Following Matthew’s Genealogy (his rehearsal of the historical stories leading up to the coming of Jesus) he tells of the assurance given to Joseph concerning the child conceived in Mary as the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 which was the Immanuel sign given by Isaiah to King Ahaz. This is the first of 5 scenes from Jesus’ childhood where Matthew sees an OT reflection in the event and wants his readers to see that Jesus was not only the completion of the OT story at an historical level (portrayed in the genealogy) but that he was also in a deeper sense its fulfillment. In other words, not only does the OT tell the story which Jesus completes, it also declares the promise which Jesus fulfills. In the OT journey, God has declared his purpose, shown his commitment to redemption, and made it known in all kinds of ways to and through Israel. This purpose or commitment has been fulfilled in the coming arrival of this child, Jesus. And Matthew, through this and the next 4 narratives of Jesus’ childhood drives this idea home.
In this narrative, God sends an angel to assure Joseph that the child conceived by Mary who is to be named Jesus (God saves) is also Immanuel (God with us). Divine intervention assures Joseph, Joseph believes and accepts God’s miraculous plan taking place in their life, and the fulfillment of God’s salvation purposes are on the horizon!
Fulfillment speech saturates Matthew’s Gospel. His repeated references to scripture-fulfillment (from this narrative and each of Jesus’ childhood narratives alone) portray Jesus as the Messiah, the completion of the OT story and the fulfillment of the OT promise.
God has been moving in history to provide rescue. The time has come! If we are open to what God has done and continues to do, we won’t be able to miss it! Praise God! : )
(thankful to both Christopher J.H. Wright and N.T. Wright for living lives of dedicated study and reflection with and for God)
In this narrative, God sends an angel to assure Joseph that the child conceived by Mary who is to be named Jesus (God saves) is also Immanuel (God with us). Divine intervention assures Joseph, Joseph believes and accepts God’s miraculous plan taking place in their life, and the fulfillment of God’s salvation purposes are on the horizon!
Fulfillment speech saturates Matthew’s Gospel. His repeated references to scripture-fulfillment (from this narrative and each of Jesus’ childhood narratives alone) portray Jesus as the Messiah, the completion of the OT story and the fulfillment of the OT promise.
God has been moving in history to provide rescue. The time has come! If we are open to what God has done and continues to do, we won’t be able to miss it! Praise God! : )
(thankful to both Christopher J.H. Wright and N.T. Wright for living lives of dedicated study and reflection with and for God)
RSS Feed
