promise confirmed that he would have many descendants, but it focuses on one particular offspring – a particular descendant of his – who would ‘possess the gate of his enemies’ and that in him ‘all the nations of the earth shall be blessed’. This man is Christ. Galatians 3.16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

So, Matthew begins his gospel by identifying Jesus Christ as this special promised ‘offspring’ who would be a blessing to people of all nations – especially to those who followed Abraham’s example and believed God could give them right standing with himself. Where does that place you? Do you have the same faith as Abraham? He turned his back on the future that his family and culture was pushing him into. Hebrews 11. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

The promise to Abraham about Christ said that he would possess the gate of his enemies and be a blessing to all nations. Christ is presented as the Redeemer. To redeem is to buy back. Jesus came to buy back from sin and death, people for God. This is the whole point of the coming of the offspring of Abraham (Christ) in whom all the promises of God are fulfilled. The whole world is shut up in captivity to sin and death. The law (God’s decisions and judgements about human guilt) holds everyone accountable.

Galatians 3.23,24 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

Matthew wants us to know that Christ has come to release us from being locked up under God’s wrath. This is good news (gospel) and Matthew identified Jesus as the Promised One. Galatians 4.4-7 When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Jesus Christ is the redeemer who buys us out from under the judgement rightly looming over us through the law. He takes us out of slavery and into son and daughter relationship with God.

Do you feel a little bit ashamed of your sketchy understanding of Jesus Christ, when you hear of his greatness? When you learn that he is the hinge on which the entire history of humankind hangs and turns on? Do you feel the need to fall face down before him to worship him? Do your interests seem a bit petty when you consider the scope of his work? Do you feel uneasy that he has so little of your time and passion? Now is the time to put that right. Now is the time to confess Jesus as the Redeemer in whom all the promises of God are located.