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Created Through Him

Light of the World

11/10/2012

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up (Matthew 4:14-16).

The Gospel of Matthew was written originally to primarily a Jewish audience. Therefore, as we have already seen, there are multiple references to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. In this particular prophecy, the purpose of the Gospel is made manifest. The purpose is to bring hope and light to a world that desperately needs both a reason to be joyful and illumination in places of spiritual darkness. The light of the Gospel is meant for all peoples and for all times. It is not coincidental that this passage in Matthew comes immediately after Christ’s tempting by Satan. Christ overcame the temptation and he also overcomes and supersedes the spiritual darkness of this world. Place your hope in the Light of World.

Spoken of by the prophet Isaiah

11/9/2012

3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias (Isaiah), saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight (Matthew 3:1-3).

Many of the Old Testament prophecies had their fulfillment in the New Testament. So many prophecies in fact that it would be impossible to make them all up. Additionally, there were eyewitnesses still alive at the time of the writing of the New Testament accounts that could have verified the authenticity of the accounts. Furthermore the authors and the apostles all died a martyr’s death (except for John) and it is unlikely that they would die for a known lie. There are also accounts of some of the New Testament biblical participants in literature outside of the New Testament. For example, John the Baptist is mentioned in the works of Josephus. Josephus was a Jewish historian (not a Christian) that wrote around the time of the compiling of the New Testament accounts. God's providence and foreknowledge of these events is clear, and the evidence from the Old and New Testament that Christ is the Son of God is so compelling that if we disregard the testimony we do so in spite of the evidence.

And Herod was troubled

11/8/2012

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel (Matthew 2:3-6).

What is interesting in this passage is that Herod acknowledged that the Christ was born and even asked the religious leaders where Christ was to be born. So Herod knew of the fulfilled prophecies and yet he thought he could destroy the Christ. Now I don’t know about you, but I think it takes a pretty massive ego to think that one can thwart the plans of God. But this is what Herod tried to do. Herod of course was not successful. I wonder though, in this age of reason and knowledge, if many people don’t pull an ‘intellectual Herod’ and try to thwart God with their own power and intellect. But this is foolishness and as was the case with Herod, God wins.

He shall save His people

11/7/2012

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (Matthew 1:21-23).

The prophecies concerning Christ’s birth were foretold in the Old Testament. The details of the plan of redemption were ancient and unchanging. God chose to bring Christ into the world at just the right time and through specific people. The specific nature of the prophecies and their exact fulfillment are purposed to leave no room for doubt as to their origin. The origin of our salvation is God Himself and plan of redemption, present from the beginning, played out on earth beginning with Christ’s birth.

Fear of His name

11/6/2012

2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (Malachi 4:2).

The fear of God allows us to grow in faith. We grow in faith because when we fear God, we understand our true position before Him. Essentially, when we fear the sovereign God that created us we are humble and therefore are more likely to listen and obey God. The kind of fear here is not a dreading fear but a fear that acknowledges God’s sovereign power over all that exists.

The messenger of the covenant

11/5/2012

3 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3:1).

The sovereignty of God is always made manifest in the fulfillment of prophecy. This prophecy, written hundreds of years before it was fulfilled, concerns the coming of both the Messiah and the forerunner of the Messiah. The forerunner, John the Baptist, preached a message of repentance in preparation for the coming of Christ. Christ is the mediator of the new covenant, a covenant in which He restores the proper relationship of God to Man through the atonement. The atonement by Christ renders the need for the earthly Temple no longer necessary.

The law of truth

11/4/2012

6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity (Malachi 2:6).

These words from Malachi although originally applied to Levi as the father of the priestly lineage, have their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Christ is the Priest of God Most High, in the order of Melchizedek-a priesthood of heavenly origin. In Christ was found no iniquity. Since there is no iniquity in Christ, truth proceeds from His very being. As part of His being, Christ is the author of life and our salvation. He is the fullness of the God in bodily form and acts on our behalf as Priest, not just of an earthly lineage, but also of the heavenly line.

Great is His name

11/3/2012

11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts (Malachi 1:11).

God is reminding us of perhaps two things in this verse; one is, that how we behave effects how others perceive God; and two is, that eventually God will be recognized as great among all peoples. The story of the redemption of Israel is the story that would allow for and is a precursor to the redemption of all nations. Great is our God.

And His feet shall stand that day upon the mount of Olives

11/2/2012

4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south (Zechariah 14:4).

Christ will one day set foot again on earth. It will be a day of power and transformation. The second coming of Christ has a different purpose than did His first coming. The purpose of the first coming of Christ was to restore the relationship of God to Man. The purpose of the second coming of Christ is the restoration of the reign of Christ in judgment. The day of Christ’s return will be one of absolutes: be it joy or sorrow. The good news of the Gospel is that the offer of joy is for all that call upon the Name of the Lord.

The sheep shall be scattered

11/1/2012

7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones (Zechariah 13:7).

This prophecy from Zechariah predicts that the Messiah would be killed and that afterwards the followers would be scattered. We know from history that the followers of Christ were dispersed largely due to persecutions as well as a result of the siege and fall of Jerusalem. God does promise to intervene, and persecutions are always temporary. Persecutions also often lead to the spread of the Gospel to places previously in darkness.

Created Through Him